May and More

I can always tell it's springtime when the violets come into bloom! I love them!! I found this vase under my mother's sink after she passed. My mind immediately stepped back in time. I remember always picking violets for her, and she would be so happy and put them in this vase! They would sit in her windowsill over the kitchen sink. Sweet memories...

And then my lilacs would come into bloom. They were so pretty this year and of course they smelled amazing!! They too brought back a memory. My grandfather planted a lilac colored lilac bush at my aunt and uncles house and a white colored one at ours (actually it was close to the outhouse..lol)! My Mom was never happy with that color and always wished it was lilac in color. Well...now that I have a white one....I think I might understand. They do not have the lilac perfume smell that the colored one has. (And if that was part of the reason it was planted near the outhouse and didn't give out much of a smell...I can understand why Mom was unhappy with it! Ha Ha!)

The lily of the valleys were in full bloom too. They are so pretty and smell so good! A part of my driveway is lined with these. 

This was a new bush that grew by my lilac tree. I do not know what it is. If you know I would love to find out. Maybe it just finally bloomed. I'm not sure.  But it was really pretty when it was in full bloom!!

On Mother's Day, my son and his wife Vicky came over for a visit. They brought me this gorgeous plant and planter! It is filled with beautiful petunias! I have it sitting on my front porch, and go out and water and deadhead it almost everyday. I will have to watch it the next several days...as it's to be up to 90 degrees! 

My daughter and her husband sent me this card and bracelet for Mother's Day ! I love the pop-up card and the beautiful bracelet. ( The cross shape is so pretty.)

Since Memorial Day is in May we (my son Randy and I ) had to take a toad trip and go to the cemetery where Tom and his family are buried. They had so much rain up there, it was sad. The firlds had turned into lakes. And this is what the road to the cemetery looked like. Since my van is low to the ground we had to be careful not to bottom out.  Sad...

My friend Mary and I went out to eat in May to celebrate our birthdays! (Our October and January ones...ha!) I told you we had a bad winter!! It's always fun when we get together! Great food, friends and memories.

Here are the twins Eden and Ivy, already for their school program. I believe this was getting close to the  end of the school year. Aren't they adorable??




I must add a picture of Winter...this was in May of course. She had found her sun spot on the kitchen floor. 

Today, a friend of mine who writes books, sent me a text this morning telling me she had received her Advanced Review Copies of her new mystery book and asked me if I'd be interested in reading it and posting a review on a few sites she mentioned? Of course I said YES! I cannot wait to get it! I will share my review with you. Any one love mysteries??

Well, time for bed. Bye for now.

Lilacs and more...

Yes, we finally did have a yard full of lilacs in bloom this year. And Karen brought bouquet after bouquet into the house. They smelled heavenly!!!! As you can see, we were having rain when I took this photo!! (We have lavender, dark purple and white ones....) there are a few by our deck and patio. The rest line the end of our yard... Gorgeous!!

But then along came a spring hail storm, I know ours was nothing compared to some others. However, when it was pounding the house, I had De-Javu, many, many years ago we had a terrible hail storm. I was home alone, it knocked out all the windows on one side of my home!! I sat in the hallway, just sobbing. It was such a scary feeling, not knowing when or if it would ever end... This time I was praying and praying as I went around the house closing windows...and soon it ended. Well, it did do our lilacs in, between the hail and the rain. But we certainly enjoyed them while we had them!!

 

I know this is a blurry photo, but it's a Mama Oriole. I was so excited to see them come back this year. We have oranges and grape jelly out there for them. I hear them as they arrive, but they are fast, by the time I get my camera and  walk to the window, they have grabbed a few bites and have flown off.

I also received my 'free' Gooseberry Patch cookbook!! It is so cool!! I love their books. So many great recipes, stories and helpful hints. I had submitted a Christmas story, which they choose to use in this book! And when they do that, whether it's a story or a recipe they send you a free book!! I'm smiling... You can read my story about Rudolph here..

 

I've been very busy with the newsletter I put out, working on the church directory and a few other things!! This is all good, as of course you know I need to keep busy!

 

Blessings and Good Night..

Spring

Gosh I love spring. To watch turtle doves as they gather each day, as they soar through the air, and land in our trees. Then onto the patio, looking for some seeds to eat!!! (Aren't they pretty??)

During the day Sunday, we had rain off and on. Here is a shot of the clouds rolling through. This lilac tree is gradually loosing it's vibrancy. That being said this has been the best year for them.





Here is another tree on the opposite end of the patio. They are so beautiful this year!! It seems the weather plays such a big role in their longevity.

 

When I started this post, I could hear such beautiful spring sounds, all I could think of was "I love spring"! With the windows open, I could hear, lawn mowers, dogs barking, kids playing outside, birds singing their songs... What is not to love about all that??

 

Good night....

Lovely Day....

I looked out the window this morning and saw the dawn breaking!! Amazing...one second it's pitch black out and then the sun comes breaking across the horizon! Isn't God wonderful?? He never fails us and gives us a clean slate every day!!

It was so nice today...Rusty and I sat out on the porch and watched Tom as he went around the yard spraying weeds! I told him, he so reminded me of my dad. He use to walk around the farm and spray the weeds...smile... Then later Tom mowed the grass for the first time this year... It looks so nice....like a fresh cleaned house!

I thought I'd show you all our lilac trees...the whole back of our lot is lined with these trees (or do I call them bushes??) They are beautiful in the spring time!!! And after the blooms are done, they become a wonderful hedge to provide privacy for us! smile....

And finally...here is another picture I promised you earlier of Amanda at the park just north of Atlanta. Aren't these statues pretty? And of course granddaugther Amanda is the prettiest!! smile...

Hope you had a lovely day too!

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"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

April 22, 1937: We cleaned Cecil and Daryles room also Allens. I had fun changing Cecil and Daryles room. Allen brought me home.

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more as it happens here in the city................

Another day....

Our lilacs are starting to bloom! I can not wait to pick a bouquet and fill our house with their amazing fragrance!! We have all color..from white to these lucious purple ones... I have heard the white put off the most fragrance...so I'm going to check that out this year!!! I can remember that we had a white lilac tree at home...I do remember that they smelled wonderful!

Yesterday, Tom cut up our strawberries that we had bought at Sam's, they were amazing! Have you had any recently??? I told Tom I never could understand when I was a kid when someone would say they didn't like strawberries.... What??? How could anyone not like strawberries???? smile....

We have been invaded with these Grackles... they ate all the bird feed, (so we quit the feeding...) but Tom kept the water full...however...they were chasing the other birds (including the Robins) out of the bird baths..so tonight Tom emptied the bird baths... Tomorrow we see if they continue to come to our backyard. We miss all our other birds and hope this works! Did you notice the pennies in the bird bath?? They help keep the bathes clean!!

I'm doing  better today, only took a short nap this afternoon... which isn't bad since we got up at 4:30 this morning..sad... Hope you are having a good week....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The Many Thoughts of Grace"

April 21, 1937: We cleanded George's room today. Daryle teased me about saying "Listen at You." The 3 brothers were invited to the weiner roast. Allen brought me home.

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more as it happens here in the city.........