Roses for Mosaic Monday

While visiting the Distillery District in Toronto with my Photo Club I wandered into a store called the

Vintage Gardener. I was glad I was walking and carrying camera equipment,

 or this gardener would have gleefully parted with coin for some of the garden decor pieces. 

 My neighbor's roses climb the fieldstone wall.

They will not let me work; I stand and stare.

Too far away to breathe their sweet incense

Yet hypnotized, I drink the beauty there.

A pageantry of summer at its best;

A roadside altar where the soul may rest. 

~ Josepha Murray Emms ~

I linking with Mary at Little Red House

for Mosaic Monday.

Stop by and visit.

Have a wonderful week.

Pink Saturday - Circle of Friends Lunch

Once a month, four friends get together for lunch. One friend will be the hostess and they will gather for food and fellowship. This month the decor was pink themed, perfect for Pink Saturday. Flowers are always on the table and this month they were pink tulips.

There were pink dishes with linen napkins in crystal holders and three chocolate hearts.

The teacups even had pretty pink roses inside.

A wonderful time was had by the friends.

You must stop by How Sweet the Sound and visit the other

Pink Saturday ladies.

Thank you for visiting and

have a wonderful weekend!!!

Five Tips for Busy Indoor Gardeners

This is an article I wrote for our Horticultural Society newsletter:

If you are a serious indoor gardener, you may spend hours caring for your plants. But, if you’re like many people, your schedule may not allow you to lavish time and attention on your plants; you may need for them to be able to fend for themselves, at least a little. If you keep these five tips in mind, your plants will probably survive some benign neglect.

1. Situate plants in a draft-free spot where temperatures are above freezing and below 32 C. Keep them away from direct drafts of heated or chilled air and well out of reach of open flames. In other words, don’t fry or freeze your plants.

2. Give plants at least 10-12 hours a day of light that is strong enough to read by, whether that light is natural or artificial.

3. Use soil-based growing media for most plants. Soilless mixes (which typically contain peat moss, vermiculite and perlite) tend to make plants more care-dependent. Soil based mixes (which typically contain roughly equal portions loam, sharp sand, peat moss and well rotted leaf mold or compost) hold moisture well, provide nutrients over an extended time period and weigh enough to stabilize the pots. The active microbes present in soil-based growing media make plants systemically stronger and provide some protection from insect infestation and disease or blight. Potting plants in soil-based mixes is not only good for the plants; it is also good for the air surrounding them. Plants in soil-based mixes tend to clean the air of pollutants more efficiently than do plants in soilless mixes.

4. Choose pots that will give your plants the best chance to grow in less than idea conditions. Generally, choose slightly large pots than are recommended. That way, roots will have a greater area in which to seek moisture and nutrients, especially during dry periods. For holding moisture, glazed pots are better than unglazed pots. And remember, always choose pots that have drainage holes and use waterproof saucers under the pots.

5. If you water infrequently or whimsically, be generous when you do water; that is, apply enough water so that it drains into the saucers. If you are truly negligent about watering regularly, you might want to bend the “Do not allow plants to stand in water” rule; this is preferable to depriving your plants of vital moisture.

Happy Gardening!

Mosaic Monday - A Day in the City

Hello everyone, I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Today is sunny, but very cold.

 The temperature is -33 C with the wind chill.

 Brrrrr!

On Saturday, Val from Gardening in a Sandbox and I went

on a field trip with our Photo club, here, 

to the Distillery District in Toronto.

The conditions were sun, snow, clouds, wind and cold.

These are a few of the photos I took throughout the day.

I was given an older Mac computer from my youngest son and

have been playing with its' photo editing programs.

 This is my first mosaic and post using the system.

 A hugh learning curve for this computer illiterate gal.

I am joining Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Stop by and visit the beautiful mosaics.

Take care and enjoy your week!

Pink Saturday - New and Old Quilt

Is it just me or do you find the days are rushing by faster then you can keep up.

It is time for another Pink Saturday, where has the time gone.

I have been cleaning up two residents, one being my Dads and the other my MIL.

There have been wonderful treasures unearthed from both.

I made my MIL a blue and white quilt for Christmas many years ago

 and the family returned it along with this beautiful pink and white quilt.

It is very old and has been hand quilted.

They knew I would give it a good home and they are correct.

It is a beautiful addition to my collectioin.

A closer view of the quilting.

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

Visit the other pink ladies, they love having visitors.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Mosaic Monday - Icebound

Sometimes when winter stays too long

And brooks are longing for their song,

There comes a shining silver dawn

When trees of ice put jewels on.

Sparkling before our dazzled eyes,

They hold their beauty like a prize,

And we who look become more wise

While earthly riches shrink in size.

Poor is the man who cannot see

The beauty of such harmony,

This song of sun and sky and tree

Captured in icebound poetry!

~ Betty Hunter ~

It's time for Mosaic Monday,

stop by Little Red House and join

 the fun.

Have a great week!

Amaryllis in Bloom

The snow lays silent over the fields,

temperatures are frigid,

but there are flowers blooming in the warmth of the house.



The amaryllis' label identifies it as Amaryllis Red/White.

So, I do not know its' true name, but it is very tall growing over 2 1/2 feet. 

This is the second time it has flowered, the first was the end of November.

It brightens the kitchen counter and brings me...

Texture is from Betty Jo.

If you are having flower withdrawal, visit Tootsie Time.

Have a great weekend!

Waiting

We are excepting another snowstorm to start tonight and by morning

should have 5 to 15 cm of fresh snow.

Time to get some winter photography in.

This is a picture from last winter and it contains my word for 2011.

Every January I pick a word that I try to keep. Last year was acceptance.

This year it is forgiveness. The dictionary defines forgiveness as 'The act of forgiving;

disposition or willingness to forgive. One who forgives.'

Terrible of me, but I can have a very hard time forgiving slights done to me.

 Am I to forget what was done.

Forgiveness is not about forgetting, it is about letting go.

So I forgive this slight and everything is okay, and we are friends again?

Forgiveness does not establish relationships.

Forgiveness is for you, the forgiver, to release you from something that will eat at you,

 that will destory your joy and your ability to love fully and openly.

Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive

 or excuse them from what they did.

What was done to you may be wrong, and anger is the right response to

something wrong. But don't let the anger, pain and loss you feel prevent

you from forgiving and moving on.

A large task?

I am up for the challenge

Take care and come again, I love your visits!

Mosaic Monday - A Voilet and Teacups

When the snow is blowing outside and the temperature is below

freezing the perfect antidote is to snuggle into a quilt with a

cup of tea and a wonderful book.

Here are a few of the teacups I acquired from my Dads',

along with a purple and white African Voilet.

They make perfect companions.

I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Drop in and visit all the stunning mosaics.

Thanks for your visit and have a great week!

Pink Saturday - A Return

I have not participated in Pink Saturday for such a long time,
 my journey has been very stormy.
I have missed visiting the Pink Saturday ladies.

Back in September I received this Pink Gerbera Daisy

as a present, you can read about it here.

It stopped flowering and I put it the bay window and kind of forgot

about it, only watering it when the leaves were wilted.

I thought for sure it would not survive. But to my surprise I noticed

flower buds the other day.

At this time the violets are flowering, but they should be finished in a couple of weeks,

  this gerbera daisy will then be taking center stage.

A very welcome player.

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Stop by and visit the lovely Pink Saturday ladies.



Mosaic Monday - Snow

The Christmas tree is down, the presents are opened and

 the New Years celebrations are over. A new beginning starts.

It holds the promise of new lessons to be learned, new territory to be explored,

and old lessons to be recalled, practiced and appreciated.

Beginnings hold ambiguity, promise, fear and hope.

Let yourself begin anew.

Take along some humility and the lessons of the past.

Toss in some curiosity and excitement about what you haven't learned yet.

Say good-bye to those you are leaving behind.

But don't worry who you will meet or where you will go.

A new journey has begun. Let it be magical.

And what is more magical than snow.

 I opened the drapes yesterday and the snow

was gone. So I collected pictures from the archives to find you some snow.



I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

You should stop by to see the fabulous mosaics everyone has.

Thanks for the visit.

Hope you have a great week!