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Friday, July 3, 2015

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LOT OF THAT

I just don't know where my time goes, but it flies by way to quickly.  This post is of my garden before the drought really set in and before we were on water restrictions.  Now it looks so bad that I won't even show you pictures of it.  Just trying to keep everything alive.  I could care less about the grass - it can die, but not my roses and flowers.


These roses are on the back side of  the house and are such a pretty color.  They give me lots of
roses.


This rose smells so good, just like the old fashion roses.


This bed is by the fence so I worked it and put in Sunflowers and Hollyhocks with some little daisy's.

This is what it looks like now.  The one Sunflower had a big flower at the top and more are coming on the sides.
My vegetables which did good at first, but now most of the tomatoes are pitiful.



A few of my herbs that I keep on a stand so the dogs don't go digging around looking for lizards.


My garden bench out in the veggie garden.


Some more of my roses ..... and flowers in the back yard.




The Iris's did terrible not many blooms at all.  Some of the plants did not produce blooms at all.  What a disappointment.



My Daisy patch in the front yard.


See how pitiful my hydrangeas are.  I was so disappointed as I wait all year for them to bloom. 


One thing I can count on are my sweet little Hummers.  Always there to greet me everyday and waiting for me to fill up their feeders.


Now the Golden Finches are eating out of the Hummingbird feeders.  This is the female - not so pretty, but the male, WOW he is beautiful.  I can never get a pictures of him - guess he is shy.


My little Hummer is looking at the Finch  and saying "Are you crazy, this is ours"


Many of your probably already know that Julie and I met while she was out in California on vacation.
She is Julie from Julies Lifestyle.  What a lovely person she is - so kind and sweet.  We had a grand time eating out on the upper patio at the Cheesecake Factory.  We had Shelia's Salad, which was excellent.  If your ever at a Cheesecake Factory get that salad, but don't get the regular one.  We got the smaller one and could hardly eat all of that.  We passed on the Cheesecake when we found out that there were 1,500 carbs in one slice.  But it sure looked GOOD.



Here we are, a little wind blown, but oh such fun.....

Here is a little tablescape that Zoie and I put together for the Fourth of July.  I have been watching her as her grandma was out of town taking care of a friend that has cancer.  Zoie is 10 years old and is a delightful little girl and very Fashionable. 
We had so much fun shopping for 4th of July decorations for the table.  She was a big help.



A place setting using a lot of dishes and decorations that I've had.  The napkins are from the 99 Cent  Store and are T towels.


See the Coasters on the table - Julie gifted me them and they are red, white and blue and an American flag.  I just love them - thank you again Julie.


Here is Mr. Liberty gracing the center of the table.  Got him last year at Michael's with a 40% discount coupon and did a Happy Dance all the way out the store.


Excuse the picture as I was trying to show you how these sicks light up - from the Dollar Tree and they are really cool.


Zoie and I put together this Sweet Table.  Red, White and Blue Jelly Beans,  Red Hots, 4th of July cookies and Peppermint Sticks.



Waldo was in the way, so we had to step over him the whole time we were decorating the table.  He does not do well with Fireworks.  I have to tranquilize him, or he gets really up set.  He looks like he is stoned.


Just a few flags on the front porch along with a red throw.

My wreath on the front door.

Sorry this is such a long post, but I'm having fun "Living My Life" and doing fun things.  I'm not letting any grass grow under my feet.

Waldo, Lili and I wish all of you a very wonderful Happy 4th of July.

Mary

I do love all the comments and try to answer them all.


41 comments:

  1. Great 4th of July tablescape and decor - it is wonderful and I hope you have a happy 4th as well. Your roses are beautiful as well. I would not complain about the hydrangeas either; they may not be at their full potential but they are still beautiful. I'd let my yard die out as well in a drought. If my husband didn't have a say in it, I'd rip out the front yard and plant rows of lavender. They can put up with dry conditions quite well.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments Stacy. Hoping that you are having a grand 4th. Way to many fireworks for me and the dogs.
      I also love Lavender and would love to kill off all the grass in front yard. It is such a water hog. Put increase the size of the flower beds with more lavender and Mexican Sage with pea gravel for a walkway.
      Again thanks so much for stopping by.
      Mary

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  2. I just got my computer back after several weeks, and I was so happy to see your post. I have tried to keep up a bit with my IPad but I found it too difficult to use post and comment. So, I am immensely happy to have my computer again.

    Oh! I love all of the decorations, they are so cleaver and cute.

    Your garden looks great, As long as you can keep the important plants going I think you will be okay. I just took out another couple of hundred feet of grass and made it into a gravel area. I still have a bit of grass and if necessary I will remove it too and put down mulch. Because of all of the changes I have made in the garden over the past two years I am in pretty good shape. My new obsession is reading the meter everyday...in the last month I have been able to cut my consumption by almost 40%. Actually I think that my garden has been more impacted by the heat than the water cutback. But it sure isn't going to be a happy summer!

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    1. Thanks for your comments. I really hate this water thing. I watch every drop and catch water when I am waiting for the shower to get hot. Have a 5 gallon watering can in there and almost fill that up waiting for hot water.
      I would love to rip out all of my grass and put in larger flower beds with Lavender and Mexican Sage with pea gravel paths. But there is no way I can do that and it's not in the budge right now.
      Sounds like you have everything under control.
      I know what you mean when the computer is on the fritz I kept getting all these pop ups where I couldn't even post or read a email. It was driving me crazy. My neighbor fixed it. Now it works really well.
      Have a Happy 4th and great week.
      Mary

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  3. Hi Mary, I love your flowers and the garden looks good. Sorry to hear about the water shortage. The birds are so cute and must be fun to watch. I love the pretty 4th of July decorations and the tablescape. It's so nice to have help decorating with Zoie! Thanks I am so glad that we met each other and I loved our salads we had. Next time we will have to split the cake between the two of us! Lol! I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July and good luck with Lili and Waldo. Take care.
    Julie xo

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet comments Julie. The firework are already driving me CRAZY and the DOGS.
      Have a wonderful 4th. Yes, next time we will have cheesecake.
      Hugs,
      Mary

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  4. Beautiful décor and table. Can't get over how much Lili and Bella look alike. Happy 4th of July to you all. So glad you are enjoying your retirement.

    Judy

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    1. Yes, they really do look alike. She is such a sweet dog and NEVER barks. She was rescued after being dumped in the desert with 7 puppies. They were all adopted out to good homes and I am sure the people that had her were very mean.to Lili. Waldo loves her very much and she loves Waldo. Like an old married couple. They did not do well with the Fireworks last night and I dread tonight.

      Had fun decorating the table with Zoie and showed her how to set a proper table. She is like a little sponge - takes it all in. Very smart girl and a whiz on the computer.
      Hope you get to have the grand daughters over to see the Fireworks. Enjoy your day and thanks for your sweet comments.
      Mary

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  5. Hi Mary,
    Beautiful table scape for the 4th. I saw that you met up with Julie. You both are such sweet hearts I bet you had a fabulous time on your meet up. Plus Cheesecake Factory yummm so good. Your roses and garden looks great. I wish we could have sent you some of the rain that we had almost everyday in the month of June. The weather everywhere is so crazy. We had April weather for June here. At least this week end it is finally drying up and giving us some warmer temps and sunshine.
    Happy 4th.
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris for your sweet comments. Yes, I wish you could have sent us some rain also. We did get about three drops from the storms in Mexico and of course the humidity - was very uncomfortable. Now the weather is back to normal.
      Julie said she is still coming back so maybe next time we can have more time together. It was 35 miles away from my home where she was staying and took forever due to Freeway traffic. I was on 6 Freeways to get there LOL. But I didn't mind that at all.it was worth the drive.
      I am still planning on a trip to VA and will get a long lay over in Chicago so hopefully we can meet up. Would love to met you, Jane and Diana (said she would drive down). Will let you know in plenty of time.
      Have a great 4th - hope Libby doesn't get afraid of the loud noises.
      Hugs,
      Mary

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  6. Hi Mary, Oh I was so excited to see your post in my inbox. Love your roses and all the gorgeous blooms in your garden. I wish I could send you all the rain we had this season. We are now ginning to dry out here and the flowers always suffer. I don't mind the grass either but my roses are my joy. Love your beautiful table for the 4th. How fun you met up with Julie. She is such a sweetheart and always such a joy to visit. Great pics of your girls. I know you had a nice lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. Love the coasters she gifted you. So pretty.
    Give Lili and Waldo puppy hugs from me. Have fun enjoying all that you are doing my friend. I know you stay really busy, but thank you for always stopping by to visit and say hello.
    Wishing you a Happy 4th of July!!
    CM

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet comments. Yes, Julie and I had a grand time talking, eating and getting to know each other. You are so right she is so sweet and nice. It was a beautiful day with a breeze coming off the bay. So sitting outdoors made for a delightful luncheon.
      So glad that you liked my post. Zoie was such a help to me and she learned how to set a proper table. Hope she isn't driving her mom crazy LOL.
      the pups are not doing well with all the fireworks - they are terrified and I have to give them medication to keep them settled.
      Have a great 4th dear friend.
      Mary

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  7. H Mary, I'm so happy to see you in the picture with your friend look like you have nice time with her, you garden and your roses are beautiful the tablescape are so cute to and waldo look nice next to the table your from porch look nice ,sorry about the weather in California in Florida is been to hot and reining.
    wishing you a Happy 4th of July!!!!!
    Blessing
    Isora
    XOX

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    1. Thanks so much for your sweet comments Isora. So glad that you liked my post.
      Have a wonderful 4th.
      Hugs,
      Mary

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  8. Your roses were gorgeous, I'm so sorry about your dry weather, glad you got a bit of enjoyment at least.
    How nice to meet blog friends in person, what a treat! So glad you are happy, healthy and enjoying life!
    Hugs and happy 4th!
    Patti

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    1. Oh Patti, thanks so much for your sweet comments. Yes, it was great meeting Julie. She is such a wonderful person and we had a lot of fun.
      Roses don't look so good now, but I am hand watering all 100 of them - what a job..
      Have a wonderful 4th.
      Mary

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  9. Hi Mary! What fun you and Julie must have had and of course the Shelia salad had to be terrific! :) How nice to have a little decorating helper in Joie! Your table and all of your patriotic decor looks wonderful! Poor little Waldo. I know how hard it is to see your little fuzzy faces get so upset with the fireworks. My little Chloe Dawn was scared to death and would try to climb up into my nose. I miss that little fuzzy face so much. Sorry about your water restrictions as I know how you love your pretty plants. Love seeing them. Happy 4th, sweet friend.
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Thanks so much Sheila for your kind comments. Yes, the Shelia salad was wonderful - chicken with lots of greens, onions, Chinese noodles, with yummy dressing.
      Poor Waldo and Lili were so upset last night, I dread tonight. They have already started with the firework at 9:22 this morning and they are not the safe and sane ones - they sound like gun shots. Scare me to death.
      Have a great 4th with your two little sweeties.
      Hugs to you dear friend.
      Mary

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  11. Oh Mary,
    I love everything about this post. Looks like you are doing pretty good with the gardening you do have....
    and your table is beautiful....
    It sure would be nice to come out and meet you one day. You are a treasured blogging friend....
    Happy Fourth to you..and your doggies....
    Love,
    Mona

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments Mona, Yes, I would love to meet you if you are ever in SO CA,
      I hope my garden will last through the summer and into October. Our hottest weather sometimes is Sept and Oct.
      Happy 4th to your and yours.
      Mary

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  12. Wow, you certainly have a green thumb! Too bad you didn't get some of our rain we just had the other night - 3 inches in a few hours, lots of flash flooding in central NY! Your 4th july table is stunning! So festive and colorful!! Hoping you get some rain soon to keep your gardens healthy! Love your blue bench, too!! I always appreciate you stopping by and your comments :-)

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    1. Thanks so much for your comments. I am afraid that my roses are going to die. I see that I have lost another one. I save all the gray water that I can and then carry out the watering cans and buckets of water in between our allotted schedule. Thanks so much for stopping by. '
      Have a great weekend.
      Mary

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  13. I really enjoyed your garden tour - he's your nickle (hee hee!)

    I am so sorry about your drought. Literally Hydrangea translates to HYDRATE so they do not tolerate drought in any way shape or form. We had pouring rain for two weeks so my hydrangea is going crazy well. Mine is pink, we have a high alkaline soil. Last year I bothered with amended the soil all sorts of organic ways to get them to turn blue - but they turned slightly blue which made a pretty bluish pink. This year with this stupid broken foot I am not fussing over the garden much, I just can't.

    What a wonderful tablescape you two made, it's so festive! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend. Hugs!

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  14. I really enjoyed your garden tour - he's your nickle (hee hee!)

    I am so sorry about your drought. Literally Hydrangea translates to HYDRATE so they do not tolerate drought in any way shape or form. We had pouring rain for two weeks so my hydrangea is going crazy well. Mine is pink, we have a high alkaline soil. Last year I bothered with amended the soil all sorts of organic ways to get them to turn blue - but they turned slightly blue which made a pretty bluish pink. This year with this stupid broken foot I am not fussing over the garden much, I just can't.

    What a wonderful tablescape you two made, it's so festive! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend. Hugs!

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    1. Thanks for your nice comments. My poor Hydrangeas are terrible, just hope they don't die.
      How on earth did you break your foot?
      So glad you liked my tablescape. Working on a new one and hopefully will gt it finished tomorrow. Lots of work to put one together.
      Take care of your self.
      Hugs,
      Mary

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  15. Mary your gardens look good!
    You should see disappointment in QC!
    Your roses are superb..
    And want fun your get together!
    Happy summer to you!

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    1. Each day the gardens look worse. I have lost two rose bushes already and my veggies are terrible. Tomorrow I am going to put them up and plant a couple of pumpkins.
      Thanks for stopping by with your kind comments. Have a great weekend.
      Mary

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  16. Pretty flowers! Pretty decorations! GORGEOUS DOGGIE!!

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  17. Your gardens are gorgeous, Mary, despite the drought! Love the roses!
    That is so funny about the finch at the hummingbird feeder. How nice that you got to meet a blogging friend!
    Poor Waldo, thankfully Katie does not mind the fireworks at all.

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    1. Thanks so much Donna, for your sweet comments. Those darn finches keeping drinking my hummers food. They look so silly hanging from a hummingbird feeder.
      When are you moving and where?
      Have a great weekend and hugs to Katie.
      Mary

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  18. Hello Mary,

    I hope you had a great 4th of July too. I do love that gorgeous tablescape celebrating the 4th. It is so fun and festive. Your roses and garden are so pretty. I can feel the sadness in your words. I know how much your garden and flowers mean to you and knowing that it has suffered from the drought makes me truly sad. I can't imagine not looking at my pretty flowers everyday. I do hope that you get some rain by you Mary.

    I was however happy to see that you made a new blog friend. How nice that you were able to spend a day together.

    Hugs,

    Janet

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    1. I hated the Fourth! The fireworks started about noon and went until 3:30 a.m. and were not safe and sound fireworks. MY poor dogs were so traumatized even with tranquilizers. Sounded like bombs or gun shots going off. They tried my last nerve. The poor dogs are still a little unsettled .
      We won't be getting any rain until probably until Oct or Nov. by then everything will be dead.
      Have a great weekend.
      Hugs
      Mary

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  19. I'm proud of you Mary! It sounds like you are a busy bee. :)

    I don't see anything pitiful in your garden. To us it looks amazing! With my own garden I tend to see the things that aren't doing as well as I'd like or that need to be pulled or trimmed. Others just see pretty.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and your kind comments. I guess we are always wishing that our gardens would be better.
      Have a great weekend.
      Mary

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  20. Hi Mary. Boy, you and Zoie sure put together an eye catching table. Good job and I think your garden is so beautiful. You have put so much work into it and what a shame Mother Nature has failed to keep it going this year, but it still looks beautiful. Poor Waldo, I recognize those red, droopy eyes. We used to do the same for Buddy. What a shame that the fireworks affects them so badly. My daughter's dogs just stand there and it doesn't faze them. Lucky..Happy Thursday..Judy

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  21. Mary,
    Thanks so much for dropping by!! What a wonderful post showing us your garden and I love those hummingbirds!! I tried a feeder once but it only attracted the bees!! And I adore your Patriotic tablescape and wreath!! You keep letting no grass grow under those feet of yours, girl!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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    1. So glad that you liked my post. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend.
      Mary

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  22. Thanks for popping in, Mary! Hope you're doing well.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Your very welcome - always like to see what you are up to.
      Hugs,
      Mary

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  23. Such a fun tablescape! My cats was also worried by the fireworks on July 4th!

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