Happy Sunday

Much cooler today and love it.  A fine Spring day with bursts of soft rain and then the sun comes out again and everything looks so much greener.
I need to get back out there because thunder storms are in the forecast.

Only after three days this large Azalea has just started to really put out the flowers.
Each new day brings more blooms

I have been trimming the holly away from it.  We removed quite a few of them and now I want this one gone.  Too messy and pollen is horrible so close to the house.

In the early morning I come out with coffee and the Grand daddy's beard as I call it has perfumed the air.  Fringe tree is what I hear most often it called.

Peonies through the gate

See that planter, summer will be over when I finally decide on where I really want it.  You can see the weeds are flourishing along with grass that needs another cutting.

I started these squash from seed about 4 weeks ago.  The pink pot is sunflower I started from seed also. 

Lemon balm for my tea.

I have been snipping the spinach for my salads as you can see.  This stuff comes back pretty fast. 

Bush cukes.  I have more planted and will put one in my planter, when I decide on where to place it.

Nasturtium coming up in this pot beside the little zinnia. 

romaine lettuce with sweet frog

I purchased this at Lewis Ginter Garden shop and it's just so pretty glistening in the sun.

Another "had to have" purchase from the shop.  It's just so pretty I thought.   I will place a plant or some books in it.

til next time.

It's what's blooming

At the height of bloom are the azaleas and dogwoods.   Not much longer before they will be gone.  Here are a few.  

The first one is a bee busy collecting pollen that Annette captured.  She was showing me his hind legs and how they were heavy with pollen to take back to the hive.

My pitiful looking Iris plants.  I used to have a black one and now for the last two years it hasn't bloomed.  The soil is not right.

Pink dogwood

I zoomed way in for this one.  Just a beautiful tree

front yard against the fence

An area at the side fence that needs tending.  These wildflowers are so pretty in clumps around the yard.

I don't know what they are called.

Perfect lavender petals

Here is the large azalea next to drive.  This one must be almost 40 years old.  It's huge. 

Grand daddy's beard, as I have heard it called forever.  Fringe tree.  Iris's not doing well and need to be moved.

St. Frances is a little hidden here.  

Peonies ready for a show.

That's it for now.

Tattered flag retired

Steve purchased a new flag and had to retire the old one respectfully.  Perfect time was when the girls visited with their Mom and Annette on Monday.
Opa digging

each one had to dig and had the process explained to them

Genevieve had to dig a few shovels too

o.k. it's time

looks like two holes here

Genevieve placing it in the ground

Time for pledge of allegiance led by our Veteran Opa.

Most important children learn respect for our flag early on.  They were taught on Monday a lot more.

Weekend visit

Annette came for a visit on Friday and left this morning.   So happy she was here but sure do miss her as soon as she starts to pull out of the driveway for her home.
We had a very good time starting with Friday evening.  She and Adalyn watched Sponge Bob.  Adalyn loves that show.

 I don't think either knew I was taking a picture of them both.

Annette painted this picture of this little owl.  When I first saw him months ago at her house, I just loved him right away.  His pretty eyes and he just made me smile.  She and her husband salvaged wood  from their very old barn and made the frame for it.  They did a great job.  I love him sitting on the mantle in the den.   I do like these weathered barn board frames.

We roasted dogs on the grill Sunday and everyone enjoyed it.

Brats on grill for steve

We had macaroni salad, cabbage, carrots, succotash, watermelon, hot dogs,  Kielbasa.
I made a cheese cake.  I could not find the bottom to my spring form pan.  So I had to use this deep pie dish.  It worked just perfect.  No crust on this cheese cake.  I used 24 ounces cream cheese with butter whipped together.
Then 5 eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, almond extract, lemon juice.  Was supposed to have a cup of sour cream but all I had left was about 6 T.  so I used some heavy whipping cream in there instead.   I put all of this into a greased dish.   Baked at 300 degrees for two hours and about 10 minutes more in a deep tray of water.  Turned out perfect and I will make the same way next time.  Very creamy and I love the flavor of almonds.

Annette baked this lemon tart.  She ground very fine oven roasted almonds and added teaspoons of butter with a little flour.  The crust baked until set in 400 degree oven, the time I am not sure of .  She used about 4 lemons and saved the rinds.  The juice from the lemons she placed in blender and ground the rind from one lemon in blender with juice.She had to add some bottled lemon juice in addition to fresh squeezed lemon juice to have  enough liquid for the tart.  Cooked in pan with 5 egg yolks and added a little butter and sugar. When thickened she place in baked crust and cooked twenty minutes more.  DELICIOUS Tart!

Oh yeah, Adalyn lost her first tooth.  The two on bottom are ready to come out also.