Gifts from the UK.....

I can use a week like this anytime..................................




Isn't this the prettiest colors...............................
My sweet little pin..........
Happy Anniversary..........
This is the cathedral Marion visited recently.............................

An interior picture of the cathedral......St. David's...........................


Last week was a wonderful week.....I'm not gonna lie, I love presents......big or small, it doesn't matter....just something wrapped that I don't know what's inside the wrapping......

I was so excited when my husband brought in the mail one day last week and said, "you have a package from England." I was expecting one because I won Barbara's 100th posting gift....but it wasn't from Barbara......It was from Marion, Reflection of the Seasons, in Wales....

I carefully unwrapped the box and just couldn't imagine what was inside...each of the several pieces were wrapped in pretty rose printed paper.......she had sent the most beautiful dresser set, exquisite flowers decorated each lovely piece, a 'Betty' pin that I adore (thanks John), whimsical sheep coasters, a sachet of lavender, post cards of St David's Cathedral, a Tywyn book and a beautiful anniversary card......a fabulous collection in honor of our 47th anniversary......thank you dear friend Marion.....

Well, a few days later, another package.....this time it was from Barbara in Romford, England....I felt like the queen bee.....as I carefully opened the package I found the most beautiful handmade birthday cards in cheerfully colored envelopes....each one a work of art.....now my problem is parting with them.......very special people will receive these....... maybe one even to me......

Thank you both, dear sweet ladies for adding such sweet joy to my life.......my English friends.....

Friday Show and Tell........Tab, the wonder cat.......

It's Friday and once again Show and Tell time.......check over at Kelli's to see who is participating........
Once upon a time, some heartless people left two precious little kittens at a garbage dumpster.....along came a tender hearted couple and rescued them.......took them home, bathed and defleaed them, fed them with a doll bottle, carried them to the vet and had them wormed and loved them......they were name Tab, because he was tabby and Callie because she was a calico........when they were a couple of months old, these friends called to see if we would take the kitties......we are suckers for a sad story and have all ways had pets. This was several years ago by the way...........

Tab and Callie came to live with us.....they grew into big cats....still loving their 'bottle.' Unfortunately Callie ran in front of a car and had used all of her nine lives.........Tab continued to be spoiled rotten...we think he could talk....they were not house cats but sometimes he would sneak in, sit in front of the refrigerator and say "mm-ii--ll--kk"......

I carried him to kindergarten to show the children how he would lay in my lap and hold his bottle.....he was quite a performer......he loved attention.

Our grandcat, Smokey, a large, long haired, gray cat, came to stay several weeks with us while our daughter was in transition to a new home.....Smokey and Tab did not see eye to eye on anything......Tab was meek and gentle and Smokey was king of the walk.....one day Tab left and didn't come back........I hope he found a loving home and once again rescued by tender hearted people..........

Our little bit of heaven on earth.........

Front view of our home........
Autumn Star Clematis that will be in full bloom in August........
Another view of the front of the house........
These are red Knockout Roses around the the birdhouse.....have been beautiful.......
Front porch of our little guest house..........................
This the view out of our bedroom window....a post on it soon..........
This table top is painted like the heart of a watermelon......
One of the north side flowerbeds...the daylilies have been gorgeous...the armilary is one of my favorite garden ornaments........
The swing and another table and chairs....the table was a curb side find and the chairs were $4.oo each at a thrift store......................the fishpool is to the right......
South side of the house and Edward's study in the rear........
Purple Lantana along the rail fence.....there is also white and yellow Lantana.........
Another view of the fence and Lantana.......
The patio going out the back door.....six of these wrought iron chairs were curbside finds......
A flowerbed of old fashion Petunias, snaps, zinnias, Queen Ann's Lace, coreopsis, Cockscomb,
and our daughter's pedal car from days gone by holding a pot of Asparagus Fern. Roses are ready to climb on the arbor...........................................
Oakleaf Hydrangea.......................................
A hanging horse to swing on......the grandchildren love this............recycled ..........
We tore the greenhouse down and laid a brick patio to the right....a sitting area where Ling-Ling our cat enjoys napping..........
The fish pool with large Koi and scads of little fish...........................
Endless Summer Hydrangeas
Confederate Jasmin on the lamp post.....
An angel watches over her domain...................................Thanks for coming by...........

Something unexpected in my flowerbed......

This not 'my snake'------I didn't take the time to go get the camera, but it is one just like it.....

One morning last summer, I was up early and out mulching a back flowerbed with pine straw (pine needles). I was down on my hands and knees placing it just so around the flowers......finishing up I realized some was on the walk way. I went into the house, found the broom and began sweeping at the back porch, making my way around the curvy walk. When I got back to where I had been down on my hands and knees in the flower bed, there was a coiled RATTLESNAKE!!!!!!! I knew immediately, without a shadow of a doubt what kind it was.....when you see those rattlers......I had often wondered if I walked up on one would I: have a heart attack, wet my pants, faint or maybe all three.

My only weapon at hand was the broom in my hand...........my husband was in his study away from the house with the air conditioner running. I did what any red blooded woman would do, I began screaming at the top of my lungs....."EEEEEEEDDDDDDWWWWAAAAARRRRRDDDDDDDD! (EDWARD), just knowing he would never hear me....If I left to go get him , the snake would crawl away...........finally he stuck his head out of the door....I managed to say, "rattlesnake." He said what any man would say, "go get the gun." Now I knew where a gun was, but you gotta put something in it, and I had no inkling where any shells were. I remembered a shovel propped against the greenhouse. He grabbed it and came to my rescue.....not a knight on a white stallion....but a husband with a shovel......after several whacks, the snake was no longer a threat......then I remembered hearing that they usually travel in pairs. For several days, I was very leary when walking outside but never saw another one....... I still look at 'the spot' when I walk that way.....God is good....

In another episode, I'll tell you about my armadillo trapping and my sophisticated equipment.....

Thank you...Seashore...Wesley...Prize...Show and Tell Friday...

Today is Friday and it's Show and Tell time over at Kelli's........This picture of zinnias in a bowl belonged to my grandmother........When I came into possession of it I had it re-framed and re-matted........It means a great deal to me because it belonged to her........I use many hanging plates, platters, bowls in my decor.......thank you for coming by.................
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Thank you for all the kind comments on our 47th wedding anniversary......I read each one and you can never know how much your good wishes mean....and how encouraging to go for another 47.......rather than visit you all today and thank you, please accept this as my thanks for this time............

We went to the seashore for a mini holiday this week...the same one we went to on our honeymoon and stayed across the street from where we stayed 47 years ago......we walked on the beach very early in the morning.......how can one look out over the ocean and not believe in a high power...........


We ate at our favorite restaurants and didn't think about the calories.....I'm thinking about them now that we're home.......the camera batteries died early on so just a couple of restaurant pictures...............this one is very reminiscent of Key West....especially the style and landscaping of the outside...wrap around porch.........
The bridge reminds me of ship's sails................................................
Edward on our walk...............
Someone just walked out of their shoes and kept going....in which direction are your footprints going...................
We found some very unusual shells.........................................

Our nine year old grandson, Wesley, has been in the hospital this week but is coming home this afternoon........acute sinus infection......

I am the happy winner of Barbara's 100th posting give away...I know you would enjoy visiting with her at Ramblings From An English Garden. I am anxiously awaiting the beautiful handmade cards........I'll share pictures.........

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Happy 47th anniversary to my husband....Edward

This Father's Day, June 19th, 1960......there were two....


2007
Then there fourteen............................Amy's family......................................
Melinda's family..........................................
On Sunday, June 19th, 1960, Edward and I were married and began life together. He was a school teacher and I was a nineteen year old bride with much to learn about many things.....cooking, housekeeping, farming.......and as the years past being a mother to two daughters, Melinda and Amy.....

We've had years filled with good times and sad times as well. I can't say we've never had a cross word, as I've heard some people say....but we have always worked it out. We agreed whoever left had to take the children and the bills, neither of us were that brave....Edward told me in the beginning if I went home to Mama, he wasn't coming to get me.....I believed him.

We've tried to honor the Lord with our lives and have a home where love is felt...Edward has been in the ministry for twenty-two years and the rewards are beyond measure.....The good Lord certainly has blessed us abundantly...........

We have eight grandchildren that we love dearly...We are so blessed with a family that puts each other first........As Martha Stewart would say, "to love and be loved by a good man....it's a good thing"...........