Busy as a ........

Black tiger swallowtail butterfly !
We are so underconstruction. It is the last minute things before the fence goes in on Monday (hopefully). I have so many different plans for the garden, can't wait to see what the difference will be when we have the fence up. Today Brad did a lot of the hard work (including the steel fence removed below) but my hands and elbows are still aching.
So many plants are in coffee containers all over the garden, I feel like we should nickname the garden Java Joe's or 3 Poodles and a Cup-To-Go :D

It's a rainy day!

It's going to rain.
The (pre-fence) yard work was caught up last evening.
I cleaned the house yesterday before the kids came.
All I need is to put dinner in the crock pot.....

Today I am sewing.

In Honor of the Incredible Sacrifice....

"We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved and now we lie

In Flanders Fields."

--Flanders Fields by Lt. John McCrae

During WW II, my Nana, like most women during the War, embellished her sewing with patriotic messages. This little sea dog she drew herself and we know that she embroidered all sorts of naval symbols on my mother's clothes (her only child during the War). Pop was in the Navy in the Pacific. Below is a photo of Victory dogs that embellished a pillow.


When I was a child, Memorial Day activities were created around the annual parade. I remember my father pointing out the very old veterans who had fought in the Spanish-American War. He himself remembered seeing veterans of the Civil War in the parades of his youth. Every year the parade ended at the cemetary where poems, prayers and some speeches were given to honor the incredible sacrifices people had made.

When Peter was growing up, we attended a few ceremonies on Memorial Day; the parades had long since faded and there were only a handful of atttendees at the ceremony. I'm not sure there is even any of those ceremonies left in our valley.

There is something to be said for including history in our day-to-day active life (not the passive one on television) and especially for children to be a part of that experience. For my parents' generation those sacrifices were part of their daily routine of rationing, collecting scraps for the war effort, and banners on houses with men overseas.

How different our world is today. William Harvard said that "the greatest glory of a free people is to transmit that freedom to their children." I wonder, how many 15 year old children in this country actually know what today is about? How many 25 year olds?

Grateful for Rain

Sometimes it is good to take a break. We have been working steadily to get the garden open this season as well as prepare for the fence construction that will begin later this week. Some beds had to be stripped completely to make way for the fence and others still need to be weeded. Everything needs mulch and DH has still not got the sod. But there is always something to do and we spend almost all our time out back (but oh! it will be even better once the fence is up!).

Yesterday we moved a tree. I had removed a half-dead St. John's Wort bush on Friday and Brad helped me plant a curly willow tree I had started to replace it. Our hole was 2 feet deep and the soil was dry all the way down. Numerous thunderstorms passed through last night and we are grateful for the rain despite how it affects the 3 poodles (Teddy barks at the thunder, Paddie hides, and Seamus puts his head under the couch and sleeps).

Today it is just good to rest, take a break and let mother nature care for the plants and us :)

Have a safe and blessed holiday!

Which way to Mayfair?

Mayfair is an annual event at our city park that makes us locals a bit nuts. It's loud late until the night, our streets get parked up, people pull flowers and litter, and to top it off, the entertainment company charges admission to our own park during the event. This is our least favorite holiday because it seems it is about making money for an entertainment group and not remembering those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

It appears this whole city fiasco is upsetting not only to the local residents but to the wildlife as well. Today Brad got home and came out to the backyard looking strange. "Where is Helena?" he asked. I pointed to the sand box where she and Katie were playing. "Quick! Come! Wait til you see out front!" So we snuck out to the front yard to see a much better sight. Apparently Mayfair has not only disturbed people.

Plucky little Helena piped: "Now that's something you don't see every day!"

Yup, 2 girls and a boy deer. They seemed unphased by the city, the dogs barking or even us. They were just trying to figure out where to live... and get a free meal whenever they found a tempting bush.

ROAD TRIP!!!!

Today is a quilt road trip day and I am ever so delighted to get out of the house and view some beautiful antique quilts!!! Yippppeeeee :)

I Celebrate Weeding.....

I haven't blogged for the last week because I was immersed in the usual yard sale chores: purging, pricing, and hauling things out to the garage for the big sale. Our sale last Saturday was wonderfully successful and I have enough money to buy all the mulch for the garden--and hire the wonderful boy next door to lay the mulch :)

Following the whole house purge thing, I am going out to weed this morning. It needs to be done before the mulching and I may want to also move some plants. This morning it is 56 degrees out and perfect weeding weather. I love weeding: it hurts the hands, knees and even the elbows but I find it all relaxing....the quiet of the garden, filing the buckets full of weeds, and the even clean look of the soil when it is all done.

Today is especially wonderful because my dentist just called and cancelled my appointment so now I have a whole day for the garden!

Have a safe and blessed day! May all your weeds be pulled easily and include the whole root of your problems!

Happy Mother's Day!

PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

mama's day crafts

This week at 3 P and N we have been focusing on Helena's gift to her Mama on Sunday. So our clever girl picked out some embroidery transfer she likes and colored them with fabric markers after Nana ironed the transfers on the towel. Also for this Mama's day---a nice painted plate for decoration that I picked up at one of the craft stores. Top it with a home made card and wrap it all up and voila! A great Mother's Day is about to happen for Helena's Mama. :)

Spring Unfurls........

The week in review....

Each year, my husband and I have something done to the house with the thought that this is the last time we will ever need to do such and such. This year, we are working on the backyard/garden. We need to have sod placed but this week the hubs worked on a pathway which is still unfinished. Also, estimators came out to assess our property because we are going to have a privacy fence installed. This will change the look of the garden so it will be a summer long project.

Helena was here on Monday and she and Katie did a lot of painting and crafts out back. Unfortunately I got ill that night and was sick through til Tuesday.

Wednesday I went to KalMay Arabians to do photographs for a blog I am working on for Jim and Linda.

Thursday, Erin and Hannibal came to visit. Hannibal is standing here with Seamus. I helped Erin with her blog, can't wait to see how it looks and will post more on that!

Helena was here again today and we made bunnies, a bunny house and assorted other crafts (including MayDay basket below). Today is Melanie's birthday and it was great to see her as well!

Tomorrow Di is coming to help to visit. I need her help and she needs Mama and Papa (of 3ps and n) to nurture her a bit.