Happy Mother's Day

*
*
After yesterday, which was filled with lots of this


I awoke this morning feeling much better!
*
I'm anticipating experiencing some of this:
and further recouperation which will include a day full of this:

I hope you all have a wonderful, restful day full of family and love.

Fertilizer Friday - 7 May 2010

*
It's Friday -- time to link up with Tootsie at http://www.tootsietime.com/

*

I bought myself a hanging basket today as part of my Mother's Day gift -- miniature Petunias. It really feels like the season has begun in Nova Scotia when you feel confident enough to hang something or put something new in the garden!*

We've had such great weather for the past week. Nice temperatures in the low to mid teens (celsius) along with a scattered rain shower. So, things are really taking off when it comes to growth. In the front bed, I can even see where I'll have to do some dividing of plants. And in the side beds, almost everything (that I remember!!!) that I put in last year has shown it's little green head.

*

Here's the bed by the shed: left to right - geranium, Euphorbia, Campanulla (trying to keep it contained somewhat) and white violet, with a tiny lemon balm and lamium in the front.I'm loving the bright bold colors of the Euphorbia and the pretty shape of the leaves on the white violet.

*

I'm not sure what this little guy on the left is; I want to say Anemone?? It's ready to bloom any day now. And here's one of my last red tulips.

*

It's the 3rd year for this Primula; I planted it in bloom, and although it grew last year, it didn't bloom. So, I'm pleased to see it again this spring. These tulips were a gift from my boss on Secretary's Day last May. What gorgeous color, huh!

*

Doesn't everyone love Hosta? They're so darned easy to grow -- anywhere! And they grow so quickly that they're easy to get from friends or cheap to buy from garden/yard sales. I have a mess of 'em everywhere in various stages of growth. This is one of my biggest so far. And here is one of the tulips in my "Larry" garden. I love the orangie-red highlights on it's face.

*

Today I also picked up a couple of sad little orphan perennials marked down 50%. I can't resist a good bargain like that, and I can't resist the challenge of saving them.

*

Really! What gardener can leave a sad little plant unloved and untended.

100 Mile Yard Sale May 1st

It's Thrifty Thursday @ Tales of Bloggeritaville . Don't forget to head over there and check it out. But first, here are some of my thrifty purchases from last Saturday at the "100 Mile Yard Sale".

*

These 2 cookbooks (+ a paperback novel) and this great Peter Pan tumbler -- my new favorite water glass -- was my 1st purchase of the day and set me back all of $1.

These other 2 cookbooks cost me $1 each. I also got a box of 28 magazines - Gourmet, Eating Well & Better Homes & Gardens - for $2. (And yes, I'm reading them right away and passing them on!)

*

We stopped at this this one century home where the owners had an antique shop in the barn at one time. They had some great stuff for even greater prices. This table full cost me $10: a stemmed beer glass, colorful plate, 2 bowls & matching plates (isn't that pattern and color great!), a Santa candy dish, bunny & cart ornament, new spatula, this wonderful antique flour sifter, a really unique measuring "cup" with measuring "spoons" in the lid, and a really pretty yellow footed glass dish (which currently holds glass sand-beads & shells). *

Another stop was at a tiny little church in Western Shore. They didn't have a lot (at least, not by the time I got there), but they had good prices. I got a mini stepper machine for $3, brand new double-sized fleece sheets (a must when you host students from warmer climates) for $10, and these 2 cute Xmas candles for 50 cents each (only one works consistently!).

*

I couldn't pass up these little chicken salt & pepper shakers for $1. And one of the chefs cost me 10 cents at a yard sale, while the other one was 69 cents at Value Village (later that day).*

My final purchase was a novelty item that really appealed to me. These are plastic crow clothespins for 50 cents. Cute huh! I'm not sure how I'll use them, but they're too unique to actual put on the clothesline.*

How exciting! The beginning of yard sale season here on the south shore!

Shopping with "The Girls"

I had to do it, ladies! Egad!! I was down to the last seconds on my 18 hour bra! So, last week, I ventured out to shop for a new one.

*
In my younger days, I used to have lovely 'proud, jutting breasts'! (I read that line once in one of those risque Harlequin romance novels and just loved the sound of it. It's so patrotric sounding, isn't it! So very British! And it perfectly describes the bras of the 60's and early 70's!)

*

But as with all else in this aging process, time is taking it's cruel toll. They no longer jut nor stand proud! As a matter of fact, if they could talk to me, they'd speak in a rather sheepish voice and say things like "Oh! We're so sorry! We didn't mean to get in the way again!" or "Pardon us please! Yes, we'll take ourselves out of that bowl you're stirring immediately!".

*

So, off I went to my local Zeller's store in search of a combination Catholic/Salvation Army type of bra! (The Catholic type supports the masses, the Salvation Army type lifts up the fallen ....... and the Baptist type makes mountains out of mole hills.)

*

All around me was color & pattern & softness -- a virtual cornucopia of femininity, prettiness and sex appeal! Such a selection! Surely every woman would find just what she needed in her style and price range.

*

NOT!!!

*

Why is it so hard to find a pretty bra in a larger size that will give support and won't cost you next week's grocery budget? It's not as if there isn't a market out there for them, right. I mean, big breasts are global (pun intended)! But most bras that will give support are pretty darned ugly!

*

I want pretty. But what I need is a cowboy bra -- one that rounds up those babies and heads them in the right direction! Rawhide! -- Ahhhh, no thanks! Nylon, elastic and lace please!

*

I need a bra something like this one:without the visible cranes and guywires, of course!

*

The plight of the full-figured woman!!

*

*

My usual bra is not too bad; and in spite of wanting something different, it's what I ended up buying again. It fits and supports well; it was a 2 for 1 sale; and I was able to get a pretty pink one as well as the tidy white! *

And you know; as much as I tend to look on "the girls" with chagrin, I know it could be worse.

*

*

I could be shopping for this baby!!!

Food for Thought Tuesday - May 4th

• Lump in your oatmeal ..........
• Lump in your throat ..........
• Lump in your breast ..........

Which one of these is it really?

Is it simply an inconvenience?

Or is it a real problem!

My Favorite Things Monday

*
This is my new favorite mug; I bought it this weekend at Homesense. It's the perfect size (slightly larger than normal because I like enough tea and not just almost enough!). I also have this theory that tea tastes better in a white cup as opposed to darker colors. (This theory is laughed at by others, but I have proven it hundreds of times. A wet raspberry to the unbelievers!!) And this mug is so darned pretty! It has a little cafe scene on the other side complete with Eiphel Tower. (They also had New York and London themed mugs.)*
Some of my other favorite things include these items which are used almost daily. My Marcelle moisturizer with SPF15; Marcelle blush (Nude shade), telescopic blush brush, the pink tube of Mabelline brownish black mascara -- the one with the rounded brush applicator, and my eyelash curler (It's like a road map to follow for my mascara -- stupid aging eyesight!!); and my favorite body lotion -- Kings & Queens Cinnamon Orange! The fragrance is sooo heavenly (and quite apropos for someone of my lineage and regal bearing!)*
*
My favorite things are not:
*

• getting up for work on Monday morning after a lovely weekend.
• experiencing a charlie horse as soon as your feet hit the floor because you forgot to warm up or cool down before you went hefting a pick axe and/or toting huge rocks up from the brook for your new garden.
• having to tidy the living room from the night before when you went to bed early and those youngins' have had friends in to watch a movie and left pop tart wrappers and empty milk glasses on the coffee table.
• only having enough milk left in the jug for tea and not for your favorite cereal.
• griping and complaining in the morning when the world is bright and shiny and you're healthy and well fed and loved

*
Another of my favorite things is when I stop complaining because I've realized how truly blessed I am and that life is good and God is even better.
*
*

Happy Monday bloggies!

You are another of my favorite things!

Luncheon Date

We had a lovely birthday yesterday. I made a scrumptous salmon dinner (with dijon lemon sauce) and a pineapple upside down cake. Adriana took some family pictures for me, and we finished the evening off with Skip-Bo and The Game of Life.
*

Someone doesn't appreciate her mother's joie de'vivre!

*
I took Molly back to the city on Saturday. But we got an early start so we could drive the old highway and take in some of the 100 mile yard sale. (I'll post about that later in the week.) We drove from 9 to 1 pm, stopping many, many times along the way. (This route would normally have taken an hour to accomplish! But Ohhh! The bargains!) Then we took advantage of our location and stopped for lunch at Julian's in Chester.*
We had tomato parmesan soup, home-roasted turkey sandwich and a wonderful bowl of latte.
*

Then came dessert!

*
This one is mine: It has a thin sponge bottom, a thin layer of chocolate mousse, a thick layer of ginger mousse and is topped with meringue. It was gorgeous!!
*
This is Molly's: a chocolate cookie crust, a dense strawberry-puree cheesecake, and a generous top layer of dark chocolate. Equally gorgeous!
*
After I dropped my girl off, I once again took advantage of my location. I stopped at Value Village, Homesense and Winner's before heading back home. But once again, that's another post!
*
I've unpacked my goodies, soaked my tootsies and kissed my girls. I bid you sweet dreams!