Favorite Things

I thought I would share a few of my favorite things around my home and garden this week. 

My favorite red geraniums are in a favorite antique yellow ware bowl.   This bowl belonged to my great aunt and  I love my childhood memory of watching her make homemade biscuits when I would go visit  the family farm.  We couldn't wait until
 they came out of the oven!

This time of year when the hydrangeas are blooming is my favorite season for gardening. 

Our year has been full of  crazy weather to say the least and while the plants aren't quite as big this year, I still adore the mophead blooms!

Everyone loves this lacecap...'Frau Reiko'...what's not to love?   It's gorgeous and is among the most hardy of the varieties I grow.  The leaves are thicker and the stems much more upright and sturdy than other varieties. 

I'm on a mission to propagate these this year since they are very hard to find in nurseries or even

online.   I had started one a couple years ago and last year it did grow and bloom but didn't make it through this past winter.   I'm taking a dozen or more  cuttings and seeing if I can grow more for me and my friends.  Fingers crossed!

The oak leaf hydrangea is beautiful and mine is over 5 feet tall now.  It did take several years to become established in my garden, but so worth 

the extra effort.   

My french wire flower baskets are full of begonias and bacopa this year...flower boxes and baskets are always among my favorites!

Before the storms hit a couple weeks ago I took a picture of my arbor with all the roses in bloom.  The arbor and fence was a gift from my hubbie and is definitely one of my favorite things in my garden!
The roses finally made it to the top and bloomed.

My front porch is another of my favorites...I love the rocking chairs my family gave me for 
Mother's Day a couple years ago! 

Red impatients are favorites in the shade and
 I love the splash of color they give to any area. 
This pot is sitting on a wire frog, a gift from a friend ...another favorite.

Hope you are enjoying your favorite things!

I'm linking with 

Tootsie's Flaunt Your Flowers
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday

Gruene, Texas

Last month our Texas trip took us back to familiar places but we  also "discovered" a new favorite place to visit.  The little historic district of Gruene  (pronounced Green) was a fun place to shop, dine and just spend a leisurely day!  It's located within New Braunfels, Texas between

 Austin and San Antonio.

The Gruene Mansion Inn was striking with the wrap around porch and beautiful grounds.  Had I known about this place ahead of time we would have stayed there. 

Oh well, there's always next time! 

 

What a delightful little place to spend the day!

We walked along the tree lined streets and enjoyed the flower displays in front of the historic

 gift and antique shops.

We had a lovely lunch at the Gristmill which I highly recommend! 

The food is great and in fact it was voted one of the best family dining experiences in the country 

and I'd have to agree.

Make sure you order the "Gruene" beans...

they are great!

We love visiting the Texas Hill Country 

and were happy to find a new favorite!

I'm linking with 

Tablescaper's Oh, the Places I've Been!

and Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays   

The Blessing of a Garden

I've been counting my blessings this past week.  So many of our friends were affected by the tornado and our hearts are heavy for them and the families that have lost loved ones,
 especially children.  

The sadness and stress of such loss is hard to imagine.  Over twenty families from our church have lost their homes. 

After a shift of volunteering to help feed those affected by the storm, I came home and took a walk through my garden.  It is my place to retreat from the world and relax and meditate.  We are so grateful that our family is safe and we had no damage to our home or property, but for 1200 families that is not the case.  

This is what is left of the house we lived in when we first moved to Oklahoma 30 years ago!  We rented it for about a year and then purchased a home.  Hard to believe we once lived there!

This area was completely devastated.  

I sat in my garden and prayed and thought about all I had seen and heard that morning.   Spending time in my garden is therapy for me and  I took a few photographs to share.  

Samaritan's Purse is partnering with our church and has organized teams to go into the devastated neighborhoods  to assist homeowners with the cleanup.  I am so amazed at the people who have come from all over the country to help.  What a great organization! 

Our entire church went out after services on Sunday to help with the cleanup.  Nobody wore Sunday best clothes..but work clothes instead so we could all go out and help our community.

We picked up pieces of people's homes and belongings  outside an apartment complex.    Tiny fragments mixed in with nails, boards and sheet metal littered the landscape as far as we could see.

Then there are houses that are completely demolished...just piles that were once homes.
Please continue to pray for those who have 
suffered losses and count your many blessings!

I'm linking with Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday

and Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays

Tornados and Prayers!

We live in the northern section of Oklahoma City and were spared any damage to our home and loved ones,   however we go to church and have lived in the Moore area for many years and are heartbroken at the damage and loss of lives in our community from the horrific tornado yesterday.  

Please remember our fellow Oklahomans in your prayers.  Donations can be given to the Red Cross.

Cleanup will take months and the emotional toll will take even longer so we covet your prayers!

Starring Mr. T

Mr. T is our resident turtle...I've posted about him each year since I've been blogging, especially in spring when I spot him after the 

long winter months.  

He is a box turtle that has been here ever since we moved in our home...so almost 20 years!  He is actually friendly and will approach us...I'm sure he equates us with food as we always find something to feed him.  Bananas and lettuce seem to be favorites.

My son is a professional film editor and works on local commercials and television shows in Oklahoma and he surprised me with this unique video of Mr. T!

Not exactly in the style of 

Miss Bloomers but very entertaining and made me laugh!

Thanks Patrick!

This week I'm linking with
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays