Our new great granddaughter!!

I am pleased to announce the birth of our newest addition. Shelby Rene', born 6:21 AM Aug. 31. She weighed in at 6#2 0z. 19.5 " and beautifully perfect.
One pic is of the proud gr. grandma holding her, the other of just Shelby, the other her seconed cousin, mom and gr. grandpa in the back ground. I promise you will see many more.
Jennifer had been having many problems with gall stones, so we were all glad Shelby came a couple of weeks early. Jennifer will probably have surgery with in a few days.

Where have they gone?

I was sitting around last night thinking of all the good friends we have had over the years. I still miss them! With hubby in the army for all those years, we made many friends. Some that were nice while you knew them, others that you miss more as the years go bye. Why we lost touch I really don't know, but we did. Some simply because they went on to other spouses, or to different lifestyles. I know that I was so bad at keeping up. We didn't have the luxury of computers at that time, nor the "free " cell phone calls that we enjoy now. Hubby retired in 1975. I am positive that given the technology of todays era, we would still be in touch with quite a few. Phone calls were almost out of the question given the cost at that time. Time to write a letter (if we even knew the addresses) was there, but not always the inclination. Last year a friend of hubby held his breath and looked us up on the internet. Then he was afraid to call for a long time thinking maybe hubby was no longer with us...lol. He practically lived at our house. He was single at the time and loved being around the boys and hubby. They were fishing and drinking buddies. He has called often which is so nice. In fact has promised to visit "one of these days". It would be nice!
So, for all the "lost friends" please know that your remembered very often with very fond thoughts. If your so inclined, look up old friends and give them a call or an e-mail. It won't cost much and if they aren't delighted to hear from you, at least you know that you tried. And if they are happy, you've gained back a wonderful part of your life.
Here's to Walt and Peggy, Rose and Bob, Anna and Bill, Ryan and Becky and so many more.
We loved you then and still do.

What luck!

The newspaper ran an ad from LOWES that they would be giving clinics all day on planting container gardens. Although I have planted some, I really admire the ones that are done professionally. Hubby and I got up early and headed to our nearest Lowes. We wanted to be at the 1st clinic. They were also offering give-aways. We got there a few min. before the 1st clinic was to begin. Of course NO ONE knew a thing about it. I finally tracked down the manager of the garden dept. SHE didn't know either. She thought that I had mis-read the ad, perhaps from Home depot. She went to make some phone calls. I was persistent!!! I followed her all over the store. They couldn't even find the ad I mentioned. By then I was getting frustrated, as was the manager. They called the newspaper and sure enough, I was right! (thank goodness) Now let me tell you the best deal yet. The manager apologized profusely, which I accepted of course. I about to leave when she offered a plant and fertilizer to make up for our time. The plant up to around $20. At first I told her it wasn't needed, but she insisted! How nice to find a store that actually lives up to their promise of customer satisfaction!!! I brought home a 5 gal. Hardy fern and a lg. bag of fertilizer. I will definitely return to LOWES.

Flowers in my garden

I went ahead and took pictures of several of the flowers that are already blooming. I simply must learn to take better pictures!
It seems so amazing to have blooms this early in the year. Last week we had several days of nearly ninety degrees! This week we have a "cool" front where the temps only reached the mid seventies. It is so nice to brag about to the west coast families however I know we will suffer for it in the long run.

A busy day!

Today was busy doing some maintence around the yard. First to go were the weeds. Dandelions are the worst. We got all of them this time but I assure you there will be many more to follow.
I planted some marigold seeds in 2 pots and set them in the sun.
Then we re-did all the rocks around the ponds (2 of them), removing all the ones already there and putting soil around the edge. We then reset the rocks, hopefully making it better looking. We did some good old fashioned swearing at some of them because they didn't want to sit the way we wanted too. LOL
I decided the trees had leafed out enough to hang some of the hanging baskets. The ones we have now take partial to full shade. The flowering ones will wait for another week or so.
Exciting news. Our David Bankston roses are starting to bloom. Tiny yellow blossoms and the bushes are loaded with bud. We have a antique rose that was from a clipping of hubbys mom's rose. Its a massive bush rose with small pink roses. Just a few are showing right now but by the end of the week and next it should be covered.
I will try to take a good picture of the 2 when they are showing off.

Oh my gosh, life without Pink Rocket!

I don't think I can stand 2 or more weeks without reading Shanna's blog. Obviously since she's my granddaughter I would read it any way, however she is extremely talented with her writing and creativity. Please hurry back. I miss her already.

Nice day for a shower

Today my granddaughter and her mom hosted a baby shower for her sister. It was a great day for it too. Quite warm. They had a lovely brunch and nice prizes for the games. I didn't win anything this time. I think I was way too out of touch for the questions asked. She got some really nice gifts. Some I wish that I had had when my babies were born. This picture was taken at Christmas time, and she has grown some by now. The baby is due about the 16th of April.

I said I wouldn't

Okay, I lied. We had to get some plant! Hubby filled in around the patio pond today. I could not stand to see it so bare looking so we went to the store and picked up some petunias. I just finished planting them. After the pictures were taken I watered them in. I think they will look good until later this spring. We have to head to our favorite nursery later this month. Its a nice hour drive from here. Yes, there are so good ones here too, but its more fun to make a day of it. Besides, this one has some SUPER hanging baskets.

spring fever

I really have it bad! The weather has been so spring like that we keep wanting to start our garden. We do have the onions planted, but even though the stores have tomato plants and beautiful flowers we are going to wait. Texas weather has a way of laughing at you.
I did go to a nursery to look at plants and I actually felt the pull. We only bought spaghnum moss and iron for a tree that is needing it. I looked so longingly that my hubby just shook his head......lol.
This weekend we took a trip to a water garden store about 50 miles from here. I talked hubby into getting more koi to start replacing the ones we lost. We got the smaller ones for now. But he is excited about having them back. Our koi that we lost were well over 16". Those are quite expensive.
I kept going around the yard looking at new places to dig. Some of the purple coneflowers are starting to grow, the daffodils in the back are all up and either blooming or getting ready to. One shrub that I thought we had lost is leafing out! Hooray!! I still have to find places for new things though. I love a crowded full look for my garden.
Bare spots bother me.....

More pictures of gifts

As my darling daughter reminded me, here are the rest of the pics. She didn't read that the others were terrible and I didn't want to print them. The weather vane is up, subject to moving it later. The topiary, unfinished. I will add moss and plants later this week. The color plants later.
The glass wear and "muffin" tin. There are 4 of the star shaped bowls and 2 of the platters.