Author Archives: ~~Rhonda

Living in a small town, I share my life with my husband Russell (married in 1977), five children (one still at home), and six cats (one indoors, the others outside).

I teach an online class called “The Christmas Notebook” which is about all things holiday prep. The many facets of celebrating Christmas comprises one of my favorite hobbies. Other favorite things include gardening, reading, cooking, and scrapbooking.

menu plan monday ~ june 6, 2011

The weather has turned into summer quickly. It’s been hot and humid. The peonies and most of the irises are done blooming. The Asiatic lilies are blooming, though, and they are beautiful. We don’t have as many as I’d like, but here is one of my favorites. The daylilies are beginning to bloom and that’s […]

more hostas

In the lull between the iris / peony blooms and the daylily flood, we are thankful for the hostas that grace the garden. They add color, texture and beauty. A sense of peace after the fast moving spring flush. Over the past few years, the bed by the carport has become more shaded. Last year, […]

menu plan monday ~ may 30, 2011

Today was Memorial Day in the United States. We didn’t participate in our usual tradition of attending the ceremony at a local cemetery where many of DH’s ancestors are buried. Instead, DH and two of our daughters joined our younger son and his wife to attend a special event at another cemetery. DH’s great-great-great-grandfather fought […]

happy hostas

I started to put this post together a week or so ago, but didn’t get it posted due to being busy with prep for the annual church family picnic. Then I was ill this week and spent four days in the recliner, elevating my leg. So, finally, here it is…the first of several hosta posts. […]

menu plan monday ~ may 23, 2011

We had a busy weekend, preparing for our church’s annual spring picnic at our house. We had more than 90 people here, which is the largest turnout for the picnic we’ve ever had. LOTS of fun!! This sweet picnic-er kept everyone entertained. 🙂 The weather was forecast to be rainy on Saturday and Sunday, but […]

flowers…love ’em

So many flowers popping up in the garden. Something new every day. Like this pretty blue columbine. The yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus, just opened this week. Peony ‘Dancing Butterfly’ Peony ‘Nymph’ The Goldmoss Stonecrop Sedum blossomed this week. And the pretty white geraniums did, too. The lovely peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ opened this week, as well. […]

menu plan monday ~ may 16, 2011

It’s a week of birthdays in our family. My Dad’s birthday is the eighteenth. As is my younger son’s and my SIL’s. My niece’s birthday was yesterday and my birthday is a week from tomorrow. My family was here yesterday afternoon and we celebrated Dad’s birthday with a cake. My four sisters and two sisters-in-law […]

peonies…ah, spring!

My mower came home from the mower hospital yesterday. Much as my leg ached, I just had to get out and mow. So I did. Loved being outside for a change. The peonies and irises are adding so much color to the garden. Here are a few pictures I took while mowing. I *always* take […]

menu plan monday ~ may 9, 2011

April seemed to crawl by, but May is busy and will fly, I’m afraid. I love this time of year and hate to see it pass without time to savor every day. In the meantime, the foxes are still as cute as they can be. DD took this picture of one of the babies the […]

getting outside for a change

Between rain and not feeling well, I have missed a lot of garden time this year. Yesterday, I went out and sat in a chair to watch DH pull weeds. It was a sunny day, though a tad chilly in the shade. I “supervised” cleaning under the carport and some garden bed clean up. DH […]