THE FROST IS ON THE PUMPKIN.......
The weather has been so crazy this last month, but today it is cold and gray, and I am thinking a bad winter lies ahead. The garden peeps showed up today to trim back the ivy from the house, which makes my husband a happy man. There is much clean up to be done, and a brick walk to be laid, but I am happy that there is a beginning today.
Halloween is next week, and to get everyone in the mood I am sharing a story and picture by my friend Kathy Hooper, who writes the most wonderful stories about 2 frogs, Francoise and Nibs. I took Francoise to Paris with me in January, and I do believe she did have a wonderful time.
I ASKED FOR ALL THINGS THAT I MIGHT ENJOY LIFE....
I WAS GIVEN LIFE SO THAT I MIGHT ENJOY ALL THINGS..........PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL  DAY                             
       A Halloween Clue
   From the Collection of short stories

     “The Little Green Gang”

        By Kathleen Hooper

               

          It was mid October in the Sonoran Desert.  Daylight had grown shorter and the evenings were much cooler.  Fall had definitely arrived.

          Many homes were decorated with dazzling orange and black lights and all sorts of spooky things.  This meant one special thing to Nibs. Halloween was coming!

          Farley would definitely be a cowboy but Nibs couldn’t quite decide. He loved writing poetry and thought it would be fun to give Farley some clues about his decision.   

             The Little Ghosts

                   By Nib
 Five little ghosts were sitting in a tree
      Two fell off and that left three
     Another little ghost decided to jump

 Landing in the leaves with a soft ker-plunk!

     Two little ghosts remained in the tree
  With a lighted pumpkin bright as could be
     They sat and sat waiting patiently
       For a special little ghost…me.

 Can you guess what I’ve decided to be

            Happy Halloween

 

 

 

 

Flu Shot.......if you are planning to have a flu shot this season please consider having your shot at a Walgreens.......the staff was kind and professional, and the best part is that Walgreens has a program through the UN Foundation called "Get a Shot, Give a Shot" vaccine initiative, which is providing up to 3 million vaccines to children in developing countries.
It is a win for all.BE YOURSELF......EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN
PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND

LET THERE BE LIGHT

A must see at the Franklin Park Conservatory..........Bruce Munro: LIGHT
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, 5-11pm
now through February 8, 2014..........A spectacular vision of beautiful lights filled with magical views and inspiring colors. I can't imagine a more perfect location for this exhibit.
Take the kids, take a date, take yourself and enjoy the light.
Café is open, so plan on a bite before you view the exhibit, and a stop at the gift store is a good thing, as I saw some wonderful gift ideas.........love the people who treat you right............
PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS, and have a wonderful weekend.

I recently hosted my 9th annual garden party with the proceeds going to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.........In the year 2013, it is unacceptable that there is hunger in the United States, and that one million children go to bed hungry every night. We, as Americans, are better than this.
The Mid-Ohio Food Bank provides food to those in need, with the emphasis on children and the elderly. It was my honor to send to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank money collected that night, which I am proud to say was able to provide over $12,500.00 in groceries. This outstanding contribution was provided by 34 concerned and caring women. Women have the power to make a difference
 Speaking of women........last night I was sitting in the Chicago airport chatting with 2 other women about the vulgarity, and horrible stories that appear every night on the eleven o'clock news. The discussion led to the senseless gun shootings that occur in Columbus, nightly, from which we segued to gun control. Our discussion questioned how the Congress could not pass legislation requiring back ground checks before purchasing a gun. If three women sitting in an airport get it, what is wrong with our government. When did we become so complacent, and afraid to speak up for what is right. How did we get to the point that the political arena is more concerned with re-election and saying "no" to the other side. What happened to representing the people, to doing what is right for the people.
On a lighter note, but also regarding women, is there anything better than girlfriends who really know you? My friends recently help me celebrate my Medicare birthday with a visit to the Topiary Park where we enjoyed wine and cheese, and then continued on to Lindey's for dinner, which is my favorite restaurant. "Best" girlfriends are like a four leaf clover, hard to find, but so lucky to have.
If you have never been to the Topiary Park, which is the only one of its kind in the world, make time for a visit....located at 480 E. Town St. The park is an interpretation of Georges Seurat's painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grand Jatte.....there are 54 topiary people, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey, a cat and a real pond....the pond represents the River Seine.
I was privileged to have seen the original painting yesterday at the Art Institute of Chicago.

THERE ARE EXACTLY AS MANY SPECIAL OCCASIONS IN LIFE AS WE CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE..........MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT..........

AND PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS

It is always good to come home to the garden.

GIRL IN WHITE DRESS

Speaking of coming home, I feel I must address a concern of mine regarding Facebook.
I don't really understand Facebook....millions of people have vapid, empty discourse with relative strangers, and long lost friends, about their daily activities, which are not all that vital nor interesting. Although I do see the importance of Facebook as a marketing tool for businesses.
The possibilities of connection with potential and existing customers is limitless. However setting that aside, I think people need to be cognizant when they post messages speaking of either their whereabouts or that of a friend, they are creating a certain vulnerability.
It is wonderful to wish a person happy voyage, but I feel this should be done in a more private circumstance. If you are going on vacation, or a friend is going away, I would suggest that reference to this is not posted on Facebook. It is unfortunate that one needs to be concerned about their safety, and the safety of their possessions, but this is the world we inhabit, and too much information is just too much information. Share your travel pictures, just do it when you get home, not while you are away........
ALL GARDENING IS LANDSCAPE PAINTING.......SO PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS AND ENJOY THE DAY

 

I still love Wednesdays, and I am still grateful for the garden worker bees, however I must say, after closer examination, my privet has been massacred. This is truly a very bad trimming job.

In most situations men need gentle guidance from a strong woman, and this was no exception. I take full responsibility for leaving men in my garden with a chain saw, and no definitive directions. What is it about men and power tools I ask, testosterone takes over leaving design no where to be seen.
My poor garden is exposed and naked. My potting area which I was in love with, is now an awkward space with no nestling from the Rose of Sharon or the privet. And my chandelier which hung so beautifully from the bough of the privet is now ridiculously hanging on a branch all by itself.
The garden "peeps" have backs of steel, and arms of great strength, but the eyes of an artist, not so much. As with any bad haircut, the consolation is "it will grow"........So to what was a lovely secluded space, not but a moment ago........Grow, please grow.

While I am on a growing stream of consciousness, I need to comment that there are no voices of small children, or any sized children in my neighborhood. There are a plethora of children who live on the street, but where are they? If I am out early watering, no sounds of laughter or chatter from small people. If I am out mid-day, no sounds of children, and again in the early evening, no sounds.
When I was a child we were always outside, riding our bikes, playing games enjoying the summer. When my children were young all the kids in the neighborhood were outside playing, riding their bikes, playing games, filling the air with laughter, and occasionally a random cry from falling down.
Has the world changed so drastically in the last 25 years that children have forgotten how to play outside, or has society short changed them, and forgotten to teach them how to enjoy the outdoors. Have we become so tech savvy that we no longer can enjoy a simplistic day of bike riding, or hide and seek?
If the current youth do not learn the importance of nature, what is to happen to the planet as we know it.
Children must learn to respect nature, and know that it is a privilege to be allowed to go outside and enjoy a summer's day. Children need to get off the sofa, stop watching the TV, and turn off the computer.
Tomorrow is the first day of Summer, and it is a short, delicious gift we are given to enjoy, and in order to enjoy the season, you have to come outside and smell the roses.
LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WONDERFUL.........
SO PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS, AND ENJOY THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

Wednesday has become my favorite day of the week, as the garden "peeps" show up even before I have had my first cup of coffee. Today it was the melodious whirring of the chain saw cleaning up the privet and, and restructuring it as a hedge
which it once was a very long time ago.

I know that my garden will be tweaked, and clipped and spruced up the way I love it, and the joyous part is that I won't have pain today and I don't have to do it today......no weeding, or pulling unwanted saplings today, maybe tomorrow or the next day, but not today.
I have had a minimal amount of help, if any, over these last 30 plus years.
But may I say that having people who do the heavy lifting and exhausting bending is fantastic, and I am a blessed gardener today.

A FASCINATION WITH THE FASCINATOR..............
I went to a bridal shower, high tea, over the weekend, and it was suggested that the guests wear hats. I really didn't give it much thought, because there was no way I was going to wear a hat. I don't own a hat, and the reason I don't own a hat is that I don't look good in a hat.
The day before the shower I was speaking with a friend who said she was wearing a fascinator. A fascinator, well a fascinator is an accessory I can do. The wheels started turning, and I remembered that I happened to have many "cupcake" headbands........doesn't everyone. Actually I had purchased these headbands with large cupcakes on them for all my friends, and myself, who are celebrating a "medicare" birthday this year.
On with the fascinator........I used tulle, mini rosebuds from my garden and lavender. I made one for myself and one for my friend Denise. It is so wonderful having a friend who doesn't question wearing a cupcake fascinator, but embraces the thought. I think we looked fabulous, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed having it on my head. Europeans have such a sense of style, and gracious way of dressing.
The fascinator was originally designed in the 1700's, and in the last five years has taken center stage with the Royals and Hollywood wearing it to red carpet and sporting events.
PEARLS ARE PRECIOUS, BUT FRIENDSHIPS ARE PRICELESS, SO PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS......... AND HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK

Imagine my surprise as I heard Simon bark, and looked out the window to see the garden "peeps" arriving to mulch ..........
There are not enough words to express my gratitude to my wonderful husband.
Who knew "garden peeps" could  bring such joy to ones life.
These wonderful young men are even removing a few day lilys for me.....today I am a very blessed Gardener.

                                                                                 It's a mulch train

VIEW FROM THE GARDEN

Last I wrote I was in serious pain from weeding. Well today was to have been another day of weeding, but to my amazement and utter joy my "peeps" showed up yesterday, and with
precision and speed the garden was weeded, and I have no pain. Granted because of my obsessive nature I am headed out to tweak the weeding and move some plants, but I owe my husband a huge thank you for finding the "peeps" and making sure they showed up. His kindness is huge, however I think secretly he was afraid I was going to ask him to help me again.....

I don't know whether this is spring or summer because it came so quickly, but it was time to put the "summer clothes" on my bed, and nothing says summer like dove gray and white.
Well, the garden is calling and I must go........
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WAKE UP WITH REGRETS...
AND IT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO LOVE THE PEOPLE WHO TREAT YOU RIGHT
ENJOY THE DAY, AND REMEMBER TO PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS

Time waits for no man.........and believe me it doesn't wait for anyone who has a garden. Last week we were having frost warnings, and yesterday my garden was beyond lush and overgrown.
I worked cleaning, schlepping, weeding for 7 hours, and to say that there is not a muscle in my body that is not crying today. My husband joined in the "festivities" half way through, and he was beyond a lifesaver. I was having a breakdown, and Alan saved the day, he saved me. I know that he hates manual labor, and could care less about my garden, but believe me no one does a better job.
My friend, Denise, suggested I hire someone to help................I would love to hire someone, but can't seem to get anyone to show up. The average garden worker wants $20-35/hr. and I can't find some one to help me......and I do mean help, because I am glad to work along to get the job done. Last year I had my dog walker help me, $20/hr. and she made it very clear that one day was more than enough, and she would not be doing this again. It isn't that there are no jobs available, it is that no wants to do the available jobs.
I will get everything done, and now because of my hubby I can breathe, and see that there is an end in sight.
We built a new garage, and somehow I lost a place for my potting bench, which was also causing angst, but I was able to create a potting area right in the garden, and I even have room for my garden angel, who of course is dressed appropriately with her pearls.
Speaking of pearls, Shop Hop was a success, and there are now more "girls" who can put on their new pearls.......so enjoy the day, and PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS

The sun is shining today, and the air has a bit of warmth in it.........I know spring is coming soon, the calendar told me so. I am supposed to be working in my studio today getting ready for a show that I am doing next month, but I wandered outside for a bit of fresh air, and snapped this picture...the squirrels have eaten all the tulips except for this one and 2 others.
Today I had a person come and teach me how to do things on the computer, and on my iPad. I do love technology, but why do they make it so difficult to figure it out, when in reality it is not. When you know where to go, and what to click, it really is something I can actually do.
I had given my husband a Kindle a couple of years ago, and somehow, he could not find the movies I thought I had downloaded on the device. With the help of Lisa, my computer angel, I have found the movies which had taken to the cloud, and they are now safely and securely downloaded on the device.
I could go on about passwords, with which I seem to have practically filled a book, but I was able to straighten that out as well when Lisa was here, and the last thing, she set up was my Square account on my iPad, so that I can now take credit card charges when I do the show next month.
Technology is amazing, and I am exhausted from all this knowledge I have learned today.
So PUT ON YOUR PEARLS GIRLS........... LEARN SOMETHING NEW THIS WEEK, AND ENJOY THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING OLDER, ONLY BETTER