Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers!

This has been a great week for me and flowers. Last Friday, Dave suprised me with 2 doz beautiful roses....Just because!....Picture below...They smell absolutely heavenly; which is rare anymore that roses smell at all. After almost a week they still look great....
Next, is the long awaited Peony Bloom. When we moved into this house 3 years ago, I tore everything out of the front garden except a Peony plant and 5 Irises. The first year, there was nothing and I didn't even realize that it was a peony plant. Last year I had a single bud on the plant and just before it was ready to bloom, I hit the plant by accident and broke the bud off the stem. I was devestated! This year, with another bud starting, I watched it like a hawk to make sure no dogs, cats, husbands, or myself for that matter, went anywhere near that plant. I had yet to see a full blossom, color and all; and this was going to be my year!
After weeks of patiently waiting, we came home from work today to find the Peony blossom open!
Here is a picture; the pink is so absolutely deep, it is just gorgeous (well to me anyway).
My Lace vine has started budding so it should be in full bloom in the next month or so, and a friend of mine gave me some rooted Pussy Willows that I have planted in the yard...We'll see how they do....I love flowers in the garden; even though it is a lot of work.
Well, may flowers fill your days and sunshine fill your life.
Until later.

Summer Dessert

It's summer (well almost), so I thought I would share a favorite summertime dessert. Incredibly easy and quick....
If you have Margarita glasses or other glass dishes, this pretty green dessert looks great in them.....Also as a tip to prepare ahead:
Spoon mix into serving glasses, cover and freeze. I use Shaved Andes Mints as a garnish, but if you have fresh peppermint leaves, that works too!
More recipes soon!
I hope you enjoy!

Relay For Life

This blog post is dedicated to the Associates/Friends we work with who are participating this year in the American Cancer Societies: Relay for Life.
A number of employees of the San Luis Valley Public Lands Center, are dedicating their time and efforts to raise money and participate in the Relay for Life! We're proud of all of you!
The SLVPC team Page: SLVPLC TEAM

So what is this Relay for Life?

Well briefly, from the website:
"Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length."

For more information see: American Cancer Society: Relay for Life


The SLVPC team has been having bake sales to raise money; also receiving donations from associates, friends and family.
I found today that I could donate by purchasing a 'Luminaria' in Honour of a Cancer Survivor, or In Memory of someone who lost the battle.
Luminaria link: Luminaria

So many have lost the fight to cancer. My grandmother Lina lost the battle to Breast Cancer, a good friend of ours died from Brain Cancer, we have lost many friends over the years to different types of Cancer. But amidst the pain of those we've lost, is also the joy of those who have survived. Survivors like my Mom, My Mom-In-Law, and My Aunt (favorite Aunt!).So many have lost the battle to Cancer. But their deaths should not be in vain; although a cure for Cancer has not yet been found, early detection, advances in technology and new procedures have saved so many lives.

One day we will find a cure; each step we take into the future, Each step the team takes during the Relay for Life, takes us one step closer to a cure.

I can't imagine that there is one person in the United States who has not been in some way touched by Cancer. I hope everyone who see's this post will take a minute (to visit the web page) and $5.00 to help the Relay for Life. You don't have to donate to our SLVPC Relay for Life Team; the Relay for Life is a National Effort, you can check the web page to see if there is an event in your town.

We can and will overcome the Battle against Cancer one step at a time.

To the SLVPC Relay for Life Team; Thank You for taking up the torch and participating in this effort!

God Bless You!

Bits and Pieces I

Over Memorial Day weekend I sanded and painted our Front Porch. I thought I had 'before' pictures, so I didn't take any.....Dumb.....Will be more careful in the future...However, I think the porch came out great...To give you an idea of what it looked like originally; it had that horrible green indoor/outdoor grass like carpeting, it was worn through and full of nasty holes. Once I ripped the carpet up, I found worn grey painted wood, so I started sanding....In one area a huge chunk of paint came off and I discovered that our front porch is made of the same hardwood flooring in the house! David let me use his belt sander; until I ripped through two sanding belts within about 2 minutes...I couldn't help that the wood had some peculiar tendencies. At least when I tore up the belts, I was close to finishing. So I just took the sanding belts and sanded the rest by hand.....Painting the porch was a challenge, because of the weather. Trying to get it painted before rain set in, but after it had warmed up a bit...But I was able to get it done! I used a floor paint that has the polyurethane already built in (love that stuff), but because the porch is subject to getting wet, I added a tread-tex, so people won't slip. Stuff works great, but you have to stir the paint a lot more often. The final touch to the porch is an outdoor rug that is blue/beige to break up all of the white.We also bought a beautiful blue-grey paint for the front and back doors, will get to that soon (before pics, I know!).
Oh! My Iris's finally bloomed; here is a picture!
More later.