Hi Annette. Thanks for checking in with me. I know I haven't been very active lately. This month has been utter madness at work. I'm a member of our emergency operations contingent. With just three weeks notice, we've been tasked by the State to conduct a campus-wide active shooter drill. It's a huge deal involving State and local agencies as well as our staff, faculty and students. On top of that I've been coordinating our administration and finance team retreat at Asilomar tomorrow. I'll never understand why they call three solid days with your co-workers, working like dogs in a conference room a retreat. It's more like an ambush. We leave on Sunday, come back on Tuesday and our drill is Wednesday. That's basically a long-winded way of saying that my garden is well and truly a mess. We did manage to get out there last Saturday and get a grip on the weeds. Kids, you can't imagine the invasion of clover we had in the new beds this year. I suppose it flourished with all the delicious amendments we dug in. We filled up our own yardwaste recycle bin plus three of our neighbors. I would say we got about 3/4 of the property weeded. Despite it all, I've got an amazing return from last year. Things are beginning to shoot up everywhere. Hyacinth is nearly over, but my tulips and daffs are still going strong. We've really had an early Spring this year. Believe it or not, I've got three sunflower blooming and one hollyhock that really never stopped blooming from last year. The wisteria is just about to pop and I think it's going to be a show stopper this year. Hmmm, let's see, what else...many overwintered petunias are blooming, night scented nicotiana, marguerites, nemesia, carnation, loads of geranium, canna, lavender both French and English, several salvias, various osteospermums, scabiosa, cala lily (just beautiful this year!), Japanese maples are just beginning to leaf and all most all of my roses are on their way to their first flush. You wouldn't think our garden looks as shabby as it actually does, would you? I did get a bit of a nice surprise this morning. I was wallowing in the barcalounger (yes, we have one of those) when Brian turned to me and said "Get dressed, we're going to Mid City Nursery." I was out of the chair like a Warner Brothers cartoon. I came back with a bunch of annuals as well as a gorgeous tea olive. I've always wanted one. It's going right under the front porch, for the smell don't cha know. Now I just need to find the time to get it all in the ground. Well, I'm off to iron work clothes on a Saturday night. Don't I just live the glamorous life! Thanks again Annette and a warm howdy do to you all. Steven

I enjoyed your blog so much!!!! I had no idea you had such a huge ranch...my goodness, where you find the time? Loved seeing all the critters and glad to see the donkey with the frozen ears is doing well. Your daughter is brave young lady. I would have been scared to death to face another cow. But like my rancher uncle once said, "Edna, if you get bucked off, get right back on that horse. If he bucks you again..bite him on the ear". Edna

Hi Madame X.. I am in the same situation with cuttings, waiting since March, but not pushing out lots of leaves. good for you. On the inflo blooming, it may just be blooming from within the plant, with no roots. Still watch the water until leaves form. I have one plant that burned down at the base, all the way through..cut it off, had an inflo, planted it back into pearlite. You are not suppose to do this, suppose to let it dry.. but was afraid the inflo would die..soo took a chance. Is blooming tiny blooms. Obviously has no roots. so will wait until its hopefully ready to grow with roots and leaves come, to water and feed. Hope on mine yours too , make it. spray mist from a bottle on the plants every couple days..depending on how hot, more if hot.. Karen B

What a nice way to start my day! Thanks Lee, for thinking of me and sharing. Now, go slap that camera around and give it a good talking to. I'm so excited about seeing what you have. We need all of the inspiration we can get. But, please don't use those words- get rid of some things. As soon as you do- you will need them for a tablescape! I think I posted that the space behind the sofa was 9'X14'. DH said it was only about 6'X14'. I just went and measured again and it is only 6'X14'. DRATS!! Oh well. I'll take what I can get. It won't be anything fancy. Anything is better than the jumble of boxes and bags piled in the floor that I have now! Karen, You make me laugh! I love my kitchen even though I live in a double-wide. It is small, but is white. I love the feeling I get when I walk in there in the morning. I have started trying more recipes since I found this forum. Kathleen started it all. Her Irish Soda Bread was the beginning. I followed her to the cooking forum and - OH MY!!!! The pictures they post on the "What's for Dinner" threads! Then I found all of the blogs with recipes galore! The only problem is, the extra money I'm spending on new ingredients I could be spending on dishes!! But, I've found that DH encourages me to buy new dishes more often when I fill them with good food!!! Even though he did raise his eyebrows PRETTY HIGH when I put 4 sets of the Target bird S/Ps in my basket! LOL Lee, Kathleen's DH cooks, too. And the pictures!!! That man can COOK! I believe I would rather have a man that cooks and use the pantry for food than dishes! I would climb those stairs for dishes If my DH would cook! Punk, Come on, Girl! Jump on in. My first tablescapes had very little on the table. Lots of open area!! And, it's sad but true. We can't get Karen to do a tablescape, yet. When you look at her house decorated so beautifully and can see the talent there.... But, we still have hope. After all, she did set a mighty fine tea that once! I love that line about her DD and DDIL telling her to just bring drinks!! BTW Lee, babbling is what I do best! Have a great day, Betty