Gardening in the Fall

I've decided that gardening in the fall works best for me.  The Texas heat can be brutal on newly planted plants.  I usually set out new plants in the spring, but this year I decided to try a different season.  I found some pink and yellow coneflowers on clearance at Lowe's.  I've had good luck with purple coneflowers in the past and thought these might be a lovely addition to my backyard.  I prefer planting perennials because you can enjoy them year after year.  It's practical because it saves you money since they will return.  I planted some day old-fashioned daylilies that I got from my in-laws.  They are very hardy and do well in our soil and climate.  I also planted some red and yellow cannas, which are thrive in our warm climate.  Hopefullly these plants will get established this fall and bloom in the spring. 

Pink Coneflowers

Yellow Coneflowers

This is a beautyberry bush that is loaded with purple berries in the fall.  We received this beautyberry bush from my in-laws. 

Which reminds me that I should photograph my in-law's yard and dedicate a post to their amazing gardening skills. Their knowledge about plants is impressive. My in-laws have natural green thumbs and a phenomenal yard to prove it.

I love gardening.  Do any of you love to work in your yards and gardens?  If so, please share your tips and helpful hints.  I'd love to hear them.

Arboretum Collage

I decided to try out my photo editing skills on Picnik.  Like most photo editing programs, I'm a little disappointed.  It's not the program, it's me.  I'm just not patient enough to sit and learn something new like Picnik or Photoshop.  I was going to make a collage and write a post about our trip to the Dallas Arboretum this weekend.  That didn't really work out for me so I'll share my first attempt at making a collage on Picnik and get back to uploading photos the good ol' fashion way. 

My collage skills aren't awesome, but my boys are. 

Aren't they super cute?  I think so!

I promise a post very soon about Autumn at the Arboretum.  For a person like me who loves all things fall, it was perfect. 

Fall

Our front porch finally looks like fall. 

Pumpkins

Scarecrows

Mums

Ghosts, Witches, Black Cats and Spiders

My favorite time of the year--Fall.

Mama Lynn's Sewing Machine

I love the idea of Sentimental Sunday.  My home is full of precious family treasures.  I first saw this link up party on This Blessed Nest and Maine Mummy.  I decided to head over to Sit Relax and Read and join in the sentimental sharing.

I lived with my grandparents growing up.  My grandmother's mother, Mama Lynn, was extremely talented at crocheting, sewing and embroidery.  As a young girl I remember going to Mama Lynn's house so my grandmother could check in on her.  I would spend hours playing at her house.  My favorite thing to play with was her Singer treadle sewing machine.  I was fascinated by the machine.

When I was a very young child I asked Mama Lynn if I could have her sewing machine when she died.  She said yes.  I ended up getting the sewing machine before she passed away.  Her old farmhouse in the country was broken into when she could no longer live at home, and my grandmother brought the machine to our house for safekeeping. 

The older I get the more I appreciate what a special treasure this is.  I have numerous cousins who would have loved and appreciated the machine as much as I do.  I feel very lucky to have been given the machine.  I hope that my family knows how much it is loved and cherished.

When I got married and had my own home the machine was moved to my house.  It stayed for a long time in our guest bedroom, but when that turned into Ben's nursery it was moved to the living room.

I'm too lazy to go to the attic to dig through boxes, but there are wooden spools of colorful thread that were saved inside the machine that I kept.  My great-grandmother never threw anything away and she has the original papers and envelopes that contain the paperwork and receipts from when she purchased the machine.  They are in the attic as well.

Thank you for allowing me to share a special piece of my life and family.  I look forward to participating in more Sentimental Sundays.

Living The Dream

I'm not quite sure what Living The Dream means. Honestly, when I've heard people say that I always thought it sounded a little corny.  Now I find myself saying that to describe my life.  I think about where I'm at in my life and it's good.  It's not perfect, but it's good.  I'm grateful to be happily married to a wonderful man.  I'm so thankful for the two healthy, happy little boys that my husband and I are blessed with.  I'm lucky to have true friends who love me unconditionally.  I attend a church where I feel encouraged and strengthened in my faith.  Yes, there's stuff in my life that sucks, but why dwell on the negative?  I have so much good.  So much!  I really couldn't have dreamed up a better life for myself. 

The reason I'm reflecting is because this is my 100th post.  I started this little blog in May 2010 to help cope with some health issues I was having.  I figured it was cheaper than seeing a therapist.  The blog started with random thoughts, but now it has become a place to save family memories, share future dreams and meet new  like-minded people.

Since I titled this post Living the Dream, here are the most important people who make this life of mine so special. 

Photos were taken at the Dallas Arboretum.  I'll do a post about our fun visit to see the pumpkins very soon.

Happiness Is...

Happiness is winning a really cool blog giveaway. 

I've entered so many blog giveaways that I've lost count.  I never expect to win.  Do any of you feel like me?  Do you feel like you never win?   I always take the time to enter because I figure someone has to win, it's just usually not little old me.  A couple of weeks ago I was surprised to find an email in my inbox from Lisa Leonard Designs.  It said I'd won a $50 gift certificate from The Nester.  How cool is that!?!  I've been wanting a piece of jewelry from Lisa Leonard since I first saw her beautiful necklaces.  If you blog, then you've heard about Lisa Leonard.  Her jewelry is lovely and her blog is, too.

I chose the personzlied Family Tree necklace.

I love wearing it!

Sarah's House



Sarah Richardson from HGTV's Sarah's House
Photo from Sarah's House Facebook page

 Does anyone else want Sarah to be one of your BFFs?  I know I do!  I love her show Sarah's House on HGTV.  The farmhouse she's renovated for season 3 is amazing.  The show is full of practical advice and creative solutions, but her personality and style are the main reasons I watch it.  Sarah's chic outfits are a little bit of a scene stealer.  Sometimes I'm distracted by her colorful jackets and tops, her amazing shoes and boots and cute jeans.  Of course, I appreciate all of her knowledge on design and construction, but I think it's the combination of her bubbly personality and no nonsense approach to building that make the show one of my faves.  If you haven't ever checked out Sarah's House on HGTV, it's a must see.