Easter

My mom and the cousins joined us for Easter dinner today. We had the traditional ham with scalloped potatoes, cornbread salad, deviled eggs, coconut cake, and chocolate pie. Most of the photos I took today were of the new dog. Sorry Eddie.

I couldn't locate my Easter wreaths for the front door (because our garage is so messy) so I just created a little welcoming Easter vignette.

The new foster, Loni, in an Easter dress (it was my sweet Daisey's).

Diamond also wearing one of Daisey's old Easter dresses but she was unhappy because not only did  bath them today, but I put the hat on her head too.

Ham ready to go into the oven.

Loni enjoying Easter dinner (the dresses were only on long enough for a photo)

Loni, well fed and groomed, hunkering down for the night.

Easter Sunday

Daisey was the chosen one today and got to go wtih us to my mom's house for dinner. For the observant folks, yes that is a Valentine's dress. I was in Arkansas for Valentine's day so she never wore it :) The bad news, for Daisey, was that a trip to granny's involved a bath first.

The Easter dinner table. We had turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, white beans, corn, cucumber salad, biscuits, cornbread, and peach cobbler.

My plate. Notice there are no sweet potatoes. I don't eat orange foods. Wierd, I know.

A collection of scraps left over from everyone's plates.

Daisey eating her Easter scrap dinner. We brought some turkey home so the boys got a bite too. They are all passed out for the evening, LOL.

Sarah wanted to walk Daisey so I taught her the proper way to hold a leash. She thoughrt Daisey was strong.

Photo of my mom and my cousin Lea. The photo of MIL Marge and cousin Erica came out too blurry to use. Jerry was unhappy with me taking a photo of him in the recliner so I didn't post it. His eyes were all red from the excessive oak tree pollen - lots of people are a mess.

Easter Dinner

We had dinner at my mom's this aftenroon. She fixed a ham, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, green beans, salad, deviled eggs, biscuits, corn bread, and apple pie. Yummy.

Can you read the saying on the mug? (That's me, by the way)

Happy Easter

Scrambled Eggs

These plastic Easter eggs start out under the flamingo but end up scattered due to sources yet unknown ;)

"Someone" Is Messing With My Eggs

Someone or something has moved my flamingo's Easter eggs around. Doubtful it is human playing tricks on me because they have only been moved a foot or so. Don't think the wind because we've had many windy days lately and only today were they were repositioned. I'm thinking SQUIRREL!

I recently read someone else's blog where a dead tree came down and inside were squirrel babies all bedded down in fake snow that the adults had stolen from this bloggers Christmas decorations, LOL. So far none of the eggs are missing and I'm not sure what a squirrel would do with them anyway. Perhaps a cowbird will come lay her eggs under the flamingo :)

It's a mystery!

Way Back Wednesday & Easter Baskets

I assembled some little easter baskets to give to my coworkers tomorrow. I'm looking forward to Jerry's cousin Maureen and her guy friend who will be coming to visit next week. She's made an annual trip here during Easter break every year and she's funny & lots of fun.

Marty, my best friend from 9th - 11th grade,in Jonesboro, AR, scanned two old photos of us recently. The first is my 11th grade photo. I made that satin shirt I'm wearing ;) The second one must have been 9th or 10th grade because I cut my hair at the beginning of 11th grade. I'm the one on the right with the red hair. Notice we are wearing saddle shoes?!?!?!

Green Thumb Sunday

This was my Sunday surprise today. I've been really good at staying off my foot all morning and rewarded myself 5 minutes of digicamera in the garden. I heard a bang agaisnt the screen porch door as I came around the corner and was greeted by a Black Racer. Scared the heck outta me! I think I screamed and then Eddie took off after it. Luckily he didn't catch it. I wasn't quick enough to photo it so I borrowed the photo from: oops, I lost the link.

The most colorful hybiscus in my yard. It is a real survivor. conan chopped it down once, a frost got it a couple years ago, and jerry broke/damaged it pulling out a rouge vine. It may be a weak shrub but the flowers are gorgeous.

My staghorn ferm. I am thinking if we remove the propane tank, which we do not use because we don't heat our pool, then I may cosolidate all my ferns creating a fern garden! When I bought this one a couple years ago it only had two leaves - or was that last year?? I purchased the most unusual items from this lady who lives near my friend Christina. She has an awsome yard and sells plants she has propegated. Her sale was probably yesterday because it usually coincides with Green Thumb Festival :(

My Christmas cactus which is actually an Easter cactus but blooms more like a Mother's Day cactus. Let's just call it a holiday cactus and be done with it!

This plant was delivered to my Dad's house when my step mother died. You just wouldn't believe how many plants were delivered to the house on top of everthing at the funera home. No kidding, there were probably 50 plants. Most were what one would think of as houseplants but in my climate they are lkiving outside. Dad is still keeping a dozen or so alive. Since we drove to Arkansas we were able to bring a few back and I created a Bessie garden. A cold night took out a couple of them and I moved the bromeliad to my new bromeliad border but I still have two "Bessie" plants in a corner by the pool - it's a reflective area of my garden.

Easter Sunday

Today we took MIL Marge to the Colonnade restaurant in Tampa for Easter dinner. This is probably Marge's favorite restaurant and I am all for it because it is primarily a seafood restaurant so there are lots of things on the menu I like. Plus, we all like the basket of mini muffins they put on each table:) Mom decided to stay home and rest this weekend because she will be working Mon - Sat next week. I am attaching photos of the inside and outside of the restaurant from their web site as well as a photo along Bayshore Blvd

We started with crab cakes as an appatizer. Their menu today had many additional items due to it being Easter. Which reminds me, we were expecting to wait but our timing was perfect. The first rush was ending and the second hadn't started yet. We even got a good parking space. Jerry & Marge ordered the leg of lamb dinner and I had scallops. The view is fabulous! Even leaving the restaurant it is gorgeous because of all the beautiful homes on Bayshore Blvd. In fact, HGTV has featured homes from that neighborhood on different shows. It's fabulous ata Christmas time.

Chloe seems to be improving. Ed is very playful like he has spring fever which is probably due to the awakening of hundreds of lizards. Daisey is my sun goddess and will actually leave her pack just to sunbathe on perfect days like this. I am getting blood all over the keyboard as I type because Edward broke a candle holder and I cut myself cleaning it up. Jerry and I were trying to work on a project to install more hooks and PVC coated chain for hanging orchids in the screen porch. Some of the old hooks from 4 years ago have rusted and broke off causing orchids to crash - I already have Eddie for that! Turns out the Makita had no charge so I have a little break while it charges.

Commencement

Guess who's going to attend a graduation ceremony?!? UOP is going to hold a commencement ceremony in Tampa about a month after I complete my coursework. I'm told they hold regional ceremonies and as luck would have it, Tampa is one of the venues. Not only am I going, but my Dad is gonna come too! The plan is for him to spend a week with us and a week with Aunt Flossie in Arcadia - she'll be 91 next month. Since it is an early morning ceremony and we want to go out to lunch after and maybe have a glass of champaign, plans are to rent a limo since Mom, Dad, Margie, hubby, me & Cousin Erica will be attending. There's probably room for another person or two if anyone is interested ;) I ordered my cap & gown this week and have attached a photo of it.

My friend C has a date tonight! You go girl. It's been a dating desert for almost a year and now she has several interested parties. I guess when it rains it pours. He's cooking for her so it will e interesting to see how it goes.

Watching the movie Disturbia as I type. If you haven't seen it, it's worth it. Interesting concept and well made in my opinion.

Chloe the evil chihuahua is having episodes again. Not sure what is going on but it appears neurological to me. Walking backyard, wild stare. She's had this sort of thing before and no clear indication as to what it is. She's old so I think I will leave her alone unless she appears to be in pain.

I gotta get a wreath on the door or I will ruin my reputation as the wreath lady. Thinking its a little late for my St Patty's so I'll just go straight to the Easter wreaths. Oh! Jerry's cousin Maureen is coming during spring break. She's staying with Marge. Am looking forward to her visit. She's fun.

V