• Gardens

    Before and After

    Part of my “things to do” during my time off was clean up the backyard.  I have before and after photos of my hard work.  I think this coming winter I will stay on top of the yard better than I did this past year!   🙂 …..and the same area after Empty pots are waiting to be filled with plants sometime real soon!  Next we move to the back right……..before The “bowl of green” is what should be my fountain……I keep telling myself I need to turn it over after I remove the pump each winter.  You would think I would remember because it is such a pain to clean.  Now…

  • Gardens,  Miscellaneous

    A Day Outside

    I had to venture out yesterday and took the opportunity to take a short drive down the Colonial Parkway.  I didn’t run into many blooming dogwoods….there were a few but not at locations where I could get some photos.  I will try again in a couple of days and will hopefully run across many more.  While I had the camera on hand, I took a few photos I wanted to share……. I love odd shaped trees and this one caught my eye…..see how blue our sky was on April 8th!  🙂 When we got home…….I snapped a few outside the house………my dogwood tree a closeup of one of the blooms…… a…

  • Miscellaneous,  Outside My Window

    Outside My Window Today ~ 4.5.09

    Outside My Window…is an amazingly beautiful day right now….a bright blue, sunny sky ~ not a cloud in sight ~ and 61 degrees.  High today is forecasted to be 70 degrees……..yea baby!  But all good things must come to an end…..clouds will come later this evening…..thunderstorms on Monday but still warm and then the mid 50’s on Tuesday!!  Ouch. I am thinking…about all the things I want to get done around my house ~ inside and outside ~ during my time off this next week.  On my list of things to do is to get the flower garden on the side of my house in order.  I’m hoping I get…

  • Craft

    Whew…..success!

    You may be confused by the title, but I was very relieved last night when it came time to take the Lavender Dreams soap I made on Sunday from the mold.  You see, I changed up the soap a bit this time…….previously Lavender Dreams was scented solely with lavender essential oils.  This time, I scented the soap with the same essential oil combination as I do the cream and lotion of the same name.  I’m keeping my earlier version, changing the name to Simply Lavender.  But I decided to keep the goat’s milk in this new version because I love the creaminess the milk gives to the lather.  The trick when making…

  • Gardens,  Miscellaneous

    The Great Sunflower Project

    Here is a great way to get some free sunflowers for your garden with very little effort.  The Great Sunflower Project will send you a packet of Lemon Queen sunflower seeds if you sign up to volunteer.  The nice thing about these sunflowers, they can also grow in a pot on your deck or patio so one doesn’t need a large garden to plant them.  In exchange for the flower seeds, they are asking volunteers to collect some data on the number of bees that visit your flowers….. Twice per month, we will send you an email giving you the preferred sampling weekend. If you can’t watch your sunflower on one…

  • Outside My Window

    Outside My Window Today ~ 3.29.09

    Outside My Window…  very cloudy and windy ~ it looks as if the rains will come any second now.  Thunderstorms and wind are forecasted for today.  It has rained off and on since Thursday evening.  Temps are 66 at 10:00 a.m……..perfect day to be outside getting my garden ready…..too bad it looks as if the sky is going to fall any second!  🙂 I am thinking…what an interesting week it has been in the Watts household.  Alanna (my oldest) got her learners permit on Monday.  Funny how much time your children suddenly want to spend with you after they get that permit isn’t it?  I have been letting her drive…

  • Green Living,  Miscellaneous

    She Needs You……..

    She needs you………cast your vote for Mother Earth on Saturday, March 28th, at 8:30 p.m.! For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. For more information……visit Earth Hour.

  • Family

    Learning to Drive

    The day has finally come……..my oldest daughter received her Learner’s Permit on Monday and is ready to drive anywhere.  I thought I had experienced real fear before ~ I realized Monday morning leaving the DMV that I had not!  Not that she did that bad mind you, she actually did pretty good.  My fear comes from within the depths of myself….something I’m sure all parents with a new teenaged driver experiences.  You want them to learn…. they need to learn…. so you find yourself sitting on your hands to keep from grabbing the wheel most of the time.  And who knew your car could take a turn that fast.  Your…

  • Miscellaneous,  Outside My Window

    Outside My Window Today ~ 3.22.09

    Outside My Window…Sunny and cool…..not a cloud in the sky!  But looks can be deceiving….it is still not quite warm enough to bring folks out for gardening and car washing.  I need to be doing both but not when it is only 45 degrees outside!    I am thinking…about all the chores I need to be doing.  Laundry, cleaning, soap making……work, work, work when all I want to do is relax, relax, relax.  Unfortunately when I’m done here I will need to get myself moving but for now……relaxation!  🙂 I am thankful for…the remote computer access from work and a job that allows me to work from home whenever I want…

  • Miscellaneous

    Welcome Spring ~

    Today, March 20th,  marks the Vernal Equinox…….one of the two days each year between the 19th and the 21st when the night and daylight hours are virtually equal.  The other happens in September.  This is a time of rebirth and celebration as the earth awakens from her winter slumber, flowers and trees bloom and the temperatures begin to warm the ground and our bodies. A beautiful day in my neighborhood………hope yours is too!