MY GARDEN SHED

When I was designing my studio I knew I needed a place to

move all of my garden things that were in one big cabinet on my patio.

 Gus is the guy I always call when I need help with a project.

 I just wanted a little boxie shed over to the side of my yard.

I told him what I wanted and this is what he built!!!  

Not a little boxie shed, for sure!

When I was planning my garden shed I wanted to find a stained glass piece to go in the front.  

Gus was going to build the front straight across and I said "NO!" 

I want a peak, a place for my stained glass window.

I found this little window at an architectural salvage outlet.

I hand painted vines on the shed and hand painted a big blue plumbago.  

I painted the vines where I knew they would be mixed with 

the natural vines of my potato vine and queen's crown.

Loving birds, I had a big collection of birdhouses and hung lots of them on and around the garden shed.  I've seen the wrens going to them at night.  It is a safe place for them to be.

I built large shelves out of pine boards and they're such a good place for storage.  

All of my bird seed is in here, too.  Everything stays dry.

There is lots of storage in the rafters, too.

I LOVE my garden shed!!

BLUE ~ GARDEN SHED

BLUE ~ GARDEN SHED 

PINTEREST

CHARLIE & THE TOAD FROGS

CHARLIE & THE TOAD FROGS

Last night while I was cooking dinner I looked out my kitchen window and saw Charlie pestering our resident toad that lives in the downspout drain pipe.  

I told him to stop and he came in the doggie door.

 I watched the toad and he hopped toward the doggie door.  Waited a few seconds and hopped again and then again, toward the doggie door.  I thought, "oh my gosh, is that frog coming after Charlie?".  I got the camera and after the flash, the frog turned away.  

Whew!!  It is a very large frog.

A couple of years ago, a handyman installed a larger doggie door for Charlie.

 I saw Charlie sitting and staring at the doggie door.  There was a frog with it's feet on the opening and staring back at Charlie.

I wonder if the light inside the house attracts the frogs.  Maybe the plastic door reflects like it's water to the frog.  Wonder what the frogs see that attracts them.  

I don't think the frogs could push the doggie door open, so I'm not concerned about that.  It's just interesting that they're so brave.

Or, maybe they ARE coming after Charlie because he won't leave them alone!!

Original Post  11/16/13

GEORGE COOPER POEM ~ "COME LITTLE LEAVES," SAID THE WIND ONE DAY

GEORGE COOPER POEM ~ "COME LITTLE LEAVES," SAID THE WIND ONE DAY

LESSER GOLDFINCHES GALORE!!

There are five thistle feeders hanging in this tree and the lesser goldfinches are all over them.  They're such beautiful little birds.  I have a few all year, but in the fall they're all over my trees and feeders.  

I have three bird baths in my back yard and I put fresh water in them every afternoon.  The birds seem to know when I do that because all of a sudden there are lots of birds coming to the bird baths, drinking and bathing.

I love birds!

12/22/12

MY BEAUTIFUL LARKSPUR ~ MY GARDEN

MY BEAUTIFUL LARKSPUR ~ MY GARDEN

 Last fall I planted lots of larkspur seeds.

These are in my front yard.  Lots more in my backyard.

The colors are so beautiful and vibrant.

Original Post 4/24/19

I AM A HOUSE SLAVE BORN AKIWA ~ OYA, AUTHOR

I AM A HOUSE SLAVE BORN AKIWA ~ OYA, AUTHOR

I am a house slave born Akiwa

renamed Sara

I have birthed two of my slave owners children

My fairer skin

and features

Made me appealing to him

And I had no choice but to give myself

for my own safety

My children has even fairer skin

They look more like him

Then me

So they don't know I'm Their mother

or their beautiful history

His wife could not bare children

so mine became hers

And it breaks my heart

watching them grow

Knowing the things they could never know

But I watch them as they learn to read

and do as the owner does

And I kept silent out of a mother's love

Knowing nothing good could come from the truth

They treat me as a slave

sometimes even with unkind words

Even though from me they came

But for their sake I speak no words

So that their freedom will always remain

without knowing a slaves pain

OYA, AUTHOR

BABY MAMAS

BABY MAMAS

SUSAN BRANCH~CANDY CANE RIMMED MUGS

SUSAN BRANCH~CANDY CANE RIMMED MUGS

SUSAN BRANCH‏ 
"Making us Keoke Coffees, with candy cane rimmed mugs... 

decaf, Brandy, kahlua, creme de cacao, whipped cream!!"
She said she used syrup on the rims for the candy cane chips to stick.

susanbranch.com

Original Post 12/10/17

HUGE TOPIARY CAT

HUGE TOPIARY CAT

TOPIARY CAT

The Topiary Cat is a surrealist photographic montage series
 based on the cat, Tolly, of Richard Saunders.

           

(Original Post 12/21/15)

SPRINGTIME

SPRINGTIME

From Pinterest

(Original Post May2, 2019)

HAND PAINTING STRIPES & A PLAYHOUSE, PICKET FENCE & FLOWERS IN A LITTLE GIRL'S ROOM

HAND PAINTING STRIPES & A PLAYHOUSE, PICKET FENCE & FLOWERS IN A LITTLE GIRL'S ROOM

One time a family was moving into a new home.

The little girl's room was blue and the mom asked me to paint stripes for her.

I drew and hand painted the yellow stripes and green ivy as a border.

Then, I asked if I could paint her a playhouse.  

So, I drew and painted the outline of a playhouse.  Then, I painted the picket fence and flowers.

They placed a little table and chairs in the corner with the playhouse.

The little girl just loved it and her mom said she played near it all the time.

That was a fun project!

~

I found this picture in a stack of pictures of my work and thought it would be great to share it with you just before Christmas, in case it might give you some ideas for a little girl or boy's room.  The playhouse can be any color.  Maybe it could be brown and they could play like it's a fort or a cabin.

Or, draw the outline of a spaceship. 

 I bet they would really love that!!

   12/15/15

CHILDBIRTH AT 65

CHILDBIRTH AT 65

CHILDBIRTH AT 65: 

"With all the technology regarding fertility recently, a 65 yr old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit. 

"May I see the baby?" I said. 

"Not yet" she said. 

"I'll make coffee and we'll chat for a while first." 

Thirty minutes had passed and I asked

 "May I see the baby now?"

 "No, not yet" she said. 

After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again,

 "May I see the baby now?" 

"No, not yet" replied my friend.

 Growing very impatient, I asked,

 "Well, when can I see the baby?"

 "WHEN HE CRIES" she told me. 

"WHEN HE CRIES" I demanded! "Why do I have to wait until he CRIES?" 

"BECAUSE I FORGOT WHERE I PUT HIM, OK??"

(author unknown :)

Original post 9/25/2016

F ~ IS FOR FAIRY, LOST IN THE STORM

F is for fairy,

 lost in the storm,

but her friends,

 I am sure,

will keep her 

from harm.

TIME TO FERTILIZE OUR LANDSCAPES ~ PLEASE USE ORGANICS

TIME TO FERTILIZE OUR LANDSCAPES ~ PLEASE USE ORGANICS

It's time to fertilize and I'm hoping we will all think "organic". Medina granular "Growing Green" is my favorite. You can find it at a good nursery, Lowe's & other convenient places. I throw it on everything and extra around trees and shrubbery. About once a month, I throw it on all the blooming plants. I use gloves because it does have a bit of an odor, but that odor will go away after a couple of waterings. Please be careful using weed killers. Some will also kill trees and shrubbery. And, please consider your neighbors. Anything you use on your yard will probably spread to your neighbors, their landscapes and pets. A gardener friend told me that our lawn mower is the best weed preventer.  I have found that to be true. 

Mowing keeps weeds from going to seed. 

BE ORGANIC AND HELP PROTECT OUR EARTH!!!

(Original Post 4/25/22)

FOX KIT TASTING A FLOWER

FOX KIT TASTING A FLOWER

PAMELA UNDERHILL KARAZ

ANTIQUE CLIMBING ROSE ~ "OLD BLUSH"

ANTIQUE CLIMBING ROSE ~ "OLD BLUSH"

ABOUT 30 YEARS IN MY GARDEN

(2/26/2019)

COOKING YOUR EGGSHELLS FOR THE BIRDS

 For many years, I have saved eggshells to give to the birds.  Eggshells are a good source of calcium, which they need for their bones and to help their eggs  have a stronger shell.  When I'm cooking with eggs, I place the eggshell back in the carton and save it until they've all been used.  Then, I place them on a piece of foil and put them in my  toaster oven at about 350 degrees.  I bake them for only a few minutes, until they are slightly browned.  Be careful not to overcook.

Then, I put them in this wrought iron basket and the birds and the squirrels, and not sure who else, love pecking and eating them.  Maybe the squirrels are eating the part of the egg white that is still in them.  And,  there are lots of bugs on the eggs for the birds and squirrels.  If you don't want to bother with hanging them in a tree, you can crumble and place them on the ground in your flower beds and any place that is easy for the birds to find.

By the way, I buy organic cage free eggs. 

 I'm sad for the chickens that are kept in small cages.

(Original post July 8, 2012)

BORDER PATROL USING HORSES AT THE BORDER IN DEL RIO, TEXAS ~ In response to the lies and misrepresentation in media, 💯

Andy Lewis

SeopntStermbero 23 aotno g7e:5f9dS fAMch  · 

In response to the lies and misrepresentation in media, "Definitely the best job I ever had, you become one with your horse. They learn to trust you. They will go to the end of the earth, if you ask them. We train everyday with them. Definitely the best partner I have ever had. See what’s in my hands? Those are split reins; not whips, they are 6 feet long. They are split for when we go into the brush. If we go through thick brush and a tree branch gets caught, it will just slip right through. The reins are connected to the bit. The bit is in their mouth and the last thing we want to do is hurt our partners by tearing up their mouths.

You have seen the video of the agent spinning the rein when noncitizens get close to the horse. It’s to create distance between the horse and the person on the ground. Our horses easily weigh 1200 pounds, they can step on someone and break a bone or kill a small child of a person gets to close. We also spin them if someone attempts to grab the reins because the last thing you want is someone who doesn’t know a thing about horses, to have control of the horse you are on. (If noncitizens attempt to gain control of our reins it is considered deadly.) The horse can freak out, jump up and roll with you on them. Us as riders can be killed if a horse lands on us. Hope this helps those who have never seen a horse or split reins before… we will continue to support our brothers and sisters in Del Río." - Deanndra Cantu - one of my fellow Border Patrol Agents

OPOSSUM CONSUMES 95% OF TICKS IT ENCOUNTERS

OPOSSUM CONSUMES 95% OF TICKS IT ENCOUNTERS

"Dr. Mike's Fun Fact: according to recent research, North America's only marsupial, the

 opossum, is a front line defender against tick borne diseases in people. The opossum

 consumes up to 95% of the ticks it encounters including the tick that carries Lyme disease. 

So hug an opossum today!"

Oak Pointe Veterinary Care

(Original Post 11/7/15)