BLOOMS IN DECEMBER!

Here it is 75 degrees in north central Texas on December 21st and our front flower beds are full of blooms.  Mother Nature must be so confused.

We have blooms and buds on the Souvenir de la Malmaison rosebush located next to the front porch.  This particular bloom is about five gorgeous inches across and so fragrant.  The mailman gets a whiff of roses each day they are in bloom.

Hopefully the dozens of rosebuds on these two bushes have an opportunity to open as well before a freeze destroys them.

The tiny little Oxalis with its pinkish-purplish flowers are very showy.

Also, there is a wonderful Lantana with light purple flowers and dark purple leaves that is enjoying the sunlight it usually doesn’t get in the spring and summer because of the big tree shading it.  There are no more tree leaves to infringe on its beloved sunshine.

How I wish it could be like this year round.

It’s also December 21st and my Christmas quilt is not quilted yet.  Things intervened (that’s a nicer way of saying “sh_t happened.”)  I am still working on a Christmas gift for my Mom that simply must be done by the 24th.  I’m only half-way through sewing hundreds of little cloth patches onto a sweatshirt that is on it’s way to becoming a jacket.  I’ll post a photo when it’s complete, hopefully before Christmas eve. 

Then there are packages to wrap, pecan pies to cook, headaches to tolerate.  You all know what I’m talking about. 

In the meantime, let me share a wonderful Christmas image with you just as a reminder it indeed is NOT Indian summer but Christmas time.

                                      Image Courtesy of graphicsfairy.com

Hospitals Are a Drag Unless You Find a Friend

Last week, my faulty gastrointestinal system decided to revolt with a small bowel obstruction causing a visit to the ER and subsequent stay for four and one-half days. No food, no water for four of those days mind you. Just the old IV bag. Fortunately, the kink finally worked out and all is well. However, I'm not writing this to go on and on about my illness. The moral of this story is that one can meet quilters absolutely anywhere.

My husband brought me a couple of quilting catalogues that were laid on my bedside tray table. Marilyn W., the RN assigned to me, saw them and asked if I was a quilter. One thing led to another and we found that she was a quilter as well! We talked sewing, embroidery (her favorite), quilting, long-arms, etc. for hours during my stay. It made the misery much less miserable and I made a new friend.

In my absence that week, the flower beds and pots did not get watered so my old wash tub planter with lipstick salvia, Texas blue bells, and other small plants bit the dust. Of course, the Dusty Miller and variegated ground cover around it survived just fine. Oh well -- I must find more salvia to replant. I think Mom has some she will share!