What Would YOU Suggest?

This Last Year, I spent too much time on projects***

thinking about projects,
beginning projects,
working on uncompleted projects,
finishing projects,
and being frustrated by unfinished projects

and too much time thinking about projects...

Projects in themselves are not a bad thing. But it's all about Balance, isn't it?? Here is my problem:

I didn't take enough time to sit, sip a lemonaid/iced tea/etc., relax, and enjoy my gardens.
I didn't take out my sketch pad, as I'd intended.
I didn't take out my writing tablet, as I'd intended.
I didn't sit outdoors and read a book, as I'd intended
I didn't invite friends over, as I'd intended...

Okay, I think you're getting the picture.
I need your help.

Please offer suggestions on how I can better enjoy the outdoors.
What do you do to take advantage of the plants, flowers and wildlife in the gardens? How do you go about making sure you take the time to relax outdoors?
I would really like to better enjoy a more relaxing Spring, Summer, and Fall next year!

After all, isn't that what it's Really About???

Once I gather your suggestions, I'll look forward to seeing these sights next Spring!
:-)

All the photos below were taken May 4, 2009.

Ooh the Weather Outside is Frightful... but You Can Make it Snow on Your Blog!

But inside the snow's delightful!

What did I say??


I want to give you the information to place a snowfall wigit
on your blot. Just be patient, it will snow! ;-)

Click on this Link for the information!

(I also apologize to whomever provided this information earlier...
I found it on one of the blogs I visit, but forgot to note who it was.
Now I can't thank him/her!)

Some Winter Bird Photos

We woke up to SNOW this morning. Our forecast sounds blizzardy with lots of snow? these next couple of days. Fairly unusual weather for this SE Iowa location. We'll see what happens!

I'm going to take you for a little walk around the house... Sidney (dog) and I just couldn't help but take a little jaunt!

North side of the driveway

Now we're south of the driveway, in the front yard.

In the raised bed gardens... Echinacea in the foreground,

Miss Coneflower with her winter bonnet.

Backyard view

Untrimmed 'Autumn Joy' sedum

Perky

Wren house is now waiting until Spring for its occupants

Now... for the birds.
I could hardly wait until this moment!

I pulled the tripod out of the basement, set it up in the living room, and mounted the camera. It didn't take long, and the birds began showing up.

My problem is that I was pretty far away and photographing at an angle (60 degrees?) through the window. My camera is a 10x optical zoom. But I took these at a 29. But I'm not sad. I'll continue working at this! :-)

Mr. Tufted Titmouse

Miss Goldfinch (quickly entering her winter phase) and Mr. T.T.

Mr. Black-capped Chickadee-dee and, again, Mr. TT

I'm not quite sure Who that is back there, but on the left we again have Miss Goldfinch and on the right we are happy to introduce Mr. Nuthatch!

Juncos don't Have to wait on the ground for the leftovers All the time! :-)

Mr. Red bellied Woodpecker stopped in for a look and a sample.

And Th-th-th-that's All, Folks!

Nothing Shady here! ;-)
Have a great day.

Is It A Charlie Brown Tree? ;-)

I think the idea of Green Thumb Sunday is to show what's actually blooming. You might check in at As the Garden Grows. If you decide to show what's blooming on Sundays, create your post and leave a comment on their latest posting. The biggest green (formerly living) thing in the house is our new tree!


It was growing on the south side of the house (approx. 2 feet from the foundation) and getting way too big for it's britches, if you know what I mean! Anyway, I used a handsaw Tuesday around lunch time and cut the top 4/5 off ... tah, dah ... our Christmas tree!

Nearly decorated.

Light and airy. Would you venture "ethereal?"

Well... maybe not. ha!

Probably more like a "Charlie Brown Tree."

I had some very lightweight red "roping" left from last year.
But I didn't have enough.
Guess I'll look for something else.


This last photo is what our neighbors see when they drive home.

I know... I still have to put up the roping and outdoor lights...

Maybe Monday. ;-)

A Moment's Pause... Getting Ready for Christmas?

Looking forward to a Merry Christmas? Usually Christmas holds a surprise in wait for almost everyone, it seems.

Check out the video below... ;-)

Garden Lily had visited me earlier and been inspired

by the Youtube video on the Miniscule Ladybug and Mosquitos
that I'd posted earlier... as I'd been inspired by Meg and Randy.

Reminds me of my post "Fly Get's the Upper Hand!" of March 21, 2009. (Go ahead! Click on this last link!) I took a few liberties with my parody on the poem by Mary Howitt.

Happy December!

We Need Your Advice!

A friend of mine and I have been painting a whimsical mural
on a wall of our Church Nursery.

Here's the latest post... just click on the photo.


My question is...

if we don't cover the paint with something clear and scrub-able, the mural will wash off the wall!

What you YOU advise that we do??

Nothing shady here... just a little "shaky!" ;-)

Chortle, Chuckle, Gasp! Ha! Too Much Fun!

Perhaps you'll remember my Gardener Gladys and/or Susan Scare-the-crow (you can search for either one of my garden helpers at the top of this blog). In the photo below, you'll see Susan. She hangs around in the raised-bed flower gardens all summer... consequently, she's earned a her retirement. The fellow/gal on her right will possibly be her replacement. I'm working on creating two new heads, at this time.

This head hasn't changed since the first session...

... but I've been working on the second head a lot! Pucker up! ha!

I have some ambitious gardening friends (we have our own little garden club), that thought they'd like to try making a "---" Scare-the-birds, too. So, here we are! We've had two sessions... and will have another in January. Check it out. It's a hoot! ::-))

"Thoroughly Moderne Mona" (in the purple) visited our first session. Mona was created a couple of years ago for a local contest in creating a Mona Lisa look-alike. She remains in my home, but I'm really not sure what to do with her!

This is Nancee's accomplishment after her first session ... ... and this is what her "---" Scare-the-birds looks like after two sessions!

June's "Grinch" is the result of two sessions... we laugh, but it will be fine!

Bekkie's nearing the end of her second session...

This is Carrie's face at the end of session one ...

...and here she is at the end of session two!

Cindee's only had one session. I hope she's able to join us in January!!
(I see real potential, don't you??)

We're having a fun time! For some of us, it's hard to envision the finished product. Quite honestly, as they evolve they sometimes just take on a life of their own! And Actually - that's most of the fun, as far as I'm concerned! :-)

In the meantime, we're chortling, chuckling, gasping, laughing, and having WAY too much fun! :-)