You all are so kind Mary- that huge shrub is a rhody.. starting to bloom right now- let's pray all this rain doesnt dash it all to bits this year! I hate that. Gotta Garden.. yes- I am goign to try the larger rocks when i get a chance :) You all can notice the difference? I look at these pics and think- gosh for all that work- it doenst show much of a change! :( Msscarlet- thank you for thinking my home is pretty. It's a little hosue- but i think it's kinda cute.. and i hope i get the cottagey feel across. I hear what you're saying about that blue spruce that blocks the view. it will only get bigger too... but here's the thing.. getting rid of that ONE might not make a difference- as you cna see in the pic- there is a HUGE one next to it and and even bigger one next to that one!!! haha. at first i hated them but I am rather attached to them now.. and this small one is the only one i can attempt to decorate for christmas. haha PLUS- there is actually a VAST amount of space betwee that spruce and the first corner bed by the house.. the angle the photo was taken at it straight one.. but coming from the other direction yu can actually see th ewhoel house.. i'll try to take different shtos for you guys and you can tell me what you think. Now Gladno1.. yours is the silliest question..hahahakeep bermuda grass out of my beds? You make me laugh!are you kidding me? what do you think i do all spring- march to may!! I dig out all the bermuda grass and re-edge my gardens.. it's horrendous. if anyone knows any trick- please tell me.. but i'm with you gladno.. this stuff is eveil. the only good thing is that it requires no water and stays short in summer and crowds out the weeds. however- it is EATING my driveway too.. can you believe it??!!! now you know why i need hired help right? all my energy goes into keepig bermuda grass out of my beds. haha

Hibiscus need full sun, all day if they can get it, especially to flower. Many leggy plants will get fuller by cutting back (or pinching back, on small plants). Years ago when I lived at the beach, my neighbor would whack back her pink hibiscus to only about two feet tall. And that thing would be absolutely GORGEOUS a few months later, loaded with blooms. It was in full sun. But that the cut back used to kill me - it was way before I was ever a gardener. Carol

I haven't been painting either. Been running the roads. ha Spent Fri shopping for DH's b-day. They had a bbq for all the people who were in the Arby's holdup I told you about and my DH volunteered to do the cooking so everyone could visit. I spent Sat working in the yard and making potato salad and prepping meat for the bbq Sat night. Sunday b-day party. Then yesterday my DB was off so we had lunch with him and ran errands with him. We stopped in a TS and I found a big sign that goes with my red,white and blue. I'll have to take a picture later to show you. I was sooo excited to find it. I've got to get my house cleaned today so I can go do some shopping for DH tomorrow. He's leaving to go to Chicago on Fri for work. The fence people are coming Thurs or Fri to put in the panels and finish up so I'll have to be home those days. I may be able to get some painting done then. I am trying to get a few things made up to give to my DB & SIL as a housewarming gift. Ever made a barbed wire wreath before? It ain't easy. ha They decorate western theme. Waiting for some horseshoes from a friend to finish that up. Trying to find some boots at the TS to plant for their front porch. Do you know if and when I find them if I should drill holes in bottom of the boot for drainage? Anyway, busy as always. The next weekend we'll be going on a little mini vacation so I'll be getting ready for that. I thought summer would be more relaxing, but obviously not. ha It's good that you are at least getting to spend some quality time with GD. Did you do any fun shopping or was it have to shopping? ha I saw some of your fun TS finds over on Holidays the other day, but don't remember if I got to post or not. ha Well, I guess it's time to don my maid uniform and get busy cleaning this pigsty. I don't know how it manages to get so messy when we haven't been home very much. ha The gremlins must have been having a party while we were out. :) I'll be back to post that sign pic later. ~Anj

As a matter of fact, Maryann, I did wake up during the night thinking about this. I thought, oh gosh, what if I never get back on? I post at the MH, but it's so slow. I will admit I was beginning to feel a little desperate. It's still showing me that page about security being insecure, but I click on that option about opening this website up anyway. It does say that it's not recommended. It's screwy. I thought maybe it was the server, but my sister has the same one and she hasn't had any trouble. She posts on the Garden Party. So, I will admit, it kinda scared me!! It's such a habit, and I'm such a creature of habit that it was AWFUL.