The Work Horse of the Garden

The work horse of the garden...

This can vary just like personalities vary.

What is the work horse of your garden?

Mine is the Rose.

Most of mine started as slips from my parents or

were rescued before heading to the trash pile.

The front of my home.....

We built an arbor to help protect from scorching Summer sun

and planted climbers that were started by my parents.

That was 17 yrs ago.

The strongest have survived and thrived.

At one time "Peace" covered the arbor, but now the hardier wild red has claimed it territory.

It spills down the wall of the garage over the Heavenly Bamboo

On the opposite side of the house is a red climber that I picked up at the end of the bare root season.

It looked pretty bad, but the price was low enough to give it a try.

Seems it's happy now.

 I purchased this ''Abraham Lincoln'' Rose

about 15 yrs ago. It's a hardy one. 

Behind the picket fence is a bush rose I picked up about the same time.

I couldn't resist it's happy stripes

or it's name....

"Rockin' Robin"

It must be about 5 feet tall and almost as wide this year!

A bit bigger than I ever thought it would be.

But I still love it anyway.

This was the loveliest shade of lavender tree rose by oldest son rescued from a friends mother.....she was pulling out and tossing all the roses that came with the home she had just purchased. Unfortunately a couple years ago we had horrid winds that snapped it right off. As you can see it must have broken below the graft.

So another red is added..... 

 If I remember correctly, in front of the Mock Orange is "New Dawn".

Such a feminine pinkish color.

Behind it is a pinkish bush rose I rescued from the farm.

This little bush rose was in a place where it didn't receive much water at my parents. It was a very mature plant and I wasn't sure it would make it if dug up.....but since the sprinklers didn't reach where it was planted (Mom always dragged the hose out to water it) I feared the renters wouldn't take that extra step, I thought it would have at least a chance of survival with me.

Look at it now, several years later and flourishing!

I don't know the name of it (it's been dubbed Mom's Baby Rose) but it has the tightest baby pink flowers that are so sweet. Glad I took the chance.

Behind the garden bench are "Apple Blossom" Carpet roses. When they were planted years ago they were in full sun. Now they get dappled sun and are still happy. Real troopers!

Pink Oxalis carpets the ground under the bench. This is part of the same plant I had in my garden when I was little.

 I love my "Cecil Brunner" but it can get a little rambunctious at times!

It's scent is heavenly

 Wild bush roses my son rescued

 A red climber like on the front arbor.

In the foreground "Lady Banks" finishes up blooming.

Behind toward the top you can see "Joseph's Coat"

 "Joseph's Coat" was a gift from my parents.

Such gorgeous colors!

And we'll finish off with a baby rose my daughter gave me.

It's amazing how those little roses you see in the supermarket can become so big :)

I have more but I'm sure your probably rosed out by now!!

I'm joining these garden parties:

Cottage Flora Thursdays at Fishtail Cottage

Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time

Fresh Cut Friday at Rose Vignettes



Time for Another Mental Vacation

Time's running out to enter my giveaway!!

Hurry over and enter ♥

Some Encouragement

Joining Kimberly and Courtney for

their Monday Pinning Party :) 

I've been on a roller coaster ride regarding my life, as some of you know.

This week I needed some inspiration to help climb out of this low I've been in,

Hoping these help :)

There's still time to enter my giveaway!

Cottage What-Nots

I'm joining the Surprise Esty Cottage Style What-Not party!

Pop over and see everyone's what-nots, doo dads, collections and tzotchkes! 

A friend recently presented me with a few old soda crates.

I knew I wanted to use them for some types of shelves

but wasn't quite sure how or where.

I ended up mounting a couple above an open doorway

that leads to my vanity area.

The Seven-Up crate holds my collection of old postcards/cards from my Grandparents, Parents and other relatives.

This Pepsi crate holds odd and ends.

As you can see I'm not finished with it yet.

Someone painted this sweet blue floral (that I just love!)

on the inside of this Coca Cola crate.

I placed minimal nostalgic pieces in it as not to deter from the painting.

This one is from my parents and is marked Produce of Portugal.

It carries a special place in my heart.

A piece of my ancestry....

did it come from relatives,

did someone bring it back from a visit to Portugal with them,

where did it come from?

I found it as we were cleaning out Dad's shop.

I wish I knew it's story.

 It isn't completed yet either.

I'd like to hang a small photo/picture of Portugal in the center.

I need to go through my postcards and see if I have a picture postcard from Portugal....

that would be perfect.

On the left side of the photo you can see part of my collection of decorative birdhouses made from empty seed packets.

None of these are fancy what-nots, just a few that hold a special place in my heart.

A Must See!

Voted the BEST ever! Totally made my day.

be sure to watch the end!!!!!

Stethoscope

Freebie Friday

 Just in time for the end of school we have

FREE Teacher Appreciation cards from MyMemories 

You can download them free here

Should you find other needfuls,

remember to copy and paste STMMMS25918

at checkout for a great discount!

Time is running out to enter MyMemories Suite Giveaway

so run over and post!

 

If I Wanted America to Fail

Tom Hanks Dad

Love this one! Takes us way back to the "good old days!" Tom

Hank's father is better looking than Tom and even better looking with
age. He was the lead singer on the left. He still has it! Hope you enjoy.

2 Performances 47 years apart

If you were alive in 1957, and old enough to enjoy Rock and Roll, you
will probably remember the group, "The Diamonds" who had just
launched their super hit "Little Darlin' ". For you that are too
young to remember - it was a time when the performers were happy,
enjoying themselves, respecting their fans, dressed appropriately and
their lyrics could be understood. They did not feel obligated to
scream, eat the microphone, mumble inaudible lyrics or trash the set.

In 1957, The Diamonds had a hit with "Little Darlin". 47 years later,
they were requested to perform at Atlantic City ... This link leads to
both performances.

Watch the first one then scroll down for the new one 47 years later.

http://www.flixxy.com/the-diamonds-little-darlin-1957-2004..htm

The Hawk Babies are Hatching! and a Sad Update On Phoebe

The sight of a new life...amazing

Live cam link here

But the poor things are in the snow,

thank goodness Mama can keep them nice and warm.

On a much sadder note Phoebe's (hummer) nest was attacked

by a larger bird and was completely engulfed including the babies, Joplin and Heather.

It is believed that the larger bird was a Hawk. From the cam you are only able to see a shadow circling in the leaves surrounding the babies and then the camera was knocked out of place and the nest was gone.. They would have been ready to fledge in another week or two.

But that doesn't stop Phoebe.

She has already made another nest and has laid an egg. 

Wishing Phoebe a safe clutch.

Frugal Decorating Ideas

Joining Kimberly and Courtney for

their Monday Pinning Party

This week I was looking for some frugal decorating ideas.

Seems most of us are on a budget these days, and even if we aren't why spend when you can recycle and you what you have!

Love these creative ideas ♥

Collect glass jars and mod podge doilies or lace on the then embellish.

Perfect for candles but also great for storage.

And how about wooden hangers turned towel holders!

Love using old crates for displaying collections or even just for storage

The best is that you can stack in any combination

How clever to use old garden fence as window treatment

How much easier can it get?

Using removed pages from a book to make a nostalgic looking banner

This is the easiest, yet it is so cottagey romantic and nostalgic

Cottage Craft Room Party

Party time in the ECS Craft Room once again!

My craft room has been rather quiet.

Life has been throwing it's trials and tribulations at me.

 I'm handling them as best I can...

which can take a lot of energy.

I was able to muster up enough umph to do a much needed makeover

on an old wire bird cage I rescued many Moons ago.

I apologize for the photos, they should have been taken in a better location.

 But, hey, at least I took them ;) 

Before

Simple white wire decorative birdcage with some flowers tied on top 

After

 I added some old doilies on the bottom of the cage. I felt anything too thin would just fall right through. These doilies had stains, holes, etc. and were just waiting for a project.

I placed a bird nest I formed from prunings from the garden inside

and added a few faux eggs

I removed all the flowers and revamped them making them look much fuller and fresher. Searching through my Treasure Drawer I came across a Dollar Tree bird from long ago. I pulled off her legs (she didn't feel a thing) and sat her near her nest.

Just a little freshening up for Spring.

I like the way it turned out

Childrens Images

Children

A pictorial archive of permission free illustrations

Enjoy!