Birthday Bounty

Another Birthday! I can't believe that I have become so ancient! AARP is the first to send a birthday greeting, followed by the insurance company. If they would just stop reminding me that I'm old, I can fool myself just by taking my glasses off when I look into the mirror. I look so young, without a wrinkle! That's the only good thing about Presbyopia. But, I am glad I've made it to age 66. Many others through the ages have not been so lucky. I just have a hard time watching my skin crinkle, hang and dangle. Oh well, good thing I only have two regrets at this stage of my life. They are not having a higher formal education, and always worrying about something. I believe it's called Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These thoughts all but disappear when I see my birthday table though!

My grand daughter baked a ginger/pear cake for my birthday-delicious -and the chocolate cake allowed for good thoughts only!

One of my gifts was a gated arbor that will go perfectly at the entrance of my secret garden. I can't put the planters on each side because the side yard is very narrow. No matter. This will enhance my idea of a miniature secret garden! We built Turr Tull's new house there and someday I will finish painting the block wall. I think I have been cheated on square footage on my lot--I have the smallest in of the lake lot houses on my side of the lake. Maybe they did that because I do have the best view of the lake and mountains.

My favorite gift was a hand painted flower pot filled with decorated hands. My granddaughter had everyone in the family trace their hand and then decorate it in whatever way they chose. This Easter the family was all together, including my two out-of-town brothers, and my grandson home on leave, so this is extra special gift!

Ryder has two bottom teeth now and he makes such funny faces! I hope this puts a smile on your face like it does mine!

In Search Of Flowers

Spring break, and enough time to repair our old truck. Hubby replaced the plugs, wires, cap and rotor and voila--runs like a champ . After record rainfall this spring we were hoping for lots and lots of wildflowers! The mountains are a beautiful green, the temperature in the 70's, and we can't wait to drive the back roads again!

A few miles out we came across this patch of flowers. Unfortunately, we couldn't get any closer.
We were heading west to the Saddleback Mountain.

I came across this lone poppy, and next to it hidden between two rocks this beautiful little Mammillaria engelmannii. I found the quarter earlier on my hike.

The poppies were sparse and there's not much chance of more blooming. The record amount of rain didn't start until January--about a month late for the seeds to get a good start.

I feel like this decrepit old cactus--and I'm beginning to look like it as well! This is what happens when you don't get enough sleep!! If you look again, you may see a cowboy riding his horse backward--see the tail raised high is a prancing pose?

This is the next step up from decrepidness when you add stress to the mix!
I am trying to be a better blogger and post more, but the lure of Farmville on Facebook has a hold on me. It's worse than drugs! I have five farms that I farm and I truly love them. I hope that soon it will lose its appeal. I wonder if I need an intervention.

Great Gifts--26 Years Apart

My sister gave me my most favorite gift for Christmas this year. It is a hardcover book of all my blog pages!





It captured all entries I've done, including all the photos, up to Thanksgiving day. I couldn't believe I had written more than 200 posts, and it was enough to make into a book!

My next favorite gift was....




On Christmas Eve in 1983, I received the latest in communication technology--a "small" Bell Atlantic Special Edition cell phone. It was the last gift I opened, and right when my husband handed me the gift bag, it started ringing! Although the range was limited, having a cell phone was still very unusual, so I felt really cool to be one of the first to get one. I still have the phone and I'm told it might be worth a couple hundred bucks. I would like to use it again in public just to see what response I would get! (That guy on the commercial for FreeCreditReport.com uses one like it after he goes broke because of ID theft, so maybe I could pass myself off as a D-list celebrity!)

We've come a long way, baby!

Huge! In five years, we will think today's cell phones are huge.

Thanksgiving Greetings

~~~~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~~~~

Sis and I spotted this prickly pear species at the recent community yard sale. It wasn't for sale but we asked for a cutting and paid 50 cents each. I planted it next to my Santa Rita and Teddy Bear cactus. I like the varied greens together.





My daughter's fig tree is loaded once again. She has about three a day that are ripe enough to eat. I have at least one of those a day, sometimes I'm lucky and get two!

~ In bloom ~

Geranium

Hibiscus

MMMMMMMM, my Kale is going into my weekly soup. I pick a few leaves each day! I love gardening, my flowers, and Thanksgiving ! I am thankful for my shower of many blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Disappearing Cotton Field of Home and Other Stuff...

One of the last fields of cotton in our area is ready to be picked. Our cotton crops have dwindled in Arizona over the past few decades. We used to be known by the Three Cs--Cotton, Copper, and Citrus. Sadly, those days are gone. Of course, we still have all three, but they are no longer the major deals they used to be. Texas grows the most cotton in the USA, with China being the largest grower in the world and USA is the third. We have 18,600 cotton farms in the USA.

We drove "the back way " to Prescott yesterday. I was hoping to see some changing of the leaves, but we were a week late for the area. The wind was the true culprit, not the climate. It's not a pretty time of the year for the desert this year with so little rain. Everything looks dried up and dead. After seeing such a barrenness, I wondered why we decided to go after all. But, I needed something new to post about as my blog entries have been suffering as of late. Seems everything I post is just repeats! Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I live a boring life. Not complaining, I'm just sayin'...so, this frivolous information is mostly to let fellow bloggers know that I am alive and well...and happy!!!

Heavenly bamboo is turning a heavenly shade of red. I have planted a few of these over the years--they only last one season in my garden. This photo was taken in the Prescott area.

My friend couldn't remember the flower name (noteworthy info--she is only 42!) Which makes me wonder, maybe my forgetfulness is not due to age after all! But then, I hear the voice of my sister saying "You just don't pay attention--face facts--you just want attention--stop whining--do crosswords--write it down--keep you mind busy--etc, etc. So, keeping my mind is another reason to keep on blogging!

I think I might know the culprit that's eating my radishes! A lizard? Hubby saw one running along the wall and it makes sense in my mind! I decided to leave them growing just to find out! (My sis told me two weeks ago it was probably a lizard and I dismissed her. Boy, I'll hear about that now!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS ---- MERRY CHRISTMAS

Happy Birthday America

Happy Birthday America!! We had early fireworks at the lake tonight. A few other places in the area also had fireworks. We had the best seat in the house- our upper deck! I haven't been up on the deck for about 6 months. I couldn't see to set my camera in the dark , so this is what I captured. I think they are pretty neat! Click on any of the photos and see the details. Even though they are out of focus, they make for an interesting look.

Mother's Day Adjectives and Adverbs

This is my Mother's Day hydrangea plant. Wish we could grow hydrangea here--they are so gorgeous.

My son-in-law crafted this unique art piece as my Mother's Day gift. Every morning he treks into the desert to take his five dogs for a run and while they dig and play he takes photos and finds unique stones. He is an avid rock collector and recently he started crafting these mosaic pieces. The carefully selected stones are arranged on a piece of 18" x 18" tile, and then grouted. The stem is made of cactus skeleton. I love it!

I am blessed with two flawlessly beautiful daughters and wonderful sons-in-law, a fabulous son and his remarkable wife, and five perfectly incredible grandchildren! These are all the adjectives and adverbs that I can think of to describe my family. I had another glorious mother day!

EASTER

I miss the old hymns that we sang on Easter morning, such as, HE Arose and Jerusalem. I don't like the contemporary church music of today. YES I am old!!!!!!!!
Today the family will eat a late lunch at my youngest daughter's home. For the first time we will not have the annual egg hunt. All the grandchildren are beyond it. YES I am old!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

This frame popped up on my new camera .Took the one photo and it disappeared. Still can't find it. Another strange day?????