Kaseys Korner

being neighborly

Doncha just love a great neighbor???  On my evening walk last night, I stopped to smell one of my neighbors peony bushes (hers are fully open, mine just starting) and just like magic, she came out the front door, scissors in one hand, a bunch of lilacs in the other.  A few snips later, I was headed home with a gorgeous, completely unexpected, peony/lilac bouquet!  How sweet was that?   This morning I am lovin' the way my great room is being perfumed by her beautiful flowers.  That simple act of kindness, sure did spread a lot of joy.  A lesson to remember.

rock-a-bye baby

Babies, babies, babies.  Everywhere you look there's a new baby.  Isn't Spring delightful that way?  Around my yard, the house finches are introducing their newly fledged little ones to the feeder and the birdbath.  It's so interesting to watch.  They are such quick learners but I guess they have to be.   A robin is sitting on eggs right outside my kitchen window.  Yesterday was exactly two weeks since she began sitting so I'm thinking they have hatched or very close to it.  Can you believe I write things down like that?  I don't know why I like to keep tabs on them?  I know in another two weeks tho, the babies will be gone and it will seem empty & quiet standing at my sink without the constant comings and goings.  I've learned to take my binoculars on my evening walk as a pair of great horned owls are feeding three young in a cottonwood tree along the lake in our neighborhood.  That is really a sight to watch.  Yesterday I also happened to be at one of my old stomping grounds for a photo shoot and there were tons of baby Canadian geese parading around with proud but extremely protective parents.  All this new life made me think of a spring card I had published quite a few years back.  I used one of my photos inside the Anna Griffin bird frame.  The eggs (although they look blue like Robin eggs in the scan) were actually finch eggs from a nest built in a basket right outside my front door.  I'm happy to say all four eggs hatched and all four babies left the nest.  It makes me sad when anything other than that happens. 

On a random side note, I've always wondered why mother's sing the lullaby to their babies that I referenced in my post title?  It could be quite tragic with the cradle falling down and all.  Traumatic & scary at the very least??  I remember thinking about the words when singing it to my own spring baby and I promptly quit. Interesting, huh?

In hot pursuit

One energizing morning (spent amidst a horiculture wonderland known as a Botanic Garden) = new passions spawned.  For me, it's all about the Alliums.  I have decided I *need* more of these luscious bulbs in my spring landscape.  They seem so versatile, tucked into a variety of nooks and crannies (as well as beautiful groupings), amidst a multitude of different backdrops, carrying each off with aplomb.  I will have to become more knowledgeable about the varieties as I had no idea what some of them were and the one frustrating aspect of our visit was not everything was marked.  Also, take a little notebook for jotting down names, etc., as it's all too much to remember, no matter how great you "think" your memory is....   I believe the first photo is of an Allium Christophii???  The second photo, an Allium I am much more familiar with seeing but still don't know the name.

 

And finally this intriguing little beauty which I *must* have dangling around my garden.  I simply must! 

A fabulous day altogether as after the Botanic Gardens, we popped over for a quick peek around the Smith and Hawken store (always fun) then ended up at a greenhouse in hopes of finding some of the plants on our newly formed wish list.  No luck there but a trip to the greenhouse is never wasted! 

What's in a Name?

Leave it to my daughter to select a hybrid tea rose labeled "Mis Behavin' as her gift to me for Mother's Day!  She said it was aptly named for all the shenanigans she's put me thru!!  lol  Who couldn't love logic like that?!  I'll be trying to figure the perfect spot to plant it today.  Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there.  Hope it's a beautiful day for you to enjoy.

Sweet Surprise

Yesterday I received the most wonderful, totally unexpected, early Mother's Day gift ~ a pot, filled to the brim, with a generous assortment of Mrs. Fields cookies.  Peanut butter, chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia, raisin oatmeal and sugar.  Yum!  Oh my, I think I'm in heaven.  The pot was wrapped in cellophane and tied with a gorgeous celadon dot ribbon when I pulled it from the box.

Inside the pot, the cookies were all individually packaged.  Of course, a couple of cookies were unsealed and sampled on sight!  I just wish I was eloquent enough to describe how scrumptiously soft & delicious they are but I don't have the gastronomic knowledge to do them justice.  This is the first gift I've ever received from Mrs. Fields, but now I can highly recommend it.  If you're still searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift, maybe this is it??  Doubly so, if she's a gardener too!  Thank you Tom, Diane (and Janae) for making my Mother's Day very special.  That was so thoughtful and much appreciated. I will truly savor every bite.

Now how am I going to keep myself from devouring the entire pot of cookies?!! 

making a list

Todays schedule:  greenhouse hopping.  I'm already buzzing with excitement.  What is it about going somewhere you love that gets your insides all atwitter?  I have a few things to get done before leaving and I can hardly focus for thinking about the day!  I'm always on the lookout for great perennials (tho my beds are bursting) and my head is swarming with container combo ideas to try if I can find the right mixes.  I hope I'm not disappointed in the selection since it's a little early (we aren't past our last frost date yet) but I know it will be a good day regardless. 

Have a great weekend too!

ding dong

A little peek at yesterdays project...

A bigger peek...

 

and finally, Ta da!  the whole project.  So much fun running around hanging these up this AM.  We've never done that before.  I cut a few daffodils to put in the cones since they (and the tulips) are about all I have blooming right now and I couldn't bear to part with the tulips.  Selfish girl, huh?!!  I wonder how many people are aware of the origins of May Day?  I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I wasn't.  I always thought May Day was a light hearted, frivolous holiday until I googled it.  WOW, am I ever glad it's a calendar mention.  I love having Saturdays off and that 8 hours is the legal workday (although I hardly ever work only eight hours!)  It really could be a second Labor Day holiday.  All this time, I never knew...  Next year maybe we'll erect our own May Pole, I always wanted to twirl around one of those!! 

Easter nostalgia

It's Easter Sunday.  A beautiful day here.  Hope that's true where you are too.  Sharing another papercrafting project in honor of the holiday.  This one, an Easter bag I made for my Mom using "old, old, old" K and Company products (more supplies I couldn't bear to part with).  I photocopied a picture of two of my brothers (and me) as children and inserted it inside the gorgeous daffodil frame.  Easter Sunday label is from Making Memories.   I'm thinking a variation on the theme would make a lovely Mother's Day gift as well.   Enjoy the day.

"eggs"tra short

  A quick post this AM as I'm runnning behind.  Sharing Easter eggs my daughter & I dyed yesterday.  Nothing fancy about the dye, plain old Paas brand, but after they dried is when the fun really got started.  We rummaged thru my papercrafting supplies to decorate the eggs and that was enjoyable on both counts.  Rub on letters sure beat a wax pencil for style (or maybe I just never learned to use it properly)?!  Happy Good Friday!!

to grandmothers house we go

across the country & thru the mail....   oh wait, kinda the wrong jingle for the season!  lol  Spent some time yesterday making chocolate chip eggnog balls for my granny.  These are her favorite.  I usually ship them to her (with fudge) at Christmas but this past holiday I ran out of time.  I promised I'd send a box later so now making good on that.  I have no idea why I couldn't get them done over the holidays??  They are SO easy to make, no cooking involved, just mixing.  Perplexing why they are called "eggnog balls" tho ~ eggnog is NOT an ingredient?!  If you'd like to try them out sometime, here's the 411:  6 oz cream cheese, 4 cups confectioners sugar, 1 Tbsp heavy cream, 1 tsp brandy extract, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 1/4 cups finely chopped pecans.  Mix all ingredients together, except pecans.  Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet, chill for 5 mins, roll into balls & coat with pecans.  Voila!  The felt basket came from Hallmark, I added the flower & pink polka dot brad.  Hope they put a smile on her face.  :-)   Happy St Patrick's Day!!  Remember to wear green to avoid getting pinched, or not, if you like that sort of thing.