Monday, May 11, 2020

Home Management Monday - May 11, 2020

Good morning, Dear Ladies! 💗 

I hope you all had a great week and that all you mamas out there had an absolutely lovely Mother's Day weekend! Our week and weekend here were good. 🌷 

 I worked Friday and Saturday. There wasn't a lot going on. The nature center and campground are still closed, but, the weather was nice Saturday, so we had a lot of hikers out on the trails. I spent my time inside cleaning, studying, and working on future program ideas.

 I heard from all of my children over the weekend and spent Sunday afternoon practicing my camera skills. I'm determined to get the hang of this digital camera business and learn to take good photos. So far, I'm not doing that great, but I am learning. Out of hundreds of photographs taken this weekend I think I only got two or three that were descent. This is one of them...
Daisies Along the Roadside
I will share more of the good and the not-so-good ones later on. For now, though, let's get started on this week's post...shall we?

I awoke to...

... cool temperatures and a general sense of feeling blasé. My cousin was here last night and, although we had a good time, I think we stayed up way too late visiting. I have absolutely no get up and go today. 😴 

What I'm thinking...

... about all the things that I should be working on right now, but haven't even started yet. Oh, well! I'm sure that they will all still be right there waiting for me when I finally get around to doing them. 😉

What I'm thankful for...

... good health, physical strength, mental clarity, energy, stamina, and fortitude...even when I feel totally and completely depleted of all of the above. The Lord is good. When I'm weak, He's strong and He helps me. Praise His holy name! 

On the breakfast plate...

... maple and brown sugar oatmeal with a Triple 0 vanilla yogurt and hot tea

The weather...

... cool and cloudy. Right now it's 48 degrees and, even though the weather map shows that it's raining, it's not, so I'm not sure what the deal with that is. It looks like there are good chances for rain all week long. ☔


This week's menu plan...

Monday - Chef salad and homemade French bread
Tuesday - Turkey Italian sausage with oven-roasted potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, and salad
Wednesday - Turkey burgers, baked sweet potatoes, and cottage cheese
Thursday - Hot roast beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes, brown gravy, and green beans
Friday - Breakfast for supper
Saturday - Dh's night to cook
Sunday - Leftovers

Blooming on the Prairie in May
Photo Taken in 2019
On my 'to do' list...

Monday - Complete this post, do my weekly 'home blessing', do laundry
Tuesday - Work in my office, make lists, organize plans, complete a few unfinished projects, 
Wednesday - Run errands
Thursday - ?
Friday - Work
Saturday - Work
Sunday - Church
On my reading pile...

Bible Prayer by Kenneth E. Hagin (Bible Study Course) and Discover Nature 'Close to Home' by Elizabeth P. Lawlor
Discover Nature Close to Home: Things to Know and Things to Do by ...
Discover Nature Close To Home
by Elizabeth P. Lawlor
From the camera...

A Dickcissel Singing His Lil' Heart Out
Scripture verse...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a great week ahead! Stay close the Lord and stay in His Word!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Friday, May 8, 2020

Five on Friday - Birds of a Feather

Good Friday Morning, Ladies! 💗

 Two Friday's in a row! Can you believe it? I hope your week has been good and that the weekend ahead is a great one for you!

 My 'Five on Friday' theme this week is 'Birds of a Feather.' I took this week's pictures with the digital camera that our youngest son gave me for my birthday last year. I haven't had opportunity to play with it too much as I haven't been able to keep battery power enough to keep me going for very long at a time. I finally ordered some good rechargeable batteries, which are now here, and a new charger is on the way. I think I may be able to use this camera a lot more in the days ahead, so I'm excited!

 Here are some of the photos that I took with it yesterday morning...

 1) This photo is the worst. It was the first one that I took and I wasn't very steady. The hummingbird was sitting on the power line that runs parallel to the street in front of our home. I'm pretty sure the little guy was waiting for me to move so he could sip nectar from the feeder that was stationed behind me on the front porch.
Hummingbird on Power Line
2) Just as the hummingbird flew away, this bluebird took it's place on the power line. He wasn't there for long, but I managed to get a couple of fairly good shots of him.

Bluebird on Power Line
Bluebird on Power Line
3) When the bluebird flew away, this fellow landed...a male house sparrow. As I was between him and his destination, he was another one that was waiting for me to hurry up and move on.
House Sparrow on Power Line
House Sparrow on Power Line
He has been on guard, helping his lady-love fair to build and tend this nest up under the eave of our front porch.

House Sparrow Nest on Front Porch

4) Just as the sparrow gave up and flew away, I noticed this fellow. I never did get a really good picture of him, but I did enjoy watching this blue jay flitting around back and forth across the street.
Blue Jay in Catalpa Tree Across the Street

This picture is kind of fuzzy, but it's the only one that I was able to get of the blue jay's face.
Blue Jay Back in the Catalpa Tree
The rest of the time he insisted on keeping his back turned to me.
Blue Jay Looking Down the Street
This picture of the blue jay is my favorite. He had flown over to our side of the street and was sitting atop the phone box across the alley from us. There he sat for several seconds looking wistfully down the street, then took flight to parts unknown.

 5) Due to the fact that my batteries had died (and I had to wait for them to recharge in the old charger...which takes forever) I didn't get a picture of this bird until mid-afternoon. By then rain was moving in, and my bird photo-taking ops were all, but washed away. I had to take what I could get, so, back to the power line we go!
Female House Sparrow
This time twas the fair yon maid (the female house sparrow) that was awaiting my vacation so she could resume work on her humble abode. 

Sparrow Nest on Front Porch
I decided to be satisfied with what I had and departed, leaving her to do as she pleased.

 Well, that's it for this 'Five on Friday' post. I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of the fine feathered friends that presently reside in our neighborhood. Have a beautiful and blessed weekend and, if you enjoyed reading this post, please, leave a comment letting me know.

 Until next time...
~Rebecca

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A Garden Full of Irises






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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

A Garden Full of Irises

Irises are so pretty! My grandmother had them growing in her garden, my mother had them growing in hers, and I have them growing in mine.
Irises Blooming In Our Yard This Morning
I have scattered pictures of the irises growing in our yard throughout different posts here on my blog and elsewhere...
Irises Blooming in Our Yard This Morning
...but I thought it might be fun to squeeze them all into one post, so that you can get a better idea of the variety of colors that we are enjoying this spring.
Image may contain: flower, plant, nature and outdoor
Our "Keith Miller" Irises
The lavender ones that smell like grape Kool-aid (a.k.a. our "Keith Miller" irises) are still my favorites, but I'm really starting to love and appreciate all the other pretty colors that grow in our garden and I hope to keep adding to my collection. 
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My "Aunt Linda" Irises
The First To Bloom Each Season
My "Aunt Linda" irises are the first to bloom each season. In fact, sadly, they have already come and gone for this year. My aunt, Linda Lemmons, loved purple irises and these were among her favorites. They serve as a memorial and remembrance of her each spring.

Image may contain: flower, plant, outdoor and nature
Yellow Iris
The yellow irises are beautiful...

Burgundy Iris
...as are the burgundies! The colors of these irises are downright magnificent! 

Image may contain: flower, plant, nature and outdoor
Variegated Purple Iris
None of the variegated irises have bloomed yet, but they should be doing so soon. In fact, I've got at least three or four more colors that should be blooming within the next couple of days or so. These pictures are from last year.

Variegated Rust and Yellow Iris
Then, there's this oddball. This photo was taken several years ago before moving to our current location...
No photo description available.
Ever feel like an oddball standing alone in the crowd???
I don't even remember where this oddball iris came from. It's big and the prettiest pale pink you ever saw, but it came up right in the middle of my beloved lavenders. My husband tagged it with a label and, when we moved, he was extra careful to remove those corms to be planted elsewhere in the mixed beds. Well...guess what???
Oddball Pink Getting Ready to Bloom in Our Garden This Morning
I'm looking out my office window right now and, today, I see that we have THREE oddball pale pink irises getting ready to bloom...right. in. the. middle. of. my. lavenders!!! 😲

 (deep sigh) 

 Oh, well! I guess even oddball pinks have to live somewhere. It might as well be amongst my beloved lavenders. 😞
Medium Purple Blooming This Morning
What about you? What colors of iris are blooming in your yard this spring? Would anyone like starts? I have traded and shared a lot of iris starts with others over the years and hope to keep adding to my own collection. I've got lots of the lavender colored irises that smell like grape Kool-aid and, if you are willing to pay the postage (or have a color that I don't have and would like to trade), I'd be happy to share some with you. Just e-mail me and let me know! 

 Until next time...
Rebecca

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Home Management Monday - May 4, 2020
No photo description available.
This painting reminds me of my iris bed.

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Monday, May 4, 2020

Home Management Monday - May 4, 2020

Good morning, Dear Ladies! 💗 

I hope that you and yours had a nice weekend and that your Monday...this first Monday in May...is off to a great start! Our weekend here was great! 🍓

 I worked Friday and Saturday. On Friday we discovered that we had two, brand-new, baby bison born at the park (which was really exciting!!!) and I got to spend quite a bit of time out on the prairie hiking and taking pictures. 
Image may contain: sky, grass, cloud, outdoor and nature
Two New Babies Join the Herd @ Prairie State Park
On Saturday I worked in the nature center most of the day, but accidentally got to interact with a couple of visitors (which, for me, was also really exciting)!!! 😁 I can't wait until things open back up to the point that we can open the nature center! I really miss visiting with our visitors! 😞
The boss brought me this branch of Black Locust to study. It smells
really good (kind of like grape pop). I ended up nature-journaling it.
Both Friday and Saturday evenings were spent at our daughter and son-in-law's visiting with family from out of town and a quiet Sunday was spent at home (other than when we ran out to grab a drink at Casey's and take a short drive). 

 Now...here it is...Monday morning and time to jump into a brand new week! 

 I didn't get up as early as I had hoped to, but, even with getting up late, my morning work is done and now I am free to sit down and visit with you for a bit. Let's get started on this week's post...shall we?

I awoke to...

... the bedroom curtains fluttering in the morning breeze, birds singing, and sunshine. 🌞

What I'm thinking...

... about the day and week ahead, the impending storms, my to-do list, friends and family members, and how blessed we truly are.

What I'm thankful for...

... my family, baby bison, the irises in my front yard, and God's never-ending mercy, grace, and protection.
Irises Blooming in our Front Yard
On the breakfast plate...

... maple and brown sugar oatmeal with hot tea

The weather...

 ... It was sunny this morning, then thunderstorms moved in. We had thunder, lightening, and heavy rain for a short time. Right now it is 62 degrees and cloudy, but a second, more severe round of storms are expected this afternoon with chances of tornadoes. The week ahead looks cool and rainy.

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Roast beef, Sue Gregg's cheesy potatoes, and brussel sprouts 
Tuesday - Turkey burgers and oven fries
Wednesday - Oven-roasted chicken breasts, leftover cheesy potatoes, peas and carrots
Thursday - Chili
Friday - Broiled salmon, mashed potatoes, and green beans
Saturday - Dh's night to cook
Sunday - Leftovers

On my 'to do' list...

Monday - Complete this post, do my weekly 'home blessing', laundry, pay some bills, clean and organize the Van Gogh room 🌟🖌🌻🎨  (a.k.a. "my office") I didn't get very far with cleaning it last week, but it has GOT to be done! I can't find anything! 😖
Tuesday - Get the herbs that we picked up last week at the Amish greenhouse in the ground, repot the wave petunia into a hanging basket, continue to work on the Van Gogh room (because I seriously doubt that it will be finished today)
Wednesday - Focus on ministry
Thursday - Relax 
Friday - Work
Saturday - Work
Sunday - Church
On my reading pile...

 I haven't decided which book to read next, but am still going week-by-week through Bible Prayer by Kenneth E. Hagin (Bible Study Course) 

 From the camera...
Turtle in the Tank @ Work
He's rather reflective. Don't you think?

Scripture verse...

Add caption
Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a great week ahead! Stay close the Lord and stay in His Word!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Friday, May 1, 2020

Five On Friday: My Passion For Purple and a Recipe For Hummingbird Nectar

Good FRIDAY Morning, Ladies! 😊

I don't make it over here often on Fridays, but it's wonderful when I do! I'm so happy to be with you all today and am excited to be trying something new! 

I first discovered Five on Friday posts over at my friend, Jean's, site,  So Not Organized. After finding out that Five on Friday posts are pretty universal and that there are no link-ups required, I decided to try my hand at one.

My topic today...my passion for purple! 💜

Purple is my favorite color...at least at the moment it is. 😆

 Let's take a look to see what's purple in my world today...

 1) My Favorite Iris 💜
My Favorite of All Irises

We got starts of these irises from a friend several years ago and they are, without a doubt, my favorite of all irises. They are light purple in color and smell just like grape Kool-aid! 😋 The original starts came from our friend's dad's garden, so we have named them after our friend's dad. We call them the "Keith Miller" irises. They stand as a testimony and remembrance of a man we never had the privilege of meeting, but respect the memory of all the same.

 2) Wild Hyacinth 💜

Wild Hyacinth

These pretty wildflowers are blooming on the tallgrass prairie of southwest Missouri right now. We saw several of them on our hike over the weekend.

3) Bird's Foot Violet 💜
Bird's Foot Violet
This is another pretty wildflower that is blooming on the prairie right now. Notice the leaves? They are shaped like a bird's foot. Thus, the name! 

4) Deep Purple Iris 💜


Purple Irises Blooming in Our Front Yard
These irises were my Aunt Linda's favorite. A day or two before her death, she was unconscious and was taken to the hospital. I sent one of these pretty irises along with her. Just in case she woke up, I wanted it to be there waiting for her. Aunt Linda passed away seven years ago yesterday, but you can still read her writings HERE.

5) Purple Hummingbird Feeder 💜
Hummingbird at Feeder
A couple of years ago my cousin gifted me with this lovely purple hummingbird feeder. It's my favorite and the hummingbirds seem to like it pretty good, too! They're always out there...flitting around, sipping the nectar that I make and fill it and the other hummingbird feeders with. 

For anyone wanting the recipe, just mix 1 part plain, white, granulated sugar to 4 parts water and stir until the sugar dissolves. Store unused nectar in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Well, that's it for my first Five on Friday! I hope you all have had a great week and an even better weekend! Blessings over all!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Thursday, April 30, 2020

Gearing Up For Gardening

Good Afternoon, Ladies! 💗 

How is everyone on this beautiful, sunshiny, Thursday afternoon? Is it sunny where you are? 🌞

Yesterday John and I ran out to the Amish greenhouse to see what they had in the way of plants. 

Flowers and Hanging Baskets
Countryside Greenhouse - Lamar, MO
They are gearing up for Mother's Day so they had a LOT of flowers, hanging baskets, and bedding plants.

Flowers, Hanging Baskets, and Bedding Plants
Countryside Greenhouse - Lamar, MO

I had originally planned on getting a flat full of flowers (at least some marigolds to plant along the front edge of the porch) but they only had a couple of kinds of marigolds to choose from. It's early yet, so I decided to wait until I can find a little more variety. 

Flowers, Hanging Baskets, and Bedding Plants
Countryside Greenhouse - Lamar, MO
We did get some vegetable plants though...Roma tomatoes, green peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, and zucchini.

Peppers and Tomatoes
I got a few herbs to add to my herb wheel, as well...sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme
I also got a free petunia just for making a $25.00 purchase, so I ended up with flowers after all! Yeah!!! 💗

A Wave Petunia
I can't wait to get out and visit a couple more of my favorite greenhouses. We will have to make a day of it soon!

How about you? Do you garden? Enjoy flowers? Plant vegetables? If so, what's happening in your world as you gear up for gardening? 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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