Saturday

The Hummers and the Dinos were out on this beautiful day....

Ok my photos are not great, it was dark on the deck this morning.  The sun not quite out and this crazy woman sat in the chair just waiting!  Then it happened, the  Humming Bird came for the goodies.
I saw him/her yesterday and of course I did not have the camera so today I waited (for what seemed like a long time).  Then he came!  
As exciting as it may not be to all of you, it was to me!
 I know the photos are blurry but it's the best editing I could do.  I'll be out there later this afternoon when he comes back and this time I'll be ready!
 While I was out there I noticed the Dinos were making babies. 
 Yep, it's spring around my house.




Wednesday

I needed a mouse pad, so I made one from fabric and the trees come tumbling down.


 It may not seem to be an important item but I've been looking for a mouse pad and they all are so big and square.  I only have a small space on my little desk for my mouse.  I know, I have a lap top but the mouse makes it so much easier to get from one site to another.   
Since I've been  using my mouse on the desk top and the paint is now starting to show little scratches and scrapes not to mention I may be killing the mouse?
So I went to my fabric scrap box and simply cut out two pieces along with some very thin batting.  Stitched them together and done!  As you can see I made it reversible with two different flower patterns.


It works great!
The best part it's small and fits my space.

 While I was sewing this morning the Chain Saws began.

 Today has been a beautiful sunny day and it seems all the neighbors came out to watch the trees coming down in my neighbors back yard.  The chain saws (three at once) have been bzzzing since 7am yesterday morning and there is no getting away from the noise, no window or door closed helps.  
 We  who live on "Alligator Creek" have very old Hickory trees.  They must be 5 stories tall and most are dead or dying.  Some have fallen over the years and by some stroke of luck the high winds each season brings them down across the creek and not on someones house.  The three being removed this past two days are huge and so dead and will surly fall on our houses if a 50 mph wind comes in from the north.  That is how the tropical storms and hurricanes blow.
My neighbors admiring the mess they have to clean up. Their poor yard has been destroyed with all that fell from these monster trees.
What you are seeing is only from one of these trees.
These stumps must weight around 400 lbs each and are huge!
 My two trees are the next to go.    
Look how tall they are and one is leaning on my deck and soon will start cracking it.  My bedroom is in the target if they fall.
Only one problem... I just finished planting all my spring and summer flowers so the Mr and I decided to wait till the fall to take ours down!


 
Although having such trees covering our deck and house helps with the hot summer sun the entire deck is totally covered in shade due to the house in a N-S direction.  I need E-W to get sun there.  I'm hoping once the trees are taken down I'll get more sun for my potted herbs? The a/c will take care of the heat.  Now a new thought is in our minds.. enclosing our deck and making a nice sun room.  Right now with the trees there, it can not be done due to how they lean over.
That remains to be seen?
Gota go, the chain saw guys are back from lunch and it's about to get LOUD!

I'm linking this post to

 

Friday

The Blue Waters of Tampa Bay


 Photo courtesy Tom Pauser

 "Now this is blue"
 
  "The Great White Egret" sitting on the rail of "The Pier" looking into the Tampa Bay
St. Petersburg, Florida

 My son came for a surprise visit on this day and we took a drive down to St. Pete and walked out on"The Pier"
Surprisingly enough this Pier is slated to be demolished in 2014. Yes a new one will go in it's place but this one is a landmark and will be missed.  There are shops and a food court along with an aquarium on the top floor.  A wonderful spot to sit and enjoy the weather.
We found the Egret  just sitting there posing by the blue waters.
Beautiful! 

I'm linking up to



Tuesday

Day three of the back yard transformation and my grandson's wrapped tight to his mom.


 My girl sent me a photo today of her new baby, just 3 weeks old.   She is using the baby wrap I made for her and she loves it.  Gina is the kind of mom that holds her new born all day long.  She is a busy mom and homeschools her kids.  As most of you know this is baby boy #4 for her and she did this with all her children.  I love how she wraps her baby's and keeps them close to her body for the first two months.  She lets them tell her when they want to venture out.
 I remember the day about 3 months ago when Gina sent me a photo of a wrap she found on the net.  "Mom, they want $80.00 for it"... "Will you make me one"?  Sure I said and after looking at the photo I bought 6 yards of a light jersey fabric and made her two.  (I paid all of $24.00 for it)   I remember when I finished making it I thought the length was much too long but after wrapping it on myself it was perfect.  It's made  to wrap a small baby in so many different ways.  It's very light and airy.  She loves it and that is all that matters to me.

 Let me share a little trick.
 When I first wake up in the morning I usually turn on my music while I read my e's and get the coffee made.   My iPod is in my phone where I have all my music stored.  I put the iPhone  in a glass... amazing how it amplifies the music.  It's like having a great speaker attached.   I also do this when using my phone on speaker which I do while cooking or other household chores.  It makes the callers voice so much clearer.
  Amazing!


Then after breakfast on to day three of my back yard transformation.
I have been working on the perimeter and wanted to get as much done as I could today. Our weather is going to change after 5 days of beautiful sunshine and 70 degree temps.  They say "big storms coming for the next two days"....   My thoughts on this,  Good  I need to stay indoors and clean my house before next week.  I'm going in the hospital for a bit of  female repair work.  It's just something I've been putting off  but needs doing.  I'll be laid up about a week after an over night stay.  So I got busy on the yard.  I moved the bromeliads from down by the creek nearer the deck.  They don't need any work at all and will fill in an awkward spot that gets no water or sun.  I love it when they bloom.

  Then I put in Azalea bushes along the deck.  I've been wanting to do this for several years now.  I think I missed the blooming season for these new bushes but next spring it should look wonderful.  The mulch is sitting in bags just waiting for me to finish putting it down.  Of the 25 bags I bought this week I have 4 left, hope it's going to be enough?

Depending on when the rain begins I might get a few more hours in the yard tomorrow?  Then all I need to do is add a few more flowering plants in a few weeks, and it's finished for the year.
  Yes!

I'll be joining


Sunday

It's April and that means it's really Spring.....


 I'm so happy to welcome "April".  That means the end of winter and warmer weather is upon us once again.  I'm really not looking forward to the above 90 days but you will all have to agree, this has been one cold winter.

 You think I would have learned something from last week when I damaged my back after lifting  20 bags of Red Mulch from the car to the back yard.  I got them from the HD (they were on sale for $1.00, how could I not?)  Well this morning I saw Lowe's flyer and they had them on sale for .99c and off I went to get more.. 
My back had 4 days rest and feels great and I didn't  do any heavy lifting or bending today, because the mulch stayed in my car till the Mr. got home.   
 The mulch was such a bargain how could I not get more!
  I did spread 5 bags in one of the planting beds. 
That was enough for today.
 While I was out sitting on the deck enjoying a good cup of coffee,  in this wonderful weather,  I noticed how the topiary plant was starting to take over the Hickory tree.  This is a teeny leaf variety of the Buxus microphylla japonica family – Japanese Boxwood plant.  I planted two 6" plants at the base of this large tree  and they have really started to take off.  My plan was to totally encase the tree and my deck staircase.
 It's doing it's job but sure takes a long time.  I read where the topiaries at Disney, you know all the cute animals they have, well they can take up to 10 years to totally cover the frames before they are put on display in their gardens.

 Mine is now going on 6 years.
The Hickory tree is about 3 stories tall and the vine has really climbed up there.  Since I have no control it's just doing what it wants.  It's just not wrapping around the large trunk as planned, but it sure looks good.

The sun has helped sprout my  herb seeds.  I use a lot in cooking and try to maintain them all winter. I normally put them outside by day but this past week I have been letting them stay outside all night.

Wishing everyone clear skies and sunny days with warm temps because we deserve it!

"Happy April" 

I'm linking up to
Metamorphosis Monday 
Make it Pretty Monday 
Outdoor Wednesday 


Friday

My early Easter Pie, "Lemon Merangue" to die for.... I'm eating it today!

I'm sure everyone gets a craving and the other day, mine was "Lemon Merangue Pie"
  The need never went away so this morning about 6am I went to the kitchen, made my coffee and started pulling out all the ingredients to make myself one.

 First I want to tell you about my glass cutting board.  I love this thing!  It was something I  picked up at a yard sale about 6 years ago for all of $1.00.  It's been a counter saver and the perfect spot to roll out pie crust.  A few months ago I thought of getting another one in the stores and could not believe the price for one this size.. it was $39.00.  So now I'm on the look out at all yard sales I go to.. so far nothing.
 1 stick of  sweet butter (cold) and 1 1/2 c of flower, 1/4 tsp salt,  three tablespoons icy water into the mixer, on low and pie crust emerges.  Transfer the sticky pie crust mixture to my glass cutting board that has been dusted with flour and roll out, put in pie pan then prick with a fork and bake in a  hot oven (425') for about 12 minutes.   Done! 
You will see I made two small tart crusts, because I know I made much too much of the  lemon mixture.  My neighbor next door will love these little guys.

 Ok, I cheated a bit.  Used Jello-Lemon flavored pudding mix, but I did add 2 tsp fresh lemon juice to give the pudding a bit more tartness.
What do you want?  It's 6am!
 The Jello mix called for 1 c of sugar per box, I used two boxes, but I only added 1/2 cup per.  I could taste the tartness...

 Time to mix the egg whites into smooth Merangue.  
4 egg whites 1/4 c sugar and turn it on high and walk away for about 5 minutes.
 "Tick Tock... Tick Tock"
I have a really bad problem with burning food. 
 Really!  
Anything that needs high heat and only minutes to brown usually ends up burnt so I sat in front of the oven door (literally sat on the floor) while the merangue browned.  I timed it, 4 minutes at 425'f. I know what would have happened if I walked away.  Just ask my family what happens when I try to make toast or garlic bread.

Perfect!

Look at the luschiousness of this pie.  
I took a piece to two of my neighbors.  They are up in the years and just love it when I surprise them with something special.
Besides, if I give most of it away
"I won't eat it it all"

 I did say in my header, "This is my Easter Pie" so I guess that means I can't make another for that special day. But then I'm sure after the Mr. gets his hands on it today I may need to.... maybe?

"Happy Easter"


I'm linking up to
Friday Food Frenzy 
Show off your Stuff 






Tuesday

It's Spring 2013 (In Florida) ... or is it?

It's Spring!  

That's what everyone is telling me and all I read and see on the news is the north is still suffering the wrath of winter. 
 Snow?  
 What snow?  
We in South Florida are having chilly weather but the sun is glorious.   The past two days I've been cleaning and doing damage control out in the yard.  This year our winter was odd indeed... It's been colder than normal and most of my plantings have suffered.
Yesterday our Home Depot had a great sale on "Red Bark Mulch" and I  bought 20 bags.. they were $1.00 a bag. 
 Then the unthinkable happened.  
I threw out my back,  yep, I really hurt myself and had to give up when I had so much more to do. 

Today was spent up in my room,  laying down filled with muscle relaxers trying to baby my poor aching back.  My hands were busy as usual finishing up a new crochet table cloth I've been working on for several weeks.
 I looked out from my bedroom balcony into the beautiful sunshine and wanted to cry because I could not finish, but I feel so good about how much I did get done.  The weeds took over this past winter and I made some large piles for the lawn guys to take on Thursday. (Our regular day for them to spruce up the lawn.  I love those guys)


As much as I love my yard, it's so much work to keep it up.
One good thing about being stuck indoors today I was able to have a good gab with my sister in Saudi on Face Time.  Then a two hour phone chat with the new mommy, my daughter.  Her  baby is 2 weeks today and had his check up with the Dr.  He and his brothers are all doing great.  
Well, it's 5 in the afternoon and 55' out.  Freeze warning tonight they say, wonder if I need to get out and put some sheets on my new plantings?  No, I think I'll take my chances and let mother nature take over.

 
 "Happy Spring"

I'm linking up to