Flowers in the house

I just can't get over how fast time passes the older I get.
I have neglected my poor little blog for so long and it has been total
laziness on my part.

I did have some photos of blooms from the garden that I wanted to share.
The grape hyacinths are still blooming and so are the many daffodils that
are scattered throughout the garden.

I love the deep purple hyacinths, but I love the pure white ones too.
The purple ones carpet the ground in one section of a large bed and look
so striking when you catch sight of them.
I don't have many white ones so maybe that is why I like them so much. 

The daffodils are almost done blooming, so I am cutting as many as I can and
bringing them into the house for their last hurrah.

 I decided to get a post published so that I can take some photos of the crabapple trees
that are blooming and actually try to get them posted soon.
The trees are just packed with blooms and the hum of the bees working in
them is almost scary :)
I would sure like to taste that honey!

I love how pretty the hyacinths look in my little iron urn and

wish that they had a longer vase life, but I guess that what photos are for!

  

   

 I just won the most beautiful giveaway!

I have a dear blogging friend named Riet who lives in the Netherlands.

I have followed her blog since I started my own and over this time she 

has become a  close friend that I am so grateful for.

Recently she had a giveaway to celebrate her birthday and to celebrate a new blog she 

just started called

My Life Quilting and Stitching Again.

Look at this GORGEOUS hand painted scarf!!!!

I am so excited to be the winner of such a lovely gift. 

 Here is a close up of the lovely card that she sent along with two 

of her hand crocheted coasters (which I LOVE!!!!)

Thank you so much dear Riet! I am going to love wearing this scarf!!!

Sunshine in a bucket!

It is Spring in my garden finally. 

The only proof I have of it are the daffodils, violets and a few
grape hyacinths starting.

Some of the tree's buds are opening up and the buds on the lilacs
are swelling bigger by the day.

I have hundreds of daffodils starting to bloom, but the only variety blooming
right now is this one.
I have three or four different ones planted and I don't remember which
are which. I used to know the name of everything I had in the garden but
now I'm lucky to remember just the varieties of my roses.

I do keep garden journals and can look plants up if I need to, but seldom
do unless I want to order more of something.
Thank goodness that never happens, because the journals
are in crazy shape.

I keep those little plastic labels that come with the plants I buy
and so each year's journal is bulging


crazy gardener----crazy garden journals

This particular variety is very fragrant so I cut several and have
placed them all over the house.

After several days they start to dry in the vase.
I love how they take on a papery look like these below.

This bouquet in the reflection of my mirror is also drying and are softer in color
than when they are fresh.

They have almost completely dried although it's hard to tell in these photos.
They will hold this color for about a year.

It has been wonderful to get out in the garden this week.
I feel like I walked ten miles today pruning, watering and digging
and boy did it feel awesome!!!!

Sweet little violets.

How can one pick just a couple of photos to show of these pretty little
violets when it is the only thing blooming in one's garden??????
.

I have a lot of these violets in the garden and so yesterday I dug a few up
to bring in the house and take some photos of.
I hope you will enjoy some of the photos I took of them.

Things in the garden are starting to emerge from the ground and the buds on the trees 

are getting fuller by the day. 

I'm getting excited to be outside more and even get into the hard work of 

weeding and dressing the flower beds. I have a couple of plans for the garden but

 I'm trying to hold myself back as far as creating too much more work for myself.

I think I'm at my limit as to what I can do in a day.

While I love to garden, my son's care comes first and then there are all the 

other things I love to do. Last year it became apparent to me that

maybe, just maybe, I was biting off a little more than I should. 

I would like this Summer to be a little calmer so I can spend more time with 

my children and my extended family.

I really want to make another couple of garden beds, I even made out plans over the winter

 but I am going to re-think it.

The wonderful thing about gardening is that there is always next year...and the next...

and the next!

I think I will put the garden plans aside this year and make of list of 

summer activities that don't require garden gloves.

It might include smelling the roses in some of my friend's gardens

and going on a few shopping trips with my daughters :)

and I can't believe I'm saying this,
but I think I even want to go camping more!

WOW...that even surprises me!

**************
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who read my blog and
leave such wonderful words for me. I don't think anyone can know what it means to me,
but you enrich my life so much and
I feel your friendship and thoughtfulness
and am so grateful.

many hugs from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!