Monday, May 26, 2014

THE ACCIDENTAL GARDENER.......

If a few years ago someone would have told
Me that I would be living in a house
that had actual green grass and flowers and
trees that didn't look like flag poles I would
Not have believed it...
We are not "lawn people"
We could kill off Astro-Turf....
So when we moved to the other side of town
and bought a house that actually came with a
Sprinkler System....
we had to step up our game...
after having the yard professionally
Landscaped we promptly stood back and watched
as the ornamental crap began to die off....
little by little...
bad drainage they claimed....too much moisture...
Let's try....Maybe you planted stuff that was not
meant to be in the shade with Lot's of water...
And I began to learn....

Lot's of questions and Lot's of stupid answers
 I finally found someone who knew what would work
well in shade with moist soil....
So this year with some much needed
knowledge we added some new flowers and
shrubs and they didn't Scream when they heard they
were going to be planted at Our House...
Dwarf Hydrangeas.....mixed with
English Ivy....
so far....so good!!
In the South we use Pine Straw
 as our ground cover....
We actually have to pay big bucks for this stuff
twice a year...it just doesn't fall from the
Pine trees....
The Hydrangeas will grow to about
Half Size of the normal variety....
I can actually grow Giant
Ferns....
I have not had luck in the past planting
perennials so I kept them out of the
ground this year....
Planting them in my
Pottery Barn beverage server....
everything gets a good drink every day
and My herbs are doing
wonderful

Lambs Ears....
a bit wonky from such a cold winter
But came back bigger then ever...
My Charlie Brown
Tree...
a variation of a Blue Spruce....

The pink roses remind me of
Our Vacations on
Martha's Vineyard...
 

Day Lilies and more
Roses
If I could I would have
Rosemary Bushes Everywhere....
I use it in my Lemon Rosemary
Bread......
The smell is intoxicating....
the Far side of the Yard...
The Opposite side...
My Ginkgo Tree.....
Growing higher then the house!!
The Boss' Blackberries.....
coming in nicely...

I love Sea Grass....
it makes me feel like I'm at the
Beach...
We have it everywhere...

Dill....for making deviled eggs...
and chicken salad...
Italian Basil used of course for
Tomato and mozzarella...
we love how the deck is low to the ground....
Getting too old to climb high flights of
Steps to get up to the house...
We left "that" deck with the old house...
View behind the deck...
it resembles a putting green....
the smell reminds me of my
elementary school flower show days...
My mother's arrangements always won
Blue Ribbons...


I couldn't leave out the
Infamous...
Boy and the Dolphin...
purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Big Boss
in Florence Italy 1970....
Solid Bronze on a marble pedestal...

The Julia Child Rose....
the color of butter of course!!
The Siggy Iris...
named after my father who
loved his Iris....
Aptly named the
Ketchup and Mustard Rose...

The Dick Clark
Rose....
I've managed to avoid getting
poison ivy so I will just retire
back on to the deck....
and do what I really do best....
magazine read....
And hope by the time I'm finished with these
two favorites that
everything is still alive and thriving....
Happy Gardening Everyone!!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

CONGRATULATIONS CHERYL DICARLO DIAMOND JOHNSON.....YOU JUST WON...

An All Expense Paid Trip to
Beautiful Downtown Kennesaw Georgia!!
( you do have to get yourself to and from
Newark Airport...Harr are you on board for drop off
And pick up??)
Your fun filled Birthday Celebration will begin

Thursday Evening...
 October 23rd....

(I know your birthday is today May 17th
But work with me Here)

 Pre-warn your Boss you will need that Friday off.....
As you board your Delta Non-Stop Flight to

Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport
You will begin 

"Nunze and Stinky's Excellent Adventure"
Kennesaw!!
"Where every Homeowner is required to Own a Gun"



We Offer luxurious accommodations.....
King size bed....with "en-suite"
I really hate that expression....

It's nothing more then a bathroom attached to the bedroom...
Waking up Friday morning to possibly
Breakfast in Bed...
I said "possibly"....
You will then be whisked off in my version of
A Limo....weather permitting the Top 

Will Drop....
"Okay...it's your birthday celebration you can be the
Skinny Blond....."


To Stone Mountain...
Home of .....

The Country Living Fair!!!
I hope you were serious all those times you said
You would Love to go to the
Fair???
Where we will wander the grounds looking at
Over Priced arts and crafts...

 the prices
are really crazy nutz....
We will be heard saying.....

"Oh...we could make that"
Or....
"I wouldn't pay more then 5 bucks for that"
You will be treated to a wonderful
picnic lunch....then more shopping and

stealing....I mean Borrowing.... more ideas....

Once back in Kennesaw we will do some fine
Dining....Jersey Style...
Friday Night is Meatball Slider Night!!
Best Bet...the Boss will join us...
It's your birthday celebration...
We'll also throw in a Pizza...
Saturday morning.....
Sleep in before a full "Italian" Breakfast...
To the Non-Italian....all that means is
more food then you could possibly eat....

We both love our Saturday morning 
breakfast....
Just a sampling of perhaps French Toast made with
Homemade Challah bread...
Your Breakfast choices will be endless...
A nice Frittata perhaps or I'll do you one better

How about "peppers and eggs"?
If the Boss doesn't hear the garage door go up....
We might be able to steal the "Good Car"
for our trip to Downtown Atlanta
Actually Buckhead....
Nobody in their right mind goes to
Downtown Atlanta...

I hope you don't mind having your
Tootsie's played with....
Because we will spend an hour or two at
Bliss Spa having their famous
"Cold Foot" Pedicure done...
It's not cold at all and mint is involved...
It's Heavenly....
It gives you Happy Feet!!
From there we will do our
"Ladies Who Lunch" routine...
Bistro Niko has wonderful French Food
and outdoor seating for people watching on
Peachtree Street...
Their Quiche is almost as good as mine :)

Driving back Home to Cobb you know there has to be
More Food in our future
And....
Since we have been together since those Stewart
Drive-In days Back in the 60's....and it was "I" who introduced you to the
Cheeseburger....
I feel I have to introduce you to our Southern Version of
the Infamous Stewart's Kraut Dog....

The Varsity Chili Dog....
If the Varsity Food doesn't kill you the Weekend is not Over Yet!
Sunday Brunch would not be the same without...
You meeting my Southern Peeps....
The Great Ladies who have filled the Huge Gap
in my Life since being so Far Away from
You....
But there is no one who could fill the Gap
in my Heart....
BTW.....be prepared to help cook!
When they come to my house they expect 
to be fed.....
You will have our choice of
Departure time later in the day
On Sunday....
Delta will whisk you back to the
Motherland....

Where you will probably be heard saying as you board your
Flight Home....
"Thank God she Moved out of Jersey"
You will be missed.....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NUNZE.........
To the one person who knows
everything about me.....
Not that I have any faults....
And Still loves me....