A Loxahatchee River day!

My husband I had a day date on Sunday when we went to a RiverFest at Jonathan Dickenson State Park, in Jupiter Florida. We hiked on the Kitching Trail, and took a guided cruise down the Loxahatchee River, where we saw a lot of preserved "Old Florida", and found a few hidden treasures...

Behind the leaves of the Palmetto:

Many Osprey nests high in the trees!


Loads of lovely pine trees (my favorite)!



My best find of the day...an Opuntia in bloom!!!

And a couple of alligators!



It was a beautiful day!

The second half of Saturday!

Well, when I got home from the doll show, and other various stops (used bookstore, and Goodwill)...it was about 3:40pm. Guess what I found on my front porch????? Something exciting!!! A box! A box from California! A box from California, from my friend, CINDY!!! A box of succulent cuttings from her yard! Oh my...it nearly gave me heart failure!!! Anyway...I got it in the house, and in 20 minutes of time, I unpacked it, and suveyed it all, did not know what any of it was...tried to look something up in my Succulent Dictionary...to no avail. I was rushing, because my friend Karen was picking me up to go to Boca Raton to a concert! Here are some photos of everything. If you click on it to make it big, and you recognize anything at all, feel free to I.D. it, I guess. Cindy is working on this as well...and I am too! What a fun challenge! Thanks a million, Cindy!!!









Inside the box, she had included this cute little green guy...a metal Mantis on a stick that can go in my planter! This made me shed a tear...it was so thoughtful of her to include something so amazingly special to her heart! I feel I will cherish it forever!!!

So here is the empty box once I was through discovering all my treasures inside! I cannot ever thank her enough for her generosity...THANKS CINDY!!!!!!!


Now off to the concert!

The beginning of my Saturday!

I went outside to clean my car out, and I kept hearing this little splashing sound (and it was not raining). Finally I investigated, because I thought I might be going nuts...and here is what I found...a little lizard who had fallen into a pitcher I keep out on my front step to collect rain water in to water the plants by my front door. Poor guy!


Well, I "poured" him out onlo a new arrangement I had just made (the red pot), of some of my succulent plants...and guess what he did...he sat a good while and posed for my camera!!!


Then my Mom, my daughter and I went to a doll show (my daughter is a collector)...and look at one of the dolls suitcases! She had been to Death Valley, California! Boy, was I JEALOUS!!!

My Mom bought me this book which shows pages of toys for girls from out of Sears Catalog Wishbooks from 1950-1969! My main period of time for looking at the Wishbooks as a child would have been during the 60's. This is nothing but a trip down memory lane! I am amazed at the amount and variety of toys we had during that time! I found a few in there that we actually owned (my sister and I)! By the way...I did not get a real Barbie...I had to have the fake one...because REAL Barbies cost 3 dollars, and it was out of the budget for my parents at that time. I have since found out that this was true of many girls in my age range...Did you have a real Barbie??? I was fortunate enough to have recieved a real Barbie case, to store my doll and her clothes, shoes and hangers in! I was happy! My sister and I really played with our dolls! My Mom made many of our dolls clothes...and guess who owns them now? My daughter! How cool is that?

Friday

I went by Moms house Friday morning on my way to work, to deliver the Cooking section of Sundays paper, and look what she had moved right out in her front yard! It was amazing! A beautiful Amaryllis in full bloom! I had to have a picture! A friend once told me that God must have a sweet tooth, because of all the things he made that are so beautiful. At the time she was referring to a gemstone bracelet she was wearing. When she said it, she started to cry. I remember feeling such strong emotions over the powerful thought and feeling that came over her! For some reason (I suppose because this plant only flowers once a year), it brought back this memory of her, and how true it is...we have so many beautiful things in this world, and some of them surprise us every once in a while!

Then, later in the day, my friend Karen and I were having lunch at Red Lobster, and when I came out to my car...look what was parked right next to me! Ha...I had to have a pic for the blog! Hey...he's pretty cute himself, even though he looks like he has seen better days!!!!

Sewn ATC card!!!

This was something I decided to try after I had the sewing machine out to mend a few of my husbands shirts tonight. I took a blank card and sewed freely using a zig zag stitch and two different colors in the bobbin and the top thread. I had to increase the tension to 7 on my machine to get the thing to sew through index card thickness.
I was really experimenting and playing around. As I continued it sort of started to look like something sort of recognizable...then I decided to continue the whole sewing theme idea and I just glued snaps in for the flower centers. I noticed if the card is about 3 feet away from me, it looks really good...but close up you can see the childish nature of it, and pure silliness. I had a lot of fun seeing what would happen with sewing, but will probably never do it again, simply due to the fact that I hate machine sewing. If anything, I may try one by hand, and I would have so much more control, it might actually turn out to look like something nice!

Little Lizard looking around...probably for an opening into my house...

I caught this little lizzy looking around on the edge of my succulent tires today! He's kinda cute...from afar! (Hey...I had to take this shot from my bathroom window to keep from scaring him away). Normally the lizards are climbing into my house through any possible microscopic crack or crevice...only for one purpose...to leave a trail of lizard poop! No matter where you go in south Florida you will find lizard poop on every window sill...inside and out! It's disgusting...and my Mom is actually trying to come up with any unusual plan of attack! She read about soaking corn kernels in God only knows what kind of liquid, that would poison them. She sets traps, bait, shoots at them with rat shot from her rifle (OK, I made that part up)...but basically we are on a hunt to find a way to keep them out of our houses, and outdoor places like window ledges, inside our grills, etc. Any ideas???
P.S. Check out the sparkles/shine on those glass stones in the tires...pretty cool, huh?

Happy Thursday! TGIAF!

That stands for THANK GOD IT'S ALMOST FRIDAY (I just made that up)!!!


I cut a few flowers from my yard and thought they looked very nice together, so took a pic for the blog readers! I little Penta (red), a two varieties of Lantana (white and multi).

Graduation

I realized just today, after seeing a few of these antenna toppers, just how much they make me smile and I thought I should include some from time to time on my blog! This one I found at Oriental Trading Company. With my daughters graduation from high school coming up in a few months, I thought this one was appropriate at the time. Should I buy some for the grads? (There are only 4)!

My jungle backyard!

I got home from work today and decided to walk through my yard and take pictures of stuff. Tonight I will post pictures of the jungle-like back edge of my yard...I have no urge to try and clean it up, and enjoy the look of it. (Or am I just the laziest person I know)??? Anyway...here are a few views! LOL.









I enjoy sitting out here in my jungle-like backyard, and have a few glasses of wine, with a fire burning and cool breeze, and a couple of long tapered citronella candles burning! It almost feels as good as being on vacation in CALIFORNIA!!!

Agave americana var. mariginata

Well, I have been wanting to post these huge beauties for a while now! They are located next to a Starbucks I frequent, and usually sit outside for coffee or lunch! Aren't they amazing. I think they look like big octopus with lots of arms! I love the way they swirl around as though they are made of rubber and they can move to the music or something!!! My sweet husband obliged me and pulled over in the rain so I could take a few pictures yesterday!

Here is a little blurb I found regarding these amazing plants:
Agave americana var. mariginata - A large Agave americana variety with broad leaves that arch and curl with a green central band and yellow to white stripes along the leaf margins. This variety sometimes referred to as Agave americana 'Variegata'. It is one of the most graceful and largest of the variegated Agave americana varieties

More clover????? Not sure.....

As I was waiting for a friend to have a test at the hospital, I stepped outside for some fresh air. When I sat down on some steps outside, I noticed all in the garden area these little round leaved weeds. Of course, I found them to be adorable! I have no idea what they are, but I know now they are definately weeds because I found them growing all in my neighbors grass yesterday while walking LullaBelle. I had grabbed this little handful from the hospital and placed them in a jar I had in my car. If anyone knows what this is, can you tell me??? Thanks!

Happy Easter!

Isn't this a gorgeous clover?

Photo Courtesy of STEPABLES®.

Trifolium repens Atropurpureum (Bronze Dutch Clover)

The dark reddish leaves of Trifolium repens atropurpureum are edged in green and accented with white clover flowers in the summer. It has a multitude of common names, Bronze Dutch Clover, White Dutch Clover, Black Shamrock... Proven Winners has a selection called 'Dark Dancer'. Whatever the name, this is a particularly attractive plant for its foliage, which looks good along edges, between pavers and even in pots. It's also good for erosion control. It can be evergreen in warmer climates.

Height: 3 - 6"
Spread: 12 - 18"
USDA Zones: 4 - 8
Initial Spacing: 8"
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Flower Color: White
Foot Traffic: Suitable for occasional daily foot traffic.
Drought Tolerant: Yes
Deer Resistant: No
Scented: No

Sadly it cannot grow in my zone 10!

If you are wondering what Stepables is, check them out at www.Stepables.com. They have plants that tolerate foot traffic. STEPABLES® plants are easy to maintain, reduce weeds, fill in quickly or slowly (depending on your need) and give your landscape that special finishing touch. Most homeowners have at least one problem area in their landscape that needs attention and STEPABLE® plants can help!

A little trip to Mom's!

After work today I decided to take a little drive over to my Mom's house to get a pot of clover from her garden (the weed section)!!! I thought you might like to see my BEEE-U-TEE-FUL flip flops that I purchased in my favorite place in the world (San Diego), last summer! Ain't they purdy???

I found Mom just standing around...

Talking to my brother, Captain Doug, who had just returned from taking some folks out on the high seas along the Palm Beach Coast! Ain't he a hunk??? He's so cute, even though he has always been a pain in the butt little brother!!! He grow'd up to be a great guy though! He's a keeper!!!

Here are some pics of the clover growing all around and in everything...note the last pic where you really see them in an open state, looking like big shamrocks!



After we sat around talking a while, we were admiring her freshly cut podocarpus hedge, and we decided to give it a few decorations...I found this one hibiscus flower on the ground, and stuck it in the hedge, and then we gathered a few more and stuck them in to make some "wall art".


All in all, it was a very beautiful day, the weather was cool and breezy...with wind out of the north, DRY, and threatening rain, but never actually doing it! If I closed my eyes I could actually feel like I might be standing in CALIFORNIA, especially in my very special flip-flops!

More clover shots!

I just fell in love with these delicate little babies! On researching, I found out that clovers can have more than four leaflets. The most leaflets ever recorded is eighteen. It has been estimated that there are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf clover.

According to legend, each leaflet represents something: the first is for HOPE, the second is for FAITH, the third is for LOVE, and the fourth is for LUCK.

While the four-leaf clover is a symbol of "good luck," the THREE-leaf Shamrock, is a mainly Irish Catholic symbol of the Holy Trinity.

No wonder I am so happy...I have FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE just inside my front door!!!
Mine are all curled down, probably due to lack of light! I best take them out tomorrow and see what happens!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I realized tonight that I have clover growing in my fairy garden...I had taken some out of my Moms garden to put in there, and even though they are not 4 leaf, they are a close 3 leaf clover, and quite fragile and sweet!