At the Kids Property

We spent a day visiting with the kids at their property in August.
Once they can move up into their home, they will have such a wonderful
place to raise Emily and hopefully more! The dogs just love it too!

Happy 81st Birthday Betty!

These are my wonderful parents! My mom Betty
is celebrating her 81st birthday. They have just
returned from a road trip from California to
Michigan. They stopped and saw Yellowstone
park, Mount Rushmore, Grand Tetons, my father's
family home in Clinton Iowa, my mom's family
home in Michigan. They also stopped in Harrisville,
Michigan as it was important for my mom
to see where her mother LaReign was laid to rest.

Please take a seat! New Patio Furniture

I have to credit my wonderful husband for finding
our furniture for our backyard. I shopped all over
and after becoming frustrated with the quality and
cost as we needed quite a few piece he gets on line
and finds the furniture that I thought we couldn't
really afford! It was local too so free delivery! You
have to just love that internet!

The wonderful thing about the chair and ottoman
sets are that the chair back are adjustable so you
can lay all the way back if you wish and nap!

This is my special spot - took a snooze!

My husband once again that handy man that he
is built this patio cover himself. He designed the
layout and ordered it from a Vinyl Patio Company.
They came out and installed the fence and gate.
Our goal is to make everything as maintenance
free as we can!

Time marches on and Plants Grow!

Our side yard is starting to fill in finally! I hope
it can withstand the summer heat!

Its hard to see but I planted a non-fruit bearing
olive tree in the pots near the fire place.

Looks like we need some furntiure next!

The front is filling in also I love the white lantana
in the urns between the columns so easy and a
nice fragrance also.

Happy Birthday Ramiro!

Mike, Letty, Nick, Fred, Marisa and Dani Gomez

Ester and Terry Bromfield

Party Pals celebrating Ramiro's 57th birthday
with a 50's theme party. We had a great time
once again with our friends. Check out those
outfits!

This adorable little hummingbird has been visiting our yard daily. My husband caught him in action at our feeder. I believe he may be a Rufous but coming from someone who is not much of a "birder", I am not sure. He is getting quite brave and will land on the feeder even when we are just a few feet away. They are so cute!

MaryLou Heard's Memorial Garden Tour May, 2007

Here are just a few of the gardens my friends and I visited on the Mary Lou Heard's Memorial Tour. We are so fortunate to live in Southern California with such a long growing season.

Viburnum, Hydrangea, White Eden Rose

These are just blooming in our yard - top: Eastern Viburnum (before it turns white), White Hydrangea, and the new White Climbing Eden. I am trying to establish an all white garden and this Eden has a hint of pink so I am not sure whether or not it will stay in my garden or go to someone else's. It is very beautiful, and I did have a Climbing Eden before this one so was excited when I heard of the White Climbing Eden. I think that for me the colors of the two are very similiar, but the Climbing Eden has a much more bowl shape and I feel it has more petals. If I had to choose between the two I would choose Climbing Eden over the new White Climbing Eden.

Viburnum Snowball, Eastern

I had purchased an Eastern Viburnum on the recommendation of a friend. She knew I loved Hydrangeas and thought I would enjoy this shrub also. It is so beautiful and yet just a little bit different from Hydrangeas. I just planted this on the side of our home. The blossoms started out a very beautiful green and turned white. Hopefully it will grow and florish and become a beautiful specimen in our yard. I would recommend it to anyone in California. Just remember you are looking for an Eastern Viburnum. There are lots of varieties out there. Happy Hunting! Note: Nurseries tend to carry these when they are blooming which is April/May. They can grow to 12 feet tall and 10 feet in width. If you purchase a one gallon plant it will grow to 3 feet tall in one year with optimum care.

Maureen's Apron

I just finished this apron during spring break. It is for my friend Maureen. If you look at my older blogs you will see a children's apron that compliments this one. That one is for her grandaughter. I used a bit of the fabric from the children's apron or the pockets on the adult apron and also the napkins Maureen gave me. I just love rickrack and I think I have put it on all of my latest projects! I need to check into RA (rickrack anonymous)! Enjoy these being modeled by my daughter Becca.

Children's Apron

When one of my friends at work asked me if I wanted these tiny red work cocktail napkins I couldn't wait to see what I could come up with. Maureen has a grandaughter Lauren who loves to cook with her so I decided an apron it was! Maureen was so excited when I gave it to her. She has a new kitchen that should be done in the next couple of months or so and they will be busy cooking together! I found the complimentary fabric to this one and will be making Maureen an apron to match for her Birthday coming up in June. I will post it when it is done.

Cowgirl Outfit for Emily

LILLY, EMILY & DILLON

Can we go outside and play now?

CUPCAKES!

CLOSE UP VIEW!

YUMMY!

CHOCOLATE!

My niece is getting married and her Aunt Teresa and myself had the pleasure of giving her a bridal shower. We had so much fun and I got to prepare the dessert so I decided to make cupcakes! I used Wilton's oversized cupcake pans which gave us enormous wonderful cakes! I made golden cake, triple chocolate cake, vanilla cake and yellow cake. One batch only makes between 8-10 cupcakes - so plan on making lots of batter if you use these pans. Wilton also has oversized cupcake paper liners which makes serving easy!

Emily & Gramma "Cooking together"

Emily and Gramma are "cooking together". Since this picture we have baked cookies, cakes, and cupcakes! She loves helping out in the kitchen so much. Most recently she made chocolate chip with raisins muffins for her Mommy and Daddy.

Side Yard Arbor

This is the view from our living room sliding glass door. I have planted the new White Eden on the right hand side of the arbor. Can't wait to see how it grows and fills in this wall. I also am planting Ferns, White Peter Pan Lilly of the Nile or Agapanthas in this area also.