New Blog

http://scrapsandscrapes.blogspot.com/
This is the blog I started shortly before I got sick.

Happy New Year

I had a trip to the hospital on October 30th in the rescue squad and emergency surgery. It seems I had a ruptured aneurysm and then was in a coma for a couple weeks. Right now I'm back home and doing a lot of exercising to strengthen my muscles. I have home health to help me. Will be back to normal very soon but can't run and jump yet. I did not have access to a computer for most of this time. I'm sad to have missed Halloween and Thangsgiving but I did make it home for Christmas.

Almost Halloween

Northwest

Looking South

Towards the East...backyard

The North side of my house


Owen and Hali, my silly grandchildren...posing with pretend smiles

I love you guys!

I have a big bin of dress up clothes for them and they are deciding what they want to be for Halloween

Poem

I hacked into the old history of the Internet and came across my first blog from 2004. One of the entries was this poem by Robert Frost

Thursday, September 30, 2004
11:39:49 AM EDT
October
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow! For the grapes' sake,
if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost
-- For the grapes' sake along the wall.

....Robert Frost

Daddy

War, what is it good for...absolutely nothing.

As summer fades, this is what's in bloom, etc.

Some of the garden critters

I'll write the name as soon as I remember it...have lots of these

Pretty littly dainty pink flowers in the pink garden

Also in the pink garden

It's not quite four o clock

One of the Morning Glories peeking out of the fence

These are the size of dinner plates, I have white and pink ones

The is the after bloom of my sweet autumn clematis

My thorn apple tree waiting for the birds of winter

Goodbye again summer...

You ask me what I did today.
I could pretend and say,"I don't remember."
But, no, I'll tell you what I did today --
I stored September.

Sat in the sun and let the sun sink in,
Let all the warmth of it caress my skin.
When winter comes, my skin will still remember
The day I stored September.

And then my eyes --
I filled them with the deepest, bluest skies
And all the traceries of wasps and butterflies.
When winter comes, my eyes will still remember
The day they stored September.

And there was cricket song to fill my ears!
And the taste of grapes
And the deep purple of them!
And asters, like small clumps of sky...
You know how much I love them.
That's what I did today
And I know why.
Just simply for the love of it,
I stored September.

Very short silent movies of very young children playing

The little story lady








The little Mama





this is how the knee got skinned...









Olympic divers at practice

The Lord's Prayer (from the New Zealand Prayer Book)

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in who is heaven:
The hallowing of our name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from on another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love now and forever.

Amen

It's still summer

Been doing some knitting again. Have a lot of spun yarn and purchased yarn to work with. Since it's so cold I may as well start knitting. Now if I could just think of a way to knit, read, and play on the internet at the same time.

Time again to call out the witches

This is one of the reasons summer is so wonderful.

My crop of tomato in the Elf garden.

Owen started school today. He and his sister stayed here overnight last night and he got picked up this morning by his Dad. All excited and packed up with his supplies. Hali was very sick and hadn't slept all night so I wasn't able to see Owen at school on his first day or get a picture of him walking in the door. Hali and I went back to sleep and slept for three more hours until her Dad came back and picked her up. She was on her way to the doctor.

He wanted to bring his football...he relaxes more when he has a football with him. His parent's said he couldn't take it though, because there were too many other things to do at school today and they didn't think he'd get a chance to play with it. May Owen's guardian Angels protect him from the perils of life and keep him sweet and hopeful. I love you Owen...give 'em hell!!

Summer Reading

I won the first prize for the adult summer reading program at the library. The prize was a bag of books as shown in the picture below

And this is the book bag they all came in.

Also the grands belonged to the childrens summer book club and got a trip to the fair, a trip to the museum, a trip to the train museum and a McDonald's Happy Meal as their prize. We went to the fair and took a few pictures. It was a rainy day but they had on their splashing boots and had a great time.

When we got back to the car on this hot rainy day we found a pile of snow next to the car and of

course we had to play in it for a while...

Owen learned to ride his bike with the training wheels off.

And Hali has decided on a new hair style which she wears everywhere. She says she doesn't want to have bangs.

Going to Farmer's Market and the Boutique in the morning. Children are away for three days so hoping to get some weeding and pruning done in the gardens.

Drouth weights the trees, and from the farmhouse eaves

The locust, pulse-beat of the summer day,

Throbs; and the lane, that shambles under leaves

Limp with the heat—a league of rutty way—

Is lost in dust; and sultry scents of hay

Breathe from the panting meadows heaped with sheaves.

Now, now, O bird, what hint is there of rain,

In thirsty heaven or on burning plain,

That thy keen eye perceives?

It's Summertime

Gentle eyes that see so much,

paws that have the quiet touch,

Purrs to signal all is well,

and show more love than words could tell.

Graceful movements touched with pride,

a calming presence by our side --

A friendship that takes time to grow --

Small wonder why we love them so.

Preserving Hydrangas

It's interesting how certain flowers evoke a sense nostalgia: roses, hollyhocks and hydrangeas to name a few.

There's no question these are beautiful in the garden but if cared for properly you can also use them inside.

There are 2 methods you can follow to preserve these blooms and both involve drying.

The first is rather simple. All you do is remove the leaves along the stem and bundle 5 or 6 of them together and hang them in a cool dry place.

The other method actually involves water. Just prepare a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part glycerin. You can find this at your local pharmacy. Now the way this works is that the water and the glycerin are drawn through the stem of the plant and the water evaporates through the petals leaving the glycerin. This makes the bloom more soft and supple to the touch and it also helps to preserve the color and the shape of the bloom longer. To help with the uptake of the solution I cut the stems at a SLIGHT ANGLE before sliding them into the vase. It's important to remember that the best time to cut hydrangeas is when the petals are showing a slight green color. These processes of preserving are a great way to enjoy hydrangeas through the fall and winter. From the garden, I'm Allen Smith. P. Allen Smith Gardens? Copyright 1999 - Hortus, Ltd

Trash Can Compost Bin

It’s a small compost bin made from a rubber trash can. It’s just the right size for small spaces; it has a lid to keep out the critters and it’s easy to maneuver around the garden.

Materials:Rubber Garbage Can with a Locking Lid (Choose a size that will provide you with enough compost, but still be manageable. Just make sure the lid locks.)
Drill with a 1/2-inch twist bit or a hole saw bit
Bricks or Concrete Blocks to Raise the Garbage Can Off the Ground
Yard Waste

Directions:Drill holes in the bottom and on the sides of the garbage can to provide plenty of air circulation. Place the garbage can on bricks to raise it off the ground. This allows air to circulate under the can and prevent the composting material from becoming stagnant. Some gardeners prefer that the garbage can sit on the ground so earthworms can help with the composting.
Add kitchen scraps, dried leaves, grass clippings, and disease-free plant material.
It is helpful to chop kitchen scraps into small pieces so that they will break down quickly.

Good to Know: What's that smell?If your compost bins starts to smell, it’s not getting enough air. Simply turn the pile and add more brown material such as dried leaves.
Keep the compost moist and turn it every two weeks.
To turn, just put the garbage can on its side and roll it around. Make sure the lid is locked in place.
A piece of rebar or a bulb auger attached to a drill are also useful tools for stirring up the compost.
Be mindful of how much you put into your compost bin.
You don’t want it to become too heavy to manage.
If space allows, build 2 trash can composters so that you can allow one to compost while you fill the other.

What can you put in your composter?
Uncooked vegetables and fruits.
Be sure to cut them up into small pieces so they will break down faster. This is helpful with a small compost bin.
Grass clippings.
Dried leaves.
Disease free plant material.
Shredded paper.
Avoid sticks and woody plant materials because they will not break down.

The Color Orange

She loved the color orange. Even when 'the boss' told her that orange finger nail polish wasn't appropriate to wear working in the hospital...she still did and just laughed about it. She also wore orange scrubs and was quite happy, always a smile. When she got cancer she asked me to make her a 'cancer cap' out of fuzzy orange yarn, and I did. She wore it everywhere. I made her another so she could change off. She died last week. Her husband delayed the funeral a little so he could send her 'box' to an auto body shop to be painted orange. It was bright and shiny and beautiful with white angels at all the corners. At the wake she had on an orange flowered dress, her fingernails were orange and she had beautiful orange flowers to match her casket. Last Thursday when she died there was the most beautiful huge orange sunset. I wonder if she requested that. She leaves behind a daughter in middle school, a son who is married and on his own, a husband who adored her, two dogs and a cat.

Violet

I have been trying forever to get this African Violet to bloom. Well it finally is in bloom. Just three little flowers...wow I did it! One small step for mankind LOL.

The compost bins are taken down and in the front at the curb for garbage pick up tomorrow. The compost is in several garbage bags, also at the curb, but I haven't much hope that they'll actually get picked up. I expect them to be ripped open and left laying in the front yard....yellow jackets, hives, poison and all. I hope I'm wrong.

Ear ache today, went to doc...simple ear infection...oh no...I have a hematoma in my left ear. How'd that get there. Have ten day supply of antibiotics...and a ten day supply of probiotics.

No, none, zero, zip grapes on the vines. I pruned them back and furtilized them and loosened the soil around the bases. Second year of no grapes. Last year they were frozen out, this year, who knows.

I hope to continue yard work tomorrow. While I was picking up my meds, the garden shop near by had a very pretty blue bird bath. I got it for the South Garden which is fully in bloom and also has tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce and rhubarb free for the picking.

I have a whole ritual of exercises I'm doing daily and so far not causing any pain. Plus gardening, hoping to get a little healthier.

That's about it.

Flowers

I got this pretty bouquet of flowers from Jenny.

I flower pounded some of the petals and leaves and this is how it turned out.

I have a frame to put it in as I think I will hang it in my Spring Garden room.

Flower pounding is new to me. My sister had the idea for it so I got all the supplies

for when we meet the next time in the park. I just couldn't wait to try it out.

Summer Caretakers of the Garden

The garden at Elmore school where Owen went to school last year was in need of a summer caretaker so I volunteered for the job and take Owen and Hali along to help. We weed, hoe, water and pick whatever is ripe to take to Salvation Army. It's a lot of fun and we can play in the park during the watering time as there is a handy dandy sprinkler to use. The top picture is the vegetable garden, with corn, peppers, asparagus, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelon and squash. The middle picture is the wildflower garden. I know the white ones are daisies LOL. The third picture is the butterfly garden with the milk weed in bloom now. I'm waiting for the butterflies to arrive in August.

After we were finished we went over to Tower/Atkinson park and did a few underducks and played a little baseball. Was talking to a very nice young man with two children, one of them was playing with Hali as she was about her age, the other was a toddling baby. He said they lived over at 618 Roy, can you imagine that. I didn't say anything about having lived there but I was happy such nice people were taking over the old homestead.

And last of all, of course, we had ice cream at Hansons. A pleasant evening.

Around the House

I went out to pick rhubarb for a pie I'm making tomorrow and thought I'd take some pictures of what is growing. I don't know all the names so it's easier to do a collage LOL. Upper left is Milkweed in bloom for the Monarch Butterlies that live here briefly before they migrate. In the middle on the May Altar is a bouquet of flowers I got today from Jenny. Bottom left is my Hosta garden in the dark. Next to the hosta garden is my compost bin which is very old and homemade and this year the yellow jackets moved in. On the bottom in a little picture is the very first African Violet I got to bloom, I finally did it right.

Kitty

July 4, 1997 to July 10, 2009

The Ten Best Things About Kitty

1. He loved Sparky very much

2. He was soft

3. He groomed himself very well

4. He had the softest purr you ever heard

5. He loved to play silly games

6. He sure enjoyed his catnip

7. He loved us with all his heart as we loved him

8. He was a cuddler

9. He liked to eat and roll in his oat grass but never ate the houseplants

10. He liked to lay in a sunny window and watch the Robin's nests.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Old Fashioned picnic at the library
Owen and his friend from last summer got back together today at the Teddy Bear picnic at Southwest Library.

Holding their 'rent a bear' Teddy Bears...ours got left at home

Hali enjoying her cookies and milk compliments of the Red Owl Store

Lots of fun, games and books and picnic lunch

Have You Ever Wondered

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.


So on this 4th of July holiday, take a few minutes and silently thank these patriots and others who have given so much for our freedom.
That's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Hail Columbia, happy land!
Hail, ye heroes, heav'n-born band,
Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
And when the storm of war was gone
Enjoy'd the peace your valor won.
Let independence be our boast,
Ever mindful what it cost;
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its altar reach the skies.

Firm, united let us be,
Rallying round our liberty,
As a band of brothers joined,
Peace and safety we shall find.

Immortal patriots, rise once more,
Defend your rights, defend your shore
Let no rude foe, with impious hand,
Invade the shrine where sacred lies
Of toil and blood, the well-earned prize,
While off'ring peace, sincere and just,
In Heaven's we place a manly trust,
That truth and justice will prevail,
And every scheme of bondage fail.

Joseph Hopkins and Philip Phile

Working up a sweat LOL

Cleaned out a little of the garage, garbage day tomorrow and tossed a few things out. Debating if I should throw out my father's wheel barrel but decided to keep it and plant flowers in it. It's really, really shabby but I have good memories of it. Planted a Daisy. I don't know why because they never last until next year.

Pictures are of my Clematas and the South Garden at Dusk.

Had a good day, met Jenny for shopping and lunch. Very nice.

I'll need to do a lot more in the garage but it's been so hot.

Library Story Time

This week that big yellow dog was there, I forgot it's name but it's part of a story book. Hali cried at first but then went up to him on her own and gave him a big hug. I was surprised and don't know what caused her to change her mind.

We were going to go to the Bullfrogs game yesterday but it was 95 degrees...much to hot to sit and watch a baseball game for the kids and for this granny. Didn't go swimming either as the pools are in the sun and the kids get heat stroke easily like Jenny used to. Instead I got out some spray bottles and filled them with water and between cleaning the windows and spraying the plants, they sprayed each other and had a laughing good time.

When it's this hot, it's just as bad as the middle of winter in a blizzard. Can't to much with either situation.

Went to the eye doc today and ordered a new pair of glasses. My eyes will show more so I got some makeup...never wore makeup in my life so I suppose it's time to give it a try. Easy peazy beautiful Cover Girl...I see it advertised on Ellens show. Says doesn't matter how you are on the inside just so you're beautiful on the outside...or something silly like that. I also want to get red, white and blue streaks in my hair but don't know if I'll follow through on that. Trying to lose some weight and figure I need to look a little funky too.

I have so many flowers blooming in my full sun south garden, it's really a pleasure to see them all. I also have a veggie garden there that's doing well. Ha ha rabbits you didn't discourage me from planting more things.

I think I'll twitter that I'm about to take a nap...my twitter name is Janice605 in case you want to follow...what's your twitter name?

Summer Solstice and Happy Father's Day

A little video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVJXrJhzrcQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewhitehouse%2Egov%2Fblog%2FResponsible%2DFatherhood%2F&feature=player_embedded

Fun in the sun

Probably going to go private as no visits anymore and it's mostly notes to me and my pictures anyway.

Flag Day

Although I didn't get a chance to fly the flag today because of the storms, I remembered that I love my country and I am grateful to all who have done anything to protect her.

Fireflies

Many things often take me back
To the scenes of my childhood days.
A sudden thought, or an old movie script,
Words from a spoken phrase…or fireflies.

A Little League game,
running boards on cars,
The smell of tar as it hits my nose,
Wild violets, red rover, or "8-9-10, here I come!
"Hot, dusty dirt between my toes…and fireflies.

Cotton candy will do it,
or pink bubble gum,
Or dandelions thick in my grass,
Cheerleading contests,
or the bounce of a ball,
But nothing transports me as fast…as fireflies.

The flick-flick signal like a flashlight
Of the lightning bug's mating call.
The flutter of my heart again
the mason jar
And the chase is on,
as I recall…the fireflies.

By Suzanne Bailer


There is a certain sadness that comes to me in summer.

Twenty Years Ago Today

Spring is winding down already

Lets go back to March and start over.
Played at the Fish Park today and went out for lunch.
Tomorrow is Hali's birthday Party, she'll be three.
She's been asking for an alligator and a clown doll.
Went out to lunch with old friends a couple days ago. It's always a fun time with them.
My sun porch is so pleasant that I spend a lot of quiet time there reading and resting.
I planted a lot of perennials close together and it seems to be working, not many weeds are poping through.
Today I am thankful for the sunshine and soft breezes.
A couple good salad recipes.
Authors and Poets.
and Spring.

KIds not here today

Went shopping with Jenny to the Boutique, got three shorts outfits for each kid...I mean child haha, also got a cute hat for Hali and a pair of PJ's for Owen. That kid loves getting pjs. Also went to stein where Jenny got some Lemon Verbena, she sure loves that stuff and it smells so good. She also got some Rosemary to plant by her kitchen window.
Yesterday was library day and they had a campout...or I should say in. The tent was set up in the library. They sure had fun. I got some good books and movies too. I have pictures still in the camera. We're looking forward to opening day of the Bullfrogs, local baseball team. It's the 28th and we're hoping to go. Also got tickets to see Thomas from Sodor on June 13th. Have purchased little flags for the kids to put out in the yard for Flag Day, the 14th
A family of Cardinals is in the yard, how beautiful.

Swimming Lesson Jumping In