Kaseys Korner

Thanksgiving weekend

Scurrying would pretty much sum up my entire holiday weekend, which makes me wonder how everyone else has been spending their time.  Is it relaxing for you?  Do you try to get a jump on Christmas decorating/cards/etc., during this time?  Go to movies?  I'd love to hear.  I usually do the Christmas stuff although I never go out shopping on Black Friday.  That is SO not enjoyable for me, no matter what deals there are to be "had."  The weather has been cold and blustery so it's been perfect for indoor activities, like putting up trees.  Here's a peek of the top of one:

 

As you can see, it's the black tree you first saw at Halloween now completely re-themed.  I ended up with a lot of green, a little blue, and many "nature" ornaments (birds, bird nests, butterflies, etc.)  It's coming together nicely and when I'm satisfied, I'll share a full length photo with you.  Another thing I managed to get accomplished was planting the Narcissus 'Inbal' bulbs for forcing:

 

It took loading the photo onto the computer to see I had a wee bit too much water in the container.  I don't want the bulbs to rot so I poured a slight bit out.  These will be fun to watch during the month of December too.  I also checked on my other amaryllis bulbs (saved from previous years) that are spending some quiet dormant time (in a dark, little used closet).  Several are already pushing up bloom stalks, to my surprise.  I wonder what the secret is to getting them all to bloom at once?  They are treated exactly the same, but certainly develop at their own pace.  I loved the display Martha created with many blooming bulbs around her fireplace hearth in the December issue of Martha Stewart Living.  Did any of you see it?   I'm thinking that would have to be created with all new bulbs?  Okay, enough rambling for the day.  I'm off to relax today, I promise.  It is Sunday afterall and the last day of the holiday weekend so it's time.

on my wish list

We are making holiday wish lists at our house.  My daughter subscribes to the "shoot for the moon" style (I wonder where she gets that?!!) with big ticket items like swimming pools and horses topping her list.  NOT happening but I told her we can write anything down.  I'm a good one to talk because guess what's on mine?  This lovely rose arbor (along with a greenhouse, a pond and new flooring):

 

Okay, I guess she gets her list making style from me!  But wouldn't a smaller version look wonderful in my backyard (where the arbor is currently)?  I envision it covering the small flagstone walkway that connects the back patio area with the yard:

 

It would have to extend out onto the lawn but that's fine.  What a perfect framework for the pond (wishing hard for that one) that lies just beyond.   I think we both need a quick reality check.  The current arbor will frame the pond just as well, won't it?  It's just so fun this time of year to talk about dreams and write them down.  Because you never know... seeing is believing. 

Gratitude petal style

I had meant to post a Thanksgiving card prior to the holiday but with the unexpected opening of the amaryllis, the shopping expedition with my friend, etc., etc., it kept getting pushed back.  If you'll humor me this morning, I'll go ahead and post one belatedly:

It's never too late to express appreciation, is it?  To switch things up, I created a round base for this card instead of a traditional square or rectangular one.  The flowers, buttons, raffia stitching, etc., were layered together then white rub on's were applied to the black chipboard flower petals to spell out what we were giving thanks for that particular year.  You can see the layering better in this close-up:

(I'm too lazy this AM to look up the exact issue, but this card was published in CardMaker magazine several years ago)  We counted our blessings yesterday and many of the same items listed then were on our list this year.  For some things in life, there are just never too many ways or too many times to say thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

May your blessings be plenty and your gratitudes many.  Back to blogging tomorrow.

just in time

for Thanksgiving, my 'Night Star' Amaryllis has decided to bloom:

 

Wasn't that remarkably fast??  (It was started shortly after Halloween).  Here's another look with the pink center in focus:

 

Spectacular!!  As an added bonus, it has also pushed up a second bloom stalk.  However; the other "exotic" looking Amaryllis (planted at the same time) 'Sumatra' is not showing any signs of life.  I guess we wait and see.  Hopefully it's just slow.  The two 'Red Lion' bulbs that are included in this container (early Christmas gift from my friend, remember?) will be blooming shortly too.  It looks like I will be giving thanks for a plethora of Amaryllis tomorrow along with everything else.  Now I must get into the kitchen or we will be doing all that in front of empty plates!  Not a good thing.

room with a view

Everybody wants one, right?  The sought after "view" could be mountains, water, whatever.  My choice view includes pink roses.  From early summer to late fall the two 'Henry Kelsey'' climbing roses planted underneath the dining room window produce a spectacular display of pink:

 

Absolutely delightful to wake up to, perfect dining companions and even better evening consorts.  This year, for the first time, I deadheaded all the spent roses after the first flush (early July) and was rewarded with a second, equally magnificent display that lingered well into fall.  After that kind of success, I will be repeating the pruning again in years to come.  Just because the blooms are over now, doesn't mean the view has dwindled, it's just changed.  Replacing the flowers are gorgeous hips (I wish someone would say that about mine!), which start off green:

 

but turn fairly quickly to a deep burnished orange:

 

No one can say that is any less fabulous a view now can they?!!  My milk delivery man told me once his grandmother makes jelly out of the hips and Nancy of Soliloquy, gave a wonderful tutorial this fall on using them for tea.  I wish I could cut them and try either but they provide so much winter interest it's difficult for me to think of doing so.  It's wonderful to know the view is functional as well as pretty to look at tho ~ isn't that a rare combination?!

Sundays loot

I'm running behind this Monday morning ~ why does that always happen on a Monday??  Before I delve into projects for the day, I want to share the loot of my outing yesterday.  You knew we would have to visit a greenhouse, didn't you?  Two girls with a shared interest in gardening, cannot get together without a greenhouse visit, right?!!  I actually didn't buy much, surprise, surprise!  I was completely enthralled by some "mammoth" amaryllis bulbs tho and when I say "mammoth" that is no stretch of the truth.  The bulbs were the size of salad plates.  The largest and most beautiful I've ever seen.  It was hard to leave them but at $30.00 a piece, I resisted temptation and decided my money was better served elsewhere.  I'm thinking now I had a fever??  There's no other explanation as I wanted one so badly!  I consoled myself by buying five Narcissus 'Inbal' bulbs for indoor forcing.  The sign said they were new for 2008 and supposedly fragrant.  Worth a try.  Of course I will share them with you in a later post.  Here's what I can share:

 

Bought at Lowes for $3.00 ~ can you believe it??!!  Don't tell my Mom tho because it will most likely end up in her stocking!  I couldn't believe the assortment of colors nor the price.  How is that possible?  Here's another look:

 

How nice to have this little spot of color on my credenza.  Perks me right up and starts the week out on such a fabulous note.  Now I better scoot and get some work done.  Thanks for the great day my friend. 

Sunday stand-ins

I'm headed out of town this bright Sunday morning.  Gonna have a little fun with a fellow gardening friend.  On the off chance you might miss me, I'm leaving the pumpkin people behind to keep you company:

 

They are a fine family and extremely good at listening.  Feel free to tell them anything you'd tell me.  ;-)  

the wonder of it all

Many of you may remember how I took the advice of Benjamin (from the Deep Middle blog) and scattered the asclepias seeds along my semi rural county road.  Knowing me as you do now, you would also guess that I'd never do such a thing without taking photos first!  Nature has a way of making you marvel at its intricacies if you even hesitate to think about them.  Seed pods are no exception.  From gorgeous flowers:

 

to fresh green, newly developed seed pods:

 

Culminating with ripened pods, waiting for the wind to finish the disbursement.   I love how carefully the seeds are all stacked (when the pods first crack):

 

It only takes a little puff of wind to disturb the preciseness of how they're layered within the pod:

 

another gust and it's all over:

they are off, on their own:

hopefully landing where they can germinate and repeat the cycle.  Oh, the wonder of it all.  Amazing, isn't it?   

a bright spot of color

Thank goodness for my neighbors tree.  It's like a beacon, glowing against the dreary, gray, overcast skies this Friday morning.  The only tree in the vicinity with any foliage left on it:

 

I'm on a mission now to find out its identity and plant one of my own.  I'd love to have its brilliant foliage beautifying my property too.  The leaves have long been gone off all the trees and shrubs in my yard.  Yesterday our high was 35 ~ a whopping change from our balmy 78 degrees of two days prior.  It was a rough adjustment.   If you look beyond the tree, in the photo background, you can make out the lake (whose color practically mirrors the sky) but the foothills and Rocky Mountains are completely engulfed in the low hanging clouds.  Yesterday I put the heater back in the birdbath.  It was a good decision.  There has been much activity surrounding it this morning where otherwise it would be frozen and useless to the birds.  I'm slowly coming around to accepting the season.  I drag and drag and drag my feet against it, wanting to hang on to summer long after its over.  There's no going back now, I'm resigned.   I hope there is a bright spot of color in your Friday...