Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Signs Of Spring

A fresh bouquet right from the garden.
I have been enjoying bouquets of fresh tulips
 for a few weeks 
and now my lilacs are starting to bloom, too. 
I love the smell of lilacs. 
~~~~~*****~~~~~

 
 The garden has been rototilled.

New garden boxes built.
These will get full sun all afternoon.
This one will get morning sun and afternoon shade.
I'm open to suggestions for planting.
Flowers or vegetables . . . what do you think?
I was thinking zinnias, but I'm not sure.
I've got peas and lettuce coming up in this box.

 ~~~~~*****~~~~~
We also went on a one night sleep over to check out the camper.
Good thing, because when we turned on the water pump 
we had water spraying under the sink.
Good to know and fix,
before we take a longer trip:)
Or use it for a guest house 
for our summer company.
 Beautiful Banks Lake.
This lake is only about 35 miles from our home.
Butchy loved exploring the camp site.



 The drive home.

~~~~~*****~~~~~
I hope that you are all enjoying pretty spring weather.
It was 74 degrees here yesterday.
Time to pack those winter coats away
and forget about them until next fall :)

~~~~~*****~~~~~


Have a lovely day!
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)











45 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos and love your flowers! Spring is a little late here and we've only just seen a few dandelion greens show up but my tulips are about 6" high and should soon have buds. :)

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    1. Oh, it is exciting when they pop through the ground and state that warm weather is on the way. Here's hoping that you will have warm sunny days very, very soon:)

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  2. Beautiful bouquet. We don't have lilacs in our yard, but I like them, too. They smell wonderful. Nice scenery!

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    1. Every time I walk through the dining room, I breathe in that marvelous scent of the lilacs. I did not have them at our other house either and was so happy to see all of these bushes in the yard of our new place. There are two white lilacs in the front yard that are just starting to bloom. I received so very many blesses when we bought our little country cottage :)

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  3. We always take the trailer camping without a trial run ... adds to the fun (and the stories!). The lake looks beautiful in it's spring time wake up. Were you the only campers there? Beautiful scenery on the drive home too :)
    Wendy

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    1. Hi Wendy, we were not the only campers, but there were only a few. That's a perk to camping before Memorial Day weekend :) We didn't do any camping last year, but did use it for a guest house a couple of times. That was the reason we went out for a one night trip . . . I was just hungry to get away and camp, even if we only for one night. It really ended up being a blessing. I'm getting up in years and washing dishes leaning over a bucket on the ground was not easy on the back. Therefore; I'm happy that it will be fixed before a long trip:)

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  4. what a pretty bouquet. I love lilacs. I've tried several times to plant them but they don't want to grow in my yard. Can't give any garden advice since I'm just horrible with plants.
    That lake is beautiful. Looks like such a peaceful spot

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    1. Hi Ann, I tried to grow them at my old house too . . . with absolutely no luck. I was so happy when this home had them already growing on it. Banks Lake is a beautiful lake; the water is crystal clear, but only warm enough for swimming from late July through the middle of September.

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  5. Tulips and lilacs are two of my favourites. The scent of lilacs brings back all kinds of memories.
    Using a camper as a guest cottage is a great idea, but using it for your own holidays is even better. I'm glad you caught that glitch before a serious getaway.

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    1. Me, too!!! On the camper problem and on tulips and lilacs. Great minds think alike :)

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  6. Oh my Connie...your bouquet is just gorgeous! I wish I could grow tulips and lilacs, but I don't think they grow in Florida. Everything is looking good! I would love to walk around your lovely yard with you and look at all your flowers. Sounds like you all had a fun one night campout. That lake is absolutely gorgeous! I hope you have a simply lovely week.

    Blessings, Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky, I didn't realize that you lived in Florida. I lived in Largo for a while as a child. I loved collecting seashells along the Gulf. I have a brother that lives in Okeechobee, are anywhere near there?

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    2. No...I'm in North Central Fl. Okeechobee is probably 5-6 hours from here. I live 5 minutes from the Suwannee River. The nearest big town is Gainesville. My daughter's best friend/roommate is from Largo. :) I lived out west for a few years when I was growing up. I lived in California and Washington state. I would love to go back out there some day!

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    3. What part of Washington state did you live in? That's where I live.

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    4. We lived in the Tri city area in Kenewick. I was a young teen when we lived there. I remember playing in the snow. :)

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  7. Your bouquet is stunning!!! And your garden is so amazing already my friend! Love the layout of all of your boxes! And your camping trip....can that scenery be any prettier!!! Wishing you a wonderful week!!! Nicole

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    1. Good Morning Nicole and thank you so much. I think around the first of May I'll start getting serious about planting the garden. I love getting my hands into the warm earth:)

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  8. I love lilac, the colours and the perfume but never have it in the house. My Granny would not allow it for some reason and now I just can not bring myself to cut it.I grow other scented flowers for cutting, Hyacinths and Narcissi now, Sweet peas and Roses later. your garden looks full of promise, we are well into a glorious spring and summer is just around the corner.

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    1. Hi Pam, I wonder if your grandmother could have been allergic to lilacs or maybe some other family members was. Then again their scent could have bought back some bad memory. When I was a child I loved picking pussy willows for bouquets; now when I am around them my eyes water like crazy.
      I've planted a lot of roses this year ( I have never really tried growing them before) so I am excited about seeing how they do. Your garden sounds so lovely . . . sweet peas and roses are so pretty.

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  9. I am so envious of that bouquet. We just don't have the water for me to grow such flowers!

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    1. Oh My! If it weren't so far away, I would walk over to your home and bring you a bouquet:) I guess that I just thought that you could grow anything in California, but I guess you do have water shortages there.

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  10. Hello Connie, your garden holds the promise of some delicious meals and more lovely flowers for the cottage. Could you take Gypsy Rose out on that beautiful lake I wonder? Looks a gorgeous spot!

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    1. Hi Jane, that is the lake that we used to moor our other sail boat on. We had moorage, but we gave it up after we sold her. It took us two years on a waiting list to get it the first time. Now the list is even bigger. We are finding that we cannot put the mast up without asking for help each time, and we hate doing that, so we are considering selling Gypsy Rose. Do you want to buy her and sail her home? Just kidding, I don't think she is made for an ocean crossing.

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  11. What a lovely, fresh and cheering post, Connie! Yes, we have sunshine here in UK and have had it for some weeks now, usually accompanied by a wind chill, but for the past 3 days it has been really warm as well, so we are all feeling brighter in spirit, as you do when the warmth and sun shine blesses you! Your garden is looking good - I spotted what `I thought was a Square Foot Garden, taped off into sections - I have actually got mine filled and sown with seed now so am very pleased with myself, not being a gardener, just a herb grower up until now`! Enjoy many more trips outin your motor home and take more photographs for us of the beautiful countryside. Lynnexxxxx

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    1. Good Morning Lynne, it is always a pleasure hearing from you. Yes, I am excited about gardening this year. I had so much fun last year . . . going out to the garden instead of the farmer's market. Shopping for dinner in the backyard is a blast! We are planning on doing more camping this year . . . now that we have our place whipped into space a bit, we can actually get out and have a little more fun this year. I'm glad that you enjoyed the photos :)

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  12. Connie
    I'm eyeing your garden plots with envy!! I hope you are blesses with tons of yummy harvest.
    Will it stay warm there now? We had mid-60 weather last week but are down in the mid-30's today.
    I love the smell of lilacs too. When our neighbors bloom he allows us to pick as much as we like and I fill practically every room!
    Happy Monday-Kimberly

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    1. Hi Kimberly, the smell of lilacs are just the best, right:) We have been getting weather in the 30's at night, but our days have been warm and wonderful. Today it got up to 78, I was wearing shorts and a tee shirt to work in the yard. This is an earlier spring than we usually get. Around here they say to not plant anything that frost will kill until after May 15th. This year is so warm that I'm going to aim for May 1st . . . I hope that I don't get disappointed.

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  13. Your lilacs are so pretty! Mine have just started to bud, so I can't wait until I can see and smell the beautiful flowers once again. Love your garden boxes. Why not mix in the zinnias with some veggies? What a beautiful lake you camped by. So wonderful that you two can get away and relax and enjoy life and the beauty around you.

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    1. Hi Melanie, it was nice to get away. I think that we will have more time for that this year. I like the idea of zinnias mixed with the vegetables. I did that last year in the regular garden and read later that it is a great way to get healthier plants and a better garden because the zinnias, sunflowers and marigolds all help bring bees to the garden. Better pollination, better garden :) Here's hoping that your dining room table is adorned with lilacs very soon :) Have a great week.

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  14. How neat to have a get away spot so close to home and Butchy looks like he enjoys it. Looks like you have a nice garden going there, ours is quite small but we are thinking of going a little bigger this year.

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    1. Hi Connie, I had so much fun gardening last year (our first real garden) that going bigger sounds great to me. It is nice having a spot so close to home for camping. There are many campgrounds within an hour or less drive from us. We haven't tried them all out, but I would like to have that as a goal and each year check a couple of them off our to try list :)

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  15. Lilacs - my favourite spring scent! Glad to see you're all ready for summer's growing season.

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  16. Flowers and plants really add to a home. I have indoor and outdoor plants and flowers. It makes dreary days a little better. :D

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    1. Hi Denise, it is great to hear from you . . . Is it Spring in your neck of Germany? We are enjoying beautiful weather and I have a huge case of Spring fever.
      Have a wonderful week:)

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  17. Good Afternoon Connie, I love lilac flowers but I have to wait for mine to flower. At the moment they are tiny little buds, but hopefully with the warmer weather we have been experiencing here in England they will soon flower.
    Banks Lake looks like a beautiful place to visit.... and Butchy certainly looks ready for an adventure.
    It has been lovely catching up with you again.
    Happy Gardening.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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    1. Hi Daphne, thank you for your sweet comments . . . I have been away from home for almost a week now and I hope that I am not missing my white lilac bushes, they were just starting to bloom when I left. Hopefully they will still be blooming when I return. It's great hearing from you:)

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  18. Our lilac is in full bloom as well - love the gorgeous flowers and their sweet scent (alas the allergies don't let me bring them inside...). I love seeing your empty planter boxes just awaiting seeds and your lettuce and peas sprouting. Ours are peeking through as well. I just love this time of year!

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  19. Lovely photos! What a beautiful lake. The garden is looking good, I would go with veggies, but thats just because I like things I can eat :)

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    1. Growing food is a wonderful thing, right:) I so enjoyed last year and my first real garden. I would tell my hubby, " I'm off to shop for dinner" and then head out to the garden. It doesn't get any fresher than that:)

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  20. I love the sweet smell of lilacs! My grandmother had many lilac bushes and I have fond memories of picking them for bouquets for the dinner table. My brother-in-law calls them 'poor man's flowers'! Well...nothing wrong with taking advantage of the flowers in your own yard! Stop...and smell the lilacs! I love your arrangement...so pretty!

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    1. Well, I guess I love poor man's flowers. Lilacs are such a wonderful sign of spring and don't they just smell heavenly:)

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  21. Hi Connie, you sure do live in a beautiful area of our country. That lake is gorgeous. But I can tell your flowers and veggie garden is going to be gorgeous, too. Can't wait to see them in bloom. Zinnias are a good choice. They bloom their little heads off here and make great cut flowers. I'm sure whatever you choose will be just right. :)

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  22. Hi Connie,
    I was visiting A Joyful Cottage and found your lovely blog. You live in a very beautiful area. It is nice to make your acquaintance and if you would like you can follow my blog called babiesbridesandlavender. I will be following you. Blessings to you.
    Diane@babiesbridesandlavender.com

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