Monday, March 21, 2011

Itchy fingers…..

I am always restless this time of year as I wait for warm
weather.  It’s hard to be patient as I long for color in the flower beds and along the fences.  Over the years we’ve had some great flowers-a few quite by accident and others for just one year.  We’ve also had some that floundered and barely survived.
These pretties were from a package of wild flower seeds.

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The next year only some of the different kinds of flowers came back.  If you really want variety, I guess you need to plant new seeds every year.

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These flowers above (I think they are sedums-I’m not sure?) are pretty, but can easily take over the whole yard.  We have to really cut them back, but they do bloom for most of the summer.  

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Who doesn’t love tulips?

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This ground cover (Could it be flox?) is really nice, but dries up when the summer heat arrives.
As you can see, I am not an expert on the variety of flowers I plant.  (Many were given to me as starts.)
I don’t always get the look I want.
Sometimes, even the best nurturing and good intentions can’t compete with shade, snails, insects, and heat,
but I sure can’t wait to see what surprises this year’s gardens will hold!
Bring it on!
JoAnn

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Another testament to love…..

How about an almost  71 year romance?

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They have been together through lean years and times of plenty;

through good health and sickness.

They are still sweethearts!

JoAnn

 

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Love…will it last?

Last night I watched the television show
“The Bachelor”.
I haven’t watched the show at all this season, but curiosity got the better of me last night.
I just wanted to see who was chosen.
O.K., those promotion ads lured me in!  I’m a sucker for a good sales pitch.  (Keep me away from those infomercials!)
I must admit,
I have a hard time watching someone be so passionate about so many different women all at the same time-and expecting it to mean something.
(Apparently, so did the girl who was chosen.)
I also felt so much empathy for the girl who thought she was going to be chosen, but wasn’t.  

For me,
real love means :
friendship
respect
trust
patience
caring
sacrifice
service
loyalty
and waiting

Can you get those things while dating so many women at the same time and with the whole world watching?
I think it would be very hard.

My parents knew what real love was.
This picture was taken just before my dad left for the army during World War Two. 
Gma and Gpa kissing
Now they knew what LOVE was!
JoAnn

P.S.  I do think that the scenery in South Africa (on the show) was spectacular!
I’m putting in on my Bucket List.

P.P.S.  I was going to post our recipe for Cauliflower Soup tonight, but when I got home from work I found someone had finished it all off and I didn't get any pictures!
Guess I'll wait until the next time we make some.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

A little excitement…not one, but TWO moves!

 

Good news!

We have some exciting news to share.

#1.  Michelle is buying a brand new townhouse and Katie is going to live with her.  They are planning on moving at the end of April when the construction is completed.

#2.  Karl got a job right here in the Salt Lake Valley.

(We were a little worried that Arizona, Idaho, or Washington might be their new home town-and that would make a long drive for spoiling grandkids.)

  After three long days of hunting, they found a nice house to rent.

Thanks, Andrew, for the assistance in finding both places!

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(photo taken from Google.com)

It wasn’t planned, but they will be about 10 minutes apart and just around the corner from our niece, Melissa.

YEAH!

I guess that calls for a party- before all the work begins!

(Anyone want to help???)

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Brooklyn and Maddie doing their celebration dance!

JoAnn

P.S. 

It’s almost time for this!

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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Water, water, everywhere….again

This morning we awoke to a new, heavy coating of snow all over the lawns, driveways, sidewalks, and cars. 

I’m tired of winter,

BUT it was very pretty to see the clean white fluffy snow.

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Utah is a desert, and snow and rain in the winter mean healthy crops in the summer

(and green lawns, pretty flowers, and happy gardeners).

Some years we have a shortage of moisture and other years we have water to spare…..

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These pictures were taken a few years ago in Southern Idaho.  The ducks are actually swimming on a baseball field.  The water wasn’t too deep, but it didn’t have anywhere to drain.

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We had gone to celebrate Easter with family.

(We had an indoor party that year!)

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Sometimes the weather can be an inconvenience, but I will gladly put up with the winter storms to have water to give life to  our gardens in the summer.

Now….isn’t it about time for SPRING?

JoAnn

 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Reading is Fun, and a birthday with a twist…..

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Want a good book to read?
Our school was given enough free books for every student to have their very own take home book.
As a way of thanking the RIF (Reading is Fundamental) people, we had a book cover coloring contest.
Do you remember reading any of these books?
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I think my students did a great job with their covers!
will know. The more that you learn, the more
places you'll go.
-Dr. Seuss
(I know I quote Dr. Seuss a LOT, but he is one amazing author.)
****
And….
Happy Birthday to Katie!
We had a little Mardi Gras mask making activity.
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Can you tell who everyone is????

JoAnn

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Pigging out…



I just have one question:
Why do we stuff ourselves with junk food when we are stressed?
JoAnn