Thinking about Memorial Day (T)

Memorial Day is coming up quickly.  My mind has been on the outdoors and not inside so I pulled out a couple of tablescape posts from the past for Memorial Day.  

2014

In 2014 I chose these restaurant style dishes for a patriotic and picnic like look.

This is the link to the original post "here"

I assembled the floral arrangement from things in my garden.

2015

In 2015 I used the same dishes and created a buffet styled tablescape.

This is the original link to this post "here"

I noticed a common vein as I went through my posts since 2010 around Memorial Day.  I am always busier outside than in!

Next week I will have a new Memorial Day tablescaped pulled together.

Memorial Day is Monday May 30th this year.

I am joining the following blog parties:

Tablescape Thursday

Annually I plant Annuals

I have been itching to plant my annuals but have held off because of the weather forecasts that have included numerous frosts over the past few weeks.  Sunday morning we woke to find a light coating of snow!  I could've blurted a whole bunch of expletives but I knew it wouldn't last so I kept my tongue! By mid day it was gorgeous.

The sun came out and all the snow melted away.  Enough of all that nonsense!

I dug out my cedar trellis that's been in storage for too long.  I picked up a clematis that I hope will grow on it nicely.  It's a perfect spot according to the information I read on it.  They like their roots kept cool and the plant loves to be in the sun.   I also planted some sweet pea seeds figuring this year the clematis won't amount to much.  

See the tulip up front?  Well yesterday it had a flower but today it did not!!  I'm curious what bit it off.  I had Dan put the trail-cam back up to see who's visiting the yard.

Last year I picked up two hanging baskets from this small greenhouse called Petal Pushers that I love visiting.  There are 6 small greenhouses here.  Some for sun, some for shade, some for vegetables, and herbs.  I love these small family owned places and can't say enough about buying local.  The owner and her husband have headed out to the other greenhouse to get my two hanging baskets that I had them re-plant for me.  I chose to have them plant them so they could get a head start in their greenhouse and she only charged me for the plants since I bought the planters from them last year.  Can't beat that deal!

How cute is this- a metal mannequin stand with a pot of petunias!  I went on line to see if I could find these but they all hit around $90 to $130.  I never thought to see what she was asking for it.

Fun planters and hanging baskets.

Various begonias.

This is Datura, Angel's Trumpet.  I have never grown this but it looks so interesting. 

I took a few shots while waiting for them to come back.  These begonias are so pretty.

Here they come!

I went with deep red, yellow and white this year.  Can't wait to see these grow!

Because of their cone shape we have to support them with a bucket.  I'm going to wait a little longer before trusting them to be hung up.  Both hanging baskets have the same color theme, same geraniums but the yellow and white flowers are a tad different because on will get more sun than the other.

These are from last year.  I bought them because the planters matched but the plants weren't identical.  They both had a large variety of plants but this year I decided to keep it a bit simpler and generally they'll look matched.

We wheel this cart in and out of the garage daily as I wait to start planting.  It should be in the upper 60's by this weekend.  I'm definitely planting these by then!

I hope your weather is great and that you are enjoying planting things!

Some Buffalo but no Mulch!

The weekend didn't go as I had thought- but we made the best of it.

There are two buffalo farms near us with and this group is located close to the highway known as US31/M37 which is a pretty busy well traveled road into Traverse City.

We were headed home after doing errands and the buffalo were really close to the fence today.  We see them out in the pasture a lot but rarely this close to the fence line.  Dan drove up the road and turned around so I could capture a few pictures.

I stood outside of the car on a sandy ridge with a pretty powerful wind pushing me.  Nothing will stop this woman when she's on a mission!  LOL.... I told Dan I could just see me falling down the little hill and all the cars passing by taking pictures and I'd make the 6:00 news- but I didn't!

I zoomed in a bit and as you can see they are shedding their winter coat.

I did a panoramic shot which came out pretty good.

We had planned to get mulch out this weekend but the weather was all over the charts.  Saturday we had threatening clouds and as the day went on the wind picked up and the temps dropped.

In the morning I woke to this.  It was 32 degrees and we had a coating of snow.  I can' believe I'm saying that in mid May but I am.  This was pretty rare even for us.

I was ticked about the snow and decide to tear into my cupboards again.  I've had a mish-mash  of stuff in the glass door cupboards but when I get done it will be only be creamy white dishes that will show.  I don't know where the other things are going but that's half the fun- right?

Eventually the temps climbed into the low 50's so that was great but it was windy and made it seem very chilly. Just the same- it turned into a pretty day and that was a nice reward after last nights crap weather!  This doesn't look like much but once the trees are fully leafed out and the plants are filled in it becomes  quite a different look.  Visit my 2nd blog "Sit With Me In My Garden" which I mainly focus on my gardens and things around the outside of the house.  

The turkeys are still visiting quite regularly.  They're used to me now coming around to taking pictures and let me get closer now.  We've had 4 toms visiting trying to get the attention of the hens.  This shot is actually 3 of the toms.  Though it's fun to see them they are hard on the landscape.  They drink from the bird baths and pick leftover seeds from the bird feeders.  They forage for food and the ground gets really torn up.  

Buh-bye for now!

I will be joining-

Dishing It & Digging It 

Inspire Me Tuesday 

Share Your Cup
Thoughts Of Home On Thursday

Lingering Mother's Day Memories

After I broke down the table and put away the dishes I put some things on the dining table from Mother's Day.  

This put a smile on my face- the inside is a pop up so as you open it the guy is hiding in the cart but then moves up to offer a kiss!

 A sweet card from son and daughter in-law.  They live 2400 miles away so our visits are too far and few.  We have a love for cats in common and they know how I love flowers so this card is a perfect sentiment!  We'll catch up in June when we see them again!

 Sweet daughter came in with this giant card which I adore.  Love the big bird cage and of course the sentiment.

She also gifted me with these lovely carnations and a gift card from a favorite garden store!

You know how long that gift card will last!

I've kept this up all week- still enjoying the memories.

This morning I read a post from Just Jan blog as seen "here"

She included several quotes about mothers that touched my heart.  I selected one to include in my post.

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. 

A mother is something absolutely new. - Rajneesh

I'm watching this little mom out my living room window.  She's staying tight on the nest so we should see some little ones soon. 

We are planning on spreading landscape mulch this weekend.  Not much fun but rewarding in the end. It's going to be very cool this weekend but that's okay since we have to work it won't be hot or sticky!

Thanks for visiting and sharing my lingering Mother's Day memories. 

Have a great weekend!