Outdoor Friday

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When you walk out my front door in Spring the most beautiful whiff invades your senses.

"Gardenias are a gift from the Angels"

Each year this bush just gets bigger and bigger.  I've had to top it several times, or it would reach my second story windows.

Right now there are literally hundreds of blooms that may open in another week.  They open slow and that is fine with me.. one at a time would make me happy because they only last about two days. That is if the little ants don't destroy them.  Teeny tiny ants invade the bush once the first bloom appears.  I don't spray them, I'm completely Green!

If only I could bottle the aroma of the wonderful Gardenia

I'll be joining Tootsie Time @

Fertilizer Friday

Romantic Home  Show and Tell Friday 

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I Bow MY Head in Silence

Shelter Box . Please click and donate 

Hope begins with having a roof over your head.

Along with my donation, I'll be sending my prayers for the safety of all involved in the Japan Disaster.

For all who died and for all who are hurting.

"Lord Please Be Kind" 

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St. Pattys Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

~Irish Blessing

hugggsss
Sandy
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Painting to ease my Worried Mind

There was a tall bar stool in the trash a few months ago and I grabbed it only to put in my store room.  I knew one day I would find a place for it in my home.
Mr. N. is always telling me  "Stop bringing home junk". haha

He is not laughing now! 

This would make the best desk chair!  

It swivels and is perfect, except I needed to make is shorter.

Put on a coat of primer and some "Krylon, Ivy Green  Spray Paint".

Let it dry while we went to lunch.

It's so perfect for my little desk.

A seat cushion that I had made months ago,  and there it is!  I could not have found a better pop of color for the space.

I may have to give the chair one more coat of paint but for now, I'll just sit and look at it. I just love the color. It matches my crochet place mats and a few other accessories I have scattered......

Today, working on the desk chair was therapeutic for me.  I have been really "Worried about my Daughter and her family". They are down wind from all the radiation blowing East in the Pacific... Everyone keeps telling me "Guam is out of danger" but as a mom I just can't help being concerned!  This morning I have called pharmacies and health food stores.. drove to a few and each had the same message, "No Potassium Iodide pills to be found".  Gina asked for me to send some to her.  She can not find any in Guam and wants them on hand for her three little boys "Just in case"?  Right now I have my daughter-in-law up in Michigan, just a 15 minute drive to the Canadian border, searching for me? She did say she would mail them out to Gina, if she found any.  I have to complain though.  
Do you believe how the gouging is happening... so far that $10.00 bottle of pills is now selling for more than $300.00!!  They are on the internet for that price!
I have hope though... some how Gina will get those pills or the wind will stop blowing East..  In the mean time, we just wait for better news to come out from Japan!

My prayers have not eased up for all involved in the Japan Disaster

"Lord Please Be Kind"


I'll be joining these linky parties
Alphabet Thursday

Strut your Stuff 

Ideas under $100.00 

Furniture Feature Friday 

Sister Sister Sunday 

Color My World @ debbiedoos 

 

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Outdoor

The world could be falling down around me, but when I step outside my "Fly" greets me and it sends a message, "All will be well".

Just about all my plants are starting to bloom.

This plant has small blue flowers that come out in the early morning.  I have no idea what it is.  I pulled a plant from around a lake here in town.. they grow like weeds, but sure are pretty.

The Dahlias  are coming up in numbers.

This next photo is another plant that I simply don't know the name of .  We have a really nice spot here in Clearwater called the "Sunken Gardens" and this plant was in full bloom one year.  I took a few seed pods and planted them in the yard.. the seeds finally took last year and are now full size plants.  The flowers are like orchids but the flowers don't last very long.. a few hours only.  I need to run out in about an hour to get the open flower.

There, I got the shot two hours later, when the sun came out full.

These are so beautiful and I had to bring one inside.
I'm also happy to say it's an "African Iris". My local nursery today had them.

This is another of 6 flowering plants that I put in this past week.. their annuals and fill the spaces between the perennials.

I just love the blue

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The Black Eyed Susan came up from last years seeds scattered in the wind.

All the flowering potted plants are coming back and it's warming my soul.
Todays worry is the Radiation from the Nuclear Power Plants failing in Japan.  My Gina and her family may be down wind.. She told me this morning, "If radiation is detected they will send the military families home".
I'm praying for all the people there!


If any of you want to help.. there is an origization in Sarasota, Florida that sends "Shelter Boxes" for the families with no home and no hope!

I really believe, "Having a roof over your head is the first step to hope"

Shelter Green Boxes

If you would like to help, this may be the charity that will do more than most.  The people will have a Tent, cooking pots and dishes and drinking water etc.  Read about it on the link.
I believe the Red Cross is involved with this company.  Do your research before giving to any charity.

If I may post a quote from my Niece Mona,
"With all this political chaos..mother nature's anger...nuclear explosions...people dying from both humans and nature...I can't help but say this...God....I love life and everything in it...we don't ask that You change what is written but we ask that You please be kind"

My thoughts on giving to people in great need, 

"One day by the grace of God go I"

huggsss

Sandy

I'll be joining

Oregon Cottage Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday 

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Kitchen Cabinet/Desk

I finally finished my Cabinet-Laptop Desk.

I had this Odd Space, useless space really and thought about 'What to do with it" for several months.  Then the idea came to me one day while in the Doctors office. 
I saw this cabinet.  Funny thing was I was at the OB/Gyn on the table, yes with my feet in the, well, you know the place... took out my camera and snapped a photo.. the Doctor and her assistant both looked at me funny... I had to tell them the story... they laughed!  

My first thought was I needed a pattern of sorts before I could cut the wood. Then took out a roll of Christmas paper and placed it on the floor.

Once I had the pattern cut,  I placed it on the wood, just like a dress pattern and cut it out.

To make my life easier, thinking "How will I get under all this to paint it?"  Once I had all the wood cut to size I primed and put on the first coat of Semi Gloss Paint.

After putting all the pieces together with nails and liquid nails, I then did a quick sanding to smooth.

After thinking of the space to the left I thought "Why not add a little shelf".  More storage or a space for little baskets or cook books?

I know I must have broken "The cardinal rule of carpentry" but I did not have the energy to take away the wall paper and simply painted over it with white.  Who will know except me,,, well, now you do!

Finished!
It's the perfect spot for the house phone and keys to open the back French Doors.

What is nice about this little desk,  I found a place for my hand bag.  It's not dropped on the table or chair when I come in.

Mr. N said "Can I put my stuff on your desk?"

silly man,,, This desk is mine!

Now to figure out a chair?  The stool in the photo is a bit too high so I thought of cutting down the legs?  There is not a lot of space to put a proper chair and I don't sit at the laptop for any length of time.  I do all my writing and surfing up in my bed at night. So we will see about a chair another time?

I'll be joining  

Creating With The Stars 

 

 

 

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Saturday finds....

After the awful day I had yesterday,, today I did something to help clear the terror and fear out of me.  I refused to see the TV or Internet News.  There is nothing I can do to help anyone so getting out of the house was best for me.

"Yard Sales"

My daughter is so much stronger than I.  She sounded so calm today and was sorry to have called me at 3am with her terror but I told her I would have been more worried not knowing how they were.  It was a good thing to be on the phone with her throughout the horrible ordeal.
I got up early and hit a "Neighborhood Sale" and they had many homes on each block with such goodies.  I did go with one thing in mind, a "Chandelier" but no luck today.  I did find a few nice items.

  I love little "Tea Pots" and this one was $1.00.  It will take it's place with my ever growing collection.



When I came upon this basket of Fruit, all I wanted were the grapes but the lady said "It's only $2.00, take it all!  Well as you all know, the grapes alone are more than two dollars.  And, I have a pretty nice white basket to boot!  

Sold!

For weeks now I've wanted a large heavy basket for shoes that we slip on and off at the front door... this one is perfect and only $3.00.  I think a can of white spray paint is in order here.

Then the best part of my finds was FREE!   Yes, as I was leaving one sale the lady said.. "Do you want the silk greenery?"  "No, I really don't need any greenery", I said.   "Well, you can have them free".      I took them and once I got the box home I realized they were pretty nice.   Several were long bunches of Ivy.    I'm sure I'll find a home for them somewhere?

I have a few baskets on a book shelf that some of these might work in.

I hope all of you were able to get out in the sunshine today. 

We had a beautiful chilly day and it was so good for me to have something else to think about other than that awful day yesterday.  I am so afraid to turn on the news. My heart can not take the suffering that is going on in Japan right now.  

All I can do is pray for all involved.

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Terror.....

 

The Tsunami as it traveled East in the Pacific

 Map of the Pacific.  The Mariana Islands is a group of about 200 and Guam is included in this group.  Guam is the first red dot on the left of the map.

I woke this morning, about 3am EST,  to a frantic phone call from my daughter Gina.

"Are you watching the News?"
"No I'm asleep" I said. 
"Mom, a Tsunami is coming!"

"Japan had a huge earthquake and the Island of Guam is on hi alert!"
"OMG"!  is all I could mutter as I ran to turn on CNN


For the next 5 hours I stayed on  the phone with my daughter as she and her Coast Guard husband prepared for the Tsunami to hit the Island.
Gina was hysterical as she has three little boys to protect.   I tried to comfort her and give her the best advice I could.  Get some rope and when it's time to get on the roof, tie them together... then tie them to you or their dad.  "They will not float away".  Then find an air vent or something on the roof,  and tie the rope to that... find anything!  We stayed on the phone, off and on every 30 minutes or so and then my son, daughter #1, Gina's dad and my sister in SA,  all monitored the situation, together!   My two phones were not enough to keep up with all the calls.  I relayed messages all morning!  I also was on the verge of hysteria!

 After my morning of "Terror"

I'm so happy to say she and the Island got the "All Clear" about 7am EST when the current took the Tsunami North of the Island. All they had come in was a low 2ft of water.  Gina's home is on the Navy base and it sits on the elevated area of the island.. her street was full of residents coming to higher ground and they all brought wine and drink ... Sounds to me like a "Hurricane Party" we here in Florida have.  
The Navy  and AF bases took care of their own Ships and Planes.. got them out of harms way but left the families to find shelter... this bothered me.  Why not put them all on the ships?  It reminded me of when I was about 9 yrs old. A hurricane came through Miami and my dad (airline pilot) was sent to fly the planes up north and they left us in Miami to fend for ourselves... odd to say the least!
To all of you who do not experience such disasters,, wine and liquor helps with the terror that you feel in your soul!   Gina said her husband gave her wine to calm her down and it did help.  But her heart and mind was on saving her three boys and also on the families of Japan because she has a few friends who came from Japan....
Guam feels earthquakes at least every two or three days.  Gina has also lived there two years now and has been through three Tsunami warnings but nothing as huge as this one... Me,  as her mom who has had enough of this.. "I want Gina and her family to come home"!!!  Her husband has only another year there. Can my heart take it?



Those in Guam escaped the devastating effects of this  disaster but to the Countries who got the worst of this  earthquake... 

I send my prayers to all.

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 I would like to thank all my blogger friends who called and sent messages asking how my family in Guam were doing.

All is well. 

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