Garden Helpurrrs

Bartholomew and Jemima have been a part of our family for a dozen years. We like to say that "Maine Coons are helpurrrs" since they are always around when we do any projects around the house. These two lend a paw, no matter what we are working on.

After a thorough inspection, we were granted the go-ahead for planting their favorite herb, Nepeta Cataria, a.k.a. catnip. These two have stringent QC standards!

B&J were especially interested in helping with the garden, since there was catnip being planted just for their consumption.

Jemima is requesting a tossed "salad" of her favorite greens -- hold the dressing.

Welcome, Spring!

Our front door has sprung into Magnolia Mode. (I'm not really sure what that means, I just made it up.) Magnolia blossoms are a favorite of mine -- they smell sooo yummy; however, the blossoms on this wreath are not fragrant. They are silk. ;-) After a trip to Hobby Lobby, Millie Girl and I created this spring wreath for the door. I think it turned out pretty doggone good. Best of all, it cost a fraction of a similar looking wreath that I had seen at Pottery Barn. As a bonus, I managed to craft this without getting any hot glue gun burns! 

I may be able to make a wreath out of fake flowers and leaves, but I'll leave the job of creating natural beauty up to God. He has obviously been busy, just in our yard. Both the backyard and the front are awake and full of color.

 Texas Red Bud blossoms

Violets -- These were planted a few years ago, in memory of my mother. Violets were one of her favorites. I planted one very small plant, but it has spread like crazy. I, too, love these sweet, little harbingers of spring! 

 Ajuga

Texas Mountain Laurel smells like grape Kool-Aid, only wayyy better!

We HAD to have lilacs in our garden to pay tribute to our son's hometown of Spokane, WA, where the word lilac is not pronounced lahy-lack but it sounds more like lahy-lock. They smell WONDERFUL, no matter how you say it!

 Trumpet Vine

Indian Hawthorne -- Although this is not an exciting shrub, at least it is pretty this time of year.

 "Hot Lips" Salvia -- lots of lip with no back talk!

 Vinca Major

A Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plum and a Coral Bark Japanese Maple team up nicely.

While Mr. Smith pruned, I played. I mean, created.

Spent Crepe Myrtle Seed pods make a kinda scary looking bouquet!

We got a new rain gauge that adds some yard art with a purpose. The design of this contraption is credited to Thomas Jefferson. It is pretty accurate! And, believe you me, we have had plenty of rain to test it out. I'll bet Tom had one of these at Monticello.

Even the pots on the patio are full of color.

 Coral Bells and Ajuga -- I love the contrast of colors!

 Daisies

 Last, but not least, volunteer Hollyhocks came up in the garden.

We have more plants and shrubs waiting to burst forth in living color, and there are already a few too many weeds making an appearance. We will definitely take the bad with the good, and keep the gardening gloves AND the Roundup at the ready. No complaints.

It's About Time -- For a Birthday

Although the Birthday Boy is firmly entrenched in his mid-50s, he is still a kid at heart. 

It could have been coincidence, but I am sure that it was just meant to be that Mr. Smith's b-day fell on a Friday, which is typically pizza night at our house. 'Za happens to be the b-day celebrant's favorite food -- especially when paired with a really good brew. Since it was pizza night, it only seemed fitting to have pizza for dessert.

The old guy got some really great gifts, but the timeliest of all was the gift of time. I had to search and search to find a clock repairman who would take on the task of getting this old clock ticking again. Yes, it has taken a licking...

This "kitchen or parlor" clock is from the late 1800s, and is in great shape now that it has been cleaned up and tuned up. It was a gift to my mother-in-law back in 1950. We like to say that Papa Smith, who was a barber, acquired it "horse trading" or as barter payment for a shave and a haircut -- or other goods/services. I'm certain there is a really good story behind the acquisition of this clock. 

A worn out label on the back of the clock says that it is a New Haven Clock Company, 8-Day Dandy Line Striking Clock. Wow -- what a mouthful! When Mr. Smith was growing up, this timepiece counted the minutes and hours from atop the fireplace mantle. We have it on the buffet in our dining room. It has a comforting tick-tock, and according to the teenager who sleeps near the dining room, the chimes are annoying -- especially in the wee hours of the morning! They sound melodious to me.

The b-day boy was certainly pleased to get this gift of time, and I think he also had a good time turning older; however, in spite of being given a timely gift, he still doesn't have quite enough time on his hands.

Spring?!! Break

Snow began falling mid-morning on February 27. By noon, the area schools opted for early dismissal. 

 These two look really upset about having to miss their afternoon classes. Not!

We had a Thompson family wedding in Waco to attend, and Liesey's flight from LAX was due in at midnight. This storm was really not very considerate of our travel schedule.

This was the first snowfall of significant accumulation, so I had to go around the yard capturing the winter beauty. This will likely be the last dusting of the season.

A few days later, we got hit again with a little less ice and more snow.

 I like how this picture of the front walkway turned out.

 Icicles of all colors

 As quickly as it came, it all melted.

What a week for "Malibu Lou" to be home on spring break from her classes at Pepperdine. There were two days where we simply could not leave the house. We found plenty of other things to do -- like reading and napping!

Millie and Morgan's respective spring breaks started when Liesey's ended. 

I had to get a picture of my three Smithlings together before the youngest one took off for a week in Branson, Missouri.

Love these three!!!

 This pic pretty much sums up their personalities. Yup.

I think they are saying:
"I am the oldest; I make the rules.
I'm in the middle; I'm the reason we had rules.
I'm the youngest. The rules don't apply to me."

Ha! Ha! Ha!

I saved a Snap Chat from Day One of the Branson-bound road trippers. While they headed east, the middle child got ready to head back west. The oldest one stayed put in the Metroplex for his break. (He worked over his break!)

Our kids may all be going different directions, but they are enjoying the journey. And we are enjoying seeing what's in store for each of them.

Dancing and Flying High

When the school year started, our dancer girl auditioned for a dance company at Pepperdine, Dance in Flight. 

"DIF" has been in existence for 22 years. Apparently, it is one of the largest, most beloved, and well-attended events at Pepperdine. :-) The performance spotlights Pepperdine students, of all majors and backgrounds, performing a variety of dance principles from jazz, hip hop, tap, ballet, modern, theatrical, ballroom and world dance.

I suppose that all of those years hanging out at the barre paid off. After two long days of auditions, Liesey made the cut from 90 to 30 dancers. She then spent September through January dancing and rehearsing. 

This photo was taken during one of the rehearsals.  Love those smiles; one more than the others.

The cover of the school paper was graced with DIF dancers. My favorite is next to the "C" in Graphic.

Obviously, they are having a ball.

On the cover of the program, the letter "D" is brought to you by my daughter.
(I just realized that where DIF is concerned, Liesey is all about the Cs and Ds -- good thing her academic grades are nowhere near these letters!) :-P

The stage is all set. The artwork is ready to come to life. Let the dancing begin.

The DIF performances were held the weekend of Valentine's Day, and I would have LOVED to have been there. Thankfully, my seester arranged to be in Malibu for one of the shows. What a good auntie!

When the auditions roll around this fall, I know of a dancer who plans to be there for tryouts. If our ballerina girl makes it "in" again, I will be booking my flight for Dance in Flight plenty early.

Feeling the Love

Valentine's Day looked pretty lovely at our house. 

I always try to do seasonal chalkboard art. This one was simple, but the message is sweet... Awwww.

My sweet neighbor girlie has a "Cookie of the Month" club, so I had to buy February's extra-special, extra-soft, heart-shaped, extra-sugary, sugar cookies. Never mind the gluten and all that sugar. That girl can bake! And with free, home delivery, I couldn't let this deal pass by.

Jemima is posing with our collection of decorative Valentine's Day boxes. These relics are from homeschool parties from a realllly long time ago -- back when we used to have contests for the best decorated box. I'm sure there's at least one winner in the mix. I just didn't have the heart to toss them in the trash. I'm a sentimental fool... I wish that I would have kept some of the V-day boxes that my mother made for me when I was in elementary school. There were some classic ones. I was always very proud to "show off" her creativity.

Bart has his own V-day box and a purrty pink ribbon 'round his neck. As you can imagine, this was not his idea.

I cannot believe that a pair of Bart and Jemima's Instagram kitty friends sent them a card and cat toys for the special day. Riley and Eli are two classy cats from Atlanta. 

My husband and I did not exchange v-day cards, but my cats are receiving messages of love (and gifts) from their friends. Wow. Is this a crazy world, or what?!

Our youngest went shopping to get her baseball playing beau a bear. Meet Bearron the Bear. Kinda catchy... considering B's last name is Barron. And he's a catcher; B's a catcher, that is, not the bear! And B's got quite a catch when it comes to girlfriends, in my humble and oh, so honest opinion. :-) 

Platitudinous V-Day PUNishment

There's just something about vintage Valentine's Day cards from the 1950s-60s that I enjoy. It must be my love of the pun that makes these classic cards so near and dear to my heart. I don't care if these are hackneyed old sayings that are "so old they've got whiskers," there is an innocence that goes along with the much simpler time period in which these types of cards were produced. 

Cupid can draw back his bow and shoot puns at me any time. Here are a few of my favs.

 Out of the frying pan and into the fire?

These two are sunny side up?

They have egg on their face?

I'm cracking up at these bad yolks...Not really.

 Food puns are always in good taste.

Cats and puns make fur a good pairing.

Is this one is a bit edgy? Hmmm... 

I think it was a much more wholesome era when this card would have been sold. Call me naïve, I'm going with the "age of innocence" thing here. This kind of card certainly would not be sold to elementary aged children today. I'm sure some people would be "fit to be tied" over this kind of message. 

I could see myself giving out this kind of card. It's a-maize-ing.

And if everything went accordion to plan, this would be the card for my beloved to give to me. I'll end it here, before we hit a sour note.