Exercise, I Won a Misti and a Garden Walk

Hi there everyone, how have you all been doing. I guess I have been MIA again for a week, again.

Had Internet and U-Verse problems these last 5 days. Finally broke down and called At&t and talked to some foreign person that is so very hard to understand. (Gosh.....I hate having to do that). But the problem is fixed and you know "what I have to do??" Each day I have to pull the plug on the modem....can you believe that??? I struggled for 5 days. I would be on the Internet and the TV would freeze up then give me a message that U-Verse signal has been lost and I had to jump through 5 hoops to get things working again.....nope, not gonna do that. But then to top that off, every time I would try to do something on the Internet I would get the message "oops we can't find that page". Boy I was getting VERY frustrated.

First I thought it was my computer and I had to take it in to get cleaned and that there was some kind of virus. But then, when the TV would freeze up, I decided it was an At&t problem. So I finally called tonight and explained the situation to the first guy....we got cut off. Then I called back and got a second guy and had to explain everything a 2nd time (geez, getting a little upset by now) and I was not sure he could really figure it out.

Suddenly he said...."I know what  the problem is and he said I had to unplug the modem for 2 seconds every day" "yeah, sure, I said, we'll see" Okay....everything is working so far..................

So I really didn't start a new exercise routine....I have been thinking about it though....hahhahaha!!

I am soooooo excited!!! I won a mini misti from here. A misti was being given away everyday for the Month of May. All I had to do was leave a comment on the blog that was giving away the misti for that day here's that blog. Today I found out I won one......don't usually win things...but today was my "lucky day"!!! When my misti comes in the mail I will show you how it works....it's a great tool for a stamper/scrapbooker.

I took a picture of my Purple balls (their names fail me).....the first year I had one ball. The second year 3 balls. This year....6 balls! They are multiplying. (there was another one, but it fell on the ground....so it happily made it's way into the house as a bouquet. (maybe I should take a picture of it)

This is the Garden Walk....my neighbor Kathy...which I just met a few weeks ago has a wonderful back yard that I was just biting at the bit to see. Finally one day I gathered the nerve to ask her about a plant I had in my front yard....I did not know if it was a weed or a flower. She did not know what it was.....today she said it was "Phlox" I guess I will let it keep growing.

This is her Lupine.....pretty purple....love, love.

A beautiful Clementius.

Some pretty pink Lupine.

Ummmmm....I forgot what she called these pretty flowers. Kathy said she would let me know when more flowers were blooming in June...that will be fun. June is also the Master Gardeners Garden walk....I might go to that too. Never know what kind of ideas one can come up with. Course I have so many ideas going....I may not be able to keep up with myself.

Well, time to close here, I have to get another Father's day card up on Etsy tonight. Now, as long as things are working right....PTL!!

Have a great night and a good Saturday and keep looking up, things do get better....just ask me!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

~ Feeling Better ~

Hi there everyone. So yes, as my title says, "Feeling Better" and that, I am. Each day brings a little bit less pain. It is hard to believe for me that this little hernia could have caused so many problems. Recuperating time has been tuff, but thank God for pain pills, they have helped. I did not take a pain pill last night, I have cut them down from 3-4 a day, down to one and none today so far. The pain is livable at this point. I walked Kylie by myself today, down the block and back. She was a happy camper. Picked a few red tomatoes and a green pepper. Maybe next week I might start walking my ceramic yard animals into the shed for the winter months....sniff...where did the summer go????

Since last October, I have lost 43 lbs. so maybe the weight loss has helped some with the recuperation. My motto for this year has been, "eat less, I guess, I guess, eat less" although there have been days I get very hungry and wanted to eat everything in sight. Dr. Flanigan, who preformed the hernia surgery said she was glad to hear I had been working on losing weight. It should also help in lowering the blood sugar numbers. Which will make my regular Doctor very happy.

I took a few pictures of the my "Star Clementius" this vine is about 5 years old now and seems to like where it is living....only problem is it is very messy and attracts lots of bee's, so sitting on the front porch can be scary at times. Don't want to get stung.

Here is a closer look.....abundant in flowers. I don't do a whole lot with this plant, don't even think I have fertilized it much....usually the only watering it gets is when it rains. Come fall when the flowers have died off, we will cut it down. So yeah, it must like where it is living.

In this picture, the Black Eyed Susan's have taken over my front yard this year....I am so happy they made their debut in my front yard. I would miss them very much. My only wish is to get them to grow in the back yard.....maybe next year.

Today Blue Apron came to my front door again.....Oh yum. I was looking forward to this dish. It is "Fresh Gnocchi and Maitake Mushrooms with Corn, Thyme and Browned Butter." The other day I made a beef roast in the slow cooker....delicious with mashed potatoes, gravy and asparagus. So making the fresh Gnocchi along with the beef was for today's lunch. UMMMM....not sure what I will make for tonight as the Gnocchi is almost gone. Maybe something quick and fast.

Tomorrow, depending on how I am feeling, I may take a trip to the store and bank (JP being the driver of course). It's been two weeks since I have gone shopping. JP is running out of fruit and there are a few things we are running low on. JP will probably come in the store with me and I might just drive that little cart around, just in case I get tired half way through the walk in the store.

Well, time to close for now, keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

A Garden Walk On Saturday

Hi there everyone. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I did....yes I did. Except for the mosquitoes, the days were perfect, as I sit here typing and scratching those little bites. Was just sitting on the front porch for 10 minutes and they found me!!!!! UGE!!!! I found that spraying some "Salonpas" which relieves pain also works to relieve the itch of the skeeter bites, I will try anything at least once if it helps a bit.

Well, yesterday we went on a "garden walk" of 5 gardens sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Appleton. We went to 3 of the gardens. One garden I did not take pictures. But the last two gardens were absolutely beautiful as you will see....so many great ideas.

In this  picture, I liked the way the plants were planted in old crocks and the cute little water fountain in the front is always such an eye catcher to me. Love the sound of water running.

This is the back of the house and another water fountain....I like that door as a decoration and the ladder to the left has a climbing Clementius....good idea.

Here is another crock with some Hydrangeas growing in it......very pretty. I do have a large crock....but I am not sure I want to use it as a planter as yet.

A garden is not complete without a few homemade signs. "When Heaven falls to Earth - It becomes' a garden" (Not exactly sure what that word is after the saying)

In this picture, is the second garden walk. Look at that beautiful garden, lots of vegies and flowers mixed together. I love all the little walk ways, stones, boards and what all this gardener found to make her garden attractive.

This picture shows her creativeness in using different things to catch the eye, plus the usefulness...this old pot belly stove became a hoe, rake and shovel holder in the middle of her garden.....good idea.

Now this was the center of attraction for me.....her workshop, with all her garden utensils.....gosh, I sure would love a little shop like this for all my stamping stuff. And look at all that work space. There was an upstairs also....it looked like her "get away place to hide."

This is the sign hanging in her shop. "I live in the garden I just sleep in the house"

This sweet little girl's sign says, "God laughs in the Flowers"

And the last sign says,"May all  your weeds be wildflowers"

After going on this walk....now I have lots of projects I would like to do, to add a little sparkle to my garden. I still have my "Freida the Frog" made out of tires to make, a dragon fly, made out of fan blades. I want to paint the old bike downstairs pink or white, paint my daisies on the garden shed and put shutters up.....yeah, so much to do yet. By the time I get everything done....Fall might be here. Well, I hope you liked this little tour of 2 gardens....I still have a few more pictures, so I shall show you them in Part 2 coming in a few days.

Tomorrow I have and eye appointment at 11am. The Doctor is going to talk to me about my options with cataract surgery and probably check my eyes again....I need to ask him just exactly what am I seeing when I have cataracts, I know I am seeing lots of floaters which really irritates me. Sometimes I feel like a bug is flying by and I want to swat it.

Well, you have a great day and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

Yellow and Red Tulips in the Garden

The Star of the Garden!!

Eight yellow Tulips in all their Glory!!!

Nine Red Tulips in all their Glory!!!



As you can see there is lots of work to do, lots of weeds and grass growing....peonies are coming up along with strawberries, mint and lots of blue bells....they mostly look like weeds when they start growing but when they start blooming they are pretty. Not even sure that is their name, but they sure do take over. I have 6 rose bushes growing, they are still covered with leaves. Guess this weekend I will rake the leaves away and see if the roses made it through the long winter. Also planted, Iris's, lavender and mums. There are a few other perenials growing, but again, not sure they made it through the winter.

Here is a front view of the my house....this summer for sure I am staining the porch floor and painting the railings and posts and lattice. I want to get it done before the Clementius starts growing and taking over the right side of the porch. In this picture, you can't see them, but there is orange lillies and hopefully black-eyed susans will make their appearance. I really like spring and looking forward to sitting on the porch enjoying a meal or two.
Well time to close, have to go make JP his dinner and clean up the mess of a leaking roof, this time down the cabinets, had to take the glasses and dishes out....water all over. Just no telling how long that was going on till I noticed all the water on the counters............to get it done right will cost us $3,500 which we don't have. So other than this inconvenience....life is good.
Have a great day tomorrow and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise