I'm still here.

I'm just a little behind.

It's just one of those weeks.

More later.....(I hope!)

♥

JoAnn

Tulip festival, a new cupboard, and some fun company....

Last week I went to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival with some friends.
Thanksgiving Point has more than 200 acres, including the beautiful gardens. We wandered along the pretty pathways, admiring all the different colored tulips. (We missed the flowering trees-which peaked last week.) It was a beautiful sight to see all the color!
Later in the summer they will have rose gardens and a butterfly garden.

I also have a new cupboard that we found on Craig's List. I had been looking for a little storage for table cloths and other linens. I think it will help free up some drawers in my kitchen.

And....

Guess who came to visit?

I hope you all have a great weekend!
♥
JoAnn

It's Mosaic Monday again (almost) and I linked up to The Little Red House.  Go check out some amazing mosaics.

It's here! Sigh.......

Every year I watch and wait and wonder.
When will the crab-apple tree blossoms peak?

I think yesterday was about the perfect day.
Isn't it beautiful?
(Yes, we will pay dearly come fall- when the crab apples cover the lawn!)

Maybe I should call in sick tomorrow- so I can just sit and stare at it!
Just kidding.....


Speaking of the lawn.......

With all the rain and a little spring fertilizer, our lawn has grown about 8 inches
in just one week!

If I did call in sick (cough, cough) which I won't, this is the view from my bedroom window.
Tempting, isn't it?

P.S. Tonight we went to Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival.
It was amazing.
Since it is already past my bed time, I will save the pictures for another day.

But, I think you will enjoy them.

♥
JoAnn

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day
he created Spring."
-Bern Williams

Broccoli Pasta Salad.....Yum!

One of my favorite (non-diet) salads is
Broccoli Pasta Salad.
(I think you could substitute the mayo with a low fat version, but I haven't tried it.)

This recipe makes a HUGE salad, but it could easily be cut in half.

Broccoli Pasta Salad
cut up 2 bunches of fresh broccoli into bite sized florets
dice 1 medium red onion
cook 2 packages of pasta (I like the colorful curly noodles)
cook 1 package of bacon (break into small pieces)
Add optional ingredients like:
red grapes (sliced length-wise)
cashews
sun flower seeds
sliced mushrooms

Dressing:
2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Stir the dressing in the salad and refrigerate.
We usually don't add the bacon and nuts until we are ready to serve it.

It is a tasty treat and people always ask for the recipe.

Did you enjoy the sun today?
My tulips did.
It was great to do some yard work!

P.S. I couldn't resist posting this picture.
Isn't she cute?

♥
JoAnn

All fenced in....and restless

It's that time of year again!
The taste of freedom is coming...

but,
the classroom is fencing me in.

The drudgery of testing is upon us......

The boredom of students is contagious...

Oh, summer. Where are you?

Click your heels.....time for some magic

Maddie's been sick.
First, she got pneumonia.
Then she got the flu.
She spent Sunday at the emergency room because of dehydration.
Now she is covered with painful, itchy hives.

IT'S TIME TO GET BETTER, MADDIE!

Click your purple heels together and repeat after me,

"I will get better now! I will get better now!"

We are all praying for you!
Love,
Grandma Jo
XOXOXOXO

It's garden time....

Are you a flower gardener or do you like to grow vegetables?

I have to admit, I'm not very good at getting vegetables to do much more than sprout.
Maybe it is the soil (clay).
Maybe it's the snails.
Who knows? Whatever the reason,
I can't ever seem to get enough produce to have enough to eat at one sitting.

Today I discovered a blogger (This Blessed Nest) who swears by this:

Cow manure!

It's cheap and easy to use. I'm going to try it this year!
(Yes, I grew up with all the free manure we could ever want-but I just didn't appreciate it then!)

Aunt Mardene knows how to garden! She grows the best vegetables, strawberries, and flowers!
(She stays young by working so hard.)
And...
She shares!

(Mardene and my sister Linda)

I'm still more of a flower gardener, but maybe I can get enough tomatoes to actually do something this year.
♥
JoAnn

P.S. If you like my carrot font at the top of the page, check out this site:
Lettering Delights

(They are having a sale!)

Also, check out Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House. I enjoy seeing all the different mosaics.