Gardening pictures

It's been such a weird, chilly spring.  My tiny garden has been in the ground for weeks and weeks, but is just now starting to shine.   Everything from seed this year.  There is a soaker hose under the plastic if you're wondering......

Just squash, cucumbers, sweet peppers and tomatoes.

I got seeds for several heirloom varieties.  Hope they turn out yummy!  Several of the hybrids I've gotten over the years were a little disappointing.

Thought I'd throw in a photo of the amaryllis in full bloom.  So pretty, but short-lived.  This is one of the bulbs from Grandma.  Looks like the ones that my buddy Wayne gave me may be sending up a shoot soon too!  I'll keep ya posted! 

Nice long weekend at the boat

We took a relaxing long weekend at the boat.  No agenda - just a few meals out and a little sailing!  Beautiful flight down to New Bern - about 25 knot tailwind, gotta love that!!

View from the porch at River Dunes, our "go to" destination for a day-sail.

On the sail over - chilly - brrr - for a late May day!!

Great sailing, though - we tacked many, many times - never turned the engine on so the sail up to River Dunes was about 4 hours. 

Here is a little video so you can get a feel for the sailing!

Pretty sunset

I stuck my head out of the boat after a nice nap...thought it was very pretty!

More birthday

Duane and I went to the Apple store today!  He got me a neat little iPad mini!  I love it so far, it will replace my little iTouch .... So, I've wandered around and snapped some photos with it.  

I'm sure I'll get better at this with time! Some of my "stolen" ivy from Bill and Kay.

Pretty irises

More birthday gifts from Lonnie and Tom/Janet

And my amaryllis from both Grandma and The flower pot with new amaryllis from my buddy Wayne ! I think I'm going to like my little gadget!

Happy Half-Century Birthday to Me!!!

I have had a most wonderful May week!! The party this past weekend, Mother's Day visit, "date night" on Wednesday for our 31st anniversary, and a relaxing day today for my birthday. Lunch out with Duane was a nice bonus today! I thought I'd share the gifties I got from all my wonerful "peeps"..... They certainly know me well.....there were exactly 2 bottles on this wine rack Saturday morning before the party....

Mom asked for the video of the "Red, Red, Wine" song.....here is a short clip  - the words they are singing were written by Pat  - "Get's better all the time, She's lookin' mighty fine....and all these words rhyme....with red, red wine!!"

 Red Red Wine Song for Karen



 I guess I should preface this by warning you that I got the "sailing trip" haircut yesterday.....we're less than 3 weeks from our BVI trip this year, so I had to make sure I had that "care-free" haircut....


 Here are just a few of the presents I'll model for/show you!

Jewelry from Keith and Denise...AND lovely scarf from sis, Teresa....amazing that they know EXACTLY the right colors!!!  There is a lovely top that matches this also....Lindy has it for a minor alteration at the shoulders!! 

Preface the gift from Sharon and Buddy - I've been carrying this worn-out bag on our various trips for years.....notice the straps that are frayed and have been tied in several knots..... hole in the bottom....

Here is the lovely replacement....it will be very useful on the dinghy in BVI in a couple of weeks!!!

Mom's gift - she makes a photo album for each of her kids when they turn 50 - really neat - some of the photos I hadn't seen in 20 years.....good memories!

A sweet flower basket from Duane's sisters and  Granny!

Lovely scarf and silver earrings from Miranda and Richard....

And a fabulous "care package" from my sweet sis in West Virginia!   The tea is a neat jasmine tea like I got her when I was in China.  It comes in the little brown balls you see to the right.

Here is the tea all "bloomed" - it was yummy and peachy!!  I'll treasure my cup forever!!!  I am a lucky girl!!!

Graduation / Birthday Party!

Lot's of photos from the graduation/birthday party this past weekend....some are from Mom's camera - but I'll just post a few of them here for your enjoyment!!  I think I'll just let you scroll thru - they're pretty self-explanatory!

And lastly - a short clip of Robert, Rachel and Adam strumming some music....sorry, my video is not the greatest....

Music video

NC State Cake!

I wanted to make a cake especially for Robert for the party Saturday.....and I knew I wouldn't be able to draw a decent "Wolfpack" emblem.....so I opted for the generic NC State initials..... Searched Google for a good clean emblem -

Then traced it onto buttercream frosting with the tip of a pencil.

Then just traced over the indentions with colored icing.

Not perfect, but you can still read it. Happy Graduation, Robert!!

Proud Mama shares Robert's final NC State trumpet preformances

I can't help it, proud mama's like to share!!!  ...here are some of the last 2 concerts we attended on the past two Sundays...one is with his brass quintet and the others are during his senior recital.

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody arranged by a member of the group!

Theme to the Simpsons, also arranged by the talented band member!

During his senior recital -

My Bad...

Kinda hard to see, but this is a note a nice person left under my windshield wiper at the neighborhood Lowe's....

Now, I will admit, I probably wasn't completely in my space.  The pickup is larger than my little car, and I don't drive it much.  But, I was just running in to pick up one thing and I admit I wasn't paying too much attention.  It is a BIG parking lot.  I was one of about 20 cars total in a parking lot that holds maybe 300 cars.  I was only in the store maybe 5 minutes.

Here's a closer view so you can read it.  Who would go to the trouble to do this?  Sorry, Dude that you had to walk 3 extra steps to the first truly available parking spot and that you had to waste your McDonald's napkin to let me know how nicely I park!