Christmas Notebook

an in-between week in the garden

May 27, 2010 – 10:28 pm

The irises are done, except for the last few stragglers. And the daylilies are not in full swing yet, though the first few have been showing themselves now and then. It’s that in between time in the garden, the lull between spring and summer.

The coreopsis is providing the main color in the garden for now.

After supper, when we walked around the yard, it was cloudy, sprinkled a few times, and there were raindrops on everything. The air had cooled and there was a beautiful breeze. A nice evening.

DH pulled a few saplings from flower beds. A never-ending job!

There are a few hosta plants left in the bed that used to be sheltered by a crabapple. That tree is gone so we’ve been moving those hostas to other beds. This evening, DH moved ‘Heart Song’ to one of the redbud trees.

Just before it became too dark to stay outside, we were driven from the garden by great plops of rain. We’re looking forward to a long weekend and hoping there will be time for more gardening…and bike riding for DH…and Memorial Day activities for the whole family. And, I’m hoping, more blog posts than I’ve managed lately! 🙂

I’m posting this to Fertilizer Friday on Tootsie’s blog. Check it out for more gardens to explore.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in our garden | Tagged garden 2010 | Comments (4)

menu plan monday ~ may 24, 2010

May 24, 2010 – 12:30 pm

My side of the family came yesterday to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. And my birthday. And other family May birthdays. 🙂 All my sibs were here with bits and pieces of their families. With so many family members (and some living across the ocean) it is hard to get everyone here at the same time. Here’s a pic of me and my dad taken two years ago when he turned 75. I love you, Dad!

Today is my birthday. 🙂 So the first item on the menu is my birthday dinner. I chose fried chicken (carry out so I don’t have to cook it), though my preferred meal would be BBQ grilled chicken. But Mondays are usually DH’s busiest day in the office and he won’t be home before 6:30 for sure. Probably closer to 7:00. So grilling is out of the question. So fried chicken it is. DD#2 wants to make biscuits and DD#3 wants mashed potatoes. I’m going to take the opportunity to teach her how to make them herself. The rest of the week is up for grabs…if the family wants something special, it will go on the menu. DD#1 has already requested tacos. I’m taking suggestions as I type. 🙂

Monday
Fried chicken from Doreen’s
Mashed potatoes
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Corn on the Cob
Green Salad (fresh greens from the garden)
Homemade Biscuits
Cake and Ice Cream

Tuesday
Tacos

Wednesday
Fridge Food

Thursday
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Rice

Friday
BBQ Chicken and Cheddar Sandwiches
Homemade Cheese and Herb Hamburger Buns
Corn on the Cob
Veggies and Ranch Dip
Grapes

Saturday
Fridge Food

Sunday
Alton Brown’s Pot Roast
Baby Baked Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus
Corn
Green Salad (fresh greens from the garden)

You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in menu | Comments (4)

menu plan monday ~ may 17, 2010

May 17, 2010 – 11:37 am

The church picnic was great, as usual. Yes, we had great food and the weather cleared up for the party, which was also great. But it’s our church family and friends that make the day wonderful. As usual. 🙂 Thanks to all who came! Sadly, no pictures. If anyone took pics and would like to share, I’d love to see them.

Here’s the menu for the week. Today is gray and damp/cool. I thought something warm from the oven would be good.

Monday
Baked Penne with Chicken
Homemade Rolls
Green Salad
Corn
Steamed Asparagus

Tuesday
Hamburgers
Homemade Buns
Veggies / Ranch Dip
Grapes

Wednesday
Stir Fried Shrimp
Rice
Stir Fried Veggies

Thursday
Chicken and Noodles

Friday
Pizza Braid

Saturday
Fridge Food ~ We’ll be busy getting ready for the party on Sunday, so no sit down meals…help yourself to the leftovers in the fridge when you’re hungry.

Sunday ~ My side of the family is coming for dinner and the afternoon. Potluck.
Hamburgers / Hotdogs
Homemade Buns
Green Salad
Corn
Cowboy Beans
Sliced Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons
Chips
Ice Cream Cake (my mother’s request)

I’ll be making lots of hamburger buns…and maybe I’ll make a couple of pies…

You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in menu | Comments (1)

menu plan monday ~ may 10, 2010

May 10, 2010 – 11:10 am

After several delays caused by car trouble, the girls finally made it home Saturday evening, safe and sound. Just in time for Mother’s Day! 🙂

DH did some surprise shopping and brought home the ingredients for my favorite Mother’s Day meal…grilled chicken, veggie packets, and corn on the cob. So good!

Veggies packets are marked so everyone can have his/her own custom order. 🙂

Mine was potatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, sugar snap peas, garlic and tomatoes. So yummy!

I’m starting this week’s menu with a recipe I didn’t get to make last week.

Monday
Cheesy Ham and Pasta Bake
Homemade rolls
Green salad

Tuesday
Ham Sandwiches
Tomato Soup

Wednesday
Hamburgers
Homemade buns
Veggies / Ranch Dip
Grapes

Thursday
Spaghetti and Meatballs [Scroll down the linked page for an easy meatball recipe.]
Garlic Bread
Peas
Corn
Green Salad

Friday
Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu
Rice
Steamed sugar snap peas
Corn

Saturday
Lunch ~ Fridge Food
Supper ~ Pizza

Sunday ~ Church Picnic at our house
Sausage Potato Casserole in the Crock Pot [Scroll down to the bottom of the page for directions to make the crock pot version.]
Coleslaw with Raisins and Peanuts
Pumpkin Cake

You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in menu | Comments (1)

irises and peonies

May 8, 2010 – 10:20 pm

This week, the garden is showing off its irises and peonies. Lots of color and the wafting of heavenly scents!

Peony ‘Kansas’

Peony ‘Mons. Jules Elie’

Peony ‘Dancing Butterfly’

A beautiful time of year in the garden. You can see more garden blooms at Flower Friday.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in our garden | Comments (1)

the early may garden

May 6, 2010 – 10:13 pm

The yard is bursting with beautiful colors. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I love spring! 🙂 ~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in our garden | Comments (0)

after the storm

May 4, 2010 – 9:19 am

Late Monday afternoon, we had a brief heavy downpour. There was some thunder, a little lightning, but not much. We did get some hail, though.

DD watched the storm from the bay window.

The storm left a sprinkling of hail on the front porch.

Do you see Zak hiding by the wall? He had been in the house and wanted out, but changed his mind when he walked over hail. He ran to the wall and stayed there until we opened the door to let him back inside.

Everything looked fresh and clean after the rain.

Zilli picked her way through the wet grass. She made a beeline for the east porch where it was a bit drier than the garden was.

DD couldn’t resist the puddles.

Sunshine brightened everything…

…And made a double rainbow. Do you see the second lighter one to the left of the bright rainbow?

A glorious reminder of a promise from God.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in our garden | Comments (0)

the changing garden

May 3, 2010 – 10:03 pm

No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden. ~Hugh Johnson

I am amazed at how quickly our garden changes. We are in it every day and every day is different from the one before. And it will be different, yet again, tomorrow. I wish more people would garden, whether flowers or veggies or both. There is a fascination and a wonder and a sense of God’s presence in a garden.

This morning, the plants were covered with dew. So pretty! The camera just doesn’t capture that well enough, but I tried. Maybe it’s one of those “you had to be there” times.

The ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud tree was beautiful with the sun shining on the leaves.

Columbine…dripping with dew…

Peony ‘Little Medicine Man’…isn’t that the prettiest shade of pink?

The spirea ‘Gold Flame’ was covered with dew…so pretty!

The peony ‘Flame’ is in full bloom.

The garden is looking lush and full. And there are so many more flowers to come…makes me wonder where they will fit.

Just north of the fenced garden, the snowball bush is heavy with bloom.

Hosta ‘Gold Standard’ gets a moment in the spotlight.

Plenty of water in the birdbath following the rains we’ve had.

The kitties like to use the birdbaths for drinks, but they also like the little pump fountain, as Oreo demonstrates.

The morning light gave a glow to the seedpods of the Honesty plant.

Every corner of the garden seems to have its share of beautiful blooms.

And tomorrow, when I visit the garden, it will be changed again. New flowers, colorful foliage, butterflies and birds, all bearing witness to the wonder of God’s creation. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

If you’re nearby, please stop by and enjoy our garden.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in our garden | Comments (1)

menu plan monday ~ may 3, 2010

May 3, 2010 – 10:07 am

We’ve watched the irises coming on strong during the past week. So many need to be lifted and reset, but right now, we’re just enjoying the beautiful blooms. The work of revitalizing them will wait for another time.

…..’Clarence’…………………………………..’Celtic Prince’……………………….’Kevin’s Theme’…..

This week, our two older daughters are moving home after almost three years in Virginia. They are looking for jobs and apartments, so don’t plan to be here long, but we are happy for the opportunity to see them more often! I chose menu items for later in the week that I thought they might enjoy.

Monday
Tacos

Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Tomato Soup

Wednesday
Hamburgers
Homemade Buns
Veggies / Ranch Dip

Thursday
Cheesy Ham and Pasta Bake
Cornbread
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Grapes

Friday
Spaghetti and Meatballs [Scroll down the linked page for an easy meatball recipe.]
Garlic Bread
Peas
Corn
Green Salad

Saturday
Lunch ~ Fridge Food
Supper ~ Pizza

Sunday
Roast Beef in the Crock Pot
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Corn
Homemade Rolls
Pear/Walnut Salad

You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in menu | Comments (1)

a walk through the garden

April 27, 2010 – 9:41 am

We were gone for five days and when we got back, it seemed the garden had suddenly become lush and full. Perhaps that’s just my perspective, but I think, too, the rain we had gave everything a big push.

The fenced garden is already looking overgrown. And I had hoped to plant some herbs in there this year…

The columbine is in full bloom. From the old red and yellow columbine, through the singles in many colors, to the doubles…

We have a large bed of columbine at the front of the house. So pretty right now!

The clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ is climbing through the hydrangea bush by the front porch.

The Korean lilac is blooming. We lost one of these last summer, and are not sure why it died. Part of this bush has died, too. Waiting to see if it will survive the season.

Near one of the beds in the front yard, the Johnny Jump Ups have appeared en masse.

At the west gate to the fenced garden, Salvia ‘May Night’ is just beginning to shine.

Blue False Indigo is native to the Midwest, so it thrives during our hot and humid summers. Plant it where you are sure you want it because it has a long tap root and extensive root system and is, therefore, difficult to move.

Extending springtime just a bit longer, some of our Poet’s daffodils have just bloomed. Most of them were done a week or so ago. Perhaps they are planted deeper than their friends were?

The irises are beginning to bloom. ‘Congratulations’ opened yesterday.

I’ll save all the lovely hosta plants for another post. They are coming on strong this year and are looking great!

You can visit other gardens at Bloomin’ Tuesday.

~~Rhonda

By ~~Rhonda | Posted in bloomin' tuesday, our garden | Comments (9)

Christmas Notebook

an in-between week in the garden

menu plan monday ~ may 24, 2010

menu plan monday ~ may 17, 2010

menu plan monday ~ may 10, 2010

irises and peonies

the early may garden

after the storm

the changing garden

menu plan monday ~ may 3, 2010

a walk through the garden

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