Catch em quick--summers going fast---think fall will also come and go with the blink of an eye. Could you stand leaf pics all winter.? Fear not, took 30+ more flower pics yesterday and will have enough to last all winter. Hey---heard some sighs out there!
Know this pic has been overdone but must tell you these are 3 happy "boys" to have Kathy here. They love their chair time, all the petting, the attention, etc. I have been very happy to share them with her. They are little attention parasites.
Have to include some leaves---this is part of a sweet potato vine/coleus mixture.
Could not let the summer pass w/o including a prized volunteer Kale. The insects left them alone this year and the rabbits took over but obviously missed this one---thought I would capture it w/a pic before the rabbits find it. The rabbits are more scarce---hmmm, can't figure what is happening to all of them.
Bruce graciously sent Kelli's cremains to me and asked that they be interred by Dad's at Ascension Cemetery. Bruce had no preference as to type of service and left that up to me. The interment was today at 10:00am with Father Jerome reading the Liturgy of the Dead. Not all of our family was able to physically attend but were certainly present in heart and spirit. I am hoping this will help our family bring some closure to our loss of Kelli and am eternally grateful to Bruce for his insight in making this happen. Following the interment Kathy said "we will always hold Kelli in our hearts, but this is tangible and will last forever." 
Thought I would throw in a Mallow. Looks a lot like a Holly Hock, blooms in early spring, looks great thrown in with the other orange, yellow, and burgundy flowers.Have all of you in my thoughts as we are approaching the end of the week. Stay healthy, be safe, and keep in touch.
Love, Mom
This Kale is another volunteer plant this year. I bed down the plants w/pulverized leaves each fall/winter, compliments of Keith and have really been surprised of the plants that return. The Coleus plants broke off from the original potted plant--were placed in water to root and re-planted in the garden area. The ajuga at the top is yet another variety of the one featured yesterday.
Aguga and Primrose are the week end features--Ajuga has a few sedum peeping through at you (Click on pic for details). Have 4 varieties of ajuga and when I see a group like this know I want to add more varieties next year---will take a mental note to add that to my list. No matter what the weather---this little plant is dependable and will hang on and also transplants well.Now on to the Primrose. Tell myself each spring to pull it up and move on--the foliage is weepy, sparse, spindly---then I take a look at the bloom and cannot bring myself to get rid of it. If you look close (Click on it) you can catch some of the volunteer rose moss that comes up around it every year. The blossom is so fragile, lasts only one day but the color is great.
Have a busy day planned--off to Mass, volunteer at rectory for a short while, run some errands, then home to spread/fill in low areas with more soil/dirt and then begin outlining the spaces to spread the rocks to extend the shade garden at the side of the house. Plan to order firewood this week. Most of all am anxious to have Kat in for a visit.
Want to close w/happy kids. This what I mean when I tell all of you to stay healthy, be safe, and keep in touch. Colton and Audrey's (my great grandchildren) first day of school. Hope Becky also gets a pic of Taylor's first day of school---He was also real excited yesterday about his first day of school today.
Love, Mom
Cannot believe the radiance of the Morning Glories. This pic was taken yesterday in the early morning. Worked in the yard most of yesterday in between resting/cooling off inside/blogging---Got everything done on last weeks list and starting a new list.
Keith dropped by on his way home from the gym this AM. Said he had gone by a garage sale, saw this, thought of me and bought it. Now do I believe that?---no scratches, tag still adhered, and in brand new condition. How many "old" ladies and their dogs do you know who would be ecstatic w/a new garden cart or---hum---garage sale garden cart? Mark me down as one plus three... Thanks Keith!!!
on my outer ear this morning. (double click for 
details).
This is my pathetic pup crew in the AM's as I leave for Mass. Aren't they a mess? Know this is just a cover for their covert activities while I am away---bet the minute I leave they are running all over the house raising a ruckus. Should get a pup cam to watch over them.
Have said it over and over---coming to the end of the growing season but some flowers continue to flourish. What a bonus to see the beautiful Morning Glories--also all volunteers. This is as close as I could come to Christmas lights--Don't the trumpets look illuminated?
on the phone w/friend, plan to pick up the house, read, and possibly take a short nap. 
Planning to keep fresh cut flowers on the table all winter---just like these to bring some beauty and life into this house. Can depend on the "boys" for lots of excitement, will get some good books to read, listen to my Ipod/stereo, get out each day for Mass and stay in touch with you. Will look forward to surfing the Internet for garden ideas and and start my plant wish list for next year. Gee---looks like I will stay busy or better---entertained.
Using some older pics (June) today. Thought I would show you some Galardias (AKA Blanket flower) and Cone flowers. These are so drought tolerant but tend to grow lanky and have to be staked up to contain the plant. The cone flower is appropriately named lemons and oranges.
Can you believe there are so many colors of Lantanas in one cluster of blooms? Just marvel each morning how the flowers change. Nothing any nicer to start the day than sipping on a cup of coffee while taking a stroll through the flower garden. Usually take an mental inventory and start my list for the day's events/tasks.
How about the color of this Zinnia? They have really shown their stuff this summer but alas the foliage is beginning to dwindle and look tacky. Went to the outdoor farm market yesterday and saw some great ornamental grasses. Will think about placement and may go again next weekend and get a couple of small plants.
The side fence is just glowing w/Morning Glories (all volunteers). Have them growing on cattle pen wiring. They are such strange plants--such survival in them. They wither in the heat and you suspect they will not make it through the day only to perk up in the evening and especially the next morning. A true work of nature--they are "pulling" in their leaves to preserve moisture so the blossoms can strut their stuff. Now is that neat?!
Stay healthy, be safe, and stay in touch.
More Crepe Myrtle and Snapdragon pics. Will not go on and on about the beauty of the flowers.
It is already in the 90's. Went to Mass this AM, worked at the rectory for awhile, came home, mowed, and went to the lumber yard with one of the carpenters to return some unused siding planks. Plan to begin moving rocks when it gets a bit cooler.
yellow snapdragons.
Sharing: There have been so many Masses offered all over the USA for Pop and Kelli. Thought I would share the upcoming ones.
Off to Mass, volunteer couple hours at the rectory, run errands, then get ready to attend the weekend Midwest Catholic Conference.
Came home yesterday, at noon, to let the "boys" out to do their business--doors/gates shut. Carpenters went to lunch. Spencer decided to make a break through an opened garage door. Buster and Rowdy began raising all kinds of ruckus. I got ready to leave and noticed Spencer was gone. Drove all over our neighborhood, windows down on the car, hollaring his name/whistling, shaking his food container with no results. Called some neighbors to ask them to be on the lookout. Then thought---surely he wouldn't have made it to 37th---got back in the car---headed to 37th and what to my "wandering" eyes should appear but a white ball of fur taking the east route on 37th. Pulled in a nearby driveway got out and in a friendly voice, all the while shaking the food container, called him. He ran to me--but no licking or appearing happy to see me---because he had obviously stopped off at a barbeque on his outing and still had his mouth stuffed full of grilled barbequed meat. Called off the neighborhood search parties, jumped back in the car and made it back in time to help with school enrollment.
The Crepe Myrtle in the back yard is loaded w/buds. Took some "before" pics and will send more after it blooms. Looking forward to the siding job to be completed so I can be out in the yard and begin some projects.
