Updates and Some Pretties

Where do I start today.

I had another episode of sickness Sunday night and Monday - all day. It was the same as it has been for the past more than a year now. Excuse me - vomiting and diahrea and horrible pain. I thought having my gall bladder removed almost 2 weeks ago would make me feel better. This is the second episode since my surgery. This morning I had some blood work done. I'll be seeing the doctor on Thur.

Mom is beginning to recover. Last week was a bad week. After surgery and for 5 days she was on another planet. She knew who we were but she wasn't with us. Her sugar kept dropping in the night and she come near dying on Sunday morning. Sugar dropped to 20. It took them 3 hours to get her stable. It's a wonder she didn't go into a coma. After this happened I went to the hospital and put down my foot and made some changes to her schedule with the nurses and doctors. I got things changed. She called me this morning to check on me and I can't tell you what it meant to hear my moms voice calling me. I cried and said thank you Jesus she is going to be OK now. Now we can begin to focus on the hip healing. The hip will be a breeze compared to what it's been like. She is doing well now.

You all know the hospitals have the best gift shops. I love to visit a gift shop. Look what I found. I love Santa Claus. These were adorable.

Thought I'd share some pretties with you today. The gardens still have some blooms for a little while longer. I haven't raked yet so the leaves are everywhere and running over the garden beds.

 Milkweed still hanging around. I cut it all down but 3 stems and they are taller than me.



Hope you all have a blessed day. I am trying to get around to visit you all this week. I have missed blog world and my friends.

This and That

This is what greeted me this morning. The sky was actually a redder sky than it shows. Beautiful non-the less.

I have admired this tree for a long time. It is at one of the clinics I go to. Just wanted to share it with you.

The tree is a water oak and apparently has never been trimmed. I like that it has been allowed to grow just like it wants to.

I can vision ladies back in the 'day' with their long dresses on waiting for a picnic under the tree.

This was the sky this weekend. So glad to see those clouds. They brought much needed rain to our area.

After the rains I found some things that wanted to shout - thanks for the moisture from the skies.
Begonias with a bug. He's just resting though.

A tropical hibuscus. It was very small when I planted it and it is going to take off in the spring. It is happy to grow now since I removed so much that was shading it.

This is one I saw yesterday morning...

I let most of my zinnias go to seed this year and I have little zinnias growing everywhere.

And they all have little buds on top of them.

This morning there were 4 of these babies open. They must be real proud of the rain.

The tree service came out yesterday and look at my pecan tree. The utility companies keep the trees cut back away from the utility lines and this is what my tree looks like now. They cut the side of it off. Oh well it'll grow back.



That's about it today.

Have a blessed day everyone.

This and That Weekend

Darnit! I can't get this dang cursor at the top of my post. I hate blogger sometime.

Check out this new garden cart I bought. It was only $19 and it is the best investment I've gotten all summer. It will haul up to 250# and that is a lot. It is perfect for picking up sticks and just plain perfect for my needs. Came from Ace Hardware.

In spite of the heat I managed to get out and get some things done this weekend. I cut limbs from all of my huge shrubs and small trees and ya'll know how big my place is. Wow what a difference cutting limbs can make. Now I have to get my keester back out to pick them up which is the chore I hate most. If I didn't have to clean up my messes I probably would do more.

This flowerbed received a cleaning out. I have tired of the zinnias taking up all the space and branching out all over the place so I pulled them up in this bed. You can see all the space I have now. Getting ready to put out more stuff but may end up waiting till Sept. Putting new plants into the ground this time of year with the heat being what it is this year, the plants just will not do well.

The small plant to the left is a Sarah Bernhardt Peony that became shadowed by the zinnias. Since it didn't do anything this year I probably will move it. Hey gardeners out there would it be wise to move it or leave it where it is. It is not receiving much sun - maybe the middle of the day or late afternoon. This is my first peony.

The cleome did beautifully. I love the soft spidery like tentacles on the flowers.

I was surprised to find this new geranium producing a new flower. I recently planted 2 new geraniums probably 3 weeks ago. They are puny due to the heat and dry conditions.

This is one of the best performers this year. I thought the okra hibuscus had given out 3 weeks ago and low and behold they have budded out again and going for another round.

I am seeing an abundance of butterfly's. I have yet to stand outside waiting for one to light in this heat so just know they are there. Milkweed is performing beautifully. All of the milkweed are budding and flowering now.

This particular display of vincas have really outdone itself. Usually vincas are a little finicky if they get too dry and hot or too much sun but this one hasn't missed a beat. It has been flowering since the end of May when it was planted and doesn't seem affected by the heat. Others purchased since then have struggled to survive.

Portulaca starting to bloom again. I think this plant is getting too much sun.

Ya'll know how I feel about begonias now. They are super performers.

The heat - OH THE HEAT is on isn't it. Everywhere it is hot. We are experiencing temps in the 100 degree range maybe a few degrees over 100 with heat index of 115. Dangerously hot. Relief is coming at the end of the week when the highs will be back at a seasonable 92. Never thought I'd be glad to see 92.

I haven't given up on the stopping smoking. I am working myself up again and reforming my strategy.

I just want to say how much I truly appreciate all of you blogger friends and the kind words of encouragement. You all are the BEST. It is your encouragement that will help me to succeed and yes I EXPECT to be SUCCESSFUL.

Have a good day everyone.

Fertilizer Friday - TGIF

Good Friday morning friends. TGIF. It's Friday in case you didn't know - time to join the party over at Tootsie Time to show off our blooms. http://www.tootsietime.com/

I'm so glad I made myself get out and at least water my babies and take a few photos. I hate not participating in the weekly get togethers.

Faithful begonias. They are so tolerant of the dry conditions. It doesn't seem to even bother them.

Theis a four o'clock that has been in this stage for over 2 wks. I have looked at it at different times of day and it is the same all the time. The plant is loaded with little 'almost' flowers all over it. This is a Marvel of Peru.

Milkweed is flowering now. Butterflies are everywhere but all I've seen so far are swallow tails. They won't stay still long enough for me to get a photo.

Cannas still blooming.

Verbena and coleus.

Vincas.

Cleome is beginning to bloom.

That's about all I have for today.

I feel that I am so fortunate to have found that blogging would lead to so many friends. I appreciate each and every comment from my post yesterday. You all are so encouraging to me.

I am a list maker. Nicotine patch and nicotine gum and hard candy are on my walmart list. I plan to apply the patch on Monday.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Bloomin' Tuesday

Good Tuesday morning blogging buddies. Today is the day we all get together over at Jeans to share what's blooming in our gardens. Head on over to Jeans at http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/ to see who else has somthing blooming.

I purchased a couple more plants this weekend. I love this pot with these beautiful babies. I love coleus and have no idea why I have none in my gardens. Help me out here - what is the red flower.

I love vincas almost as much as begonias. They tolerate dry and hot conditions very well here. I only purchased 2 this weekend. A light pink and a darker pink.

This basil smells so good. Makes my want to cook some spaghetti. I have never used fresh herbs before so this will be a new experience.

Parsley

Jasmine is growing very well. And yes it smells good. Hurt my knees getting down that close.

These zinnias have not stopped blooming all year.

Well look at this. I finally grew some peaches that are so good. This is my first eatable peaches. They are juicy and sweet. I did the happy dance when I cut them open and tasted them. Yummy. I think I'll have to make something with them. Throw me some ideas.

My little Buddy. Just got a haircut. They messed up but oh well it's just hair. He needs more puff on top.

Oops this was suppose to be at the top.

That's it for today. Hope you all have a great day.