Flowers, Books, and a Quilt

We have a Queen Elizabeth Rose that once grew in the front yard and always got hit by Black Spot. It would bloom in spite of it but the plant looked unsightly and was moved far to the back of our garden in what we call The Wild Area. It continued to grow there and now stretches some 12 feet in the air but bloom it still does. My DH brought these in yesterday. I do hope all those buds will open eventually.

                                 

On Saturday we were very disappointed to go to those neighbourhood garage sales so advertised as Rain or Shine. Well, we had rain... but not one house participated. However on the way home we passed my favourite plant shop and I stopped to buy 2 nice mixed pots that were on sale for $5.98 each. I just plunk them into the pretty blue pots on the porch.

This oversized cup and saucer filled with Mint, Basil, and Thyme was given to me. Eventually the Mint will take over but for now its pretty.

A trip to the thrift store this morning yielded some treasures... a number of books from the Bargain area, and the child-sized quilt that they are lying on. I liked this side but the reverse is not much to my taste. Still, it cost only five dollars.

I've already found the perfect spot to put it on the porch.  On the subject of the porch, I've been spending a lot of time out on the swing. I haven't been feeling very well. The headaches that I had earlier in the year have returned. Although she wants me to have a CT of my head to eliminate a tumour my doctor is quite sure that what I have is Chronic Migraine. Not what one wants to hear but I'm sure others have coped and so will I.

Thanks for visiting today. I hope the sun shone brightly and you had a great Tuesday!!



         Granny Marigold

Food, Flowers and a Robin

Friday morning is when I most often do my weekly grocery shopping. These lovely radishes grown locally and grape tomatoes (organic) will make for great salads. I bought spinach too ( in a bag) but didn't think it was photo worthy.

I tend to buy carrots in large bags because its cheaper that way but when they've been in the crisper long enough it's time to make carrot cake. This recipe usually makes 2  8X8s but my DH grated all the carrots that remained and it was a good cup or so more than the recipe called for. We stirred them in anyway  and ended up with an 8X8 and a 7X11 pan of Carrot Cake.

My son and his family ordered in Sushi for their supper and it came with a free container of Edamame. They had some, weren't terribly impressed, so he brought them up to us. I've been meaning to try them one day and today I finally did.  I must agree that they don't have much taste.
There are two immature soy beans in each little pod and if I'm right these were steamed. According to a video I watched you hold the pod between your teeth and sort of scrape out the beans. Seems like a lot of work for little results but what the heck... they were free.

               My Mock Orange is in full bloom and fills the air with its sweet scent.

We have a Robin that comes to bathe in the birdbath quite often. It seems used to us being on the porch and unless one of us moves too quickly, it ignores us.

That is about it for today my friends. Tomorrow we'll be off to garage sales and see what we can find that we probably don't need. I'm sure I'll be showing you my treasures next time.

Thanks for visiting.      Granny Marigold

Strawberries

Today we went strawberry picking. At first it looked as if there weren't many berries but as we made our way up the row there were plenty of them. In no time we had our two pails full. 
 Sorry about these first pics. Now I realize they are actually supposed to be horizontal.

Once home we washed and got them ready to be frozen. This year I have sugared them before freezing, just to see if we like that better.
 

I put aside some of the nicest ones and after school the grands dipped them in melted chocolate so we had them for dessert at suppertime.
 

I'm so happy we had this day of sunshine so we could go berry picking because now the days ahead are going to be showery. Not heavy rain but not terribly pleasant to be out in the field picking berries. I'm sure we'll go again when the sunshine returns. Incidentally, if it is of any interest we paid 1.50 a pound. Two ice cream pails weighed 10 lbs.

 Thanks for popping by today.  I hope you had a good day too.


Granny Marigold

More This and That

It's a holiday Monday here in Canada ( Victoria Day) so my DH and two of my sons finished putting the corrugated metal on the shed roof. So far the sun hasn't peeked through the clouds but at least it's not raining. We did have a lovely, much needed rain last week.

                 I brought in a bouquet of Peony blooms. They smell wonderful.
 

Next to eating, play fighting with an empty milk jug is one of Bracken's favourite things to do. He can demolish one in a short time as he grabs hold and shakes it energetically.

It being a holiday the littlest has been spending time with me and showing me how to play Beyblades.
He patiently explains about fusion wheels and performance tips all of which goes right over my head. Luckily he's content for me to simply nod and look as if I get it.

I hope your week is off to a great start. It's hard to believe that this is the last full week of May. The month went by so quickly I found.  Thanks for visiting!

     Granny Marigold

Foxgloves and Iris

Foxgloves and Iris are doing great in my garden this year. I can't remember a year when I had as many self-sown Foxgloves. They pop up and I can't bear to pull out even one.

This is the first year I have this white Iris and by sheer luck I seem to have put it right in front of the white Peony.

There is a peach-coloured Foxglove in front of the roses. It's hard to see it's true colour here but
I bought it last year but it didn't bloom until now.
 I haven't grown Poppies for years but I see I have an occasional red one that still pops up.

            

I think this is the loveliest time of the year. We're in for a cooler week so all the blooming flowers will last longer than when it gets too warm. It's dry though and we could do with some rain.
I hope you have a good week.

        Granny Marigold

This and That

When I'm stuck for a title I'm afraid I resort to This and That. Which sums up today's post. 

A few pics from Mother's Day... my youngest son and myself.....

             Lovely tea from one of my daughters......
 

        Silk tea bags almost too lovely to use.   Blood orange jelly.

            A teddy bear to add to my collection. This one came with a very special rosary.
 

At a garage sale last Saturday I bought this cute quilt. It needed a good wash and some sunshine to dry it. I hung a clean sheet over the lawn swing and draped the quilt over it. I have a clothes line but it is in the shade. 

. This pretty quilted pillow sham came from the thrift store. I don't know if you can see the three ribbon rose buds in the middle.

                 A new look for a few dollars. Can't beat that.
 

I have been busy washing shelves, organizing and generally keeping busy. I thought I'd have boxes and boxes of things to send to the thrift store but so far I've only filled one single box. 
Our weather is perfect... sunny but not so warm that one doesn't feel like doing much.
The week is going by so quickly. I make myself a list in the evening of what I plan to accomplish the next day. Keeps me motivated.
Hope your week is going along well too. I love to hear what you're keeping occupied with!!


Granny Marigold

Flowers

I brought some of the pink roses in and put them in old salt shakers. I love the way they look.

"After all, the only real roses are pink ones. They are the flowers of love and faith"    Anne Shirley

The blue Iris is the only one that I have that is fragrant. It sends up very tall stalks which often need staking and sometimes need bringing inside where they can spread their lovely scent throughout the house.

 The Clematis is doing well this year.....

         and the purple Iris. Also needing a string to keep it off the ground.

These are the rose bushes that gave me the 5 blossoms that I cut. They are so full of blooms that I have planted another one beside these.

         A white Iris just beginning to bloom. This is its first year so only one stalk. Behind it is a volunteer Hollyhock.

Hostas and Astilbes love the shady front of the house. The Bleeding heart does well too.

Tomorrow my DH and his younger brother are leaving on a trip to visit family in Manitoba. They are taking the camper van and will be gone at least ten days so I'm full of plans what I want to accomplish. I will keep you posted.

Thanks for coming by.     Granny Marigold

Time for a bath

No fancy Dog Spa or such for Bracken, just a good old fashioned bath. Mind you, he had floating pink Clematis petals in the water. He wasn't impressed.  Nevertheless, he smells and looks a lot nicer now.

Shortly after I snapped this picture he was off running around like crazy and shaking. Then he came back for his treat.

Thanks for dropping by.



Granny Marigold

Roses and more

My Rugosa Roses are starting to bloom. They are such a hardy bunch and smell divine. They sure are prickly though. I used to have a yellow one but it didn't do well at all; now I have various shades of pink.

            I believe this purple flower is Campanula Glomerata. Lovely but invasive.

These tiny white stars pop up everywhere. Again, I'm just guessing, but I'd say they are Allium Mollis. I don't remember ever planting them but somehow they got here and I welcome them.
 

Here are a few new additions purchased today. I've started potting them up but it was 30 today (86F.) and a bit too hot to be outside for long. Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler so I'll finish the job then.
 

Thanks for visiting . Hope you had a lovely day.


Granny Marigold