as i passed by

This afternoon, as I prepared to leave the house to pick up DD from school to take her to music lessons, I hoped to get into the yard to take a few pictures. I miscalculated my strength. By the time I struggled down the back steps with my laptop, DD’s guitar, her after school snacks, my planner, my iced tea, camera, etc., and got it all settled in the car, I was worn out. I’ve been sicker than I figured, I guess. Today really is the first time in five days that I did much besides get out of the chair long enough yesterday to make rosemary crackers and soup for supper.

Anyhoo, I took some yard pics from the car as I left. 🙂 So here are a few of the yard in all its raggy glory. From the carport, I got a good look at the peony border. It has shot way up in the past week or so.

from the carport

The grass is full of dandelions and needs a haircut. I hope I’ll feel well enough tomorrow to get out and do the mowing.

shaggy lawn

There is honesty (money) plant coming up all over the yard. It’s a great filler for large spaces and we let it reseed itself where ever it likes. It’s easy to pull out unwanted plants. We’ve even taken pulled up plants after the seed pods have set and thrown them out into the woods where they’ve started coming up here and there, adding that pretty purple color.

front yard

In the front yard, the bird bath bed is showing great color with the ‘Thalia’ daffodils, the candytuft, and the purple and yellow irises that are blooming.

front bird bath bed

The ‘Thalia’ daffodils are some of our later ones. They are a lovely creamy white and bloom with two blossoms to each stem.

daffodil 'Thalia'

I love the wild Sweet William (Phlox divaricata) in our yard. We brought plants to our previous home from the woods that belonged to DH’s aunt years ago. When we moved, we brought some of those plants to this house, where they have reseeded themselves here and there. This patch is particularly pretty under the dogwood tree.

dogwood tree

The dogwood is from your woods, Laurie. 🙂 Thanks!!

dogwood and wild phlox

Isn’t the wild phlox gorgeous?

Sweet William

Ah, spring! ~~Rhonda 🙂

menu plan monday ~ april 20, 2009

DH and I are both getting over colds. Soup sounds good (and easy) so I’m making that for this evening. The rest of the week is an attempt to avoid beef and eat more poultry.

Monday
Cheesy potato/sausage soup
rosemary crackers

cheesy potato sausage soup crisp rosemary crackers

Tuesday
BBQ pork steaks (oven)
baked potatoes
asparagus
grapes
corn

Wednesday
ham or turkey sandwiches
homemade bread
chips / veggies

Thursday
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
green salad

Friday
turkey in the crock pot
mashed potatoes
peas
corn
spinach salad

Saturday
fridge food

Sunday
salmon
steamed red potatoes
asparagus
corn
green salad

You can find more menu ideas and recipes at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

iris season

With the first blooms of the early purple irises, I feel like iris season has officially opened. DH took these pictures this afternoon. The medium height, early purple irises came from DH’s family farm. Other than the dwarf irises, these are the first iris blooms in our yard each year.

early purple iris

early purple iris

‘Baby Blessed’ is a dwarf bearded iris, about 10″ tall. An early bloomer with yellow standards, yellow falls, and white beards. It is one of our best rebloomers, blooming off and on in our yard through the summer and fall.

Iris 'Baby Blessed'

‘Irish Chant’ is one of my favorite dwarf irises. It isn’t a rebloomer, but does multiply quickly. This blossom is just opening. I hope to have a better picture in a day or two.

Iris 'Irish Chant'

The iris season is my favorite part of spring…as much as I like every part of this time of year. 🙂

~~Rhonda

bits from the yard

I’ve had to spend a few days with my leg up, due to some swelling, but this evening I managed to get outside for a little while. It was a beautiful day and I didn’t want to miss it.

I checked the veggie garden. The radishes are getting bigger.

radishes

I broadcast the lettuce seed and it’s coming up thick. Will have to do some thinning before too long.

lettuce

lettuce

The first flush of dandelions has gone to seed.

dandelion seeds

From the veggie garden, the large Southern Oak looks beautiful.

Southern Oak

Bunches of grape hyacinth are blooming all over the yard. Each year, they spread a little more.

grape hyacinth

The daffodils under the Southern Oak are giving way to the purple blossoms of the honesty plant.

back yard

The redbud trees are still in full bloom. I was afraid we’d missed the peak of the season while we were gone, but not so. I like the way the flowers cluster along even the limbs of a redbud tree.

redbud tree

The blossoms on the dogwood north of the fenced garden have turned a creamy white.

dogwood tree

dogwood

Judd viburnum…there’s no describing the heavenly scent.

Judd viburnum

In the fenced garden, the dwarf Iris ‘What Again’ is blooming. This little iris is about 8″ tall.

Iris 'What Again'

DH spent some time weeding and putting down mulch.

weeding

Layers of newspapers go down first, then mulch is spread on top the paper. The paper provides an extra barrier to weeds and eventually decomposes into the flower bed.

spreading chips

spreading chips

Did I tell you? I love spring!

view of east porch

~~Rhonda

a little fun with the grands this morning

Just a quick post with a few pics.

twin 1

twin 2

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday ~ april 13, 2009

Monday’s lunch was an eat out affair. Went to Ruby Tuesdays (the oyster bar was closed, how sad!). The twins were dolls. They enjoyed the restaurant and seemed to enjoy watching all the activity around them, as well.

help from sissy

grapes are her favorite

We’ve had a great visit with DS#1’s family.

daddy and dd

Supper was courtesy of DDIL, mother of the cutest grandchildren I’ve ever seen. 🙂 The rest of the week will be easy meals while I catch up on a few things. Like sleep, probably…

Monday
pork chops
mashed potatoes
asparagus
homemade rolls

The twins loved Grandma’s homemade rolls.

she ate the whole thing lovin' Grandma's rolls

And the pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream was delicious!

the pound cake and strawberries were delicious...

Tuesday
eat out with DD#1 and DD#2

Wednesday
fridge food

Thursday
tortilla pizzas

Friday
crock pot chicken
rice
asparagus
corn on the cob
spinach salad

Saturday
tacos

Sunday
spaghetti / meatballs
focaccia
peas
corn
green salad

~~Rhonda

park time, play time

The girls love the camera! As soon as I try to get their pictures, they try to get close enough to see the finished product.

twin grands

so sweet

It’s not like they need a new toy…but Grandma brought them one anyway…

checking out a present from G'ma

twin 1

We spent some time at the park this afternoon.

there's a big squirrel at the park...

static girl

Even the big girls had fun.

dd and dgd

~~Rhonda

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!

I pray you have had a blessed Easter Day. After Easter worship, we spent the afternoon at our son’s home.

Daughter and Granddaughter

Easter morning

The girls scoured the house for Easter eggs, then divided the loot.

Easter eggs

dividing the loot

Look, Mama! I’m a flower!

Look, mama! I'm a flower!

peek!

And they’re off and running!

and they're off!

~~Grandma ::havin’ fun with the grands::

the grands

Just a couple of pictures to show you how much they’ve grown since we saw them in January. Suddenly they’re 17 months old.

checking out a present from G'ma

almost a smile

More to follow. 🙂

~~Rhonda

chicken salad

Supper was quick and easy last night…chicken salad on homemade rolls. Delicious. 🙂

chicken salad sandwich

Rhonda’s Chicken Salad

1 8-oz. can crushed pineapple
6 c. diced, cooked chicken or turkey
1 c. red or green seedless grapes, sliced [I used red.]
2 T. dry minced onion or 4 green onions, diced
1 c. diced celery
1/2 c. toasted pecan pieces
1 T. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. dry dill
salt and pepper to taste
1 c. light mayonnaise

Mix all ingredients well.

6-8 servings.

~~Rhonda