Roadtrip to Texas

Every 5 years or so Dan's mother's family holds a Family Reunion.

This event was held in Texas this past week.

Did you know that Texas is in the midst of a heat wave, that they haven't had any significant rainfall for 3 years.
Did you also know that in the Texas Hill Country temps can reach 110 degrees in July.

You have now been forwarned regarding the perils of traveling to Texas in the summer

We decided to roadtrip from Michigan, we both love roadtrips, we pack the car, pack the cooler and head out early in the morning.
We tried to leave before dawn (it reminds us both of those childhood roadtrips) but we got away just as it was breaking.

It was my choice to what route we would follow.
I routed us via Springfield, IL so we could stop at the new Lincoln Museum.



This museum is worth the stop, it chronicles Lincoln from a small boy,



through his White House days.



We then grabbed a quick cooler lunch and hit the road to St. Louis.



My father has slides of the Arch being built, it was great to be able to stand under it.
It was in the high 90's and at least an hour wait to go up, so we opted out.

My photos of the Arch are my favorite of the trip.



The first night in Texas a party was held at the 4 Season in Austin to celebrate the the 50th Wedding Anniversary of the Boothbys and LaCourts.



One of the Texas cousins lives high up in the limestone hills of Wimberly, the photos don't really convey how steep, rocky and hilly this is. The bridge connects the house to the swimming pool and basketball courts for there is no flat lawn areas.



Texas Longhorns, what can I say. You're in Texas you must find some Longhorns to photograph.

It was a fun trip and great to see everyone, the Texas families were wonderful hosts.

And I loved catching up on my reading and sleeping on the way home.

p.s. Can I tempt you with a Texas dashboard taco? Anyone.... Greggy?

Arrowhead Wrap

No excuses for not updating since June 8th.
Let it just be said, the summer is not conducive to blogging.

I have started a new knitting project and here is a tiny peak.

Project Details:
Arrowhead Shawl,originally published by Interweave Knits, Spring 2006
Available as a free download from Knitting Daily

Yarn: Reynolds Sea Wool in Colourway 1030
Needle: size 8

And oh yeah, it is 90 degrees today with no breeze and a heat index of 96 degrees, summer has finally hit and with a vengeance!
Perfect for knitting with wool!

Busy Times

Allium bulgaricum
Syn: Nectaroscordum siculum.
Clusters of pendant, greenish-white florets, strongly flushed purple and edged in white. height 36". Hardiness Zones: 6-10.

The Spring goes so quickly when you are busy running a small garden shoppe.

Most customers assume that I have wonderful flower gardens, and I hate to disappoint them, but I always have to say....I used to.

I spend on average 60 hours a week between the shoppe and the greenhouse. I have several clients that I do custom container plantings and that takes up most evenings.

The last of the custom works gets delivered next week and the schedule opens up a tad more.

But never enough time to garden in my own backyard.

Insert "Big Sigh" here.

The above photo was snapped last week when all the alliums were blooming in what is left of my Perennial boarders.

Thanks goodness for the bulbs I planted years ago before I owned the shoppe.
While other perennials have been choked out by crabgrass and thistle, the bulbs always hold their own.

Happy Sweet 16!

Happy Birthday Little Miss Em and Em
Though I am telling you, you should still be 5 years old! 6 at the most!
You know the older you get, the older I get Little Missy!

Hmm....I think you look about 20 here in this photo.
Oh My!

Connor's Graduation BBQ

Random Shots from Connor's Party.
It was a great afternoon we had perfect weather, wonderful food and good company.


Connor with the 1st of his gifts, a computer bag.


Em getting Bare Essentials from Nana for her birthday.


Just a great snap of Gracie and Drewsey.
Grace has been a lifesaver this last week at Green Wellies, don't think I could have made it without her. Happy Birthday Gracie!
Yes, we have alot of B-Days in May!

The first of which is this guy's who turned 77 on the 4th.
Happy Birthday Papa!

Sad, Hard, Week

We lost a dear friend this last Sunday, he was a kind and gentle man who loved his girls immensely.
We are all trying to recover, but don't know if that is ever really possible.



Please keep this dear child and her sisters in your thoughts and prayers, and maybe she will once again be able to breath.

Blooms.....No Stitches

There are many things I appreciate about my hour commute each day

1. Time in the am to prioritize my day.
2. Time in the pm to zone out.
3. The only time I have to talk to best friends and sisters/niece without being interrupted with "do we have any ketchup?"...."do you know where______ is?" Not that he doesn't try!
4. NPR...love, love, love, NPR
5. Choices...I have several routes I can travel. I can mix it up and not get stuck in the same routine.
6. The Countryside...it always offers up something new. Last week it was this...Peach, Cherry, Pear and Apple trees in Bloom!

Am back at the shoppe full time, I believe I was there 14 hours yesterday. That is "spring rush" in the garden shoppe business.

So, no knitting, though I still carry it with me everyday thinking I may have 5 minutes to pull out the needles.
But, alas, the same 3 rows of my newest project have been in my bag for the last 4 weeks.

Feast your eyes on these spring blooms instead.