Happy New Year....

Source: Bing

Here's wishing everyone

Health, Happiness, and Good Fortune

for the coming year.

Happy New Year...

~~Linda~~

Christmas Quilts...

Pieced Batiks

I mentioned a while back, that I was working on some quilts 

for Christmas gifts.  Well, I got them finished...but, let me tell you...

I hope I never cut it that close again.  Five quilts, in ten weeks, 

is not that much fun to do.

Pieced Novelty Cottons

They turned out pretty good.

Pieced fleece

Everyone seemed pleased.

Pieced Novelty Cotton and Fleece

Nice warm throws to cuddle in.

I'd really like to get back to a hand-made Christmas.  It seems more personal.

And, the smiles they evoked, made all the work worthwhile.

Stay Warm...

~~Linda~~

Trail of Lights...

Tropical Santa

We went to the Trail of Lights at Emily Ann Theater the other night.

It was cold and windy....just the right atmosphere, for a Christmas outing.

It's a small town event, but really pretty good.
We missed last year, and were surprised at how much it's grown.

It's a walk-through show, and a bit hilly.
Free to the public, but they appreciate a donation.
Emily Ann Theater survives with the help of donations and volunteers.

Each display is sponsored, designed and put together by a local business, community group, or family.

At the top of the hill, the wind was really brisk...whipping the flags around.
The Veterans Memorial Plaza is a permanent feature, with flags to honor each branch of the military.

There is a lighted 'tree' to spin under.  Not quite as big as the Zilker tree in Austin.
But, you can see it from miles around.

Down by the Yule Log, you'll find the hot cocoa stand.  You can also get a marshmallow to toast over the fire.  All free of charge.  If you want a hot dog, it'll be $1.00.

The Yule Log usually has some caroling going on.  There's a new stage for entertainers, as well.

It was a good time, on a cold night.

There's still time to go.  They're open through December 31.

Stay Warm...
~~Linda~~

Cold, But Sunny....

It was 26 degrees this morning, when I got up.

Frost is on the fairway.  It looks pretty, sparkling in the sun.

It's warming up pretty quickly.  Die hard golfers are already out there.

If it was not so muddy out there, it would be a great day to work in the garden.  

I have a good crop of weeds growing in the veggie garden.

It'll have to wait.  But, when I get out there, I'll have new 'toys' to play with.

Can you tell my family knows that I like to garden?

And then, come in and put my feet up in warm slippers...

Our son says that liquid seaweed and fertilizer may be the strangest things I've ever asked for.

He forgets about the time I asked for manure.

Gardeners will understand these things.

Hope you got what you wanted.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

Merry Christmas...

Peace on Earth

Good Will Toward Men...

and, Women.

Merry Christmas, Everyone...

~~Linda~~

It's Looking a Lot Like Christmas...

It's the Eve of the Eve.

The shopping is done, the sewing is done, the wrapping is done.

Now, some cooking and finishing up.  I think it gets busier, every year.

Hope things are going well where you are.

Happy Friday...

~~Linda~~

A Little This and That....

It's that busy time of year.

You may have noticed already.

Shopping, decorating, cooking..and, in my case, sewing....

It's been cold and wet....and, warm and wet.

Those leaves I thought were done apparently are not.

I'm not complaining.  We need all the rain we can get.

I did get this package of wildflower seeds scattered.  It was a gift from a dear friend.

If they come up, they might be deer food.  But, that's better than just sitting in the bag.

There's some nice color out there, to brighten up these cloudy days.

Color that doesn't mind some cold, cold mornings.

Some Christmasy things that will work in the ground, later.

The Christmas Cactus...that usually blooms AFTER Christmas...is putting on a nice show.

And, the grove is greener than it was, even back in the spring.

It's chilly.  But, we're prepared.

Gotta get back to busy-ness. 

Hope you're having a fun winter weekend.

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

P.S.....

Congratulations to our Wimberley High School football team.

They are

Class 3A, Division 11 STATE CHAMPIONS!!

Way to go TEXANS!!

And...

Congratulations to Lake Travis High School football.

They won their historic FIFTH

Class 4A, Division 1 Championship!!

Way to go CAVS!!

Yep....we like football here.

Voted Off the Island....

Island, as in the bed between the circular drive, and the street.

Not exactly the most welcoming place around.

All that brown stuff is Vinca Minor...ground cover that has never looked all that good.

The old, rotten railroad ties had to go.

There needed to be some interest, for the first thing people see when they arrive.

So, all that ugly stuff was voted off the Island!

So...we had the vinca removed.  And, then we had a ton...literally...of 

chopped stone delivered.

And soon, things were looking better.

We hauled around some big stones, and built up a mound

with decomposed granite and soil.

In went the Yucca rostrata I got with my gift certificate

from Shoal Creek Nursery.

We put down some stepping stones to the birdbath.

Takes up room AND doesn't need to be watered.

So now, this view from the front porch, is transformed....

...to this.

From the street...

You get this.

At the south end...

...we put in a cold hardy palm.

The Salvia greggii, Hot Lips, went in the front...more will be added.

An Artemisia Powis Castle, was moved from another area.

Agave lophanthas were moved in, too.

I'm thinking more plants will go in next spring....

some grasses, maybe?

The palm gets tucked in under blankets each night.

Cold hardy or not...it hasn't been in the ground very long.

And, we've had lows in the 20s for several nights now.

Since the leaves on those Cedar Elms are finished falling, 

we'll be putting down mulch soon.

Then, we need to get started on this.  Another welcoming bed for the front.

It's the Never Ending Story...

Happy Gardening...

~~Linda~~

30 Day Challenge~~Thanksgiving~~Day 30...

Cat, at The Whimsical Gardener, has challenged us to a 30 Day Challenge of Thanksgiving.
A post a day, for 30 days, to celebrate the things we are thankful for, in our lives.

~~Day 30!~~


Today is the final day of the
30 day challenge of thanksgiving.


Thanks Cat, for challenging us to stop and take notice
of the things that make our lives full and happy.

I will admit, it has been a challenge to post every day.

It's not the final day of giving thanks, however.
Every day is a day for thanks-giving.

I have so many blessings:

I'm married to a good man,
with a good sense of humor.

I have some really great kids.

I have six beautiful grandchildren.

I have a loving family.

I have fun, loving friends.

I live in a beautiful place.

I get to enjoy God's beauty & God's love.

Life is truly good...


I recently saw a quote:

"What if you woke up today 
with only the things
you thanked 
God 
for yesterday?" 


I did...
~~Linda~~

 

30 Day Challenge~~Thanksgiving~~Day 29...

Cat, at The Whimsical Gardener, has challenged us to a 30 Day Challenge of Thanksgiving.
A post a day, for 30 days, to celebrate the things we are thankful for, in our lives.

~~Day 29~~

Today, I'm thankful to be fortunate enough to travel.

For us, Life really is a Trip.

Alaskan Cruise, 2008

                                                                                                               

South Padre Island, 2009

It's especially nice with family...

Riviera Maya, 2010

 ...and, friends.

Mount Rushmore, 2010

We're very fortunate to be able to see many interesting places.

Panama Canal Cruise, 2011

We know how lucky we are, to have such a great family and such great friends.

For that, we are so thankful.

~~Linda~~