YARD ART

I love collecting yard art. You can find interesting and unusual things to put in your gardens at antique stores and garden nursery's, and my favorite are shopping at yard sales. This is my favorite piece of art in our rock garden. This wind mill was given to us my a neighbor who just didn't appreciate it for what it was. They really didn't want it in their yard so we were glad to have it. When the wind blows it rotates and the wheel is usually always activley turning. I love it.

Lance inherited this old mail box from his mom and dad. They had this in their yard for years growing up. It has his parents name and address scrolled on the top. He put it in our vegetable garden and lined it with wire to hold all the rocks that we have taken out of our garden over the years. The mail box itself hold garden gloves and some tools.I found a basket hanger to fit over it for flower baskets which I haven't yet planted.
You can find unusual shapes of rocks anywhere you go. I love to bring home a rock from every place we have ever been. We went camping with some friends to Capital Reef down South on some private property. Lance and I found this long rock with a split in it. When we found the other two rocks we decided to make an "Arch" to represent the Southern part of Utah.

I wish I could afford more of these ceramic mushrooms. They come in a variety of colors and shapes and sizes. Carol's nursery sales them on 5th South Bountiful. I love them. They look real cute in flower pots on porches and decks. They are expensive though.

Another mushroom

A girl friend and I spent the summer a few years ago and made birdhouses in her garage. It was so fun. She taught me a lot. Especially how not to saw off my fingers in the electric saw and how not to put a nail in my hand with the nail gun. Very important information!

In the summer I put a solar light in this lantern.

I love flowers in my gardens. But I've learned not to buy cheap Wallmart specials because they do not hold up in the heat and sun and they break. These I found 3 years ago at a botique. They are heavy, strong and have held up nicely.

These flowers are not so strong but they have done well the last few years. They are also from a botique. Pick ones with hardy, stout rods that you poke in the ground.

I found these cute pokers this year. I have several in my flower pots. They look old and rustic.

This one was missing and arm but I liked it anyway

Another bird house. I'm always on the look out for barn wood.

I like these single glass stakes also. When the sun hits the glass they are so pretty.

The ferns below complement the Hostas and do well in the shade

If you have a place in your yard that is mostly shade but part sun, Hostas do so well. I love Hostas. They come in a variety if color and grow different sizes. Our Hostas have done real well this Spring. Every year they double in size, so then they need to be divided and trans planted. You don't need to spend a lot of money on Hostas because they can be divided about every 2 years, and you have more and more to plant in your garden.

Another variety

More Hostas

They got so big this year!

Look around your yard or house and see what fun things you can incorporate into your yard to make in fun and inviting. Yard sales are great for finding fun things. Use your imagination.

WINE CUP RANCH

Kent, my son in law invited our family to go camping on the Wine Cup Ranch over Memorial weekend where he spent his youth hearding cattle. Some friends of theirs Tadd and Nicole and two of Kent's half brothers also joined us. The Wine Cup is a Ranch in Nevada 25 miles out of Eli. The ranch itself is 1 million 200 thousand acres. Once owned by the actor Jimmy Stewart, which sold many years ago and is now for sale again for 150 million. I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that there was no water or out house available, pretty primitive.

Lance, Kimberly, myself and Kent's half brother Jerimiah left early Friday afternoon to pick out a camp spot . Kent and the others came up later.

2 and 1/2 hours driving we got to the Wine Cup. Opened the gate and were on our way to a camp spot. There was a lot of this, actually miles and miles......

And miles and miles of this.....

And this......

" Where are the Quacking Aspen and the pines?" Kim piped up, "Kent promised me quackies and a stream, not sage brush!" "We are almost there, said Jerimiah". By this time it was dark and we couldn't see anything but the dirt road in front of us.

Then we came to this creek. It was dark when we crossed it and it looked like a lake. I thought, "What in the world is Jerimiah thinking?"

"We are in a Journey not a 4 wheel Truck." We crossed the creek and up over the hill was a dead end "Meadow" with tall grass, a stream and beautiful willows , beaver ponds, bitter brush and wild roses. "Here we are Kim. Is this okay?" Kim laughed, "I guess so, It's dark!"

The first thing to get set up in the morning was the portable potty. Lance took a toilet seat and attached it to a wooden box. He dug a deep wide hole and put the box over top on a plank of wood to support the box. It worked great and didn't smell like outhouses do. It was wonderful (better than squatting for 3 days).

The creek behind one of the tents


Our camp in the meadow of grass.

Mya was a Jewel the entire trip.

Everyone tried taking away Bo's title as Horse Shoe Champ. Lance took the title. Kent won 1 game.

Kent with Joe and Jerimiah playing cards

Kim and I went on the 4 wheeler up the canyon to look for rocks. I usually go home from a trip in the mountains with a rock or 2 or 3. Sekada and Ellie ran along side.

Very tired, as you can see their tongues hanging down. Found a trail to a creek so the dogs could get a drink. Sekada layed down the minute she hit the water, it was so funny.

We saw beautiful beaver ponds

See the beaver head in the water?

Big beaver dam

We hit the Mother Lode!
 

Too many to choose from

Kim and Kent going 4 wheelin

Grandpa holding Mya. The mornings were chilly.

Going for a walk

Riley and Bo built a monument of twisted wood and branches. Thick and tight standing about 3 feet tall. Here they are at dusk lighting their work of art

After the fire was lit the wind came.

Burn

Burn

The glow from the fire was amazing and sooooo warm

........OOOOOOO....AHHHHHHHHH

Lance and I headed to Devils Gate

There were acres and acres of wild flowers

Beautiful

all the Wine Cup

Looking down on Quacking Aspen. Perfect Elk Country

More of the Ranch, clear to the far mountain.

In the middle of the picture is Devils Gate

Over looking more of the Ranch

The little white spot below the 2 bigger spots of snow are the beaver dams just above our camp

Breaking camp Monday afternoon

There were silk worms everywhere . Madly spinning silk.

I had a great time. I love the outdoors. There is so much beauty to enjoy and appreciate. Being with family and friends and sharing this experience with Kent was well worth the long long drive. I'm looking forward to coming again to share this beautiful country with the rest of my family who were not able to go this time. Few times in my life have I enjoyed something so much that I wanted to share it with everyone I know. This was one of those times. It was simply beautiful and amazing. Thank you Kent and Kimberly for a wonderful trip.

AMERICAN IDOL

Okay, is she crying because Adam lost, or because Kris won?Kris really didn't think he was going to win, obviously!
I love American Idol. I remember watching the first season when Kelly Clarkson
won over Justin. I thought the talent was amazing. Justin had a great voice too. Every year since has been better and more amazing than the year before. But I have to say this year was the best ever. Any of the top 5 could be professional given the right opportunity. I felt that Adam was too good for American idol. He has more talent and ability than many of the professional singers we listen to now. His voice is so CLEAR and powerful. I really hope he doesn't go SLAM BAGGIN HARD ROCK, SCREAMIN and breaking guitars on stage kind of star, because he has a soft side that moves people. He can diffenitly scream, that we all know.

Kris won because the youngsters would buy his kind of music over Adam. Simon said that the vote would come down to what album would they buy, Adam's or Kris. The young voters spent 4 hours voting over and over and over. I would cast around 20 votes and by that time I was bored with it and quit. I have better things to do with my time.

I think the more Kris sings and is given opportunity to grow, he is going to be a very good singer and do very well. I already look forward to next year to see what they come up with . I don't think they can top last nights program though.

FIREPROOF

I saw this movie with Lance last night. I had heard from a few people how wonderful this movie is so we rented it.

WARNING: At first I felt I was back in Seminary. Kinda cheesy at first. I felt they could have picked a better main character actress, however Kirk Cameron was so good that he over shadowed her inabiliy to act . I have not seen Erin Bethea in any movie before, she was just okay.

This movie makes you laugh and makes you cry. It just gets better and better.

If you are not married....you need to see this movie

I you are young marrieds.....you definitely need to see this movie (trust me)

And if you are an older married couple......Watch this movie. It will jump start that old, stagnant, boring, relationship and boost it to a new level .

Very powerful , Very Real, Very Good.

ARE YOU JOKING?

Okay, so on American Idol tonight I thought for sure Danny was safe. I knew Adam would be safe that is a NO BRAINER, However; when Danny was voted off and Kris stayed, I was peeee od! American idol needs to re-think the voting process. Did you know that a person can vote as many times as they want for the full 2 hours, 9 times at a time, too. The fact that Kris is in the top 2, tells me that all the little TENNIE BOPPERS calling in 9 votes at a time using up all their cell phone minutes on a young hottie and obviously knowing nothing about TALENT and VOICE, just a cute face. Kris can sing no doubt, but he sings like a million other guys out there, nothing special. Danny had that soul, raspy great voice that would sell millions. And his wholesome, bright, handsome face left me feeling good every week. Kris on the other hand is a wannabie. Yeah, Adam has an amazing clear, clean voice I've ever heard but his life style left me feeling gross!

How would the turn out be if the votes depended on ONE vote per line? So re- think the process Simon, seriously!

Funny Pictures live at pYzam.com

ONE OF THE TOP TWO I HOPE

I have loved this guy since the beginning. He is real, charming, and can sing. He has his own sound and I love it. Not as pure as Adam, but soul kinda. When I saw pics of Adam in drag and kissing a guy it turned me off. I know that this is a singing compitition and that shouldn't matter, but it does to me. I love a lot of music sung by skanky groups with bad habits back in the day. I tried to step it up a notch and choose music that leaves me with a good feeling (spirit) just as I choose good movies. Danny does that for me. He is always smiling and happy and has a clean look. I hope he wins, Adam has a career in music for sure.

I Love Summer

Every spring I get somewhat overwhelmed with the thought of YARD WORK. And every Fall I think I'm done tearing out, cutting down, transplanting and adding more. Yet when the weather starts getting warm and I smell the aroma of fresh cut grass it just stimulates me and I can't wait to spend my mornings and evenings creating and turning some little corner of my yard to into a piece of Art. This Spring when Lance brought home a pile of 2x4's and a stack of windows I thought "Okay, he has finally lost it! What the heck is that stuff for?" Lance is one who loves to start projects and has little ambition when it comes to finishing them. So you can understand my Panic.
When he told me it was for a green house, well I was, ummm, lets just say, Freaked out!

Looking through books and visiting different green houses in the area and in peoples yards I got so excited at the possibilities. So the little corner in the yard has turned into the Large stretch behind the shed that will be the work of art this year.

We have already started scupting around the Rose of Sharon, transplanted all the Iris and Siberian Iris to the front of our vegetable garden which we have extended out about 10 feet.

I have transplanted all of our Chickens and Hens to the same plot of ground so that we can have a Hens garden like the picture to the right of my blog. I love that. When it is done I will post a picture.

The green house in mostly framed but put on hold because of the bad weather the past few weeks.

We have torn out the bushes in front of the big front room window...FINALLY... I hated those bushes. Too much maintanence. Now what to plant in their place?

I also love Yard Art. It is so fun. I love the old tin pots , old milk can and wire baskets all planted with flowers throughout the yard. We have a good friend , Cheryl who has a cute garden shop on 500 South right by Wendy's who we do trade with. This year we have loaded up with pansies, snap dragons, ground cover and all our vegetable plants. She has fun and amazing ideas for any ones yard.

Every year I think we will be very low key and just chill and enjoy our yard as it is and yet it just gets in my blood. Just as it did with my dad, who always had a beautiful yard. My mother was so patient to put up with his need for buying plants all summer long and spending every waking hour in the yard. Sometimes as I'm digging and planting I can feel my dad's presence. He always seems to be pleased. Thank you dad for inspiring me through the years growing up to enjoy yard work. Thank you for taking me with you to all the garden shops

enjoying all the beautiful plants and flowers.

The inside of my house always suffers in the summer months and that's okay as long as the dishes are done and the garbage taken out, we'll survive.

I love the BBQ's with family and friends and the night time fires around the fire pit. Baseball games with a good hot dog and walks around the neighborhood.

I love having the windows open at night while I sleep, feeling the summer night air. I love the 24th of July celebrations that we have every year and the fire works. I love Kiva Juice and Rainbow Snow in the summer. It's such a good thirst quencher. I love watching Cicada chase the basketball around the yard with her nose. I love watching Coleman play with the dogs on the back lawn and peaking through the fence at the neighbors dogs. I hope I will be able to enjoy him again this summer. I love camping with family and all the good food.

I LOVE SUMMER

Matchbook Baby Announcements

I loved this idea to announce a new baby. Their made from match books. I have a grandson due June 4th so I have new baby on the brain lately. I also thought of "Happy Scraps" blog. Debbie Moody, you could make these up and post them on your blog. HOW CUTE.