Of tomato bondage and grass knuckles.......

Is this for when we are angry, in a green sort of way?


Do we really think we have to "improve" Mother Nature? Like this?



What does this say? What is it for? Why? Is one for a casual party, the other for evening events?




Please noooooo

Beef Contest For the Heart

The Kansas Beef Council has stated May is Beef Month and in honor of that they are doing the Kansas City Heart Walk this morning. Now I cannot make it down there, however I will definitely do some walking this morning. But they would also like to reward one lucky reader by giving them a $20 Hy-Vee gift card. Here are a few beef facts you may not know:· There are 29 cuts of lean beef, each with

Join the Kansas City Start! Heart Walk

Have you heard of the Kansas City Start! Heart Walk? If you haven't you should head on down and check it out. It officially begins in a few minutes, however the walk doesn't start until 9 am Central time.Fee: Free event.Participants are encouraged to collect donations.Location: Theis Park 47th & Oak(3 blocks east of the Country ClubPlaza)Kansas City, MO 64111The 2009 Kansas City Start! Heart Walk

Birds in the Garden

Robin's NestMay 26, 2009It is very important to attract a wide variety of birds to your garden and I have written about attracting birds to our gardens before (here). Ideally at some point you should notice a bird of prey if you are going about attracting birds to your garden in the correct manner. At that point you should give yourself a bit of a pat on the back. What you have accomplished is

Wordless Wednesday: Graduation

SoccerBoy going up to get his Certificate of Completion of Elementary School. My little Graduate! So proud and not very happy that mom is making him get his pic. Happy WW!

Memorial Day Activities

Wow, I'm so behind in posting about my life. As always we did honor Memorial Day, I know ya'll didn't think we'd let that day slip right past. Of course we enjoyed a BBQ, but not before we (kids and I) stopped over at the cemetary and thanked all those that have served in the military. The hubby stopped off at the store before the kids and I went over and got us 3 dozen roses, which we would lay

SoccerBoy's 6th Grade Graduation

SoccerBoy graduated 6th grade last night (May 26,2009) which for those wondering, it means he has completed elementary school and is moving into Jr.High in the fall. Which also means momma's first born is now almost grown which is the weirdest feeling of all. Last night, as we drove up to the store before his graduation I was stuck in that time warp. I kept thinking of all those things in the

The original Edward Scissorhands

England...........is beckoning.


Annually, I guide a small group through rural England visiting public and private gardens. This is my favorite, Bourton House, in the enchanting Cotswolds.


The first owner, Richard Palmers initials still bear witness in the dedication stone of 1570 on the Tithe barn. Today, this private home and garden, all designed by the current owner is open to pre-booked groups and on her website bourton house.



Everywhere are new areas to discover, formal, woodland, whimsical and tropical all giving homage to the throne.
Who else could have created such boxwood magic but the head gardener Paul, a descendant of Edward. My favorite is the boxwood sheared to resemble a rope. Thought this would be easy, sort of............let me know if you have noticed this at the shop gardens, you would be the first.




Lead cisterns make for excellent containers. Note the array of colored foliage which makes for a more interesting composition.


I have watched Paul at work, asked questions, studied..........to no avail. What a testament to a man, his string and his pruners.

ps, there is room on this years trip in September!

Table Gating Party Giveaway

Kim Burton, wife of Nascar Driver Jeff Burton, has teamed up with Libby's Vegetables and she is sharing her tips on how she eats dinner 3 nights a week with her family. For those that may not know or haven't read my post: Interview with Kim Burton, Jeff Burton is the CAT driver (#31). Libby's wrote me and asked if I would like to have a giveaway in honor of their very own contest "Table-Gating

Stone as Art

When we think of adding stone to the garden it is usually in a utilitarian format;walls, steps, paths.
The mastery of stone building is an ancient craft of which I have great respect. As time goes on I will have many topics on stone, but in today's post I wish to share images of using stone solely in an artistic manner.

Creative pass-thru

For the kids.......

Love this! Slate patio squares cut bolted into a planter.

The 'old world' look, or the "I did it myself" ps; personally I prefer the 'tumble any minute' versus machine cut, stack by numbers look.

More of I did it myself! Perfect for alpine plants.

The blend of stone and architectural elements, an artistic marriage of form and function.

Skinny Cow Ice Creams...Delicious

Okay I'm not going to lie when MomCentral first emailed me to see if I'd like to review the Skinny Cow (low fat) ice creams I said yes, with all intentions to have the kids try them. Today though, I couldn't help but want one. You know they look just the same as the "fattening ice cream," just as delicious and smooth. After passing out the first two I couldn't resist and took one for myself. I

Interview with Kim Burton

Earlier today I got the privledge of interviewing Kim Burton, wife to Jeff Burton, Nascar Driver. Kim has teamed up with Libby's Back to the Table and help moms on the go or just pressed for time. She will do this by sharing with us her favorite recipes and tips on how to get the kids all to sit down at the same time and enjoy the meal, even when they don't like what's at the table.How many of

Quotes

I collect quotes, I know, I know, why not designer shoes, garden gnomes, famous autographs..............

Well............quotes are free and I seek out those that are meaningful. In later posts I will share examples of how quotes are used in my home.



Here is my favorite quote artist, Moso. The contemporary/folk art quality of her work combined with moving quotes makes for a stunning combination.
Today we received a new shipment of Moso's work, all thought provoking and moving. Can't come in? Let us know we can always send you photo's.

I will end today's post with a quote on a wedding invitation that I loved. I think I will ask Moso to put this on a board.

"There are things you do because they feel right and they make no sense
and they make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: To love each other and to eat each other's cooking and say it was good."
-brian andreas

Contest Alert: Table Gating Recipe Contest

First, I will be announcing my own giveaway in a few hours but I wanted to let ya'll know about the one that Libby's is doing. The Table Gating recipe contest is for any of ya'll that have a nutrious recipe that you are willing to share. Not only are their 5 really great prizes but you are helping other mothers/fathers out that can't think of any new meal ideas.Fill out the entry form here: (http

Collin County tax rolls shrink with economy

By ED HOUSEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News

High-flying Collin County has been grounded.

Property values here, which have surged throughout the decade, are now flattening or declining, according to appraisal records.

Countywide, taxable values have dropped slightly less than 1 percent, but some cities and school districts have seen larger dips. As a result, they may have to cut spending, reduce services or raise taxes. A county that once seemed immune from downturns has been jolted by the dismal national economy.

Even Frisco, which routinely posted double-digit appraisal increases, has joined its neighbors in the malaise. Its tax base in Collin County dropped from 2008, according to preliminary figures from the Collin Central Appraisal District.

Full Story

Collin County Foreclosures show decline

May 20, 2009 -

By Aleshia Howe

Just in time for the start of the home buying season, new reports show residential foreclosure numbers in Collin County and surrounding areas are on the decline – but so are home sales prices.

The first quarter of 2009 showed an 11.9 decrease in the number of new foreclosures compared to the same time last year, according to the Collin County Association of Realtors. The CCAR Pulse, which studies the 36 real estate markets of 36 local communities, also showed more than 25 percent of area homes sold in the first quarter were foreclosure listings – up 19 percent from the same time last year.

In a separate report, Addison-based Foreclosure Listing Service Inc., a company that tracks foreclosure postings and auctions in 19 Texas counties, tallied a 13 percent drop in Collin County foreclosures from May 2008 to May 2009.

Full story

Wordless Wednesday

She's growing up, that's all I have to say. :(She starts kindergarten this fall. Happy WW, I'm off to field day at the school. Kids are getting wet at the park.

Pepsi Throw Winner

Wow the stories were great, I loved reading all the memories. Have you all found the new Pepsi bottle? I haven't yet and I'm looking everywhere. :( The winner of the pepsi throw is.....What a great giveaway! My favorite memory of Pepsi during the 70's is the USBicentenninal Celebration in July 1976. My friends and I were 18 and had justgraduated from high school. We all went to the local parade

Tulipa tarda

Tulipa tardaMarch 26, 2009The mystery plant has been identified! Thanks so much to those who commented on the previous post as well those who helped through email and Twitter. I appreciate your help very much in identifying this plant.It is Tulipa tarda a dwarf tulip species. It is a member of the lily family (Liliaceae). These tulips are planted in clumps along with daylilies to protect them

ahhhhhhhhh

Not really small, but the designs of these rooms are done really well. Simple, crisp, clean and to the point. The way decor should be!!

Please Help Identify

"Unknown"March 26, 2009Please Help Identify: Oh the joys of moving into a home with overgrown gardens and still discovering new plant varieties as we continue our quest to tame the jungle. We have several patches of this unknown plant. I think it is a daylily based on the leaves and flower appearance. The flower is two tone yellow with six petals, 3 on 3 on a single stem. The flower is about

Drive-by's

As a child I would do the "are we there yet?" or "my sister is touching me!" bit. But mostly was self entertained watching the homes we drove past. Never overly impressed by size but by the details.

I will confess to a serious case of spring fever my senior year in high school. My friend and I arrived at school, glanced at the exit and promptly left for a day of driving around the 'north shore' of Chicago to look at houses.

The tone was set.............

The love of good architecture allows me the freedom of wandering and allowing myself to get lost. See this charming home above, discovered from a wrong turn.

Set in the enchanting micro neighborhood of 'Lockerbie Square' in Indianapolis is a historic neighborhood of bricked alleys, small homes, lovely gardens and interesting architecture.

What is not to love about this home? It evokes a warm and cozy charm, one-of-a-kind details, great color scheme and a sedate garden that enhances but does not detract.

ps; it is for sale!

Wordless Wednesday: The Slide

We hit the park this weekend. Can you see they love the slide? He would actually hold the bar above and yell "wee" before dropping down. Happy WW!

Weekend, storms and College

Boy it has been a great month of May, as many of you know May is one (not the one, but one) of my favorite months. I mean who can't love May, the month to celebrate moms and mother nature and watch new life spring up right? Okay yes I'm a bit sentimental but I don't care. It's just amazing to watch the snow thaw and see these tiny green buds come open on trees and eggs burst into baby birds.This

Mother's Day Jiffy Lube Winner.....

By the way the first winner could not win due to leaving off an email: (bike story on the front of the car)So the new winner is......pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)netI live on a piece of property where the driveway slants downhill and thereis a retention pond across the street.One day when getting out of my van mytoddler son told me that my van was rolling backwards down my driveway and thenmy

Mother's Day Winners (Clorox)

Random Integer GeneratorHere are your random numbers:4Timestamp: 2009-05-11 17:01:17 UTCI drew my mom a picture of our dog, and she got it framed and amtted and stillhangs on the wall #posted by MOMFOREVERANDEVER : 2:07 AM But since I am late posting this I am giving away one more: #15My mother has always been quite the seamstress. She sewed most of our clothingwhen we were little. We didn't

Giveaway & Review: Evenflo Comfort Select

I have four children, each of which were breastfed babies. Obviously I have nothing against breastfeeding and would encourage it if asked, this does not mean I frown on those that can't or don't. With all four of my babies (yes I still call them that) I had dealings with all types of boob talk, by this I mean breasts leaking in public, spilled milk, the pump, breast pads, etc. If it dealt with

Inside Out

One of our important design elements that sets the tone for a landscape is to come inside the residence. We ask to look out the windows, all the important windows and view from many angles.

A window can frame a beautiful setting. Maybe that scene has yet to be created. Pay close attention to what that view would be like all four seasons.

How about concealment? Does a main window look out on neighbors garbage cans, a massive boat or the inevitable weed patch? Often times what appears to be an obstacle will stretch your imagination and provide a creative solution you might never have thought of.

So start inside and create a lovely scene, one that will be looked upon more often than all others combined.


Now that is a view!

Jiffy Lube Giveaway for Mother's Day

How many of you have ever needed your car worked on/repaired/etc? I'll never forget the time my husband was overseas (Iraq) and I had some problems with my vehicle. You may remember me talking about it making really funny noises and finally convincing some Marine to look under my hood. He had told me I needed to pop off the thing with the cap, I remember doing this and a bunch of HOT green stuff

Wordless Wednesday: Waiting to Eat

This is BabyGirl coloring on her menu as we wait to eat. There was just something about this picture. I just love it! Happy WW! Dont' forget to scroll down and enter my giveaways.

When the Dryer Breaks...

The words I never, ever want to hear again are, "Mom, the dryer doesn't spin" or "Mom, I did the clothes two times and they are all still wet." Eeek, I know this can't be good. Yes, the dryer quit working for us and this was after I had piles of laundry waiting for me and one that was actually in the dryer and another waiting to be dried. So what do you do in a situation like this? Normally a

Mother's Day Giveaway

Clorox recently sent me one of their brand new Disinfecting Wipes (lemon fresh scent) in the new dispensers. First, I love Clorox because I know it cleans everything and with all these scares these days I prefer to wipe everything down. You might remember me talking about the "Clorox Wipes" back in May 2008 but now with these little canisters (dispensers) they are cute and convenient. They've

Boxwood Envy

What is not to love, except your frequent appointment with the pruners?

This pure fantasy is Chateau de Courances in France, which no doubt has a head gardener. Personally I am taken with the organic color scheme; varying shades of green and earth tones.

This is what my eye sees

*the severe clip of the boxwood "rooms" and the looseness of it's interior flowers. I love opposing elements.
*the shutter and door shades mirror colorways of the gardens
*the pea gravel walk echoes the brick tones of the chateau
*notice how the walkway does not go directly to the front door, forcing one to slow down
*presenting an interesting and complex design in the front of the home

What does the front of your landscape say about you?

Contact Homemom3

For those of you that want to be able to reach me without having to pop up another screen and email me at homemom3@gmail.com you can use the form below. id = 20583; clr = "FFFFFF-181515-121111-FCFBFB";

I LOVE Borders Bookstore

Okay two nights ago the family and I all went out to our now favorite restaurant "Chili's." We had a fun time and it was definitely worth the amount we spent and I can see us going again in the future, but maybe not this month. We've went twice, the first time we had servers that didn't want to serve us because of us having four children. They automatically assumed we would have disruptive

School's Almost Out

Guess what? The kids only have 17 more days of school left. EEEEKKK! By the way this is school days not actual days but I'm sure if I asked the kids they'd tell me exact days. How many of you remember the count down to the last day of school? I remember counting down not only the last day but those last few minutes until it got to seconds. We'd all sit there and watch the clock and then count

White Kitchens

White is a great choice for kitchen cabinets. It reflects light and brightens up the space. If your feeling bold, paint your cabinets white. It will make any small space seem much larger!