Showing posts with label cactus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cactus. Show all posts



§ Christmas Floral...


Real...




_ _ _

Artificial...



My last post, on Monday, was of the wooden reindeer and sleigh that Bud made -EIGHT tiny REINDEER for me years ago. I mentioned in one of my comment replies that maybe a thin leather cord with jingle bells would be better than the ribbon I've always used for the reins...I just may go to the craft store and get those supplies and change it before my sister arrives. I ask myself now, "Should I"?



§ Update....


Okay, let me get this out of the way. Sandra commented in my flower bud post "we did not have to baby ours they grew like crazy". Oh, but I do around Hootin' Anni's abode!! I've lost so many plants over the years because of dear hubby! Both in pots on patios AND in the ground. He knows nothing about them. When he works in the ground, supposedly pulling weeds, he doesn't know the difference between a weed and a plant. If I'm not around, I can go out an hour after he starts yard work, and half my plants have been pulled up and in the weed pile. He's also known to spray weeds and insects ...from my blooming plants and killing them! Once it was Grass...dead as a door nail. Yes, I have to baby them, and keep them 4 feet [at the least] from him!! Or he'll kill 'em. Gives a whole new meaning to social distancing.
I started reading another book. This time it's a biography about Lady Randolph Churchill. Winston Churchill's mother. It's quoted: Jennie Churchill had two hundred lovers of whom she married three. Also, American born, she was soon to be into British aristocracy marrying in 1847 to Lord Randolph after a three day romance! In this marriage, devoted to her husband, she gave birth to Winston, and other children. A truly fascinating woman of her time.
Then, an update about the new plant blossom! The very next morning, after I posted a photo of the bud, it was in full bloom. And gorgeous. We also noted when I went out to get a picture to share, another bud forming at the top of one of the cuttings. Ms. G told me the parent plant is now 50 years old. So, it definitely comes from good stock. Did I say it's gorgeous?!! Also in my comments Ginny wanted to 'see' the wrought iron planter...it's really nothing special, just to keep the plant from dragging on the ground as it begins to drop to side edges of the pot. Early that morning, before sunrise, I was debating whether to drive up toward San Patricio/Bluntzer Texas area...about a half hour later, the rain came down. I decided to nix the idea for then. Around 9 a.m., the rain had stopped, but still overcast and a threat of more rain to come, but I wanted to get to an area called Wright's Pond since there are reported egrets breeding and nesting around the deadwood that borders the pond. I'd seen photos from other birders. I told Bud, you can stay home and eat lunch by yourself, or come with me and we can go out after I get photos of the egret colony. He jumped up [fastest I've seen him move in a long time. lol] and, off we went. While we were there and I was taking pictures, Bud said "There's a goat by the fence." Hmmm, I hadn't noticed...but he knows I like goats. I walked down the ranch's drive a bit on foot and got a picture. So sweet. We then stopped along the roadside and took a photo of an old school in the area. The building is dated 1939. And odd part of it all is, the state of Texas Historical Society has a historical marker plaque on the grounds...but as you can see, the property is posted "no trespassing". I took a couple of photos and left. By that time it was 11:30. Time to seek out a restaurant. We went to I HOP back in Corpus. After we got back home I looked up the history of the school/town of Bluntzer, Texas. "The town was a stage stop." I'm assuming there were two schools [but not at the same time] the first opened in 1870s and was flooded from the hurricane of 1919...relocated to the one in photos here...1939.


...and to continue showcasing my Trolls...

My 9th Troll Share

TROLL DOLL COLLECTION
Troll of Sherwood Forest


circa: early 80s



§ The Are a Few of My Favorite Things...


A walk on the lawn, in our yard. What blooms at home for the first time, this season.  Our back yard is full of color right now...


Our pomegranate tree in bloom



A few Red Roses


Yellow Rose of Tombstone [Lady Banks, aka Tombstone Rose]  This rose is one of my favorites, I love the tiny, half dollar size, blossoms and the numbers of  blooms...many on one branch in groupings, and a profuse bloomer, the delicate butter-yellow color [they also come in pink I believe, and maybe white...not sure]...and the fact that it vines in long tendrils giving the illusion of a weeping willow, plus NO THORNS!!!


A new potted plant on the patio. This plant did not have a name tag/label so, I'm not sure the species. It looks to be related to a Christmas cactus.


The first blooming of my amaryllis


The first of my cactus I dug out and moved with us, from Tucson to Texas.  I have since thinned out the one potted cactus into five pots.  I love the bright, hot pink color.

Also, there is an orange firebush, a white gardenia [still budding, not blooming yet], two red geraniums, pastel pink, rose-color, yellow, orange, and red hibiscus, a purple duranta and mauve bougainvillea, two red bougainvilleas, mexican bird of paradise, bird of paradise [it rarely blooms any more, it needs to be thinned out desparately], and the strawberry and cream crepe myrtle that is just now getting new leaves.  It will bloom later this year in late Spring.  My three Easter Lilies in the front yard have buds, but will be later than Easter in blooming.  The list of plants, bushes, trees, goes on.


By the time our yard quiets down in producing color and blooms, those of you up north will just be beginning your summer-time growth.  Why, in South Texas we have home grown, on the vine, ripe tomatoes by late April; early May when most of the country are just planting them!!


HAPPY EASTER!



§ PBJ = Plants, Books, and Joy[?}


I can tell you right now, I am ready for Spring!! At least we, down here in South Texas, would have some blue sky once in a while! Ever since September of 2018 we have had so much rain, and days on end without sunshine. I'm really tired of it. Gray sky, barren trees. soppy and muddy ground [the water table just has to be at the ground surface]. Okay, 'nough of me being of the crabby genes, it's time to move on.

First, I promised Ms. G at Connections More that I would update her about a Christmas cactus slip her friend sent me. The first photo is the day the slips arrived. I planted them in potting soil right after I opened the package. The second photo was taken just about a week ago. It's going strong! And thriving. Mostly, it's outdoors, unless the temp drops below 50 degrees. Then, I bring it in until it warms up during the day [if it does]....




When it blooms, it will have the reddest blossoms I've ever seen.  I can't find the photo she shared of her friend's plant 'cause I couldn't find her blog's table of contents.  Maybe she'll find it and share it with us in the comments here.  [nookworm]

ADDENDUM:  Here is the link
- - - -

Then the book I recently finished....it's a good one.  Trust me, it's FICTION, but the characters are real people.  And is it hilarious?  Yes, it is.  It's written in first person [Biden is telling the story throughout - but don't be confused, he is NOT the author], and naturally it takes no imagination to picture Biden and Obama on a murder mystery caper that takes you deep into the unknowns of Delaware with its citizens; and America's boundaries.  The book has been labeled a Bromantic.   Also, yes, as I said, it's quite funny but there are subliminal gestures you catch throughout...like friendship, retirement, old age with a bit of senility added in for humor, aches and pains, golf, memory lane like the 'good ol' days'. security, and more.  Which I found comical 'cause I've experienced a lot of the old age scenarios.  All this is mixed in perfectly with the two solving a murder like Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes.The subjects may not be to the liking of some, but the book is really entertaining.  No matter which side of the political fence you're on, keep and open mind and enjoy the story as intended....  I enjoyed it a lot. HOPE NEVER DIES by Andrew Shaffer.

    From the website: 
    Vice President Joe Biden is fresh out of the Obama White House and feeling adrift when his favorite railroad conductor dies in a suspicious accident, leaving behind an ailing wife and a trail of clues. To unravel the mystery, “Amtrak Joe” re-teams with the only man he’s ever fully trusted—the 44th president of the United States. Together they’ll plumb the darkest corners of Delaware, traveling from cheap motels to biker bars and beyond,



Now to the book I just received through Amazon...
The Ravenmaster.

I'm about half way through it already. It too is a good read. It's about the Tower of London's Ravens that reside in the Tower and are protected. There is a myth about the Tower's Ravens....if they die or cease to exist, the city of London and tower will fall. Speaking of London, as I am reading, legend has it that the name LONDON could possibly be derived [there are many theories] from the word, Lugdunum [page39]; Celtic, meaning the city of ravens. I don't know how true this is, but I find it kinda eerie in context with the subject[s] of the book.

Anyway, so far I've read about the recent ravens, have been introduced to each one and given their personalities and more. I've learned what the Ravenmaster's position and job details are along with background and history of the animal menagerie throughout the centuries. Some descriptions of the surrounding walls, age, construction and lots of interesting things. The current Ravenmaster, the author of the book, gives the reader a first hand experience of what it's like to look after and keep the ravens alive and well, and regales his Army experiences dealing with the ravens in the Tower, which will guarantee the Tower will remain for ages to come [or so folklore tells us].

The book is quite expensive, but I think it'll be worth the price eventually as I keep all books about birds.  lol 


Trying to take a long walk today at a park, the light mist turned into a downpour, I had to turn around, head back home and be stuck indoors longer than I wanted to be...so, lastly today...some bright flowers to lighten up the dreary day I'm having.  From our backyard on January 18th, 2019...










Table of Contents