The secret garden

There was an eye sore in my back yard. I tried  many different things and it always looked a mess. Finally last year I dug out everything and left it bald. Needless to say..weeds soon took over again. I didn't take many pics of it either. Here is one from 2009 and a bald one from 2010. In the first one you have to really look to see it cuz I hated that area.

But now..it is finally looking pretty good.  Now I am proud to take pics of this hidden area. A secluded corner easily forgotten for many years. I used to also have brambling, roaming, blackberry vines there too. Then I thought a nice mix of ground covers. Naw...always looked like a jungle. And now? Ahhh...a place to relax in.

Back yard newly weeded

Nice fresh beds in the back and the herb garden not overgrown..yet!

I really need to get a few plants for a few places, just not sure what yet.

This last one is the pool-less long back forty. No close up of the back gardens...too many weeds.

The jungles have started

Ah...finally rain stopped long enough to get thing planted. Soon it will be a jungle everywhere but for now...neatly contained.

I think these irises plain got tired. Seriously, a combination of wind, rain and the shade of the evergreens made them lean a bit too much.

Herb garden revamped

Now the herb garden got a make over too. I took out some I never used, like the sage and took out the pole in the middle of the raised concrete bed. The long pots on the lower right are gone now..they went to the plant exchange. Many cages are moved about too. But at least the bed is ready for planting. The cages keep the bunnies from eating stuff and also the squirrels from digging up newly planted things. They like the easy digging for their peanuts that the neighbors give them. I wish they would just eat them and not hide them...grrr... Bare now but in a few months...a jungle.

Naked pots

One day, when the rain stops, I will get these pots filled. I have revamped yet again the front gardens. I got new pots last  year and also decided to move the patio furniture to the front porch. I have more free time in later afternoon and evening and thought to get an umbrella for the back cuz it is in full sun then. While resting on the front porch one afternoon, I thought ..gee..if I had a table here I could bring my crochet out and then it hit me...move the table silly girl! Plus I could see better the comings and goings of the neighborhood. So now...the new front porch look.

old-new hobby

I have had a hankering to do something different of late so I renewed my interest in crocheting.
I decided to do hotpads and hats.

Here are my first efforts after a 10 years layoff. My fingers quickly remembered even though I had to relearn a few things like turning a row and changing colors.

New age Santa

Straight from the People of Walmart site. I thought it quite inventive.

Gatlinburg trip-last breakfast

Sadly the trip came to an end with one last time together....breakfast. I did try the gadget for a pic of all of us but it didnt come out too well.

Gatlinburg trip- my new gadjet

Gary gave me an early Christmas present. You might notice my hand sorta raised in some pics. The reason for that is I am learning to use a camera extender. You screw your camera onto it. Nearly all cameras these days have an universal screw hole in the bottom for tripods and extenders. Allthese pics were taken with that. I am still learning where to aim the camera and how high to hold it so some are not so good. But it was fun taking them without another person doing the shooting.

Gatlingburg trip - grandsons.

My daughter Tab and her son Douglas

Devin, his mom Tab and Gary while waiting for a trolley

Tab and Douglas on the Christmas trolley

Devin and me in motel room, all 6 ft one of him and he only 14.

Douglas and Devin at our last breakfast

Gatlinburg trip- very cold there

It was very cold while down south and Tab forgot her hat so I loaned her mine. She laughed...said she looked like old lady with it. Sniffle...I thought she looked cute. It goes with my new red and gray coat just fine.

Wondering about the back story

While cruising one of my favorites sites....People of Walmart, I found this pic and I do have to wonder the back story of this photo. I think that might be more interesting than the photo itself...or at least make the photo complete. Hey people...don't let us hang here. If this is you...step up and explain.

Please.

And just for those wanting a few minutes diversion that is updated daily, here ya go. The writer who posts captions for each photo is hilarious.

People of Walmart

The first big snow

We got our first big real snow of this winter. And it was still snowing. Anyone know what is different about the last photo? If you don't know me well,,you  might not get the answer.  The first two are taken out the front door and the last out the back door.

Because they can, should they?

From my point of view, this is a total waste of money.  I read this article this morning on Yahoo news and was so shocked at why they would do this. The only conclusion I came to was "cuz they can".

tron movie reverseages

If you are not into reading this article it basically is about a new movie Tron and how they are manipulating Jeff Bridges to look younger. He is 61 and they want him to look 35. Ok..they use computer graphics, yeah...it is in all movies these days. But they use his head and change it AND put it on another actor's body. HUH?

This quote from the article about one of the characters. "Clu bears Bridges' face, altered to make him about 35 years old, but it's grafted onto a younger actor's body."

Why spend all that money, and this HAS to be expensive, to change these things. Just hire a younger actor in the first place. There is so much talent in the world, surely they can find someone good.

But I question something deeper. Why the need to keep our actors looking young? What the heck is wrong with aging. I personally find it disturbing when someone who is past 70, ahem, Like Barbara Walters, for example, to look early 40's. It just isn't right. What message are we sending our young? It is NOT ok to age? If your body is not perfect..change it?

Plastic surgery and photo manipulation have already gone overboard but this completely false representation of an actor is absurd!

Happy Thanksgiving

ahhh...thighs...my favorite part of the turkey.

and the biggest part of me...ROFL

Anxious for the holidays

Hi all,
Miss me?
 I know...I have been lax about posting lately but it does not mean I have not been busy.

I had been determined to have Christmas with my girls this year and have planned a special surprise for them. Yup..told them about it cuz they had to prepare for it too. I am taking them to Gatlinburg, Tn for a Christmas Holiday as their present. I got hotel rooms all booked and will soon get some special combo attraction tickets too. Gary and I will arrive a few days before them and make it our winter vacation too.

I can hardly wait. Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. I hope the weather is not too snowy so we can travel safely. I promise that I will post tons of pics right after. Cuz that is what I want them to give me...3 days of no protesting so I can take all the pics I want. My grandsons are camera hogs so no problem there anyway.

After George's passing...I want more memories to leave behind. So I am spending their inheritance now to make them..ROFL.

Any special holidays plans you have?

hugs, Pat