MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best..'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Thank you to Linda for this beautiful piece.

Peter Black Conservatory

I took these photos inside the conservatory on my visit to New Zealand, November 2007.

To view more photos, please visit Keewee's Garden

We have a thief in our garden

Caught him/her red handed , pawed stealing from the bird feeder.
It isn't the first time this squirrel has been in trouble, as it is missing half of it's tail.

Talk about the cat that got the cream!

As a caregiver, I am privileged to work for some wonderful people. This particular woman and I became very close, but unfortunately, her circumstances changed, and she was no longer able to live in her own home.
During the many hours spent in the company of this person, I learned a great deal about her life and the history surrounding many of her treasures in her home.
A few days ago, it was advertised that the family was going to have a real estate sale of my dear friend's possessions. There was one particular object I was hoping to buy as a remembrance of this lovely lady. Last night I tossed and turned all night just worrying someone else would see what I had my heart set on. I tried to tell myself to get over it, but this particular piece of art was something I had always admired.
8:30am this morning, found me waiting, along with many others for the door to open announcing the start of the sale. As I entered the house, my heart did a flip flop as I saw right there by the sale table, the object I coveted. Immediately I asked the woman who was ringing up the purchases if I could please put a hold on the object while I looked around. A sold sign was placed on the statue and I continued browsing.

Here she is. Quan Yin a beautiful 22 inch high statue.
I admired her from the first time I saw her in my friend's home, and what better remembrance of my friend than something she loved too. Quan Yin is going to be in a place of honor in one of my gardens where I will see her and remember all the special times shared with my friend.

Not only did I come home with my Quan Yin, but all the other Indian and oriental statues I liked.

The lovely lady on the left is made of bronze and is very heavy, the one on the right, appears to be made of resin, although it is also rather heavy for it's size.

The lovely couple of the left looks as though they are ivory, but of course are not, they are probably made of resin. The little guy in front, I thought was made of resin, but appears to be carved from some kind of stone. I think it could be sandstone. Hotei, who is sitting on the stand, also brings some special memories. Every time I arrived at the house, I would rub his tummy for luck. If you click on the picture, you will see that there is a penny tucked on the right side of Hotei's tummy. You can imagine my surprise and delight, to find the penny still there as Hotei sat on a shelf waiting for a buyer. I just knew I had to have him too.

And of course, I could not leave this charming couple behind. They are made of porcelain.

In the second picture from the top, you will notice all the statues are flanked on either side, by two planters. Being the avid gardener I am, I had to have these too. Naturally, on the way home from work this evening, I stopped by the garden center for some pretty flowers to fill the planters. Oh boy what fun I had. I am still smiling from ear to ear with a feeling of satisfaction and delight, with my purchases of special memories.

I have a post up over on Keewee's Garden, showing the planters and how pretty they look all decked out in their new finery.

Never lie to your Mother

Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but notice how beautiful Brian's roommate, Jennifer, was.
Brian's Mom had long been suspicious of the platonic relationship between Brian and Jennifer, and this had only made her more curious.
Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Jennifer than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, 'I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just roommates.
About a week later, Jennifer came to Brian saying, 'Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. I saw your mom admiring it. You don't suppose she took it, do you?' Brian said, 'Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure.

So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mom,

I'm not saying that you 'did' take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you 'did not' take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Love, Brian


Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read:

Dear Son,

I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Jennifer, I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Jennifer. But the fact remains that if Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now.

Love, Mom

Happy St Patrick's day

May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart,
and warmed by the people you love.

The Legend of the Shamrock

St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock, a three leafed clover, to describe the Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

While most Shamrocks are three leaved, it is believed a rare four leaf clover, will bring you good luck.

They're Back, They're Back

Three days ago I set out two hummingbird feeders, and late yesterday afternoon, as I sat at the kitchen table eating dinner, something flashed by the window. I was so excited in my trying to tell my honey what I was looking at, that I almost choked on my mouth full of food. Now I am really starting to feel as though spring is truly on the way.

By the way, I am so proud of myself for learning how to put a collage together. It took me a couple of hours playing around,and some frustration, before I finally figured out how it all fit together.

Moon Over

I took this one through the kitchen window about 7.30am this morning. It is a little fuzzy, as I had to zoom in, and I left the flash off so it would not bounce back into the camera lens, off the window glass. Still, you can appreciate the sheer beauty of the moon, as it slips slowly behind the Cascades.

Orange Pecan Breakfast Cake

1 pkg. Moist Deluxe Butter Recipe cake mix
2/3 cup water
3 large eggs
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tbsp. grated orange peel
2 tbsp. Orange juice
½ cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup fine graham cracker crumbs
2 tbs. butter or margarine, melted
1½ tsps Cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375F

Grease and flour two 9 x1½ inch round layer pans

Combine cake mix, water, eggs, and ½ cup butter in large mixing bowl.

Mix cake as directed on pkg. Fold in 1 tbsp. Of the orange peel

Divide batter evenly in pans.

For the topping, combine the chopped pecans, brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, 1tbsp orange peel, butter and cinnamon. And sprinkle evenly over batter in pans.

Bake for 25 minute, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Heat the orange juice in the microwave and stir in the powdered sugar and drizzle over the warm cakes.

Now go make a pot of coffee to go with a large slice of the breakfast Cake.

As I forgot to take a picture of the cake, before it was all eaten. I, err ummm! borrowed one from:
www.recipetips.com/

This is where I have been.

I have not been lazy about posting to keewee's Corner, I just kinda' took a detour. My detour has taken me to:

Blotanical was created by Stuart Robinson of Brusselton, Western Australia. It is a place where a huge family of garden bloggers, from all over the world, show their own particular style and interest in gardening.
I must say, I have become quite addicted, to spending time reading the many, many blogs and sadly Keewee's corner has suffered. I must not let that happen anymore, so I will try to be more diligent in my posting.
So if you enjoy gardening, drop by Blotanical, and I can almost guarantee, you will be hooked too.

TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken woman swigging her drink, as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asks, "Do you know her?"

"Yes," I sighed. "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she started drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.

"My God!" says my wife. "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"

So you see there really are two ways to look at everything...

Awwww geee!!

As an ex-pat Kiwi my heart still does a little flip flop whenever I hear a kiwi accent.
Thanks to Raewyn for sending me the link to this cute TV advertisement from New Zealand.

In case the Kiwi/ Aussie accent is hard to understand, here is a translation.

What are you doing this weekend?

I'm putting up a retaining wall.

Doing it yourself ?

Nah! I'm going to get some bloke ( man) in

Oh, come on mate (friend) do it yourself

She's pretty big job

You'll be right

You reckon?

We can knock it over in half a day

Yeah?

Get a couple of mates around

Hey Jonesy!

Huh!

Give us a hand with the job Saturday?

Nah, your dreamin!

Aussies!

Yeah!

No surprise there.

Through the garden gate....part two

These photos of some lovely gardens in New Zealand, were taken in 2007 during one of my strolls around the streets near where I was staying.

Kiwis are known for their love of gardening,
and it shows in many of the beautiful gardens.

A lovely garden nestled beside the house, surrounded by an attractive white picket fence.

Pretty pink, purple and white flowers
along one side of the driveway.

Such a tidy attractive front yard.

This garden I found to be very pleasing to the eye, with the different colors and textures of the foliage.

A neat little boxwood hedge, surrounds a flowerbed of mostly white flowers.

The plants in front of the fence and growing over the arbor sure make a beautiful display at the end of the driveway.

Majestic old trees grace the front yard of this home.

More beautiful trees and shrubs, line both sides of the driveway leading to the house.

Many of the homes have interesting gates. I liked the design of the iron gate at the entrance to this home.

I remember this Mediterranean style home, from the days when I used to ride past on my bicycle, on my way to and from school. Nothing much seems to have changed, except the trees are larger.