Kaseys Korner

let the relaxation begin

Yesterday I mailed my last Christmas box.  It's always such a relief when that's done.  I feel like I can finally concentrate on my immediate family and begin to enjoy the holidays at last.  I hope that's not a bad attitude?  After making 2 batches of fudge, 20 dozen cookies, wrapping a zillion presents and addressing about 40 cards, I think that's cause for relaxation!  None of the aforementioned food items are left in our house either!  They've all been shipped or consumed by other people.  I am just now beginning to make some of the holiday dishes we enjoy, like Banana bread with candied fruit:

That might sound gross to some people but it's our version of a preferred fruit cake! 

If it can last long enough, Amaryllis 'Red Pearl' will be our Christmas table centerpiece:

I've never cut the flowers off my bulbs before but 'Red Pearl' was leaning heavily to one side and had another bud stalk about to open so I took the plunge.  I've read that the flowers actually last longer in a vase than on the bulb??  It will be interesting to see if that is true...

Amaryllis 'Novella' also opened her second bloom stalk the other day and you will never believe how many buds on this one!!  (remember the first stalk had eight buds/blooms?)  I photographed her because I wasn't sure you'd believe me any other way ~ count them ~ they total 10!!!!

Six blooms around the outside and four more buds in the very center!  That is one exceptional performer!  I've never had so many blooms on a single Amaryllis stalk before ~ I definitely got more than I ever anticipated from her.

There are more Amaryllis bulbs waiting to bloom in the greenhouse/bathroom too.  Below are 'Clown,' 'Gervase' and 'Christmas Story' all lined up beside a Bird of Paradise plant (with a ginormous new leaf ~ 24" long!) and some of my orchids:

Looks like there will certainly be plenty of blooms to keep us company thru the holidays!  Now we're going to be movie watching, piddlin' around and just generally laid back.  Wishing you the same!

 

the day is off

to a great start. 

I treated myself to a cup of my new favorite holiday coffee combination:

a thick slice of homemade pumpkin bread:

Accompanied by the lulling hum of the dryer and the more strident (but just as comforting) sound of Blue Jays as they enjoy their morning peanuts.  

Oh, and to top it all off, the sun is shining and the wind is calm.  :-)

I hope the rest of the day can keep up....

tea posies & a lunch date

Somewhere I read that we would all be better off if we spent more time with people under the age of six and over the age of 70.  There are days I couldn't agree more.  Today I was lucky enough to lunch with my neighbor who is in the latter category.  We celebrated her birthday (which was yesterday) and I wished her many more.  She's a treasure.  And a tea lover.  The tea lover is what prompted me to think of giving her this box of tea posies:

 

I really wanted to see her try one.  They look fascinating to me.  Have you all tried these?  The box contained a medley of six different teas/flowers:

 

What garden lover wouldn't like a tea that "bloomed??"  I may just have to break down and buy myself a box to watch the tea posies unfurl into what looks to be gorgeous blossoms.  My friend/neighbor said they looked "interesting" so I hope she likes them and that they taste good too.  Anyone out there who can verify this??   Brewing up a pot of tea takes on new meaning if the tea bag "flowers," know what I mean?

hot chocolate kind of day

We woke up to 1" of fresh snow this morning, at least I think it's only an inch?  The wind is swirling it around making it difficult to tell the exact totals.  At times, depending on how hard the gusts are, it looks like we're in the middle of a blizzard.  Then, just as suddenly, the wind will subside and it doesn't seem so bad.  Until it all starts again a couple minutes later.  It's a Monday tho, what did we expect!?  Butter, the only one in our family that truly loves snow, is beside himself with joy:

 

This photo was taken in Dec of 08 but it could be after any snowfall.  After an invigorating romp, he'll return to the warmth of the house, wet all over, with a snow encrusted face and little snow balls hanging on his underbelly.  None of it fazes him.  You can't help but smile, watching him bound thru it, push his face into it, kick it up behind him, etc.  It almost makes you want to join in.   I said almost.  Watching him thru the window with a cup of hot cocoa is just as much fun for me....

holiday indulgences

Forgive me if I keep straying from gardening.  I can't help myself.  I LOVE this time of year (even with the stress of extra things to do).  Since I am also in the middle of organizing a Christmas cookie exchange, I thought I would do a quickie post today on two of our favorite family indulgences.  It's good these items aren't around all year.  We'd be on a sugar high:

 

White fudge covered Oreo's (who can resist those?) and our most favorite soft drink of all ~ 'Candy Cane' Jones Sodas.  (although 'Pear Tree' is right up there too).  I went back to pick up another four pack today and they were sold out.  :-(  Boo hoo.  I guess we've been rationed this year.  If anyone is up to sharing, it would be fun to hear what everyone else is indulging in this holiday season...

sweetest day

Something very dangerous has happened:

 

A delicious cupcakery opened it's doors within easy driving distance of our home.  *sigh*  This is not good.

 

It's decadently delicious, but SO not good to have temptation that nearby, if you know what I mean.  We tried the Red Velvet, Mocha Brownie and Vanilla Chocolate flavors yesterday because the calendar said it was "Sweetest Day."  Not that we've ever observed that day before, it was just the excuse we needed (if an excuse is required).   Red Velvet was our favorite.

 

We will NOT be going back for quite a while.  No, we will not.  ;-)

margaritaville

Yesterday was somebody's birthday around here.  ahem.  That said, a celebration was in order, this time around by way of a margarita party.  Pomegranate & strawberry to be exact.  I was told they were girlie drinks but that's okay, we were a bunch of girls sitting around giggling and enjoying the evening.  Of course chocolate had to be involved too, that's where these came in:

It was a lovely night.  Thanks everybody! 

Refreshing Friday

After violent weather yesterday, (a tornado touched down & caused tremendous destruction very nearby) it's nice to start the holiday weekend off on a calmer note.  Skies are blue and cloudless, hopefully the atmosphere is more stable too.  I have finally gotten all my plants (well, there are a few stragglers but that won't take long to remedy) settled in the ground or in containers.  Now I'm hoping to enjoy a quiet Memorial Day weekend.   Enjoy!