Hit the Road Jack----

Mr. Procrastinator has overstayed his visit here. Actually I think he has decided to live here permanently.

 He is not a good house guest at all.

There's piles of piles in the guest room. There are half finished projects in the craft room.There is dirty laundry overflowing the hampers. And if Mr. Procrastinator stays any longer, his friend, Ms. Anxiety will come to visit.

And she is a brutal house guest, who never fails to bring me to tears

So today, I have informed him, in no uncertain terms, to be on his way. No lingering goodbyes. No sad stories. I have things to do.

I have items to photograph and list for my Etsy shops.

WILDFLOWERKIDZ




BEACHHOUSE341

I have a garden that needs tending.

I have housework and laundry that needs to be done.

So--Good-bye Mr. Procrastinator---

please don't stop by again.


Of course it might not be ALL his fault----

I Have a Dream

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."


I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

— Martin Luther King Jr.

No Snow Here!!

Seems like everyone is posting pictures of snow. And while I have to admit it does looks beautiful and serene,  I much prefer the scenery in my backyard.

For example---

Even after  my "gardening neglect" and the cold temps I am pleasantly surprised to find this beautiful bloom---

It is one of my hibiscus bushes--it always seems to have a least one flower blooming. I forget the name. We just buy the small gallon size at our local "big box" plant department. This one seems to be a hardy variety.

Then there are my wildflowers--

These are Gaillardia aristata---also know as Blanket Flower.  We have several different color combinations growing wild in our backyard. They are all volunteers which means we didn't plant them--the birds did.

These are the other wildflowers blooming in the backyard---

I've always called these beach sunflowers. They grow wild on the dunes. Their official name is Rudbeckia hirta and they are most commonly known as Black-Eyed Susan--which I think is funny because the center is brown. They are also volunteers.

Did you know that last week Florida was the only state in the union that did not have any snow.

Oops--maybe that's a fact better kept quiet.

Garden -- Resolution #2

I have been a neglectful gardener for many months now. Really ever since the heat of summer set in.
But Resolution #2 was to take care of my Garden.

First off--

The Back Bed--

While walking on the beach we got the idea of edging the back bed with coquina rocks collected from our beach.

And off we went collecting.

It took several trips and lots of HEAVY rocks --

I chose the rocks--he carried them--

We placed them around the bed--

Dean dug the line--

And then we edged the bed--pulling up the awful plastic edging that was there--

We didn't quite make it all the way around so we'll be heading back down the street to the beach for another load--

The shrubbery looks a little bit (okay alot) shabby--due to my neglect and the recent frost.

But one step at a time.

I'll post pictures of the whole bed once we finally get it done.

Now how's that for working on two resolutions at once.



Resolution #1

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I started the year off by working on my #1 Resolution.

Enjoy the beach!

After all, it is right down the street.

I even added a motto to my list under this resolution

If you're lucky enough to live by the
BEACH--
you're lucky enough.

I think I'll embroider this on something to hang on my wall to remind me to keep it all in perspective.