The North Ten

There is a space in my backyard that is about 12 feet by 10 feet that I was not happy with. It contained Ice plant in the center and rose bushes all around. This area sat right outside my dinning room and breakfast area so that, when you sat in either room and looked out the window, that's what you saw...it wasn't the prettiest view. So being the ambitious bunny that I am, I proceeded to rip everything out...EVERYTHING! It took me a long while as I had and have a few ailments besides being just plain old that kept me from working fast....ie: sore knee, bad back, gall bladder attack..you know, the usual. It must of taken me about a year to complete just the purging itself. What was left was a dirt lot...I even managed to get rid of most of the larger rocks and stones. I worked the soil, I added this and that and even added soil softener as our soil is kinda like clay. When I was finished, I envisioned a Crape Myrtle tree in the center...not just any Crape Myrtle, but what is called , a Petite Crape Myrtle, one that wouldn't grow so wide and tall, one that was a vibrant lavender and I also envisioned cosmos and giant Gerber daisies and anything else that would grow in zone 8.




Isn't it just lovely? Imagine sitting in my dinning room or eating breakfast or lounging in the patio for that matter sipping wine or even a cup of herbal tea and gazing upon such loveliness. This vibrant yet delicate tree surrounded by an assortment of bright and cherry floral and fauna. Hey! Let's throw in some humming birds and lady bugs and butterflies while were sittin' back takin' it all in.


....and then, when I was all done with the demolishion and I started to look again for this elusive tree, there were non to be found. Apparently there hasn't been a good crop in a while and my window of planting was March, April and May. So what do I do? Do I wait a whole year with a dirt square smack dab outside my windows? Eric told me to throw some wild flower seeds in there, which would make it very pretty...but I want my tree and I'd just have to rip everything out ....AGAIN!

I don't give up very easily, as I said before in another post...I'm like a dog with a bone...sometimes I just can't let it go, BUT, I did this time. Perhaps I'm tired or maybe I'm just mellowing out, but all Raquel had to do was ask if she could grow some veggie there and I gave in. She asked me what kind, I told her I don't know...go for it! And so...SHE DID!



Corn..lots and lots of corn...





I have nothing to do with this...I take no responsibility nor do I lend a hand. I told Raquel, "It's official, we are now white trash", "Nope, not yet" her response, "we'd be white trash if it was planted in the front yard"...lol hhhmmm...wonder what she meant by "not yet"?


So, anyways, we are all amazed at the rate of growth and even the fact that it is growing at all. So we sit and have breakfast and the first thing we do is lift the blinds and check on the crop making sure that no critters have partaken in any nocturnal hanky panky or that mysterious corn circle don't mysteriously appear....except for these two..


Cleo likes to nibble at the leafy stocks that hang over the sidewalk as she walks by...




and Ginger likes to lay in the middle of the corn and roll back and forth


I will keep you posted on the progress of the little plot and hopefully the city's AG. Dept. doesn't catch wind of this and cite us for illegal growing of a substance or something like that. The funny thing is, is that I can't eat corn... I'm just sayin'

The Classics

Since Raquel was in middle school, she is now ending her Jr. year in High school, she has been taking advanced English courses. In these classes she was obligated to read some pretty classic books. At some point or another she had to define, report, debate, summarize, translate and pretty much dissect each and everyone one of them. Some of them she dislike with a vengeance and others was pleasantly surprised and a couple she had actually read on her own before having to do so in class. Before the age of 14, I was never much of a reader...until I secretly read my mothers Danielle Steele book from her side table and ...WOW!..pretty racy stuff back in 1969 and in turn, started reading all of Danielle Steele books for a while. My taste in books pretty much runs the gamete...from bio's(my fav) to architecture, to vampires to circus life and on, but the classics...not too much...until now.

I thought I should read what Raquel was reading so at first I could help her with homework and such, but gradually I just enjoyed reading them for the mere pleasure as I don't help with homework anymore....to advanced for me. So little by little I read every single one and like Raquel, some I loved, one I've read every year for 15 years and one I hated....with a vengeance.

1. Frankenstein....loved it! Better than any movie...except Young Frankenstein....lol
2. Flowers for Algernon...loved it. Read it before..made me cry both times. Made into a movie by the name of Charly.
3. Lord of the Flies....loved it. Strange story but that's just me.
4. Of Mice and Men. Only saw the movie till now. The book is very good.
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer....First of all, I'm not sure why I never read these books, as Mark Twain is my favorite author on the planet. Absolutely loved these two.
6. The Great Gatsby...Hmmmm, interesting and I found it hard to get into it, but I managed and I'm glad I did.
7. Great Expectations....Loved everything about this story....characters, location, era and of course Charles Dickens.
8. Their Eyes Were Watching God...This is exactly the type of story I like to read. People's life journey including the celebration and trauma of life. Glad I read it.
9. The Pearl...This book mad Raquel angry...so naturally, I had to read it. We discussed this story line for days...John Steinbeck's version of Mexican folklore.
10. A Separate Peace....A very easy read....enjoyed it.
11. To Kill A Mockingbird....What can I say except....I've read this book every year for years sometimes more than once. It's my favorite book and movie of all time. Something about it strikes a cord in me and hits me straight in the heart.
12. Romeo and Juliet & Macbeth.... Lucky for me I like Shakespeare. We must of lived in another life together because the translation came easy for me...and Raquel.
13. The Last of the Mohicans....HATED this book. It was so hard for me to get through. For whatever reason, I had a hard time following and understanding. I had to re read every page. I will NEVER read this book again. Raquel disliked it too for the same reasons.
14. The Catcher In The Rye....Love this book, but after reading it, I was surprised that it was part of the schools criteria...pretty adult themed and explicit. Raquel never warned me and when I said something about it...it was no big deal according to her.
15. Animal Farm...One of the books I was forced to read when I was young and liked it then...liked it again this time around and Raquel and I had a very in dept discussion regarding it.
16. Native Son....Raquel just finished this book and she loved it. I will begin to read it very soon.
17. Night.....I actually had this book so we didn't have to buy it. Holocaust survivor story of his ordeal...very hard read in terms of graphic nature...but, we both loved it and Raquel actually visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC....she was very moved as was I.
18. 1984....Strange book but entertaining....I liked it, Raquel didn't
19. Ironweed......I loved this book. Again, the kind of story I enjoy. People's lives and how they effect people around them.
20. The Invisible Man...Again...my type of book. I'm always rootin' for the underdog.

And there you have it. I know there was more, but we can't think of them and too lazy to go find them. If you ever have a chance to read a classic now and then, I urge you to do so..you might find out what all the hoopla's about. Now...let's hope I'm ready for my senior year...and I'm not talking about my life after 50.....I'm just sayin'

Tea Cup Tuesday

As I have run out of tea cups to show and tell, I must bring dessert for all of us to enjoy....

For all you rose fans, this creamy white Tea pot cake is perfectly decorated with big pink and red roses enhanced with winding green vines

or perhaps you favor something a little more whimsical like this green and white Tea pot cake with tea cups

Try a little slice of this very delicate lavender Tea pot cake. Take note of the little cream butterflies on the side and very top.

A little modern flair with this green and pink polka dot creation. The little tea pot and cups are the perfect topper.

A very delicate pink Tea pot cake with detailed white flowers and pearls.

and last but not least, this artfully detailed Tea Set cake in retro colors and style.

Although it's a shame to cut into any one of these masterpieces, I'm sure with just the right tea and cup, along with good company, made it all worth while. Enjoy!

*all images from google images

Greetings from La Habra

good morning...

New York, Maryland, Texas, Kuwait,

Pennsylvania, EnGLaNd, Minnesota,

Germany,Florida, , Brazil, Utah,

Ohio, NEw yORk ,Arizona, mIcHigAn,

ArKAnSas, CaLiFOrNiA,

iNdIAnA, UTaH, WaSHInGtOn,

CaNaDA, N. CArOliNA

AnD oZ.

and everywhere else ~

Is it Just Me ...

that puts away the knifes at night, as if the bad guys wouldn't find them?


that puts the timer on in the kitchen...and then walks away to another room?


who doesn't want to hear EVERY detail of my 16 years old life?


who scans the "Realtor" sections of the paper knowing full well I'm not moving?


or is it weird that I like to sleep alone?


or do other people put items in their cart to buy and then put them away at the last minute?


or am I the last person on the planet who still uses wax paper?


or does the "Burger King" king scare you too?


or do you think that Serena Williams looks like a man in tennis drag too?


that while sitting on the loo, I clean the floor...where ever I can reach AND while taking a shower, clean the tile?


or do other people pick out the longest lines just to people watch?

or am I the only 54 year old still having a period?


that I'm burnt out on going out to dinner, but also burnt out on cooking?


that I'm a chronic radio station turner?

I'm just askin'

Welcome to my Tea

Come on in and make yourself comfortable ~

either in the kitchen while we enjoy the sunshine streaming in from the windows

or the comfy couch in the living room

let's add a bit of whimsy with this red polka dot Tea Set

Tea or Coffee...it really doesn't matter as long as we enjoy it and ourselves

...and how do you take it?

Sugar?


Cream?

A little nosh? What's a soothing warm beverage
without a little something sweet. How about a nice
array of "Pan Dulce" to curb your sweet tooth? Go
ahead...try one!

Nothing like a little sweetness, some good company and some motherly advise...

and that Tea cup of your dreams

let's do this again....real soon. I'm just sayin'

Two make overs...a cow and a tree

You all know that Raquel has a cute little heifer by the name of Rogue...well, she's still cute but weighting in at 1,085lb is beyond little. Being that she is mostly black, her fur has a tendency to turn reddish and this was not acceptable according to my daughter. So after asking around if dying livestock is doable and frown upon, the consensuses is, yes is very much doable and no, people, especially ones who compete with they're animal do it all the time, you just can't do it while in the competition, you have to do it a few days before. So, Raquel decided to give her a dye test to see, A, if it would work and B, for how long. Yes it worked beautifully and it only lasted about 2 and a half weeks.

The beautification of a heifer...


She's moo tiful


Time to mosey on back home with my new look




Alright, time for my "I'm too lazy to put away and decorate every occasion" tree.



I put huge purple and pink Gerber daisies and smaller white daisies on it.

I tied a purple floral ribbon around the base and put some
purple accents around.





I think when summer comes around I just might add a bug or two. Maybe some dragon flys, lady bugs and bees..who knows? Everyone have a great springy day~