Flowers are Blooming!

Totally, totally, totally procrastinated on running errands today. My excuse? Oh, look at these gorgeous flowers! Who wouldn't want to hang around the house all day, windows open, doing much of nothing!

Besides, I hate shopping.

(My library books are going to be late, but oh well.)

My yard looked like big green weeds, giant weeds, until these beauties popped out.

And so, it's time to figure out the camera, and it's time to try to be "artsy" with my pics. I was trying to capture "flare", too.

Oriental lily, I bought 3 for 1.99 at a local hardware store.

Okay, there's a reason my face is not focused. Because i don't know what i'm doing! The flowers look great though. (My face looks like it's glowing because there's "flare" on it! I look angelic, lol!)

Ooo, flare!

Gladiolas, also bought at local hardware store, 1.99 for 10!

Ooo, flare and gloriosa daisies!

Ooo, flare and coneflowers. Looks like a bubble, want to pop it!

This pic was a pleasant surprise. I think it's one of my favorites.

no mom, i didn't look directly into the sun.

This is my favorite, bar none. it has bokeh and flare. I'm learning.

Have a beautiful day!

The Extrememly Interesting Things We're Doing

In fact, life is so fun, my girls are watching an informercial. right now. this very second. "Walk-Fit". These commercials must appeal to kids as much as they appeal to older folk.

Wow, emmy is pushing a poptart wrapper around on the floor with her toes. Yep. Very Interesting.

Here are some pics that may be a bit more interesting than my random ramblings...

Flowers in my garden

Kids (big and little, lol) in my pool

Hubby completing an Xterra race in Richmond, VA
He came in 2nd in his age group.
It was so hot!

On Rt. 33, in Va. It was an exciting road to take to Va. The guy's truck overheated as he hauled new cars up the mountain. He actually backed the cars off of the ramp while his truck was on fire.

Hubby and local pizza joint.

Waiting for pizza to be done and taking pictures of flare.

Our new dog, Madge. She's really sweet. and smelly. she needs a bath.

Whoa

Umm...do those kids on the Header really belong to me? Cause it's been so long since i've been on here, i don't recognize those little people. Did my girls really look that small? maybe it's time to change the header.

Or maybe I should try posting on here a little more often! I logged onto to my dashboard and thought, whoa! Do i really contribute to all those blogs? were did they come from?

seriously, it's been a while, but you'll be relived to know, it's not just here where i disappear from the face of the earth, submerged within the viscera of work. apparently the complaint department (my ears) has received various reports that certain family members forgot what we look like. I say, the road goes both ways sweetie. and those pictures i posted in my last blog? from 2 months ago? yeah, i finally got them to family members. today.

i don't know if i love summer as much as i proclaim. because then, i have to do everything i said i was going to do "in the summer". you know what i'm talking about: in the summer I will (fill in the blank with next to impossible thing that i really don't want to do anyway).

yeah whatever. here's what's going down "in the summer" this summer: I will stick to a routine in order to feel that i got something accomplished, i will grudging give up some precious "doing nothing" time to attend some summer classes, and the rest will be spent in my yard, in the pool, and/or reading a good book. I will recuperate from my previously burned-out state and will return to school refreshed, full of creativity and ready to tackle the challenges of the upcoming year.

Come, join me.

Easter 2010

Breakin' out the old camera and snappin' some photos. I love spring. First the magnolia trees bloom with the daffodils and forsythia, next the cherry, pear and apple, and then my favorite, dogwood.

Since i love flowering trees, we took the girls in their pretty dresses to a local arboretum for some pics. Lovely day.

Sisters by the Magnolia Tree


Little Woodland Nymph


The Other Little Woodland Nymph


Admiring the Star Magnolia, love the contrast of the polka dots with the flowers...


Looks almost like a spring snowfall


So beautiful and such a pretty smile


Taking a break, posing for photos can be hard work


Telling Daddy about the flower she found.


At least it's not a stick, this time anyway...


Finally got the 3 to smile at the same time.


Pretty portrait under the magnolia tree. I almost stepped in doggie doo here.


Bibi in front of some sort of yellow flowering tree. I'm not sure what it is..


Love how the flowers match the flower on her dress...


Smiles


yes, she's wearing glasses now. she needs them all the time.


Leaving our pretty spot, love the shadows at their feet.


Come on, Mom!


Admiring another secret nook. Beautiful day today!

Spring is Here!

spring is here, spring is here, la la la la la (sing it with me now)!

Yea! And i am enjoying my full week of spring break. How is it we get a break after [umm, cough, 'teensomething] snow days? I don't really frickin' know! Something about the law, and the unions, and bunions, and I don't care, but it's here! yea!

And so, for the past month or so, i've been pouring over my gardening magazines and catalogues. My goal this year is to define the borders of my yard. It still looks like a great big field, which is what it was, up until 2 or 3 years ago. All it's missing are the cows.

Last year we bought some pine tree sticks. And that's what they still look like, sticks. We put them along our east property line, between our house and the neighbors who just build their house. Some have died. But the others will grow, they're doing ok. This year we bought some larger pines to replace the dead ones. And we bought some leyland cypress to put along the north side of our property, between our house and the road. I hear that they get tall, but we have plenty of room for them. My yard is beginning to look defined, well, it will look defined when we get all the trees in. I'm so excited.

My front flower beds still look bare from winter. I'm moving some of my Autumn Joy sedum toward the middle and back of the bed since it gets so tall. A bunch of bulbs came up. They're not all blooming yet. The deer snacked on some tulips, so i bought "liquid fence" to spray on my plants. That is the nastiest, foulest smelling stuff I have ever encountered. Cough. Gag. Nasty. I hope the deer think so too!

Cheers and happy spring! Will post pictures of flowers sooner, or later!