Girls' morning at the plant sale!

This is the crowd at the Victoria County Master Gardeners Associations' Spring Plant Sale. The doors opened at 8 a.m., but I understand the line started forming just after 7 a.m.. The place was packed and plants went fast!

The plant sale was held in the VCMGAs' new pavillion which is adjacent to their educational gardens. Marie (SIL), Bug (niece) and I were there when the doors opened!

After paying for and loading our plants, we went to tour the Victoria Educational Gardens or VEG as they call it. Of course, Bug was one of my favorite subjects! I can't seem to pick a favorite photo of her!

Our visit was short. Clouds were quickly rolling in, and we could hear thunder in the distance! So we headed back to the Trailblazer. Just as we fastened our seatbelts, the rain came down in torrents.

We drove back to my house for coffee and strawberry cupcakes. Bug had chocolate milk in her coffee cup! Of course, we visited with the peeps too! It certainly didn't feel like Spring anymore!Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

New Peeps!

I've spent much of my Spring Break calling my area feed stores daily to see if they've had any chicks delivered. I was able to get my first 4 chicks on Thursday. I had to go back for the last 2 today. The Thursday shipment of chicks was already sold. I am glad I didn't wait. In the photo above-the two black and yellow chicks are my Barred Rocks, Liesl and Gretl. The light yellow chick is my Buff Orpington, Buffy.

In this photo-the reddish chick is a Production Red, Scarlet. The larger chicks are Americaunas that the feed store owner had been keeping at home for his grandchildren to see while visiting. He had just returned them to the store the day I was there. The lighter chick is Matilda and the darker is Madeline. The Buff Orpington, Buffy is in this photo also. Right now, their "brooder", is two cardboard boxes connected. In no time at all, they will be flying out of this home! It is always interesting introducing the newbies to the existing flock. Blossom, Holly, and Lily will almost certainly chase and peck at them to be sure the babies know who the big girls are!

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

Martha's Shamrocks!

As usual, I am running behind! I wanted to make something for the cloggers to wear since we were performing at Twin Pines on St. Patrick's Day. I found the idea on Martha Stewart's website. I read a comment with the idea of using a button instead of printing the "medallion" for the center. I folded the last "puff" of the chenille stem back which doubled the shamrock stem. Then I used embroidery floss (2 strands) to stitch a large safety pin on (going around the back "layer" of the stem. I also sewed on the button being sure to go around the bends in the chenille stem to help keep it secure. The photo is my first try. I used 4-hole buttons on the rest of them which gave me a better opportunity to sew around the chenille stem. I made 8 of them in a couple of hours.

Y'all come back!

Lorilee

First House Finches!

Dave spotted the first House Finches that we have ever seen this morning.

As usual in the bird world, the male is brightly colored and the female is plain and drab. My bird book states that "studies indicate that the redder the male's plummage, the more desirable he is to females." Also, House Finches were "originally confined to the West, this finch was called Linnet and intorduced as a cage bird on Long Island, New York, in the 1940's". Smithsonian Handbooks Birds of Texas-Fred J. Alsop III.

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Sad Bat Story

I walked out of my garage and noticed bat guano on the driveway. That means the Mexican Free-tail bats are visiting. When I looked up, I saw this bat that was stuck. Ants had also discovered it. I got out our extension ladder and dragged my son off his computer to hold the ladder steady while I climbed up to remove the vent cover and free the bat.

The bat's claw was stuck in the screening on the vent. I also had to flick ants off of it. I did wear my gloves to be safe. Sadly, I don't think it will survive. Its wing seems to be injured, and it is very weak. I prepared a box with fabric on the sides for the bat to cling to and a shallow dish of water. It hasn't been able to climb onto the fabric, and I don't think it is drinking water either. I called around for a bat rehabilitator, but there isn't one any closer than a several hour drive.

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee

Bringing Out the Bunnies!

I finally took down my Valentine's decorations and pulled out the bunnies, baskets, chicks and eggs. Above is a chair that folds into a stepstool. I frequently use it to display "stuff".

This grouping is on one of our endtables. I printed the vintage postcard from The Graphics Fairy. (see the link on my sidebar)

This is another frame with vintage postcards printed from The Graphics Fairy. I plan to change out the pictures with the seasons.

Some bunnies!

My feather tree with egg ornaments and other Easter goodies.

My rooster and hen are ready for Easter.

Sadly, my real flock is down to 3 hens. I lost 4 last Friday to our dog. She seems to have developed a taste for chicken. The girls' free range time will now have to be severely limited to when I am at home and the dog is locked in the house. I hope to get some baby chicks to replenish my flock soon.

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee

Woe is the garden!

Sigh, much of my yard is looking SO sad right now. This is the West side yard. The only green in sight here are daylilies and the Satsuma Mandarin tree (still just a baby). The banana tree is especially sad looking! It actually HAD two small bundles of tiny bananas on it before it froze! That ugly cinderblock in the fence corner is to keep the dogs in while letting the water drain out! Eventually, I hope to have more pavers in this area and an urn-style fountain!

The East side yard would be just as pathetic except for the Carolina Jasmine that is coming into full bloom! Talk about sunshine on a cloudy day!

It is a favorite this time of year. HAHA! It is the only thing blooming in my yard right now!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Instead of Housecleaning!

Last Sunday, instead of vacuuming and mopping some very dirty floors, I spiffed up my cabinet shelves. I had previously used parchement paper strips accordian folded and cut with edging scissors. I had then used a small hold punch to add the eyelet look. I think I got the idea from Martha Stewart. I did it a number of years ago. Since I recently bought a couple of edge punches, I thought I would re-do the shelf edging. It had been starting to fall off. I discovered that parchement paper doesn't work in the punches.

I ended up just using plain printer paper. I used double-sided tape to attach the strips. I had to splice, but it doesn't really show since I matched the cutout design.

I am pleased with the outcome. Now I need to do something about that curling shelf paper! I bet some double-sided tape could fix that too!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee