Meatball Weedman

 I haven't focused on CARE [Covington Animal Rescue Effort] in my writing only because I sometimes need to get away from it, it absorbs most of my time now. However, I think Meatball deserves his story told. He's a wonderful little slew footed guy that we debated on pulling from the pound. Not because we didn't want to but because finances and foster homes were nil. No money, no place to put him. But that thin dejected little creature spoke to me. He was just so tired. I think what he had in store for him might have been welcomed by him at that point. I donned him "Meatball" on the spot and immediately delivered him to the vet where he had all vetting including a heart worm test and of course

he was positive. Again, no money, no place to put him! We had the treatment done [after yet Another fundraiser] and still no available place so I actually bought another kennel for him. He filled out with love, care, fresh food and water and his brittle dull coat softened until he felt like velvet. We had the little guy for about a year [once CARE rescues we rescue--they do NOT go back to the pound after a designated time!] and he got adopted!!! Now you may ask how could we let him go after so much time? Didn't we love him? Yes. We did. But my job as a foster mom is to be a halfway home and get these wonderful babies Out of the pound. We don't adopt them out because we don't love them, we adopt them out because we Do love them and to make room for others. That's it in a nutshell. So I did the adoption myself. Well. He got loose and ran off. I was devastated. It was here in the County so every day I went and looked and looked and looked. There were "Meatball sightings" but he wouldn't let anyone catch him. Getting discouraged and so tired I almost didn't go back that afternoon but thought, "What If.......?"  So I grabbed a dirty T-shirt that I had cleaned his kennel in, some of his bedding, and set off thinking maybe the scent would bring him to me. Apparently it and the higher powers did! A friend that was helping was about to leave and I was leaned against her truck when here came little slew footed Meatball right to me! So back home we came and home he stayed. He is now officially Meatball Weedman. I believe with all my heart that he loves us and Knows he's here to stay. There's a whole new attitude and happiness exuding from him, he dances with joy, we call it the "Meatball Dance". I don't know his history or where he's been but I know his future--love and care and a place to call home. So that, folks, is what CARE is all about.

A Place to Reflect

Since I'm all about reflection this time of year and since I Love sitting areas we have a new one! This darling table and two chairs were at Upscale Resale in Covington, the store where I have The Rose Garden room. No way was I passing it up, I had the perfect place--the corner of one of the little back porches off the new addition! It's been a little cool for sitting there in the mornings but by mid afternoon it's the perfect spot for a cup of coffee with Bailey's. I've made lists on this table, drawn floral designs for the shop, and I'm enjoying it tremendously!

The Autumns of our Lives

I've always heard the "old timers" say that a lot of berries on the trees and shrubs mean a hard winter is ahead. If that's the case we have a cold one coming! I'm personally not a fan of very cold weather, I freeze, but there are some aspects of winter that I love. Sitting in front of the gas logs and looking at the incoming seed and garden catalogs is one of my all time favorite things to do. It's the time when you can dream of a perfectly weed free vegetable garden with rows and rows of heavily laden vines of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and whatever else your imagination plants. But we're not quite at the point of gas logs. Right now it's a damp cold that's causing the leaves to turn color quickly and fall overnight. Our adopted Honey Girl loves this weather and you can hear the leaves crunching as she chases squirrels and chipmunks. All the fosters seem to enjoy the break in the heat, we had a terribly hot summer. The chrysanthemums are loaded down with blooms and the dogwood trees have more berries than I ever remember. Soon the cedar waxwings will be flocking and devouring every red berry they see. I love their Lone Ranger masks and exotic looks as they strip the color from the trees.

So Thanksgiving just around the corner and the thought of Christmas right after that brings a moment of reflection--

a lull in the hectic pace that my life seems to have taken on. A time for thought about next year and what I want to change and what I want to accomplish. I think I plan more resolutions this time of year than New Year's Eve. 

Autumn has always seemed a bit bittersweet to me, the end of color and production in the gardens, the end of the Season of Life, so to speak. Yet I love this time of the year. It's restful. And heaven knows, I need some rest!

Our New Addition!

Mother and Daddy built this little house and we love living here. It's just the two of us and our dogs so it really is big enough however there has been no storage whatsoever. Tiny closets, no attic space, and so consequently everything goes under the bed. Until  now! We have enclosed the back porch and made a new utility/storage area with an extra small kitchen area! I am so happy with it! It's where I did all the canning for The CARE Cannery and I could look out at my foster babies while working. It's a sweet little space and I have enjoyed making it "mine".
Our brother Sam drew the plans and Greg Coulston did the work and helped re design a couple of things that made it even better. Sam and Greg are brilliant! This small area is currently my favorite place to be. Greg used old barn wood and planks that blended perfectly, plus he built in a great cabinet [above] for my constant collections of whatever and kept the original ceilings and beams intact.

My dear friend Kim rubbed down the top of an old red cabinet to get the desired finish as a topper for the reclaimed wood piece. The huge jar was once used for pickles and performs well with branches, berries, and hydrangeas. Grandmother's wooden bowl filled with mock oranges and a large dried sunflower head propped up against the turquoise pitcher complete the still life.

The new addition feels like it has always been here.

Ready for The CARE Cannery Tasting Event!

Well, the last time I blogged I was preparing for the CARE Cannery's First Annual Tasting Event. That's correct, I have now said the word "annual" which means we will be doing it again next year, folks! I am happy to report it was a huge success! I think we had 12 little jars left out of close to 450 and I am already searching for new canning recipes. The best seller hands down was the Salsa, probably the Black Bean and Corn. 2nd Winner was Pepper Jelly. But it all sold and I haven't received any bad reviews Yet. I also managed to be decorated for Fall although Barbara came and got the house cleaned for me! I'm not nearly as inclined to clean as I am to decorate! I love hydrangeas when they first start drying that fabulous apple green color and I added a little green paint to keep them from turning totally brown..

This is an old wooden bucket I purchased at an antique store years ago. Greenery, shed antlers, and Indian Corn were the finishing touches. [And there's Mother's little shovel by the front door ready and willing to help me plant fall bulbs which will be arriving soon.]

I made this Fall wreath a couple of years ago or so  and haven't done a thing to it since. I still love it just the way it is. I made several special orders this year for various customers and each one was different and bright and made me wonder if I wanted to "update". Then I would look at this one and think not! I'm a big fan of natural floral's, nests, and white pumpkins so for now this suits me perfectly. I coordinated the lamp posts using more green hydrangeas and burlap ribbon, although I did use some real orange pumpkins at the base for a "punch".

Pick a Peck of Pickled Peppers! [or Doing the Salsa!]

I've grown a variety of peppers, hot, mild, medium spicy, any pepper plant I found I planted! Rather strange considering John nor I either one like hot. But the plants were so tempting and the descriptions so enticing that I just bought all of them so now I have the challenge of deciding what to do with them. I'm like my mother, I can't waste them! After giving tons of them away I jumped on the salsa bandwagon and that's been the solution--Salsas of every description! Mild salsa, hot salsa, green tomato and lime salsa, ripe tomato salsa, even  "just pepper" salsa!

Southerners do love sweet pepper jelly for their cream cheese and crackers so I've got lots of little jars prepared and ready to sell. I made it in red and also green because I thought they would make great Christmas presents, hostess gifts, or just pretty to have on hand. I use my vegetables for my kitchen table centerpieces. Whatever I've picked that day ends up on a platter in the middle of the table. I'm really in the mood to make more green tomato and lime salsa today but I have to go to work, instead! So the tomatoes can get a bit larger, the peppers plumper, and they will be there when I can get to them!

The CARE Cannery has been born!

Hence The CARE Cannery has been born. Because you all know I get obsessive compulsive about things I like doing. And to my surprise I have LOVED canning! It's inconvenient, it's time consuming [and I have NO extra time as it is!], it's costly [I have spent a small fortune on jars, Sure Gel, pickling spices, and all the canning necessities], not to mention the planting, growing, and gathering! It was horribly hot and miserable cutting that prickly, tall okra in 100 plus degree weather, reaching in through the foliage to get the perfect pods for my endeavor. But still--I've loved it. It's been gratifying and comforting to know I will have something to contribute to the CARE Bake Sales that I feel will help our struggling bank account. However, I may have sabotaged my plan. Because Now I have decided we Must have a new event! The CARE "Tasting Event"! That I will host! At my house! Now I don't have time to make my bed much less plan on hosting an "event" but there I go. Oh, yes. I've advertised it on face book. It's a done deal now! October seems a lovely time for a nice gathering, don't you think? A little barbecue and perhaps a pot of black eyed peas to taste with the relishes, lots of jams and jellies to try on cream cheese, chips to taste with the salsas! Yes, I can just see it now. Chrysanthemums blooming, a crispness in the air encouraging potential buyers, charming Fall decorations! Yes, I can see it. Now, to just Do it!

Canning for CARE

So although we've had this unbearably hot summer my garden has performed magnificently! It still is. I had an unbelievable number of cucumbers, the okra is still going strong, early tomatoes, late tomatoes, squash, peppers, gorgeous eggplants, you name it! I've never considered my self much of a canner, I do a little picked asparagus and okra, but that's been about it. Not this year. I am canning for CARE! My Fall and Holiday schedule is crazy and our two good bake sales are before Thanksgiving and Christmas. I started canning thinking it would be something for me to sell without having to cook the whole week before the bake sales.

I

This has been a terribly hot summer with the temps hovering around 100 degrees and the heat index even hotter. It has given the afternoon pictures that "beginning of Fall" look. A dryer, more faded coloration has settled in. We need rain so badly but I still haven't watered as much as usual. It just seems that nothing revives like a good drenching of cool water from the sky! My vegetable garden started off slow and really didn't grow so well but is producing it's head off! I've had an amazing number of cucumbers and it's been a challenge! I don't consider myself a fantastic "pickle maker" but the refrigerator pickles have been wonderful and I finally broke down and purchased more jars and Mrs. Wages! I'll let you know the outcome of those later on. I'm making pepper jelly for the November CARE bake sale and fig and raspberry jam. It's funny how I dread getting out the canning equipment but once I get started I want to do it every day! My okra needs picking constantly and there's nothing much more miserable that sticking your arms into those prickly, scratchy stalks while dripping with sweat and wilting under the merciless sun. Still I do it. Why do I even grow a garden? Mother did to save money, I'm sure. It used to cost nearly nothing to plant a garden. Now it's like everything else, it's a luxury. It's time consuming [which I have None of], it's hot and hard and demanding. Still I do it. It's memories I think. It's tradition. It's just in me to do it. I bend over to slide the ripest tomatoes out from under the vines and think of Mother and being in the garden with her. Always barefoot and playing in the soft cool earth and trying to help but being more of a hindrance, I'm sure. Plus growing your own produce and preserving it gives you a sense of gratification and accomplishment. You feel so green and organic! But enough talking about it--there's okra to pickle and figs to jam and tomatoes to salsa! So later tater!

A Place to Dream

Am I a dreamer? Of course. Who doesn't have dreams and if you don't you should. Dreams are just goals with a more imaginative name. I dream of having a weedless garden. I dream of having more time to enjoy that weedless garden. And you know what? I will. I will have both. Because dreamers have faith in their dreams and I believe dreams can come true. Right now every moment seems taken up with some type of schedule--working, dog duties, family obligations. Do I want to change that? Obviously not! But one of these days time and age will take care of it for me. I won't have the energy to go like I do. Things will change and I may not have the duties I have at the moment. So for now I dream. And every respectable dreamer needs the perfect place to dream, right? I have several! This is one of them, the gazebo in the middle of The Herb Garden. Covered with wisteria, roses, and autumn clematis it is the ultimate place for thoughts that carry you away. It's also a wonderful place to have green tea in a china cup, Bailey's in a mug, or White Barn Lemonade in an iced glass.

Asparagus Rules!

In my family asparagus rules! We all love it. If you popped me open at the moment I would be green. I picked this asparagus March 15th. so there's been more than a month already of the most succulent green stalks you could ask for. Mother had an asparagus bed for years and years. I probably would still have it but that part of the yard has changed, a fence has been added, all sorts of things. I remember she was particularly proud of it as not many around these parts planted asparagus. It has a reputation of being difficult--taking a long time to produce, finicky about it's soil, it has to be kept clean of weeds. Well, that's all true to a point but it doesn't take years to produce if you purchase 2-3 yr.old roots at the beginning. And if you prepare the soil it's easy to weed and add your coffee grounds and egg shells and other yummy composts and it will thrive. I have had plenty to share this year and that's always fun. And although more people grow it now I too am extremely proud of my asparagus bed. Beds. All three of them! [Remember--too much is never enough!]

I Live in Heaven

 This is my front yard. It's Heaven. Really, it is. I know that we are so ready for color and warmer weather after a long cold winter that every year we say, "This Spring was prettier than ever!", but this year it really was, at least at my house. My azaleas have matured, the dogwoods are tall, the shrubs have filled in. So this Spring my front view was simply breathtaking. I'm actually having a tough time squeezing in anything else in the front bed!

 The orange azalea is "Gibralter" purchased from Oak Lawn Garden Center just about ten minutes down the road. Orange has always been my least favorite color. Always. I do like it in nature but would never, ever have thought I would purchase an orange azalea!!! I think I planted nine. We never realize how our tastes will change as we get older! I like that "punch" of color, that "splash" in the middle of all the pinks. It works or at least it works for me and in my yard that's what counts! Oh, how blessed am I!!!

Pink Ruffles. Need I say more? A frothy concoction of shades of pink and an abundance of blooms. It's pure reason on earth is to bring pleasure and oh, how it does! The first azalea I ever planted was a Pink Ruffles. It is in the back and has thrived and is huge. I would like to find a few more true reds, they are a little harder to locate. So that's my next mission.

The Entrance to Mr. McGregor's Garden

This flower bed is in front of my vegetable garden--the entrance so to speak. It has turned into quite a show pony! The dianthus, roses, and irises fill the air with fragrance and the bees sing to you as they bump in and out of the salvia. It's English, rustic, and old fashioned--exactly the look I was after. I wasn't a "Knock-Out" rose fan at first. They don't have a great form as far as that goes. But they smell heavenly, they bloom constantly, and they are low maintenance. I'm thinking they might be great for a back border. Yes, it may be a vegetable garden but by golly I want it to be a pretty one!

New Additions

Arabian Nights and Liaison. It doesn't get much better than these two, as far as I'm concerned! I love the two tones and ruffles. Now that I've gotten quite a few iris established I can see where I need to add or change the color palette. It's an ever changing painting with the early, mid, and late bloomers. But I have my mother's trusty little shovel to help me divide and dig so no venture is too large.

For the Love of Iris

I've told you before that Aunt Lina had lots of irises and lilies. I have quite a few that I dug from her gardens and I love them. I will say, however, that there is no comparison to the new hybrids as far as color and form. The ones above prove that point. Darkest Night, Swingtown, Midnight Madness, and Edith Wolford are a few of my favorites. I can finally see the results of hours of planting, planning, digging and weeding. My iris bed was a truly spectacular sight this year. I felt huge gratification. But really Aunt Lina started the love of iris for me. And although hers aren't the biggest or the brightest they remind me of her and fill my heart with love.

My Mother's Shovel

This is my mother's shovel--although she is 96 and living in an assisted living facility and the shovel is only used by me I still call it "mother's shovel". It is worn and rather ragged but I like it better than any other of my digging tools. For one thing it's short and easy to maneuver. For another...it's my mother's. I got it stuck in a root several years ago and broke a big chunk out of it. A friend welded it back and told me to only use it for "display", that it had done it's job well and it was time to put it to rest. I agreed and promptly began using it again. It's a part of the front porch decor, always standing by the door. I do put it up during the winter months but it's the first tool I bring out in the Spring. So I don't know whether my garden is beautiful because of good dirt, an inherited "green thumb", or because I use my mother's shovel. I tend to believe the latter.

Spring Finery

Spring at The Rose Garden has always thrilled me. I love getting the new stems, scents, candles, and foliage in. I love thinking of new designs and "looks" for the shop. I missed that terribly the last couple of years so I'm very happy it's back in my life. Smaller scale, yes, but this way I can still do my dog rescue, gardening, and what have you. This is my favorite part of the room at the moment. I've used great old silver pieces for containers and some classical urns. The botanicals include peonies, lily buds, and artichokes with succulents and moss. It seems to be a favorite area of customers too, I've had to restock it weekly, which I'm quite happy to do!

Aunt Lina's Grape Hyacinths

Aunt Lina's yard was heavenly. She had all manner of flowering shrubs, lilies, and narcissus. On one side of the house was a huge old knarled holly tree. It would have been a perfect play place only it had a carpet of holly leaves with tortuous points ready to poke into your bare feet or scratch up your hands. It also had a colony of Grape Hyacinths growing underneath. I did brave the pointy leaves to dig some hyacinth bulbs and they pop up every year to my delight.

A Pretty Face

This is the last time piece of any beauty and it doesn't keep time. I don't actually recall it having any "works" in it, I think there's just an opening in the back where they are supposed to be! But when you look like this who cares? I didn't buy it to keep time, I bought it to look at and give me pleasure and looking at the time does not Always give pleasure! It can rush, stress, and push you to the limits. Therefore this is the best clock possible. None of the above occurs. I do like a clock that doesn't keep time, don't you?

I found it on an antique junket a long time ago and remember the little woman saying, "It's not worth anything. Doesn't have any innards." Well, sometimes "innards" are highly over rated.

Time is Golden

Mother was very good about putting little handwritten notes explaining the whereabouts and past ownership of family pieces. This beautiful old pocketwatch belonged to T.P.s Grandfather so it definitely has some age on it. I haven't even tried to wind it, I don't tamper with it, I just enjoy having it and looking at it. It still has the original case where it was probably lovingly put up every night.

Timely Fashion

This "Anniversary Clock" was given to T.P.'s mother so it is very, very old, I have no idea how old. It still works although I don't keep it wound.

"I'm Late, I'm Late! For a Very Important Date!"

Like Alice in Wonderland my hare holds a pocket watch, one that belonged to my Granddaddy Tatlock. I appreciate all the memorabilia that is in my possession. It's a continuity of my family's life, their energy and it retains memory. I remember Granddaddy pulling out this watch and looking at it, he was always very gentle with it. Now it holds the patinaed polish from his hands.
I don't know where or when he got it but I know he valued it as people then seemed to value anything they had. I hope I inherited that trait.

Time Sweet Time

This old sundial is in the herb garden balanced upon a nice weathered stone. I happened to glance at it the other day and determined that it was almost 1:00 according to the sundial. I checked the time and yep, it was correct! I didn't underestimate the ability of the sundial but rather my placing it accurately. Time. It slips away without notice, without fanfare or announcement. Like water through your fingers it's there and then.....it's not. You can't save it, you can't retrieve it, it truly is past and nothing will bring it back. It's true that as you get older it seems to go faster. Already right at March and it feels like it was just the new year. So I have vowed to make the most of it, to do what I consider important and worthwhile and to relish life. Don't think there are things I don't enjoy doing or there aren't moments I think I could live without! But they all contribute to the tapestry that makes up my journey and are significant in some way or other. Time sweet time. How I value you.

Another collection-Flo Blue

My love of Flo Blue started with a casserole dish with no top that my friend Vickie brought back from England. I had seen Flo Blue, I was aware of it and the reason for the name, but until Vickie brought the casserole dish to me I had never thought of collecting it. So hence another collection was born. I actually probably Do have a hundred pieces of Flo Blue and love each and every piece. I used to search high and low in antique shops, estate sales, where have you. I liked that it looked like Monet's water colors with the blue bleeding patterns. I've stopped searching it out now but does that mean I would never add another piece? Silly. Of course I would!

Beaded Bed

This sweet beaded bag serves as a resting place for an angel. It looks like he's laying on a beaded cloud.

Flights of Fancy

A pretty little feathered friend adorns this particular vintage purse. It's totally beaded with the same pattern on front and back.

Collections

We know how I am about collections. However, I don't care to have hundreds of anything. Granted I used to have a lot more of certain items but I've cleaned out some. Sold some in the shop, swapped, mostly given them away but kept my favorites, of course! Old purses have always interested me. So dainty they were, so so different from the suitcases we carry now! I will say that the men's suits used to have many more pockets, I guess that's how the ladies managed!

Succulent filled Stump

Anything can be a container for shallow rooted succulents and sedum, even a great old stump. I'm always dragging hollow logs or lichen covered branches to the various gardens and finding just the right home for them. This particular "container garden" stands guard at the front entrance of the herb garden. It will be much more lush and green as Spring approaches but is starting to green out even now in the later part of February.