Life On Top O' Deep

WIND

2009-11-06T11:52:00.005-07:00

Wind this AM was unbelievable...Sitting on the porch around 5 AM, the lid to the garbage can goes flying by... a gust almost blew me off the porch... I kid you not... was waiting for a cow/deer or something to go by... cracking up here...

'Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto'... The best... I love Pesto anyway, this stuff! Brilliant... just had to share...for those that have never had it...well, give it a try...

More bulbs have been planted... Spring should be Awsome this next season... Something to dream about on cold winter nights...I have no luck with Dahlia's, I will continue to try till I win... So many beautiful Dahilia blooms out there, I would love to have just a few for Stella...

Below are photos of us on Halloween...I think we all looked good, well except for Damon that bugger...didn't want to dress up...All grown up ya know... still, he put on his hat with hair...cracking up he

JULIA THE LADY BUG

HOLLY/PHOENIX/RAY

DAMON

LINA

BRENDAN

Just finished the book 'On Gardening' by Penelope Hobhouse... I enjoyed it, not sure it taught me anything, yet I enjoyed...

Keep each other warm... have some hot cocoa and cookies...

Until next time

Nothing but love Lina

NO AUTUMN THIS YEAR!

2009-10-29T12:26:00.024-06:00

I turned 54 last week, was able to get out of the house... Dee took me out to lunch,
South Gate and Rocken Rudy's... was so worn out by the time I got home... Slept most of the day Friday, not something I do...Heather
and Holly both called, Heather was in Los Vegas Nevada... She and Darren were
meeting Tracy there... a life long friend of the family... I talked to both Phoenix
and Ray... but my other little shits were at their Aunt's house (Darren's Sister) so
I didn't get a happy birthday from my Damon...
but do KNOW IN MY HEART that he said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA"... He is
the star quarter back on the team he is on... how cool is that??? Yep, pretty darn
cool... Phoenix and Ray are doing well in school... and beautiful as is Julia... Brendan and Damon, handsome as can be...Have I ever shared how proud I am of my daughters??? Well, again... I am so proud... If I left this world today, I would go knowing I left two fine GEM'S... Holly and I talked about that yesterday... How wonderful to know that both my daughters will raise my grand-children with all the right morels... Not like some I know... shaking my head at how some young people are today... I would not take back one thing I did, I was their mother... not their friend... friend comes later... For a few nights we slept at Rob's house...
For my birthday Steve put the floor in the Guest room and Hall way, that is what I
wanted... now to wash the walls, put up the new bed and return everything to it's place ... I also got a frame, candles, mints,
gum,tooth picks (why? I have no clue, still I love my friends) three pieces of
fiesta ware... money, a Candy Apple Red Cashmere sweater... as all Cashmere does, it feels so good on...and five CD'S... Three showing as Steve took two to work with
him... 'Lyle Lovett' 2 'Loudon Wainwright the third', ''Bare-naked Ladies' and
'Spear Head'... all wonderful... my favorite being the new 'Lyle Lovett'...

Below is a shot of the bear that made me break my camera...scared the crap out of me I am letting you know... Below that are two shots of the
same bear after I got my new one, wouldn't let the little shit scare me this time...
not losing another camera to that bear... the camera being an early birthday gift
from Steve...I picked out the Nikon Coolpix S 70 and I love it... will up grade once
again next year...

A friend helped me plant my fall bulbs as I needed help... Allium 'Miniature
Mix'... Two hues of pink, yellow, lavender and white in this mix... Alliums
'Allatunense',Scilla or Squill 'Siberian' heirloom 1796, Wild Hyacinths,
'Lavender' Mountain Lilies Daffodil 'Rose Of May' heirloom 1959, Crocus 'Peter Pan'
heirloom 1943, Crocus 'Jeanne D' Arc And Daffodil 'Paperwhites'...Rhonda gave me
two coneflowers, don't know what they are, but know I don't have them... I planted many things from Spring to Autumn, but just can't remember what they are unless I go back and look at my journal...Deer have
not been in my garden in four months now... Still, I will give it till the middle
of next Spring before I say we got rid of the problem... For the year 2009, I have
won the battle, the first battle since 2000...I will know by mid Spring if I won
the 'WAR'...I may be only 'ONE', but I am persistent...

A friend turned me on to Da Vinci Chianti... said for a cheap bottle it was wonderful... At twenty dollars a bottle, he had/has it right... right up there with the big guys IMHO... Dang it's good, and a new favorite of mine...

There was Huckleberry picking... and boy did we pick... found a few mother loads, picked more than any other year to date... perfect year for them, they say that next season should be as good...after making three batches of jam, I still have over a gallon in the freezer... Rhonda picking Huckleberries... Here is a photo of my copper pumpkins... I just knew Steve was going to be upset when he found out what I paid for them... guess there is something to be said for being sick...He wasn't mad at all...WOW, not Steve at all... Come on... Where's the fight, I so miss that... if I were to bite the bullet today, who would wait on him hand and foot??? OH, that would be Heather and Holly... I am so at peace with that, knowing they would take care of their dad with no questions asked... Their is something to be said about tight families... No one will ever be alone... Remember people, you have to work at these things... it was hard, but now that the girls are grown... I am so at peace with how everything turned out...
We have skipped Autumn this year, with Winter hitting us the last week of September, we have had temps up to fifty here and there, but no higher... Snow off and on all month... we have broken records for low temps this time of year...Except for the tamarack and rose hips there has been no color as the frost/cold temps killed all our color... Go figure, not feeling well, don't want to get h1n1, due to the copd and other issues I am so worried that I will get it... and I have been exposed to it... what a bummer...

So I will leave you with the Pro's and Con's of winter... Pro's... Winter is beautiful... Con's, EVERYTHING ELSE...

The 'Clear Water River' sure was pretty yesterday...

Remember that you only live once, so love hard, play hard and hug those you love often...

Until next time

Nothing but love Lina

I leave you with a few of my favorite late summer blooms...

BAD FRIEND...

2009-09-19T21:40:00.001-06:00

With what has been going on in my life these days I don't really want to blog... though 18 of my 50 friends on facebook book say they want me to continue to blog, they tell me that on facebook they just don't get a deep enough picture of what is going on in my life... and I don't ever e-mail enough they say...Don't really feel I want to share at this time... still there is enough good going on that I should...There is always good, and I always have fun... how can I not with all the love around me...My daughters and grandchildren bring happiness to my life daily, even though they are not here...I am so blessed, thought I would never have what I had in Washington State when it came to Friends (well ,except for Glen and Rhonda)...but I was wrong... I have Linda and Dee, and hope to have my new found buddies Marilyn (we will call her Marilyn two) and Connie... Except for the girls/grand's/and Steve I don't have any family and my true friends have become my family...

I have been ill... and truly am trying to stop smoking...doing better in the last few weeks than I have for months... I stopped for eight weeks, but with another smoker in the house, how easy can that be... Other things going on also, may-be I will be able to talk about that soon, but not now... it's the pits I tell you... just know that for the next year there will be no more photos of me unless they are winter photos...

Thank goodness for work, it helps keep so much off my mind...my new found friends/family have helped also...My Private nurse Lisa is fast becoming a friend and not just hired help...We even shared a bottle of wine the other day when she was off duty...

On with fun stuff... Stella has given me a show like no other year... though the fargen long legged rats ate 60 percent of her, I was able to see over 150 different blooms this season, more than any year to date here in Montana...They have not gotten in, in over 2 months now...Now that we have found a way to keep them out I am thinking of expanding once I get my 10,000 square feet done...I am tickled pink... and if I can live to see the end result, well that will be a dream come true...As Holly said on FB,"Hail Papa, the Long Rats age gone"...How Cool is that? Stella is part of my soul now that my daughters are so far away... she reminds me daily just how much I love them... How much I miss them, and how much I long to touch them , hug them, kiss them...Talking on the phone/e-mail/and facebook just don't do it for me, but know that I will take it...I will take anything I can get when It comes to my girls... I miss them more than life it's self...and would give up my life to have them near me...How silly does that sound???

Steve/Heather/Holly/and my five beautiful grand's are doing well ... I have seen three ghost towns this year, along with so much of Montana that I have never seen before...Holly and girls/Marilyn and Daryl/Cindy/Jake and Susan/and Kim have all come for a visit... Had a wonderful time each time... Shawn and Chris, friends of the girls when they were much younger have come back into out lives vie facebook.... I only hope they will visit... what more could I ask for...

With all this said, I vow to post a blog and least every other week...You are all right, I don't e-mail enough, and when someone loves other's as much as I love all of you... well... SHAME ON ME...

I will start posting photos with my next blog... Do remember, even though I haven't been a good friend/mother/Nana/wife... I still love ALL OF YOU!!!

Until next time...

Nothing but love Lina/Mom/NANA

Just Some Blooms...

2009-05-21T09:43:00.005-06:00

Stella is coming along... Seems I will have tulips after all... though not many...

The wild Pasque flowers that I transplanted a few years back have some blooms on them... I was told it would take a few years after the transplant... So now I will gift more to Stella...

I was blessed to see a Yellowheaded blackbird, I can now check this off my list...
Just a few of the things that are blooming, I have more to download then upload yet...
Everyone have a wonderful day... Hugs to all... Dee will be here in a few hours and we will again transplant more annuals...

Remember to take time for yourself...

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina...

GARLIC CHIVES

2009-05-08T10:38:00.012-06:00

Dee and I went to town yesterday checking out nurseries and shops as we did last week... Purchased Three Echinacea 'Ruby Star'... This is to replace one of the 3 Echinacea's the deer destroyed... I purchased 3 because the price was right...Two Dianthus to replace the two eaten, 'Tiny Rubies' and 'Fire witch'... Four Lamium's 'White Nancy' to go in the Moonlit garden... Some Scottish moss and tons of Annuals...

Had lunch at Johnny Carino's... I had half of a Panini, Chicken Parmesan with the all you can eat Salad, Ice Tea of course with a slice of Lemon ... Dang those things are yummy! Panini's that is... Easy to make at home also...Before coming home we stopped at Rocken Rudy's... IMAGINE THAT!... I purchased a duck that turns color in water, haven't checked it out as of yet... I also purchased two CD's... Van Morrison's new one 'Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl'... I can't believe this was recorded live, except for a little cheering between tunes it sounds like it was done in a studio... Robert Earl Keen 'What I really mean'... I just love the title tune, and the reason I purchased the CD...

I have been transplanting many plants the last two weeks... Sad to say only one 'Grand Cru' Asiatic Lily will bloom this year... I didn't mark them, was digging and broke off the bud underground of two of them, so I dug them up and transplanted them, left the one that was unhurt... when it emerges I will transplant it...I will have to wait for next year for the others to bloom, I need to stop being so careless... Will that ever happen? Don't know!

The Lady Slipper I dug out of the woods two years is coming up for the second year now... I now will dig up one more the end of May to middle of June and plant it in the same spot... A few friends and I are going to go up Rock Creek after work next week and dig up some wild Clematis, I was boggled to see that one of the nurseries is selling it for 49 dollars, I can't believe that anyone would pay for it when there are tons for the taking, heck, I can't believe that some in Missoula never take the time to leave the city... How sad is that?

All three Delphinium's 'Astolat'/'Black knight' and 'Chocolate' are coming up... As are all the Daylilies...'Stella d' Oro'/'Ditch Lily'/'Hush little Baby'/'On and On' and 'Elegant Candy'... I was transplanting the 'Ditch Lily' when Eric was here, so gave him half and replanted the other half away from the rest of the garden on the other side of the fence... It's beautiful, but I don't want it to invade my garden, most of us know it's like a weed...but beautiful so I don't want to get rid of it entirely

Two of my Hyacinth's 'Jan Bro' are in bloom, the other five should be in bloom soon... She didn't give me any blooms last year, unsure of why that happened... Still don't know the name of the Hyacinth's I thought was 'Jan Bro' last year, so if anyone out there finds out before me, please let me know...
Two new beds I am working on... Do I do all this digging by myself? Why, NO! I get some much needed help from Mr. Offenbacher... I do believe that he is starting to love Stella as much as I do...
Columbines are all coming up, it appears that I have about a half a dozen more than last season... Wonder what they will look like?

After four years my 'Garlic' Chives are coming up and doing well, I might even get them to bloom this season... I am so excited, never did think that they would do much of anything...Sowing seeds for this plant takes so long, it doesn't help that I pulled so much of it out thinking that it was grass, shaking my head at myself... I could go on and on with what is coming up, but better stop or I will be here all day, besides it's all in my Journal...

The promise of what Stella will bring makes me delirious...

Enjoy the day, it's raining here yet I will spend most of the day outside playing with Stella... Found my rain gear, I do look funny in it, but I am pretty sure Stella don 't care, and I know I don't... Have a wonderful day, or not... it's your choice... do remember to hug those you love... That's of course unless you love no one... couldn't help myself...

Until next time

Nothing but love Lina

WHEN WILL THE SNOW STOP?

2009-04-28T15:06:00.002-06:00

I like to think that not only am I tilling the soil when working with Stella, but tilling my soul as well...

I have strange thoughts, Steve say's that I think the unthinkable...I like to think I am not the only one...My thoughts could sure get me in trouble... Good thing I share them with only a hand full...

Not a happy camper today, it's been snowing off and on for the last four days, they tell us one more day...

Here is a wonderful shot... I love when we get to see things like this...
Going to town tomorrow with Dee... Going to go check out a few nurseries, stop at a few shops, out to lunch , on to the supermarket then home... Thursday Dee and I are going to work with our seedlings/plants in the well house then I am going to make hot crab sandwiches for lunch... if it's warm enough, they say it will be... We will eat out on the picnic table...

Help me think SPRING!!

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

SAD YET HAPPY!

2009-04-27T12:05:00.014-06:00

Planted this strawberry pot with Pansies and Bacopa, I can't wait until it fills out... so looking forward to working with the other three strawberry pots just to see what I can come up with... I so love to let the artistic part of me flow...

Matt/Linda and I had Lunch here last Sunday... I was stung once again by a bee last Saturday and didn't look so pretty so didn't want to go anywhere there were a lot of people after work... so we just went to the Blackfoot and did some target practice and had a late lunch...
I have two types of Daffodils that have come up so far, the smaller being the tete-a-tete...
Also the Deep Purple Crocus's have come up... Think I will get white and yellow ones this Autumn...I have a purple and white Violet and a Yellow Violet that have come up so far... Wonder what else I will get...
Here we have the Wild Flowers Pasque and Yellow Bell... What a good year it will be for the Wild Flowers, these are just starting and they are all over the place, can't wait to see what comes up next...
The deer did some major damage to Stella, got 98 percent of her tulips and 50 percent of the rest of the garden... I think they know that the deer netting/fence is on it's way, the electric fence already here... It will take three to four more weeks to arrive... They have never destroyed my garden so early in the season... I was upset for a while, but then let it go knowing at last this will be it... It was/is spendy for what we had to purchase, but so worth it to me, this of course is in addition to what we purchased last year...we will put it up all at once... Steve is so sweet, he didn't make me take it out of the garden budget, nope...instead he gave me more to add to it this year... I know it's because he feels bad about them getting in, not sure if they jumped the fence or walked right on in as Steve left the gate open last Sunday when I was at work then he left for town... Just to make sure they don't destroy more we have been covering everything at night, and taking everything off in the morning... It takes about 45 minutes to do this twice a day... The bulbs of course will come back next season... Most of the plants will make it as it's still very early in the season...They did destroy three coneflowers that I will have to replace... pulled them out and chewed the roots... Now mind you... they don't like coneflowers...

Still in all she is looking good, close to 200 plants, how can she not... I am working on two new beds, amending the soil as I go along...Unlike most other beds where I had to go back to amend when the plants were already there, a few to go yet as well as the hill, I hope to have all amended by the end of this season...

Have planted the five White Tiger Lilies... Ordered white Foxglove seeds that I will plant sometime in July for their blooms next season...I have been so busy cleaning up winters mess along with the deer damage that I forgotten most everything I have added or done... I will share as I remember (or look in my journal and find the time to post it) So much is coming up and doing well in spite of the deer...

Got a few snap-shots of the Bighorn Sheep... Wish they would have turned out better, the best I could do as they were moving and trying to get out of my way...This is the time of the year they shed their winter coat...
Here is a Mountain Bluebird, such a beautiful color...
A Hairy Woodpecker, it's so hard to tell them and the Downy apart, I got it down now, only took a few years...

This Red Winged Blackbird was spotted up in my back yard, the female often visit, though I have never seen a male until the other day...

These ducks and Geese are lost, we came upon them in the middle of no where...Hope they were found...

I took this shot of the Mallard because I loved how it looked on the Clearwater River with the sun shinning down on it...

Just to the left of where I took the shot of the Mallard on the Clearwater was this stump... How cool is this?
Have a wonderful day... and just remember, if it's not one thing, it's another... Hug those you love, or give them a soft slap upside the head, whatever makes you feel good today... Dishes to do yet, then back outside... I LOVE YOU ALL!!! REMEMBER THAT!!!

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

FIRST CROCUS!

2009-04-13T11:50:00.005-06:00

This photo of my first Crocus was taken on April 12th Easter Sunday! I am thinking it will be a few weeks now before anything else comes into bloom...

Here we have a Crocus with Bee, if you magnified this photo then click on the image to move it so you can see what you want,you can see the pollen on the bee... It's so cool enlarged...There are more in my Webshots album...

Here we have yet another Rock I had to bring home... Steve just shakes his head at me... Now to find the right spot for it to live...
I was looking through my notes from last year, and discovered that the Penstemon 'Rubycunda' was never sent by Wayside gardens due to it being out of stock...

Carla helped me take out some of my garden ornaments yesterday and set them around the garden... Once again I am reminded of Steve's poem, 'Spring Time In The Rockies'... it truly is days like yesterday/today that make us forget winters hardships and gaze toward the future with hope and anticipation... and once again I find myself excited... I will again be dancing amongst the plants and whimsical items that remind me of my loved one's while listening to music/busting moves and sharing a glass of wine with those closest to me... or not so close...

Dee and I will get together tomorrow early afternoon to transplant more seedlings... I have to return back to work on the 16th for four or five days... then I HOPE to be off again until mid May...

How many of you out there have Insomnia? I had such a rough night... seems I have more of those these days than not...How frustrating!

Still...I find beauty around every corner...I hope the same for you...

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

IZZY!

2009-04-11T12:15:00.017-06:00

Izzy is a crack up... I took so many photos, so few came out, she is always moving... Linda and I couldn't believe the energy she was expunging... This was her first time playing in the river for any real amount of time... She loved it, a water hound for sure... We were on our walk for more than two hours, of course we were not walking the whole time... stopped here and there to sit and enjoy our beautiful Spring day... During this time we came upon a camper and one car passed us, I was sure I would have to put on her leash... I was so proud of her, a whistle (as I have stated before) was all it took for her to get back at my side... I will have to take her on walks by the river more often now that the weather is warmer...She drove poor Britt (Linda's very old dog) nuts... Izzy is so lucky Britt didn't bite her a time or two...
Got two shots of an Eagle, they didn't turn out well still I put them up... I don't know what this Eagle is thinking, it took over an Osprey nest, the nest itself is not big enough... I wonder what the Osprey will do when it comes back to see it's nest taken over by it's enemy...
Got a shot of a pair of Mallards also...Can't wait for their babies to hatch...I always love watching them play...
The Blackfoot is always beautiful...
On our walk we stumbled upon this... We went back later with the car to pick it up... I will put it in one of the beds after I have dried it out a little more in the sun... I know, I am a strange cookie indeed, but that's OK with me...It will look so good with taller plants growing around it... May-be I will put it with the Columbines...
On the way home I stopped at the well house to water the seedlings... It is time to transplant more seedlings as more have their first set of true leaves...I will call Dee later on this afternoon to arrange a play date...Looking over our seedlings,I am reminded that one should always plant at least 1/2 more seeds than they will need as germination is never 100 percent...

Stella is feeling alive... More bulbs seem to be emerging daily...Finches and Robins are now a daily sight along with the other song-birds...There is a frisky little squirrel that I hope finds it's way back to the woods...

Only 71 more days until summer...Did you know that this months Moon is called the Full Pink Moon? It got it's name because wild ground phlox is usually in bloom around this time...

Remember to give out those Hugs... One can NEVER get enough hugs...

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

SURPRISE!

2009-04-10T07:59:00.008-06:00

Stella has proven over and over to be so therapeutic for me... I never grow tired of her, the opposite appears to be true, I gain strength from her... Yesterday she gave me my first bloom of the season... I have started another Album in Picasa, this year I hope to get all my flowers up, unlike last year I want to put them up in the order they come into bloom... I hope this helps me keep better track/records of them... I have also decided that with each new bloom and some growth I will be sending them off to CVS to have a 4 X 6 photo made and keep them in a binder... I just need to keep track of things... Unlike webshots I will be using this album just for my records, I am thinking about getting a membership and letting my webshots expire as the photos appear to be so much clearer there, and you can pull up the whole album at one time... I will give this a lot of thought... As for today two of my shots will appear on Picasa, and all four new ones will still appear on webshots...

My first bloom of the season... IRIS-RETICULATA-HARMONY ... Such a beautiful color... This shot was taken yesterday, on the 8th when I left Stella's gate there was nothing in bloom...
Take a look at this Crown Imperial bulb... Now look at it five days ago, how fast does this thing grow?

I have good news to report, both my pink and white Bleedings hearts have made it through our hard winter... I will take a snap-shot when they are just a little bigger... Still waiting for signs of life on my ferns... I hope I didn't lose them...

Steve is home today, he is going to town... he will drop me off at Linda's, I will spend a few hours there... Tonight I will color eggs...Hope you all have a wonderful day...

New You Tube video put up of the Seeley-Swan Valley... 'Toucan Do It Too'

Remember... To get respect, one must give respect...

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

BIRD BATHS NEED CLEANING!

2009-04-09T10:20:00.003-06:00

It is so wonderful to see the Sun out yet again... It was 73 on Tuesday and 68 yesterday... Today it will top off in the high 50's... will have to wear a sweatshirt, but that's OK... I have about 1/3 of the area within the fence raked so far... and about 1/2 of the flower beds cleaned up... There are over 50 tulips coming up... don't know that they will all bloom, though I am in hopes that most of them will... Crown Imperial's are growing so fast... I will take a snap-shot of it/them this afternoon... I can't believe how many of them are coming up... wonder how many will bloom?...

This afternoon Dee will be coming up, we will run up to the well house and transplant what is in need...

I need to clean all of the bird baths before one of my birds get sick... So, that is what is planned for today... Snapped this robin splashing around last night... I so wanted to chase it off, but it was having so much fun... Yes, cleaning the bird baths is at the top of todays list...
Remember...Confidence is one of the sexiest things in the world. Embolden yourself! Keep your posture straight and your head up...

Color some eggs today, make a few for friends... Have a wonderful day... Don't forget to give out those hugs...

Until next time

Nothing but love Lina

BUTTERFLY

2009-04-07T11:00:00.006-06:00

I wish that everyday could be like yesterday... Spent most of the day outside cleaning and listening to fun music like Booker T... around 3 I remembered that I told Steve I would bake him a cake... so ran in, made the cake, put it in the oven went back outside, the timer came out with me, because... yep, I would have forgotten... Burnt cake just don't sound good...

Izzy is such a pain in the butt... seems I told her a million and one times to get out of here or there...still she is such a good dog, don't see that she will be to much trouble, when training is done I believe she won't be any trouble at all... when she wanders a whistle is all it takes to get her back...

I wanted to share this photo taken yesterday... Of this butterfly basking in the sun on a tin roof...I wish it would have come out better...

Have a wonderful day everyone... Remember life is what you make it...

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

CLEAN UP TIME!

2009-04-06T11:23:00.006-06:00

Spent most of yesterday in the garden as I will today... The clean up will take a few weeks alone... How serene it is to be back outside working within Stella's walls... The mood it puts me in, so surreal... seems as heaven has come down to bless me yet once again... I was out there till about 8 PM... Slept 5 hours, may-be it's what I needed... Once again busting moves as I work... Music, a glass of wine and my garden... can't ask for much more...

Here is a photo of the Blackfoot I took on the third... can you believe how the snow is coming down? By mid day, it was mostly gone... That's Spring in Montana... one never knows what to expect... As Steve continues to say, Winters hardships are so worth it...
Purchased these Pansy's ... Didn't have them in the garden but a few minutes before a bee found them...
More of the seeds I purchased have arrived, 'Sidebells' Penstemon/California Poppy/Johnny Jump 'King Henry', these won't do anything till next season...The wait is always a good thing.../Love-In-A-Mist (Nigella) 'Chocolate Sundae' and 'Persian Jewels'/Cucumber 'Straight Eight' heirloom/Cucumber 'Lemon' Heirloom/ and the Sunflower 'Elf'... I am so excited... all other seedlings continue to do well...

So many things coming up... Sea Pink... here is one of the many Sea Pinks in bloom... Crown Imperial... Crown Imperial in bloom... Next year I will already have to thin them out, this is only the second season... I will have bulbs to share, Rhonda and Dee have already asked for a few... I didn't get the Yellow ones as I wanted, I do hope I remember to purchase some this Autumn... Squill is spreading like wild fire... here is some in bloom that the deer didn't get last season... Columbine everywhere... Many tulips up... Sticky Geranium, here is one in bloom and one on the web...

Everyone get out there and get those HANDS DIRTY... IT'S A GOOD THING!

Until next time Nothing but love Lina

TRIP WAS WONDERFUL

2009-03-31T11:43:00.020-06:00

I had a wonderful time on my trip... Driving over the passes were white knuckle on the way there... I have not seen them that bad in many years... Fourth of July was worse than Look-Out, I have never seen this before... the weather so much more severe there, never thought I would see that in my life time... On the way back both passes were dry, easy sailing...

The flight there and back, wonderful... I did take a few photos from inside the plane... I did catch some kind of bug on the plane going there as evidenced by the cold I had two days after being home, I just hope I didn't catch a bug on the way back, I don't want to go from this cold to that cold... some of the shots I took from the Plane are of Phoenix, Montana, Idaho, Part of the Grand Canyon, The Columbia River, Colorado, Clouds, Spokane

The highlight of the trip for me was the Botanical Garden, I was not able to see it all, so next time there we will go again... The Bamboo grove truly impressed me...

Was able to get a shot of a Mocking Bird... They are about the size of a Steller Jay... Trash birds are everywhere there, need to find it's real name... Mourning doves are everywhere, but unlike here they seem to enjoy human company... Turtles everywhere as well as the Chameleon...
Here is a photo of a Lily I took, they seem to be everywhere in the ditches...
Spending time and bonding with my grand-children was a dream... Heather won't be able to come out this Summer due to her new Job, so I will try to get back there this late Autumn...
We took a few country side drives to see the Texas Blue Bonnets, they were not out in full force, I didn't have my photo taken in the mist of them, may-be next time... though I did take photos of them... as well as a few shots of their Indian blanket... Beautiful color
I did not go to the rodeo, nor to see Alan Jackson... my choice, I wanted to spend as much time with the children as I could... The two little ones took to me as if I were in their life daily... How wonderful this made me feel...
Not sure when I will return to work, but think Mid May... I was going to start back up the first of April... but not a lot to be done so I opted to let someone else return first... I just love my time, and am thinking of leaving the work force in the next year or two... we will see, as I always say, money is not everything, but it's a good thing...
I can't seem to pass up a plant, this might explain why I have 15 or more Coneflowers, at least 6 different sedums, the list goes on...more to be purchased this year... This season I plan to add the first of many white plants with a splash of green here and there for what will become the Moon lite garden... I am thinking of adding either the Echinacea 'Pink Double Delight' Or the 'Knee High' to go with my collection of coneflowers, I think either will fit in very well... Last year I added a few of the more Exotic cultivars, 'Green Envy', 'Fatal Attraction' and 'Jade' to name a few... ..
I picked up some Trileleia bulbs 'Queen Fabiola' ... These bulbs are hardy to zone 7, I want to try them out in containers and see what happens... If they give me a show I will dig them out of their containers come Autumn and try them again next season... I also picked up a few 'White Tiger Lilies'... these grow to 40 inches in height, I will place them in the Moon lite garden...
Seeds I have been taking care of in the well house are as follows... Zinnia 'Chippendale Daisy' heirloom, this Zinnia is bi-colored has a red flower head and yellow petal and is edible I can't find a photo of this one so we will have to wait till it blooms/Zinnia 'Envy' heirloom, this Zinnia is Chartreuse in color/Lavender 'Munstead'/Sweet Pepper 'Chinese Giant' heirloom/Tomato 'Brandywine pink' heirloom/Jalapeno, 'Jalapeno Early' heirloom/Chinese Lanterns, heirloom/Watermelon 'Moon and Stars' heirloom/ Hollyhock 'Black' heirloom, an old fashioned single bloom... I have already planted my sweet Peas 'Old Spice' mixed colors, another heirloom...Still to plant when the time arrives are my Nasturtiums, heirloom/Zucchini 'Black Beauty' heirloom/Garden Bean 'Dragon Tongue' heirloom, this plant is good for both fresh and their dried beans/Snow peas, heirloom... I have more seeds on the way but can't remember what they are... Heather sent me a packet of 'Texas Blue Bonnets' I will plant these in the next day or two and bring them up to the well house...

The song birds are many out there these days... I think this snow has thrown them for a loop... We keep them fed, so the feeders are full is seems from dawn to dusk... I hear a song I have never heard before, I have tried to find the bird with no luck, I do hope it sticks around until I am able to meet him/her...

Last week I was out playing with Stella all day long... the next day I woke up to four inches of snow... The snow was melted off in two days, then it started to snow again... Today we are to get three to six inches here in the Blackfoot... it is to snow up until the week-end, then our Spring weather is to return they inform us... I do hope so.. This is what it looked like when I was out there working, and the next morning...

I was just thinking... I know scary... The worst job for the demarcates must be cleaning up after the elephants... cracking up here... sorry my Republican friends, I can't help myself, and yes... I continue to think I am funny...

I took a few silly photos, just love running into things I can add to 'The things we see' album... I think that Dumass taco's is funny enough, but "You too can be a Dumass customer" is even funnier...

Want some Chewy Balls? Free Smells, it's a candy store... gotta love the things we see...

The Blues Brothers ... I believe this was taken in the small town of Tomball Texas...

Remember it's almost time to get those hands dirty... Hug those you love, and remember no matter where they live we can hug them in our hearts and minds

Until next time

Nothing but love Lina

JOHN PRINE

2009-03-10T08:42:00.006-06:00

Leaving in about half an hour, have to drive over two passes, going to leave my car at the Spokane Airport... I am so looking forward to leaving this weather... When we land in Phoenix I am going to take off my winter things and put on my Spring/summer things... Wanted to let you all know I will be thinking of you all... NOT... cracking up here... Here is a Photo of Julia...
I got permission from Oh Boy Records for the use of John Prine songs... How cool is that?

This week has been a big play on the computer week for me, though the last few days even though I was on the computer a lot, I was able to find my way outside for walkabout's in Stella's garden, and a few walks with friends..Chocolate Mint, it's dead (will come back) I took a photo of it because it's soft and still smells of Chocolate..

On the 7th I found tons of squill coming up... I am excited and at the same time worried that the deer will get them... right now they are covered as I put pine needles all over them...

I also have the wild flower Prairie Smoke showing new green... she is such a beautiful flower, her seed pod even more so... This season I will make sure to get a photo of her pod... Remember the world is full of answers, some are right, some are not...

Stay safe/stay warm and hug those you love...

Talk to you all next week...

Until thenNothing but love Lina

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE!

2009-02-28T22:31:00.015-07:00

You Tube did it again, this time with 'Little Glass Of Wine'... I wrote..."We already went through this, what is wrong with you people, Jesse said I could... I faxed you once, do I need to fax you again?... Pick on someone else..." They put it up 15 minutes after I disputed it...

Leaving on March the 10th, will return on the 18th... Going to Texas, so excited... only wish Holly and the girls could go... I hope next time... All my EX'S live in Texas... Cracking up here, sorry... I can't help myself... as most of you know I always think I am funny... A week or so after I get back I will go pick up Holly and the girls so they can visit with me... I just want to spend time with my girls...

'Munstead' Lavender is my favorite of the Lavenders...Why? Lavender they say will grow only to Zone 5, yet the 'Munstead' has withstood temperature's of 20 to 40 below for over two weeks and survived my zone 3... I do love Lavender, 'Munstead' has proved to be true to the ridge's elements... the seeds I will be sowing will be this strain... I hope to get at least twelve plants to grow as I would like to start adding them to the side of one of the pathways...If this proves to work, I will start at least that many next growing season...I will have to purchase at least 4 packs of seeds as one drawback is that Lavender seeds have a short life, one never knows how long the seeds have been in the pack..It takes about two weeks to germinate them, so I won't be able to plant them in the ground until about mid July... as the root system takes a month or two to grow strong enough for a transplant... I will though bring the seedlings out to the garden when they are big enough so they can get used to the elements

I also think that 'Munstead' works the best when making Lavender wands... I make these each year and replace the old ones I have on the night stands and give many away... though at this time I don't have enough in Stella's garden to make many so I purchase Lavender at the farmers market...

Just in case this fails, I am going to take cuttings from my mother plant and see if I can root them, I have read that it has and can be done, I will write about my findings at the time I have succeeded or not...I hope I can achieve this with seeds or cuttings, if not next season I will have to break down and purchase the plants...

There is alot of clean-up to be done this Spring... More than last spring, pretty sure that is due to more beds and plants...I know what I want for Mothers day, if I don't get it, I will purchase it myself...
More Dianthus making a showing... This would be the first one to be planted in Stella's garden... I will have to look up the name...

Violet's are coming up all over the place where the snow has receded, I wonder what colors I will have this season, it's always different as they cross pollinate... I am always excited to see what Stella gives me...
Remember Damon's boot just two weeks ago? This is it today... I hope that Holly hasn't forgotten that I want one of the girls boot's when they out grow them... Think I will put out one of Steve's this year...
Wooly Thyme is also showing everywhere the snow has receded and is planted... It all needs a good raking...won't even attempt that till mid April... I don't want to take the chance on damaging it...
Stella will take longer than the five years I have planned on, but that's OK, gives me something to do...not just all the new plants that will be taking up Residence, all the new digging and beds that will have to be put in, but finding permanent homes for all once everything is done... this is a good thing, will keep me busy for years to come...as of now, Stella's garden is just a refugee camp for wayward plants, I know I say it all the time, and pretty sure she will be a refugee camp for years to come...10,000 square feet is a lot of land to cover when working on a garden...I have never had that before here, it sure excites me...I have to remember that once the plants make it to Stella's garden, they are no longer displaced as they have found a life long home...

The wild Strawberries are everywhere you look, these are by my bleeding hearts, though no sign of the hearts as of yet...I do hope they made it where they were planted as the season before they did not survive the home I gave them...
Made an Apple spice cake for Steve...From a Box... Ya, me from a Box... It's easy and does taste good... A box of Spice cake, a can of apple filling and three eggs, no oil... how cool is that... I cheated, but I don't care... It was so darn good... Nothing like Polish apple cake... but still good...

This was on the ponder this section of my home page the other day "Why do some ranchers put old boots on fence posts? " my answer to this is I don't know, but once here in Montana I saw this, have a photo somewhere... It was so cool, must have been quarter mile or so of boots of every color and size on the post... Then we came to a dead end and had to turn around... What was that all about...

Don't know why I am putting this here... for some reason I just like this line in John Prines 'Morning Train'... Constantinople is a mighty long word Got three more letters than mockingbird...
I wish I could write better...just something I would like to do...

Everyone have a good night, get some sleep for me too as it's just something that I am not getting these days...

Until next time
Nothing but love Lina

BRAGGING RIGHTS!

2009-02-23T22:20:00.014-07:00

I want to brag about my grandson just a little bit...7th grade and he IS collage level... got his test results back from Duke university , had a little trouble with math...got 15 out of 20 right... they say that's good... it was advanced algebra, he just now started algebra 101 or what ever you call it... Science not so much, he has the Knowledge but hates Science...Didn't hurt him though... English and Reading... Aced them both... I had to open a bottle of wine and toast to him even though he is not here... We did talk to him and let him know just how proud we are of him... I am grinning from ear to ear... This would be our genius...Cracking up here...he is going to Kill me...
Went to Glen and Rhonda's yesterday, as always when the weather is not on our side, we played cribbage... Now, this may not happen again in my life time... Rhonda and I Skunked them three, yes three games in a row, the next game they beat us by only one peg , we won the last game by 10 pegs... I was so excited... I would have taken just one skunk... but hey! They have never skunked us three times in a row... Ya, we were poor winners...rubbed it in but good... I called Marilyn and Daryl to tell him, but they were not home... so will have to try again tomorrow...I can't and won't let this go...Well, not for a week or two anyway...

Stella continues to show signs of life, today I got to see a few Oxeye daisy's (Chrysanthemum) coming up.
This is a Dianthus Sweet William...wonder what color it is, I hope it's dark or multi color...
Also we have another Sedum this one is 'Blaze of Fulda'... I started with one small start five years ago, to date I have seven or eight around the garden...
It sure is strange here in Montana... Rhonda lives just over the Mountain, a hop/skip/and jump, yet we have to go around due to the mountain, this is 70 miles there and back... her growing season starts two weeks before mine, and mine starts about two weeks before Dee, she lives not even a half mile from here... I live on the South side of the ridge, she on the north... Dee's growing season starts about a week before the Seeley area...Missoula it self is about a week before Rhonda... Strange indeed... I just couldn't believe what was coming up in Rhonda's garden...I so wanted to slap her...she always laughs at me...

Still,I have to remember not to get to excited as March approaches, this is our biggest snow fall month of the season, though as a rule most snow fall will be gone the same day ... more than half of March I am able to play outside, so this is a good thing...

April went to visit Heather... They had a great time, I just want to share a photo of Julia and Holden, don't know what Julia was doing, but Holden...well you can see in his face he is already saying "GIRLS what the heck is up with them"....
This is me, showing off Rhonda's broken light...Know how much that is going to cost to fix... 1200 dollars... that's after her deductible... Deer ran in front of her, she is so lucky she was on a dirt road and only going 15 miles per hour... I wouldn't have a Mercedes just because of the cost of the upkeep... My 280 Z was bad enough...
Everyone sleep well... Tomorrow go take a morning walk... it's a good thing...

And do remember "If one can do it, two can do it to"

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

VILLAGE IDIOT!

2009-02-22T08:32:00.027-07:00

Yesterdays finds were many... I wonder what lies under the snow that is wanting to pop up their little heads... The Mini Purple Iris I have shows signs of growth... these would be in the round two tier metal thing I have, the others are still under snow...

Many Columbines are popping up, for sure the Columbine 'Songbird Cardinal' and McKana Giant Three of four Grape Hyacinths have popped up, still many covered by the snow, I always love these little flowers, such a vivid color of purple, always seems to go well with everything... through the last five years they have popped up in unexpected places, I do wonder where they will find a home this year and if I will leave them there or evict them... Just depends on how they look where they pop up ...

'Palmers' Penstemon is about two inches right now, she will get between three and six feet... big beautiful flowers, last year she was so heavy she curled over, I left it as it looked so beautiful over the Iris...There are also many wild Pensstemons that I have gifted Stella popping up everywhere, I will gift her more this season...

A few Dianthus or as many know them as the Cottage pinks are showing signs of life... for sure I know the 'Neon Star' and the Heirloom that Dee gave me, we don't know her name, don't think we ever will unless we just happen to stumble upon her...

'Mother of' Thyme doing well in a few different places... I will dig patches of her up in May and spread her around once again... I want most of my pathways to have her and wooly Thyme in and around them...

The 'Scarlet Gillia' that Steve gifted Stella four or five years back that he dug up in Haugen Montana for me has popped up in an unexpected place, wonder where else she will make an appearance, she is a biannual...
Sedum, 'Hen and chickens', or 'Chicken and hens' made it as did the 'Black Jack'... though the 'Black Jack' is still way to small to take a photo of... Pretty sure other sedums are out there just haven't come upon them yet... I wasn't looking that hard...Just thought I would add a link to the Strawberry with pink flowers...
Was able to get the shot of the Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' yesterday... I got it from another angle... I can't wait for her blooms, though I have to wait till June... but just knowing she and so many others have made this hard winter so far has me jumping of joy... Stella is my peace of mind, my baby... Yesterday I got my hands dirty for the first time this growing season... I am one lucky duck, having such a peaceful place for Stella and I to love on... This ridge is my HEAVEN... Was not able to find a shot of her, when I do I will link it... I know I have a few good ones out there somewhere...

My Allium 'Nodding Onion' Wildflower also gifted is making a showing in one of the beds... I can't find a photo of her either and I know I have many ... Seems there will be finds Daily... Am I excited? Must you ask? Cracking up at myself here...

Steve and I went to Linda and Joe's to walk... Izzy came along, yesterday was her first day of training... our training items came in the mail yesterday... just may-be I/we can do this without taking her to classes, how wonderful would that be, how much money can be saved... That's always A GOODTHING...

This is a shot of The Blackfoot River at Sundown on the way back to Linda's , what a walk it was, Montana sure is 'GOD'S' Country.... did I spell Contree right... sorry, cracking up at my self yet again..

Just want to share the ripples that the snow gets with all the wind we get around here, it in it's self is so beautiful... the whole mile walked (one way) it was all along our right as it's farm land, with The Blackfoot to our left...
The Blackfoot with Red Dogwood... I just love when we run across Dogwood along the river bank, it is so gorgeous against the white snow, and the running river along side of her is such a plus...

Going to Glen and Rhonda's today... Rhonda is going to walk with me... It will be another mile or two walk... Something I need to do 4 to 5 times a week for the rest of my life... I guess that is a good thing... and here in Montana I get good clean air... But first I need to get the dishes done, and then check on Stella...

Just something we saw along the way... It's always something new when walking in this great State of ours...

This last shot is a patch of snow that has melted on the Blackfoot, with ice still around her, I just loved it... I wish you could have all seen it... as always the photos are never what we see with our own eyes... We were able to see the pebbles and water rushing in and out... such a site...
Remember to hug those you love... Today say hi to a stranger just because... It will make them and you feel better... and what's better than feeling good... Not much, that's for sure...

Just thought I would remind you all that TEXAS got their 'VIllage Idiot' back... Damon said they didn't really want him... but oh well... better them than us... for those of you that would not know whom the village idiot is... and you should, well that would be BABY BUSH!

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

COULD SPRING BE HERE?

2009-02-21T11:46:00.008-07:00

Though there are still several weeks till Spring ... Stella has given me signs that it is just around the corner... How wonderful is that? Izzy and I played with Stella the other day, when Steve arrived home he came out and joined us... Of course there was music, how can one play in the garden without it... and no one to complain that it's to loud...A plus living on top of this Ridge...I will be playing with Izzy and Stella today also as it's going to be in the 40's...

So what am I doing to get ready, so far besides the seeds I have sowed, I have been saving the eggs shells, as they dry I will grind them to a fine powder using my coffee grinder... Yes, it works I have done this now for the last five years, and I am still using the coffee grinder for coffee and egg shells alike... Lets face it, it does not take much time... and it's so much cheaper than buying lime... I would like to grind enough before Aprils end to have five cups... after all I do have one Lavender (want to get more) and many Dianthus that need more calcium than most plants, though calcium is needed for all plants, just remember to have your soil tested or know what you are doing... as the eggs shells are full of calcium why not go this route and save money... unless of course you are Lazy... Remember, as we need calcium for our bones, our plants need them for firm spaces in their cell walls ... again remember if you don't know what your are doing, always have your soil tested... Most States offer this service free...

Do remember that all rules are to be broken at times... and this is no different, we do have lime hating plants Rhododendrons/Azaleas/Blueberries/Witch Hazel/ just to name a few... Do remember that the number one rule in gardening is to break the rules... What works for the man across the street will not always work for you...

This week I sent away for three Iris Sibirica 'Snow Queen' and three Perovskia 'Filigran'... I am so excited... My first Internet buys of 2009... It really is happening... Spring truly is just around the corner... Tomorrow I will try to find some more of the seeds I want... and look to see if anyone has any spring bulbs...

The Perovska 'Filigran' grows 3 to 4 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in width, don't know where I am going to plant these yet, except of course in the FULL SUN... Holly has one in her yard and I so fell in love with it last year... Of course in the Sillies it has a much longer bloom season than here... I am sending you evil looks ,all of you in the Sillies...

The Iris Sibirica 'Snow Queen' will be one of the first plants to be planted in what will be my Moon Lit Garden...She will reach 3 to 4 feet in height and 18 inches to two feet in width...

Both plants were purchased at Wayside gardens, neither link is from there... as always I don't know how long the link will be hot, as so many of these sites changes things so often...

Stella has life, I will share the few things I found the other day... I hope to find more each day, or at least every few days...This snap shot is of the 'Roundleaf Alumroot' It's a wildflower one of many I gifted to Stella through out the last five years... This link would be 'Roundleaf Alumroot' last May 27th... To lazy to go and find one of her in all her glory...

This one is an ornamental 'Strawberry' It has pink flowers and at times does bare fruit... I can't find a snapshot of it... I keep saying this, but I have to start keeping better records...
I have also spotted a Scabiosa Butterfly Blue coming up, but I couldn't get a decent photo due to the light, will try again today...

I can't believe I left this outside in the weather all winter... wonder if it's still any good, don't see why not...
Here we have a few Poppy seedlings, there are tons of the Shirley poppies popping up, I will have to wait a month or more yet to see what I want to leave and what to pull...
Here we have Izzy with a pinecone, her favorite pass time is playing with these...
Here is Damon's first cowboy boot sticking out of the snow, wonder what I will plant in it this year... I hope I will be able to write about Stella more and more in the coming months...
I return to work on April first... So I have to get my bum in gear and get the ticket purchased for my flight out to Texas... I was going to drive, but decided against it...

Everyone have a great day... Now remember, "Jealousy and stupidity, don't equal harmony" John Prine

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

LIFE SUCKS SOMETIMES...

2009-02-12T11:05:00.008-07:00

One of Heathers best friends here in Montana (Bigfork) home burnt down to the ground... Here are three photos... I don't know if you pray or not... If you do, please keep her and her husband in your prayers, if not please send good thoughts... They are both wonderful people and do not deserve this at all... She was at work when the fire broke out... Dave was out of town...

OK JEN I TOOK IT DOWN... IT was a photo of me, but she didn't like it at all...

remember: Jacob had a ladder that got slippery at the top, and many a happy go lucky saint has made that long long drop... Jesse

Stay warm, continue to think spring...and above all hug those you love...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

IMAGINE THAT!

2009-02-10T12:25:00.007-07:00

I got into the car on Sunday and what was playing???? I looked at Steve, smiled and said IMAGINE THAT...Daryl, I can't thank you enough my dear friend for giving Steve the newest Neal Young CD... I am about to shove the CD right up his/your butt... I have NEVER in my life listened to a CD over and over as much as that one... Sure,it's good... but like when the girls would watch 'Grease' over and over... The first 150 times I could handle it... To this day I cringe when they want to watch it when visiting... AGAIN... THANK YOU VERY MUCH...I still love you... SMILE...

Love this shot of Sheep Mountain, think it's one of my favorites except the view coming down Top' O Deep... but the power polls are in the way...
Not a happy camper...It seems that 'Cottage Living' will never have another issue...I was sent an issue of 'Sunset' in place of my last two issues... What's up with that crap...Sunset is so into the City living and have been as long as I can remember...Now, it's not that I mind the City, nor do I condemn City living, it's just no longer for me, it's like white wine compared to red...I can do white wine here and there, but would rather live with the red... I should be given a choice, don't you think? Sure, I got a good rate purchasing five years at a time, it came up to six dollars a year from a fund raiser...STILL, I don't want five years worth of 'SunSet'... Oh well, guess I will just thumb through each issue then bring them to work for someone else to enjoy...

Sunday we were going to go for a little road trip... The weather would not cooperate... Rain/Snow/Freezing rain/Sleet... After I picked up my 'Eric Hutchinson' 'Sounds like this' purchased/replaced 'Waylon' 'Greatest Hits' and a different deck of 'Bushy Cards' from Rockin Rudy's... gave Rhonda and Glean a call to see if they wanted company, we went home picked up Izzy and off to spend the day with them... We played Cribbage with the deck of bushy cards and that was one of the funniest times we have had playing cards...we could not concentrate on the game as we wanted to see the different cards... needless to say,Rhonda and I lost... It's just not right I tell you, Rhonda and I are the BIGGEST LOSERS this side of the Mississippi... we might win one out of 20 games... What's up with that crap... not like we don't know how to play, we are both pretty darn good at it if I don't say so myself...
Look what I did to the bumper of my poor car, not going to fix it till Spring is here... I don't want to take the chance of getting it fixed then it happening again...
I was thinking that I need to pick one behavior at a time that I have and don't like about myself to focus on and repair if you will... May-be if I focus hard enough I will be able to change one bad habit at a time... I don't really have that many of them... but enough of them for me to focus on changes in my life...

The girls sent photos of the girls... Phoenix got a new hair cut... She loves it, Forrest can't stand it... To bad, so sad...children have to be free to express themselves also... The first one is JP, then Phoenix and of course little Ray...
And remember that..."Confidence is one of the sexiest things in the world. Embolden yourself! Keep your posture straight and your head up"

Hug those you love...Think Spring and have a wonderful day...

Do remember 'A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT'...Think I will start reading it again, my favorite book...and as I can't sleep very well I need something to do when most of the lights are out...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

CAN YOU SPELL COUNTRY!

2009-02-04T11:23:00.012-07:00

Started my day with a nice cup of cocoa instead of coffee, it was a nice change... Going to try and tapper down a bit... Even try only drinking a six pack or less of pop a week instead of a day...

Then it sort of went down hill... Izzy wet the bed in the guest room...What a pain in the butt it is to clean a feather blanket... It will be in the dryer most of the day as I have to air dry it so as not to ruin it... She should thank her lucky stars that I love her/and think her beautiful or she would have gotten BEAT instead of yelled at and put outside for five minutes...Five minutes is all she can take in this cold poor thing...This is her first accident on anything but the floor and her first accident in two weeks...I was/am baking cookies so pretty sure I am partly to blame here...

Yesterday dropped Steve off at work, we left one car at the bottom of Potomac Road/Road 200... Stopped in to see Linda, then off to town...

Boy did I mess up, gas was 1.59 upon my return it was 1.68... I won't let that happen again... Stopped to get my meds...Then to Rockin Rudy's... Got a deck of Bush Cards...asked if they had any Obama trash yet, Nope...not yet...Yes, believe it or not I make fun of my team too, you should see the Clinton stuff I have...Though it will be hard to beat Bush, everyone out there has to admit that he was a comedian's Dream, their Heaven, someone whom comes along once in a lifetime...one skit after another...anyway, then off to the music department...was looking for what I wanted when Jeff asked what I was looking for, I said "I can't remember the artist nor the song, something about rock and roll and I think his first name is Eric" They looked at me as if I were nuts, Jeff then asked if it was new, I said "pretty new, they have been playing it on the Trail" still nothing, no spark...I then said "I believe his last name was Hutchinson" still no spark, I then decided I would look for something else...when looking I thought to myself I really want that CD, so I asked Jeff to punch his name in to see what comes up...there it was, came out last February , the fifth track 'rock and roll'...Then it clicked for Jeff, we looked they were out so they ordered it for me, said it would be in by weeks end...Did pick up 'Sarah McLachlan' 'The Freedom Sessions' Off to Albertsons, then to Quiznos and got everyone Subs...Back to the Ranch...
Linda got me a wine opener, got herself one and thought I would enjoy one also...Of course when I got home I had to try it out...I LOVE IT... It's so damn easy to use, no problems with the cork either...I hate when the cork breaks and they won't with this one...

We had lunch, caught up on a lot, haven't seen a few of the gals in about a month now...

We then went and put sheets over the furniture so maintenance can do their thing...Of course I had my
camera, we stopped along the way to take some photos of hoar frost, truly nice shots...I hope the inversion lasts ...

All the shots are beautiful, but these are my favorites...You can look at all 13, they are the last 13 of the album...

We go back to the office, I am cleaning out the desk, I can't believe my eyes...I say to Linda, how do you spell country? She spells it...I turn to her with this CD in my hand and we both bust a gut...Matt and Teresa come in I ask the same, they spell it, looking at me as if I were a dummy...again we were just busting a gut, I asked who wrote that, Matt said so and so...She spelt it Countree....Not sure if it was a mistake or not... but sure do hope so...For crying out loud she works at the front desk...Don't those that hire check these people out! I would hope that to work at the front desk spelling would be a must...
I have sent for a few seeds from Park Seeds as we need to get them started in the next ten days or so... I sent away for some cold season vegetables...For those that don't know what that means, well, just what it sounds like...vegetables that do best in late winter/early spring and late/summer to/late Autumn...So what will be coming first is broccoli/kale/cabbage/cauliflower/a few different types of lettuce/onions/sweet peas/snap pea's/garlic, the garlic I will just pick up at the store...why pay more...one thing I have learned is that garlic grows just the same if I paid a big price for it or I picked it up in the vegetable department at Safeways... Steve and I need to get a few simple tipis made for some of my climbing vegetables...We decided that after I get back from Texas that we would go down by the river beds and see if we can find just the right limbs we need, pine trees/and pine parts just don't do the trick...

I have a few things in mind for Stella, but just not going to share till it's either in the making or done... as it seems I share my thoughts of what will happen...and nothing happens, not because I/we don't want it to, just because of life... Also, I am going to revamp my web-site and make it more of a garden site...will start on it in late Spring/Early Summer, but won't truly get into it till next late Autumn/Early Winter...I have decided that I need to have something going when I retire, and decided that by that time I will have a wonderful garden and I can sell from it, may it be from it's harvest to the farmers market, it's seeds or just some of the wonderful things I have been know to make/create from the garden...

Remember it's hard to have a battle of the wits when one person comes unarmed...Smiling here... Believe me I always come armed...

Stay warm: Give those you love a great big hug... Wish for an early spring, if not for you...for me, Stella keeps calling out my name...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

FAVORITE QUOTATIONS

2009-01-31T10:03:00.003-07:00

I was reading some things on Holly's face book... I am so proud of her... below is what she had to say...Just thought I would share...Hope she don't get mad, I didn't ask if I could do this...

Have a wonderful day
Till next time
Nothing but love Lina
Unless it is based upon fact, I do not read it...I hate fantasy, in paper form that is. Some may think I am a strange ranger and may say it is not based upon fact, but I love Sylvia Brown.
Favorite Quotations:
1. "Each to each a looking- glass reflects the other that doth pass." Cooley This quote is my favorite, it stems from a thinking process in relation to the theory of the looking-glass self. Cooley believed that the looking-glass self was a reflective process based on our interpretations of the reactions of others. 2. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Dr. SeussThis is one I preach to my babies all the time...I dislike fake people ;I want my girls to be okay with who they are,and not what people want them to be!!! 3. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt Lets face it, she was a beautiful woman with a great insight on life and people!
About Me:
I am a proud mother of two, and a proud Aunt of 3. I hate the bar scene and love the outdoors!

THE DIFFERENCE IS...

2009-01-29T13:19:00.010-07:00

I figured out why it was so easy to stop smoking this time around... It's the difference between wanting to succeed and the need to succeed... There was no real motivation in the past...to bad the circumstances are so extreme...

I joined Facebook today, and if you are in my g-mail address book you got an invite to be my friend... even people I don't know got an invite to be my friend...I am so cracking up here...Why do these sites do that... I wish they just didn't...

I found that postcard by 'Duck Boy' I told you about around a year ago... Gosh, it's been that long?...Still, it's one of my favorites...This year it seems it's right on the money...It started snowing sometime in October and seems that it just has not stopped since, just a day here or there without any kind of real weather...For what ever reason I can't get my scanner to work...I might have to wait till Steve gets home... can't wait to get rid of this piece of crap computer...I know, it's not very old at all...BUT I HATE VISTA!!! I am so looking forward to the day I get my MAC!!

What a little beauty... Little Ray on her bike...grinning from ear to ear here...she is so... Well, Holly and Lina... Holly, next time send bigger photos, this is to small and distorts very easy...

Going through a few seed catalogs right now...I will start all my seedlings in the well/pump house this season...That time already, there are a few I will start in just a few short weeks...Let you all know what I decide on...

Weather continues with the snow...The road is one sheet of ice...so looking forward to the MUD!! Cracking up here, always have a problem trying to figure out what I like best... ICE or MUD...

Have a wonderful day...stay warm and send me some love...

Hey Damon! Do you know what this is??? Nana is cracking herself up here...Did you crack a smile?

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

THE BUCKET LIST...

2009-01-27T10:04:00.013-07:00

Here I am just messing around when getting ready to go to Seeley lake the other day...

Here is a photo of Salmon Lake all nice and froze... then we get to see a photo of some brainless people ice fishing on it... not so much that they are fishing, but that they have two trucks/other things on it and not to far from where this was taken is yet another family of fisher men with trucks on the ice... I shake my head is disbelief...Steve and I were cracking up and saying to each other things like, "think we will see them on the news today/night?" Thank goodness we didn't
Then there is this one of Stella...she looks so good, even in winter...

OK, so we do know that I can go on with a healthy life style for a few good years yet... That of course is if I follow the rules... and Yes, I have been following them very well... no cigarettes since Monday...cold turkey...pretty darn easy really, wonder just why it was so hard all the other times...

I have to stop thinking everything is so funny... my family/friends are not laughing with me/not amused in the least,not yet anyway... but what do you do? it's not them with this, it's ME...and I DON'T WANT it all to be a bummer... I don't want everyone walking on egg shells... I just can't have that/and won't stand for it... Damon did something he has never done before when I shared with him my ten year plan... OF COURSE I was only kidding... guess he didn't think it to funny at the moment... he gave the phone to his brother and just left me hanging... guess my boy has a breaking point... I can't get him or Heather to crack a smile... Now Holly...she has cracked up with me, with some of the things I said... That's my girl... she knows I need the funny side to keep me going... I indeed have shed tears, but only when thinking of how hurt those whom truly love me will be if and when this comes to pass... I just can't bear the thought of them in such pain...

So, I have been thinking of a bucket list... I can't come up with much... How lucky do I get to call myself that at the age of 53 I have seen/done most of what I want... Steve has always called me a cheap date... let's see... 1. I would like to find a piece of gold large enough for it to really count... so I will be a little more into that in the coming years... 2. I want to dance at the weddings of all my grand-children... 3. I want to live long enough for Stella to be as grand of a garden as any garden you see in a book...4. I want to see my home finished... If I think of anymore I will add them as we go...

I have pondered my past and of course today and the future... I can't think of anything I would change... If I changed anything, then I would not be the woman that stands before my husband/daughters/grandchildren/friends.... Everything in my past right or wrong has made me the woman I am today... I have always learned from my mistakes, and never did make the same mistake twice...I don't have much, and don't want/need much... what I do have is a lot of love... I remember my Uncle Harry saying to me one spring day before his own death... 'Little girl" he said... "If when you are on your death bed and you can count your true friends on one hand, consider yourself a very lucky person" I have thought about that so many times since that day many years ago... I am one LUCKY person as I need both my hands and one foot to count my true friends, and not new friends, I have only counted those that have been my true friends for 20 or more years... YES, indeed I am a lucky person and I will go to my grave with a smile on my face knowing just how much I have been/am loved...how much I have touched the lives of others and never truly knew it till the last week/few days...

Another Youtube video up if you want to see it... Done to 'They just can't help themselves'... Have an e-mail out to another artist in hopes of using his music, will let you all know if it comes to pass...

Here is a photo taken on our land, it's a shot that has never been taken before not in any season...

LOOK at WALLE! How cute is he??? then there are these deer playing on the frozen lake, in the big photo there are three of them and not two....

Everyone have a wonderful day, and can we say... ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE SNOW!!! Here is my car...almost a year old now...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

NOT AN OPTION...

2009-01-21T15:41:00.007-07:00

Such a beautiful day, the hoar frost continues ... A winter wonderland one sees not often enough...every few years... Almost artificial in appearance if you will...as if someone went out and sprayed a can of Christmas snow over the landscape... I so enjoy these days that are all to rare...

Stella had/has some eye catching sights on her patch of ground... This is a suit feeder that is kept up year round... Yep, it's empty... Just hadn't gotten out there, it's full now, had to take the photo first, didn't want the blades of frost breaking off...and they will as fragile as they are...

This next one is so amazing...it's of a small tree next to Hacker's pond...with the extra moisture the crystals are able to grow faster if you will... Only way I know to explain it... guess I could take the time to look it up, but just not doing it...
You see the same in these rose hips... Love the contrast the color brings out...
Next we have a view from the East Side of the house... I wish I had more time to spend looking, or I should say stopping as I saw many wonderful sights on the way here or there, if only I had the time... And let's not forget it's cold out there... YES, baby it's cold... Did I say it's cold? anyway...My favorite of all the shots has to be of the chicken wire that makes up part of Stella,s fence...
Heather needs time for things to sink in, she has always been fragile... Not to say Holly does not need her time, she is just more like me in that you just have to hit it head on... To Continue smoking is not an option if I want to continue to live a healthy life... I am going to use only rational thinking when it comes to this...there cannot be any other way...

Everyone stay warm...

Till next time

GOOD TIME TO QUIT...

2009-01-19T16:31:00.012-07:00

To stop smoking that is... I was informed this AM at the doctors office that I have beginning stages of COPD... NOT GOOD! Now to tell Steve ... He is not going to say much all night long, just fall deep into thought...Then just before bed he will sit with me and just hold my hand, Steve is not big with words but boy can that man feel...I will wait till Wednesday night as today we have been married 36 years... and I am not going to put a damper on tomorrow... Not going to happen... I want to see history in the making with Steve and the boys all in a joyous mood... We have plans for a stay at a B and B in April... Winter is just to hard to get away...

Here is the very small town of Potomac... I have always loved to look at it in Winter or on Rainy days...

On the way home today I stopped and snapped a few photos of the Hoar frost... Boy, do I like that word... for those of you that don't know what Hoar frost is, well... it's freezing fog...didn't know that until about five years ago...
Have you ever been blessed to witness an inversion in Winter that last for days? That is how we get Hoar frost... These photo are only two days of the inversion, I do hope this inversion last a few more days, if not I hope February brings us a week long inversion... I so wanted good photos for a few years now as this type of inversion does not always happen just because it's winter... I have a few photos I put up in my Winter 09 album that I took today, keep in mind that with another day or two these photos will look washed out in comparison ...

Got 4 boxes of Life Cereal today for free... Albertsons had buy four boxes and they were a dollar fifty each, I had two coupons for three dollars off when you buy two boxes... They sell for four something so I would say I made a screaming deal... Don't know if it was I had something on my mind or not...but today at Albertsons was a first...I went in for four boxes of life...and came out with four boxes of life...

On the way home I saw this in the yard up hole in the wall... art by Jim... Haven't been up that way in a while, stopped in to ask about it/when he put it in the front, but he wasn't home...

Here is one of four ornaments I made for the tree...I enjoy doing this type of painting... Always have...
Have a good night, don't forget to hug those you love... and stay warm for Pete's sake...

"The best thing you can put in your garden is your shadow. Spending a lot of time there is the best way I know to fight weeds and pests"... Virginia Fitzner... How true these words are...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

JACK POT! CD'S FOUND!

2009-01-14T11:20:00.017-07:00

Been busy for the last month or so... I went back to work on the 16th of December, worked 22 days straight... Holly and family were here for Christmas, though I worked everyday of their stay I had a wonderful time... Waiting for photos to be sent of the girls having fun in this snow... They used the road for their sledding hill... From the looks of them on Holly's camera they had a blast...even Izzy went for a ride or two...as did Holly and Forrest.... Here is a photo of Phoenix and Ray... That wrapping paper is Holly's doing, my gifts are pretty! Cracking up here... Holly said as I was making some bows for her gifts (took off hers)... "Mom, their only going to rip into them"... Steve said, "She gets off on it, leave her alone"... My family so knows me...The girls were not very happy with me as I made them stop to snap a photo...Well, I had to leave for work...

I/we went for a Sleigh ride as we do most years...after the photo was shot I had to make a run for it as they were giving me shit and wouldn't wait...well, they would have stopped if I stopped... they were just having to much fun poking fun at me...Gotta love them...
You tube pissed me off...put a stop to my 'Wintery' Feeling' due to copyright infringement... Of course I disputed it due to having permission from Jesse himself... but I had to prove it, couldn't find my copy of Jesse's e-mail so I wrote him again... I said "Look, Jesse, this is an emergency, I have just discovered that I am Fresh out of that herb that's so dear to me" and he said, "Look, Lina, I'd like to help you man..." Just kidding, cracking myself up once again... That's a line from his tune 'Twigs and seeds'... He was cool and sent me a permission e-mail yet again... What a guy... You tube put it back up in no time...less then 48 hours... I thought it would be at least a week...Added a new Video of Winter 'Out Of The Snow'...

Here is a photo of a deer that visited my bird feeder, Little bastage...Though they are so beautiful I must admit... and a few of our Montana Winter...
Remember me saying that I was missing a lot of CD's... Steve kept saying that just may-be I didn't replace them from the 96 flood, but I knew I did... Steve was looking for my winter boots in the tailor and found them, there were more than I though there were, 33 in all... Wonder if there are more out there... Talking about the 96 flood, it's once again flooding in the Sillies... Pretty sure they will have a wind storm now, goes with the flooding...always does...talking of my boots, he only found one pair...not a happy camper as he is the one that put them out there this past Spring...and what did he find? My brown ones, yet he didn't find my brown gloves so I had to go purchase a pair...brown and black just don't get it, never did like that combo...always told the girls that brown and black wouldn't do...as won't red and black...nothing uglier than seeing someone with red/black (unless you are Santa) or brown/black on...just my thoughts, the colors don't go together...Steve just shakes his head at me, can't understand why I won't put on the brown boots unless I have brown gloves/hat/and scarf...

Still need to shoot photos of more ornaments, but just don't have the time, I did get a few more that were behind the tree... If all goes well this year next Christmas season I will be able to walk around my Christmas tree once again...Still thinking about where I want the outlet to be, most likely right in front of the bay window in about three feet ...Christmas tree still up, I have about 1/4 of the bulbs on it still...it just takes so long to take it down, so much more time involved in taking it down as I have to make sure nothing will break...I would be so heartbroken...Again, Steve just shakes his head at me...Still working so when I get home I want my down time, might get all taken down today...Working for Linda right now as she had to fly out of state due to her mother being ill...when she gets back I will be off again till sometime the end of March...Dimaggio, drummer at times for Paul Simon is a wonderful man, full of fun, and his children are a blast...kick in the pants if I don't say so myself...
I was asked to sum up my thoughts of The 'BABY BUSH' years...by a friend...well, this is what I have to say...The USA was rapped of all it's pride by his parasitic greedhead scam ways...Our currency right out the window, the world hates us and it's all due to him... Even if Obama is the devil himself (as some of you would think due to the dumb forwards I get) we couldn't be any worse off than we already are...we lost a lot of pride and one can only hope we get it back...anyone whom thinks that they are all that always faces downfall...He will go down in history as the worst President EVER...how he escaped impeachment I will never know...it just boggles the brain...to steel a line...he and his men are "methane dispensers"...I look forward to a new day...

2008 in review... I started the year off on a bad note... I felt the need to act like an ass and lost a good friend due to this... I miss her daily! But as we all know we reap what we sow... I continue to wish she would forgive me, but as time has shown, that will not happen... I can only go on and hope that I NEVER hurt someone due to MY stupidity...

Steve hurt his knee, had sugary and is now doing well... I was sick for four months ... I also had test done and what I didn't share was that I was asked to take more test a few months ago and still have not done so due to the fear I have inside me... I will buckle up and have them done soon...

We purchased a new car... first new car I have gotten since we had to sell off my Z Car and Tacoma due to past issues... Past issues are now in the past and it looks like life is good once again...

I have come to terms that Heather and the children live in Texas and Holly and the girls live in Washington State, but life is life and knowing that I am their everything along with their father is enough for me, and I will take what I can when I can...

Damon was asked to take the test at Duke U at the age of 12, he is now 13 and will take that test on February 9th of this year... That's our boy...

JP was born adding yet another ray of sunlight to our lives...

Brendon is taking after his brother as is Phoenix and Ray taking after their cousin...Someone in our family must have had brains... but WHO? Who cares, I am proud of them all... JP, well all I can say at this time is she is BEAUTIFUL! Born in 2008...

Heather got a new job and Holly continues to do well in school... Am I a proud mother? Well, yes I am...

I have taken many small road trips in the last year and truly miss my long ones... I will take a long one the end of February or beginning of March... I am going to Texas to visit Heather and family... I can't wait... I do hope that Holly and the girls will be able to go with me...

The young people have come and gone, a wonderful time was had by all and I am already excited that they will be back in June...

The girls and grandchildren visited this past summer for three weeks... Though I had to work through most of it, I enjoyed every second of their visit...

Marilyn and Daryl visited twice as did Cindy and Jen... Kenny got married as did April... Nick and Pat both going to school... Cliff was in a bad wreck but came through it, only spent two months in the hosiptal...Glen SR and Carlon celebrated their 50th, Steve and I will soon celebrate our 36th...

Holly and family were here for Christmas and again though I worked everyday of their visit, I had a blast and only wish they could have stayed longer...

Winter started in mid October here and it continues with snow it seems daily... Stella did better than all other years and do hope I will be able to say the same at the end of 09..No fires to speak of in 2008 and for this we/all of Montana are grateful...

Had my first wild duck and though Steve loved it, just didn't like it and won't be eating in the future, will be cooking it, just not eating...

We have a new family member... Izzy is her name...I need to purchase a kennel and have Steve put it together before I start back to work in March... her Doggie taxi will not work for all day, she will of course be able to sleep in it for a life time...She has been coming to work with me as we can bring our dogs with us on the off season as long as they have had their shots...She is spoiled to say the least...

Santa was good to us all... I got my pillow that goes with my throw...Items like these have to be gifts as I just can't spend that kind of money for no reason... I knew I would get the pillow.

I deactivated my e-mail for a while... It is now back up and running, those that didn't have my other Blackfoot address if you wrote and it was important post back as I deleted everything due to way to much...

I hope only the best for each and everyone of you in 2009...we have hard times ahead of us, but with the right guidance we shall overcome the last eight years...LONG LIVE OBAMA!!!

Thought I would share, don't know why!... My favorite guitar solo is by the 'Amazing Rhythm Aces' in 'Burning The Ball Room Down'... BAR NONE...

Again, I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that 2009 brings NOTHING BUT LOVE AND HAPPYNESS TO THE DOOR STEP OF YOUR HOME...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

'GREAT GRAY'

2008-12-18T06:58:00.004-07:00

Just wanted to share... I didn't want to go to work yesterday because of the Weather...So glad I did, we were able to see the rare 'Great Gray' Owl... I was able to get a wonderful shot of it...We couldn't even find it in my bird book, had to go to all about birds to find it... It was the talk of the ranch and all looked us up to see the photo...This morning I will be able to share just what kind of owl it is with my co-workers...The three of us thought it a Blessing, we must have spent 15 minutes just sitting in the truck and watching it in awe...we were amazed to say the least... Today I once again don't look forward to work, for the next three days the highs will be between -3 to -8, THAT'S THE HIGHS...Don't even want to talk about the lows...

I know I have to let things go...and I am trying...but the last three days I have had dreams about Richard...Just as I decide that he has had enough of my mind he pops into my dreams... What's up with this shit... Steve believes it's because I decided to forgive him and not hate him anymore...I think it is because I talked about him so much on Sunday... I must say it's a good feeling to no longer hate him...now I just feel sorry for him...May-be tonight he will stay away...Though he has popped into my dreams, I must say I don't feel like it was an hallucination...So each day I am going to go forward, take one day at a time...breath deep and fix everything he broke, stop crying over spilt milk, and put everything back together ... After all he has been on my mind since 1999...I wish sometimes Heather would have never met him...but then we wouldn't have Damon, and...THAT'S A GOOD THING...

Everyone have a wonderful day, stay warm... I do hope you all enjoyed the glimpse of the 'GREAT GRAY' as much as I did...

Remember to hug all you love...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

REVERSE PSHYCOLOGY

2008-12-15T14:51:00.015-07:00

Friday evening we went to our first of four Christmas parties being held this season, two will be held after Christmas day itself... I do hope to be able to have one next year... If all goes well for us in 2009 we will...Fun was had by all...We left early because of Izzy so we were home by Ten PM... I just don't want to keep her cooped up in the taxi longer than needed, being a puppy...

Saturday we met Rhonda and Glen in town, did what we had to do then went on over to their place... We did not take a walk as the weather was below 0... 13 below that is ... Way to cold for me... After seeing the news this AM I am not bitching...I feel sorry for those in the East...at least I still have power and if we didn't we have the generator and wood stove, I wish they were all as fortunate as we are when the unforeseen happens ...We made Wreaths and fudge...did not make a ginger bread house... Rhonda gave it to me for the girls when they are here...Rhonda made her wreath in reds, Can made hers in blue/I put the ribbon on and made her bow... I made a green/sliver and a gold one, not sure which one I am going to keep yet, I will give the other to Linda...I saved one wreath for when Holly is here, we will make one for her then, if she wants... she can put it up and use it next year... Rhonda made the most tasty roast I have had in a long time...then we played a few hands of Russian Rummy... We can always stay as long as we want there as Izzy is welcome also... She and Buster had a grand time... Rhonda sewed two Christmas pillow slipcovers for me...We all know I can't sew... That was very nice of her...

Saturday evening Steve dropped me off at the sleep clinic, boy... With everything they put on me I didn't think I was ever going to get to sleep... The next morning I showered, yet I couldn't get everything out of my hair... Had to take a nice long one at home...

Steve and I spent all of Sunday doing nothing at all...just watched movies and cuddled, talked about all kinds of things from before we were married till now... Holly called so she was able to get in on some of it...Reverse Pshycology works well...It was suggested that I do things a certain way...I did, and it worked... Both Steve and I hope we now can bring in 2009 without all the added bullshit...we hope that things truly go back to the way it was, life as we imagine it should be, as it once was...The future truly beckons brightly for us at this time...For sometime now I felt like I was in a world of hallucinations ...To fulfill other dreams we will be selling off some toys that we no longer need nor want...Steve is my greatest hero...
Winter garden landscapes can be just as beautiful as summers...
Try and keep warm...

Remember... I find it helps to organize chores into categories: Things I won't do now; Things I won't do later; Things I'll never do... Maxine

Stay in, keep warm and cuddle...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

PRETTY PAPER

2008-12-11T12:05:00.007-07:00

We are trying to agree when we will go see all the lights on the South Side... May-be on Holly's birthday so the girls can tag along... Ya, Steve and I like to go look at the lights, always have., we would just let the girls tag along.... I crack my self up.. I so love the whimsical part of Christmas... Santa/lights/stockings /gifts wrapped in pretty paper and bows... How the eyes of children show the excitement of all they see and hear around them as if they were under a magical spell, awaiting a day so grand they try their hardest not to be on the naughty list... Just thinking of Holly and how that child was always on the top of the NAUGHTY list... We just didn't let her know...cracking up here... Here is my Christmas Tree this year... Of course it is not my choice to have it in the kitchen/dinning room...but one has to do what one has to do... The window trim is not finished on this window, one of three due to changes that will be made... This one will be the bay window... I think I perked her up for the Holidays... Click on the photo if you want to see all of the tree... I would also like to share something I just got done with... It's been in the making for a few years now... Now to find just the right touches, and think about finishing other projects that I found in the trailer ...
Then to start off the Winter season album of 08/09 here is Peppy my hot pepper wind sock...I truly better think of taking him down... We don't have much snow to speak of yet... Starts/stops it seems daily...but nothing stays... They tell us that Sunday will be -10... Not looking forward to that... To drive home in that... Why would I do that? Saturday at eight PM I have to be at Saint Pat's sleep clinic...I will arrive there from a fun day at Rhonda's...Today is a good day... I played on the computer most of the morning... Uploaded a new Video 'Pretty Paper' It's a video of some of my favorite Christmas things (well, what I am able to display anyway...). The music being played are my two favorite whimsical Christmas songs, 'Pretty Paper' by Willie Nelson and Silver Bells by Gary Morris.... New Photos to webshots...

Yesterday morning Izzy chewed the wires to the DSL, Phone company got here a little after five, did tell me they would be here around four... Go figure! The cost is thirty-five for the house call and 45 for things I had to purchase... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...PUPPIES...

Take Care, Stay warm, Be good...and most of all don't forget to hug those you love... IT'S A GOOD THING...

TIll next time

Nothing but love Lina

DAMON

2008-12-08T13:06:00.002-07:00

I just got word that Damon takes his ACT test for Duke University on February 7, 2009... I am so excited... This child is only 13 years of age... What a Christmas gift this is to all in this family... The Benefits are something to look forward to...

Did you ever ponder this... One of the hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn...

Have a good day everyone and I do hope all you out there that are my loved ones are as happy for me/us as I/we are...I don't have to ask, I know you all are... I am doing the HAPPY DANCE!!! Do it with me!

BIG HUG DAMON...KUDO'S TO YOU...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

A BLAST FROM THE PAST!

2008-12-07T14:10:00.001-07:00

I have been on the phone with Holly and the girls for the last hour or so...and playing on the computer with them at the same time...talking Holly through a few things...we finally got a photo to go through as a BMP...I can't open most files Holly sends for what ever reason...I changed the file to match my other files...anyway thought I would share this...Steve, Holly and I were cracking up...things were said like... (Holly) Look, Dad has hair...(Me) Look, dad must be drunk, look at his tie...(Holly) how about you, what is that look on your face? Gosh, just cracking up back and fourth... I explained that Joe asked us to act like we were from a time when photos were taken like this...

Hope you all enjoy and have a good laugh...

Daryl...I know you will have things to say...

Damon, no laughing...I know you want to make fun of the glasses...OK, you can...

Stay warm every one...I am going to go watch a move with Steve...Then we will make dinner...he will peel the shrimp/I will get the vegetables and crab legs ready...The salad is already made and ready to go...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

THUNDER ROCK

2008-12-07T08:43:00.012-07:00

Gave Rhonda a call...will meet them in town next Saturday... Glen and Steve will do something when we are at the craft shop...then go have breakfast...on over to their place...Take a walk/play cards/make wreaths/make fudge/and have dinner...

Went to the gift shop and picked up a Skinny Dip Candle, it has Cedar wood and Sage essential oil in it ... This thing is so cool... You light it like a candle... This in turn starts to melt the body butter, in about ten minutes you can just pour it in your hands and start the massage, it does not burn, just a warm fuzzy feeling... Steve said that it feels very good... I also picked up 'The Best Of The Drifters' for five dollars...
Didn't go down by the river, didn't get my cones... Did deliver the two wreaths, she liked them both... Or so she said... Did take a walk on Union creek road... Did stop and take a few photos... Did find a thunder rock and another that I like and must find out just what it is...Did spend some time with Stella... Stayed out long enough to listen to the Drifters and Gary Allan's CD 'Smoke Rings In The Dark'... Believe it or not even though Gary Allan is Country, Steve is the one that purchased it... We were still living in the Sillies at the time , he puzzled us all with this action... It was 'Smoke Rings In The Dark' he purchased the CD for, he heard it at the end of some Vampire move...

This photo was taken to show the peaks of the Bob Marshall wilderness laden with snow and the valley below still in it's Autumn glory...Here the Bob Marshall Wilderness is referred to as our "Crown Jewel"...It's boundary's extend nearly to Glacier Park...there are over a million and half acres to the complex...The Bob rises to over 9 thousand feet... The highest of these mountains is 'Rocky Mountain' You have seen this mountain in my photos many times, Rocky Mountain is on the eastern front of Holland peak above Holland Lake, part of the 'Swan Front'...she stands 9,292...Scapegoat Mountain is clearly visible in this photo also, she is one of my favorite Mountains to play on...
Two rocks that I found on our walk... The thunder rock was a find... Don't just find them as often as we once did... Wonder what it looks like inside? Don't know what the white one is... I need to get myself a better rock book... Have put it on my list for the next time I am at the book store...
Here is Izzy... She is a pain in the behind... But so loved by us both...she so enjoys going on walks with us... I also added a few of Stella getting ready to go to sleep for the season...
Here is proof of the 1910 fire, right here on our land... We have a few spots where proof still exist...we will not cut some of these trees down so the proof will be there for our grandchildren's children's to see...
I wanted to add as I was asked...That the ornaments I put in this blog would be in order...1. Hallmark, it was purchased about 15 years ago...2. Radko, it was purchased 11 years ago...and 3. Pier one, it was purchased last year...The fourth one of course are two that the girls made for me in school when they were just babies... All other ornaments can be seen in my Christmas stuff album... Of course there are still many to take photos of...

I was also asked if I would like to attend the Inaugural Ball... Please, I would give up my first born for that... Cracking up here...Heather I am only KIDDING... Of course you know that, but others might not...well those that don't know us...but yes, I would love to attend...

Made stir fry for dinner...It was yummy...Watched Harry Potter on ABC Family...Gave Steve a massage while watching the movie...

Have a good day... Not sure what I/we will do today...do know we will take a walk as it helps Izzy to stay calm once back in...

Everyone have a good day...Take a walk and start the fire if you have a fireplace/woodstove...It's a good thing!

Do remember that just because someone is on the other team or does not believe in the same things you do...Does not make them bad people! It sadness me to think so many can't be friends with the other team...It is important to keep an open mind...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

WREATH

2008-12-06T09:57:00.004-07:00

Wanted to share two Wreath's I made for a friend last night... She purchased the things to make them with... I did the best I could with what I had... I am impressed that I still have it when it comes to making a bow... It's been about six or seven years since I last made one free hand... The Wreath's still need to be fluffed out a little... Will not do that till they are delivered this afternoon... Not sure what Wreath I like best... I think I like the Blue one... I am in need of a new Wreath, this put me in the mood so next time in town I will stop by the craft shop and pick up a few things I want/need to put one together for myself... I am thinking either Blue and Silver or Green and Gold... I am going to make one for Linda and Rhonda also... In fact, think I will give Rhonda a jingle and see if she wants to get together next Saturday and make one for ourselves ... It would be fun to go to the craft store together also... It's been sometime since we have done that... Have I ever told you all that Steve would rather me go clothes shopping than step foot in a Craft store... Or go to a Craft show... Cracking up here...

Talking about Steve his shoulders/neck are giving him problems... I am going to go to Pugs and purchase a massage oil/wax and give him a good massage today...last night I was getting ready for bed when he asked so it was only twenty minutes... Poor Guy...

It continues to be cold outside...Still, we will take a drive down by the river today as I want to see if I can fine just the right cones... I know the spot where the piss firs are that are dropping their cones (subalpine fur) at this time...

Everyone have a wonderful day... Take care of one another...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

ORNAMENTS

2008-12-04T11:30:00.009-07:00

I have had my tree up for about a week now...I have taken photos of my ornaments with this new camera that still continues to be a pain in my rump....I will get it as I do all things, though I wanted to know all before I even took it out of the case...Yes, it's a Lina thing...

I wanted to share a few with you...you are also welcome to look at the rest of the album... There are 75 or so ornaments to take shots of yet, not all will be on the tree this year...

The weather is cold, yet no snow except for the higher mountains...I don't look forward to all the snow they think we will have this year...I HATE COLD! If I could have the snow without the cold! Well, that would be a good thing...Yet I look out my back door and see the Peaks of the Garnet range ladened with a white winter blanket of snow, below she continues to adorn her Autumn colors... I think to myself, how can I ever turn such beauty away...Everyday I fall in love with Montana a little bit more... I will never leave her...The sense of peace she gives me is enough to bear many of the other things that at times saddens me...I just embrace these things a little more when given the chance...

I will catch up with more news later this week...Heather will not be here for Christmas, with just Landing that Job it's just not in the Stars... Such is life at times...They will all be here in my heart though!Holly and the girls will, they arrive on the 22nd...Holly has a birthday on the 23rd... Ice Cream Cake, haven't had it for a year...Has always been her favorite...

I will leave you with a bit of Wit from 'Maxine' ... "My Idea of the super bowl is a toilet that cleans itself!"

Baby it's cold out side... So snuggle and stay warm...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

JUST A TOY!

2008-11-21T14:26:00.016-07:00

Since I last posted... Marilyn and Daryl were here for a visit along with their dogs Max and Sadie... We had a blast... We went to Rocken Rudy's as they always want to go there... When there we purchased three new CD's... 'Mudcrutch' that would be Tom Petty and his old band before the 'Heartbreakers'... Now, that is like a trip back to the 70's... GREAT!!! 'Richard Thompson' 'Live From Austin Texas'... You know you are good when a live album sounds good!... and replaced 'Chris Isaak' 'Heart Shaped World' Daryl surprised Steve with 'Neil Young' 'Chrome Dreams 2'... Marilyn and I made the boys drop us off at the mall so we could go to Herbergers... I got a fiesta ware Christmas plate and cup and some socks... We asked the boys to take us to Red Robin for lunch, but they wouldn't have it... said if we did we wouldn't make dinner and they had their hearts set on Steak and shrimp... I guess they were right...The funny part of the visit was Sunday Morning when Daryl and I made breakfast... with hash browns on the stove we decided to play a game of cribbage... pretty soon Marilyn and Steve said something was burning... we replied, yep, that would be the hash browns and continued to play... needless to say we didn't have hash browns, just sausage and eggs... Hey, they could have gotten up and helped... Well, in Marilyn's defense she did... it was just to late... Daryl found the rock they wanted for their yard... It was nice if I don't say so myself... I then went over the Mountain to Washington State on Monday, got home last night... The drive there and back was wonderful, both Lookout and 4th of July passes were dry both ways... Driving home when about 60 miles out of Spokane I noticed my Rockies in the distance and couldn't help but think how I never wanted to be there, and how things have changed and now I wouldn't want to leave... Still, when I saw the sign that said 'Welcome to Idaho' I felt a kind of sadness, bittersweet if you will, I was going home... yet I was leaving so many I love behind... Almost got lost in the Sillies this time around, with all the new exits I got confused and took the wrong one... Land marks got me back to where I needed to be... I had to smile coming over both passes as you can always tell those from Idaho/Montana compared to those from other states, we don't slam on our breaks for every little curve, thank goodness there are two lanes ... I guess we have just driven these roads long enough to know that we can take these 40 to 55 mile an hour curves at 70 or more if the roads are dry... Coming down the Montana side of Lookout I was following a man and didn't have cruse control on... Listening to music and not paying attention... pretty soon I look down and I was doing 120...wondered to myself how long I was driving at that speed, was it the whole 13 miles I had already gone? So I slowed down to 80 and I then felt that I was standing still... about 50 miles down the road there he was pulled over, I smiled and waved, he waved back and shook his head as to say I should have followed your lead... Yep! you should have... I did have a wonderful time and as always it was cut to short... First photo is a sunset of the Sillies taken from the car... Next is a sunset taken in our back yard...

Holly the new puppy Izzy (long story) and I walked the girls and their two friends to school/Pre-school and picked them up everyday... Want to be the Queen/King of the Playground? Just bring along a puppy... The girls and I spent much needed time together... Holly shot a small video of us, but it didn't turn out very well... I did try and make it better, but couldn't... need to work on this... Still I put it up so Heather could see it... Couldn't leave without going to one of my favorite stores 'Fred Myers'... believe it or not I purchased nothing for me... I think that is a first... Though I saw a lot I wanted... I did purchase Wall-E for the girls, it was pretty darn good... Holly had me pay for the things she purchased so she would not have to pay taxes... I love my tax card...

Here is a truly bad shot of me taken by Marilyn...

This years Christmas tree or 'The People's Tree' for the white house ... Is a subalpine fir from the Bitterroot National Forest, about 100 years old... We had the chance to sign our name to the banner... but, you gotta be KIDDING! RIGHT! I said to my friend... I would sign it if it were to be Obama's tree... and please... do they really think I will donate an ornament that depicts Montana's culture... Not in this lifetime... Not to the creep living in the White House at this time... I don't want to hear from you dear friend about how it is for the Nation... Cuz, where has our NATION been for the last eight YEAR'S??? I sure couldn't find it... I sure didn't feel like I was living in AMERICA!!!

Haven't really talked to Heather much, don't know how she likes her job... Damon reports that she indeed enjoys it... But then Heather would not complain to him about it... Holly has been busy with school... Steve? well, not going to talk about him today as he woke up in some kind of mood... good thing he didn't lash out on me or I wouldn't even mention his name... cracking up at myself... That man drives me nuts sometimes... he gets so excited about the littlest things... like the finger nail clippers this AM... having a fit because he couldn't find them... I walked over and handed them to him... "Where did you get those?" "Right there" "No Way" "Way" and I walked out of the room so I wouldn't hit him with the zucchini... I tell you, THAT DAMN ZUCCHINI... cracking up here...

Here is one of the pantry... It will not always be a pantry, when the one I want is finished, this will be redesigned to hold CD's/Movies and other crap one wants to hide...

Here I am as a toy for my granddaughters... I just love playing with them... Then Phoenix and I playing Barbies.. Then lets not forget little Ray being a goof ball...

Photo of a Turkey trying to get the suet...

I have a few photos of the girls I need to scan and get up to webshots so Heather (and whom ever wants to) can see them...

Everyone have a nice day... and remember this "The water up on Bear Creek taste like Cherry Wine... one taste of that water and you stay drunk all the time" John Prine... Can't say it taste like Cherry wine... but it's pretty damn good...

Hug those you love often, and if they live near you... Don't take it for granted... Please don't...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

SEELEY/SWAN VALLEY

2008-11-09T08:45:00.017-07:00

Yesterday I awoke to one of my perfect KinKade days... The clouds dancing around my mountains,a misty rain all day... The inversion lasted all day to my delight... White clouds nestled everywhere, giving the appearance of cotton ... With nothing at all to do... After making a breakfast of Swedish pancakes and sausage... We washed the dishes... gathered up a few things and set off for a small road trip down the Seeley/Swan Valley... Highway 83 is 91 miles long starting at the intersection of highway/road 200 or Clearwater Junction as we call it and cannot be missed because of the cow... 20 miles from here... ending at intersection highway 35... Seeley Lake is the largest of the small towns you come upon, 15 miles from Clearwater Junction ... This stretch of road follows many scenic lakes, which we call 'The Chain of Lakes' ...The valley runs for about 80 miles with picturesque views of the Mission and Swan Mountain Ranges... Always a slow drive for me/us, One see's wildlife in abundance... as I look at it not only do you get to take so much more in at a slower pace, you save the wildlife and your car ... And gosh darn it!!! all you soccer moms out there!!! (CRACKING UP HERE... JUST COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!!!...Still laughing... ) Lets not forget the time you get to share with whom ever is with you... We took along Earl Keen Jr, Big head Todd and the Monsters, David Gray and EC Scott... Had Lunch in Big Fork about five miles from Highway 35... Headed back home ... Stopping along the way there and back to take in the beauty before our eyes... We were able to stop at seven of the lakes... We spent ALL day with six of the lakes to ourselves not a soul but Steve and I, what a feeling that is... To have all of this to yourself... This is not uncommon on days like yesterday/today... May-be that is why I have always loved them... We ran into one person at Swan Lake, he was coming in from an afternoon of fishing... We were able to get a few shots of the Swan and Mission Mountains, but not many as they were hidden by the clouds most of the day as evidenced in most of the photos of the Lakes, on a clear day they are surrounded by either the Missions or Swans depending on what side of highway 83 they are on... I believe Holland Lake is the only Lake the clouds truly cleared out for us... This first photo is of the Swan Range ...

This photo of Seeley Lake is one of my favorites to date... I did hope it would come out like I saw it and it did... Look how the sky and water look the same... You can see the rain drops and leaves in the water, the only thing wrong is that we saw the colors of the leaves in the water and the photo shows white... This photo is a must to enlarge ...
Steve gazing upon the waters of Swan Lake...
Me I believe at Holland Lake... Hair everywhere, normal around here... but who cares when you are having such a wonderful day...
One of the shots I took of the roads...
Swan Lake
When we got home Steve wanted French Toast... so I made it, easy enough... This morning he wants Biscuits and gravy... easy enough...

So our day went like this... Half a tank of gas... 26 dollars... 2 diet Dr. peppers... 2.60... 2 beers from home... free... Lunch with tip... 46 dollars... a drive/walk through the Seeley/Swan Valley... PRICELESS

Have a wonderful day... stay out of the rain, or not...

Do remember "The road goes on for ever and the party never ends...' Earl Keen JR

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

THE VIEW

2008-11-04T13:13:00.007-07:00

Spent most of Sunday with Glen and Rhonda... We played five games of cribbage... all Rhonda and I won was one fargen game... and that was tooth and nail... we pegged out, how lucky was that? I say this as they had first count... Came home with a lot of Elk meat... I can do Elk just not deer... Did I ever tell you all that when we first moved to Montana back in the 70's that we lived across from where they live now? Glen of course was still living at home, right next door to us... They purchased Cliff and Kathy's old place... Here is a view from their porch... The scenery is something... Always loved it up there...

I can't believe that Damon didn't want a game... SHOES, is what he wanted... Nikie Zoom Rebound's... so that is what we got him... my boy is growing up...

We purchased Phoenix the IPod shuffle and a set of headphones , don't know why she wants headphones but it's not for me to make her birthday gift decision... I got the extended protection plan for the shuffle as she is only going to be nine... and it's her job to drop it/step on it/sit on it ...
Heather is excited, she is going back to work... Julia is old enough now, she landed the job she wanted... She will be the new Administrative Assistant to the Senior Vice President of NPC... Voted one of the top ten places to work in Houston... Doing the happy dance for her... Nothing better than landing the job you want...

Steve will pick me up around 5:00...we will go cast our vote... then home...friends are coming over... Making Chili for us all... then we will ring in the new President with Comedy central...I don't think I have ever been so excited to see the outcome of an election... But gosh dang we just need a change in the USA... I purchased a nice bottle of Wine to go with the Chili ... and YES... Champagne just in case we win... I have a feeling we will be popping the top off this bottle of bubbly! and the night will become a celebration...

It's snowing right now... Didn't know it till I turned my head, that happens a lot around here... we are only at 4500 feet... The news said 5000 feet... What's up with this crap??? I can only hope it goes away... and look at the size of these flakes...

I was listening to Peggy Lee on you tube... someone made the remark that she was the ultimate sexy.... you all know that I have said that many times... even in her later years when she put on some weight she was the ultimate sexy... Made 'FEVER' one of my favorites, I love busting a move to that tune... Did you know that she played with Benny Goodman? I did! I was thinking I need to get another Goodman CD...

Well I best get... Remember to have 'FEVER' for the one you love... Nothing better...

Remember to count your blessings... and when your child is happy... well, do the happy dance...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

IT'S DOROTHY!

2008-10-30T18:47:00.011-06:00

Julia is going to be Dorothy... How cool is this...

Damon and Phoenix both have a birthday coming up... The girls will be calling so we can purchase their gifts...Pretty sure Damon is going to want a new game for the play station or whatever it is he has... Not sure what Phoenix will want... she's a girl so always changing her mind... Can't forget Ray and Brendan... Both doing well and continue being little shit's... It's their job don't ya know!...

Got a new coffee pot... my old one took a jump to the dead zone on Monday... can't go without my coffee... well, I could... just don't want to... I got the Kitchen aid in red... dang, this thing does some fancy things... so nice now that the girls are on their own and I can purchase the toys I want...
Put the Mugho pinecones in the oven for baking this afternoon just before going on my walk... Will scent them this evening or tomorrow morning... I need to get out to the shed to find all my Christmas/Winter Fixings for the Potpourri... Dee wants me to teach her also... May-be Monday... I have things planned for the rest of this week, may it be in home or out...
I decided to take the pod out of the arrangement I made... Looks so much better now... Well, at least to me! and since it lives at my house, guess I am the only one that counts when it comes to that vote... Well, Steve... but NO VOTE for him... Cracking up here... Like I would even let him vote on such a thing... He would just throw it away... Cracking up some more...
Today when walking I came upon this tree standing alone among the pines... This combined with the many colorful grasses swaying softly in the Autumn breeze as I stroll along gives me great pleasure ... Picking up pinecones from the Ponderosa as I get closer to home...Always a delight when walking/playing alone with my thoughts and or music... An added treat when I got home... the house smelt of pinecones...
Getting another Christmas tree this year... I just don't want to put up this big ASS tree, it takes up so much room... didn't put it up last year... I do hope that in the next few years we can get enough done so I can once again put it up ... Saw the one I want and will purchase it on Friday... As always I will put it up the day before Thanksgiving... Haven't decided yet if Linda and family will come here, or we will go there...

Had my hair cut yesterday, well my bangs anyway... Thought there was a craft show in town today... but that is next week... I have to stop thinking...

Until next time let me leave you with this!
"There's only two things in life but I forget what they are... it seems we're either hanging on a moonbeams coat tails or wishing on stars" John Hiatt

Be good, stay warm...

Till next time...
Nothing but love Lina

53... SAY WHAT!!!

2008-10-27T11:25:00.014-06:00

Since I last posted, I have turned 53... Dang time goes by... I don't feel 53, but when I look in the mirror I sure see 53...

We had a nice time, Dinner, shopping and home... I got a lot of nice things... My favorites were 1) A Throw that I have wanted for about a year now for the guest room... I would have purchased it myself but I just couldn't justify paying that kind of money for a throw... Now that I have the Throw, bet I get the pillow for Christmas... It is by Dreamweaver's, Called Botanical Leaves...the size 48" X 72" It is so fargan soft...The grin on my face when I opened it must have said it all...
2) Fiesta ware... yep! another piece to add to the collection... won't use it till the Christmas holiday rolls around... This color is so pretty... I love how it changes hues when the light changes...
3) Frames, you all know how I love frames ...
Then there is the Rug for my guest room... The basket I have wanted to store junk in, a beautiful box that had lots of things from the country store in it ... soap and lotion from bed and bath... The vinegar and syrup in this photo should have been in the other photo... but oh well!!! As always I was pleased with everything... No one needed get anything, but hey all of you... big hugs and again many thanks...

Linen and things is going out of business and all I got was 46 Wild West Candy bars... they are so good and with the Holiday coming up I figured I would send both girls some for the Children's stocking's and also send them to others, of course keep some for my self... they were 75 percent off... so I gave 50 cents per bar...

Daryl and Marilyn will be visiting the second week of November... so excited... I Will have to plan something for the days they are here... I hope my team wins on November fourth, because if they don't, I will have to eat/take shit... and I would rather give it than take it... But I take it well... though I give it better... cracking up here...I love giving it to Daryl just as much as he loves giving it to me...

Got myself a candle from Pug's, called 'Glacier Meadow'... DAMN!!! If I don't say so myself... For those that don't know, if I am home there is a candle burning!!! Just the way it has to be...

I met a prince... from Liechtenstein! How many of you my loved ones can say a PRINCE held a door open for you??? YA!!!~! Not one of you... I thought so... Smiling here ...

Spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday playing in the Garnet Range... It is always breathtaking this time of year...In some of the photos I shot you can see snow on the peaks of the 'Bob' How big are these Mountains? Well, the BOB is 50 or more miles from where the photos were shot... I took several road shots of the last or beginning ten miles... the only paved part of the drive ... As pretty as the shots are, they are nothing compared to the vivid image I have in my mind...

Carrie hit a deer Yesterday... we told her that on opening day she is suppose to use a rifle not a car... cracking up here, ONLY because there was little damage to the car and NO damage to her...

Rearranged some cupboards this AM... Still a lot of work to go... Hope to have all cupboards cleaned/rearranged/and updated by the end of the week... The way I look at it is, that will take about an hour every AM... Most of you could do it faster, but I am always changing my mind... just when I think I like it like this... well, I like it like that better...

Hope you all have a wonderful day... I plan to... Take care/be good/laugh lots and give away many hugs to those you love...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

STEVE AND ERIC X'S TWO

2008-10-21T08:33:00.017-06:00

Pissed me off yesterday, first when talking about one of the men around here, a real elitist, arrogant to say the least... This man has lost so much in the stock market and must sell his 3 million dollar home... Steve and Eric were talking and saying things like it couldn't happen to a better man... I asked Steve if he has forgotten what happened to us in 1999, and if he truly thought that losing everything was what this man deserved... to lose his financial status over night... both their answers were "YES"... That did not make me happy... I told him he has to answer to his 'GOD' not me... This morning over coffee Steve said that he thought about it and did feel bad for even thinking it let alone saying it out loud... After our conversation we both agreed that no one deserves to go from so much to nothing over night... Steve and I both remember so well that morning when we found out we had nothing, How we just stood there with this gaze in our eyes...I expect more caring from the Offenbacher clan,... lets just say I was very unhappy by his words...
Then, I get home from town around four I soon realized that it was 5:30... Steve has been driving my old 1995 Grand AM after trying to fix the problem yet once again... we want it to get at least 2000 miles behind it before we stop worrying... If he is not home by five I am to go look for him... I get in the car to go find him, there he is parked at Eric's, both outside talking and when they see me start laughing... "Not funny guys! there is a phone right there in your kitchen"... those were my words... I invited Eric up for dinner , then I told them to carry on be home at 7, Steve said he was sorry just spaced it out... and Eric... well Eric is Eric and I had to tell him not to go there, was not in the mood... he just laughed at me and waved good-by...

As I type I can hear the rain hitting the tin roof... Such a beautiful sound... Truly country! Have I told you all lately how grateful I am to live in such a beautiful place? I was thanking my lucky stars once again on the way to and from town yesterday... All the Tamaracks have turned, the mountain sides are now laden with not only green but yellow... The Vistas are endless and always changing ... it rained there and back, with the music on it gave me a kind of sadness, a laid back feeling, nothing prettier in my eyes... Steve has always said that "Sadness just seems to become me"...JW It was truly a Thomas Kinkade day... Autumn gives me so many of them... always makes me think of 'Feels Like Rain' by John Hiatt...The only thing that could make it better is to have all those I love near me...
My rose hips have been gathered... here is just a small handful of what I picked this season... I still have a few cones to gather... am also looking for all the cones I gathered off the Mugho Pines this past year... Most likely in the trailer...
Here is a photo of my latest arrangement... The vase will be changed out... an Autumn color as soon as I go to the trailer to get it... This is made of the grasses I gathered when up the Belmont with Linda... The pod is the only thing that I did not gather...
Fran and I did a little work at the EC Sunday... Dustin took our photo... We had so much fun working... Have I told you all how much I love my job? Oh ya! about a million times...
Everyone have a wonderful day, me I am going to enjoy my rain, start a fire and clean my house...

Remember, before you know it winter will be upon us... so get out there and take advantage of AUTUMN!!! Hug those you love... Truly a good thing...

Till next time...
Nothing but love Lina

BEACH!

2008-10-18T06:32:00.006-06:00

I was thinking that I would like to find white sand, the kind you find on Myrtle Beach In South Carolina to cover the fire pit area... I think that in the Moon light it would give the appearance of being on the Beach... Hey! It's my thought, let me go with it...

If you could see it as I do, the area dips just a little to the right, so that it gleams in the Moon light, with the sand and fire going, it would look like a beach, with the water to your right...

I spent most of yesterday with a dear friend... Drove up the Belmont... It's so beautiful this time of year, the weather perfect...we took along a bottle of nice wine, Eric Clapton and JJ Cale,Swamp Mama Johnson and Emmylou's new one... did some gathering of Autumn grasses... Panned a little (boy it was cold in that water), found nothing, nothing at all... Did find a few nice rocks...The sound of the river so soothing... Though we don't have a proper Autumn as the East does, we enjoyed the turning of the Tamarack... took in the beauty as they reflected on the waters of the Blackfoot...

My coneflower 'Green Envy' arrived yesterday, I need to plant it and was going to, but Mark dropped by,hope Steve will remember to plant it for me this morning or I will have to do it after work... I don't mind, but I would like to run up Garnet way...

Everyone have a nice day... take care

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

TIME TO SAY GOOD-BY

2008-10-14T12:03:00.010-06:00

All the snow from our first snow fall is gone... Today is a perfect Autumn day, I will take advantage of it...

Going to gather rose hips and cones from the Tamarack this afternoon... I need them both to dry, Christmas is just around the corner and I want to get what rose hips I won't be using for tea scented... that process will take a few weeks, first they must dry, (one week) then after I scent them it will be another two weeks...

All the young seasonal workers are gone now...Dime (DE MO) Maria and Luis were the last to leave... They are flying to Nevada Today (where Luis lives)... Dime and Maria will fly back in on Friday and leave for New Jersey via car on Saturday to visit a family friend... They are from Macedonia, but would like to stay in the states... by the time they get back here they will have their answer... If it's yes they want to stay here in the Valley... if it's no, well, we will have to say our good-bys once again...I hate this time of year when all of our young people leave... We had them up for T-bone steaks and the trimmings last night... what a blast the three of them are...

One of the gifts they got me was the 'Nora Jones' CD 'Come Away With Me'... I didn't have the heart to tell them I already have it... So some lucky person will get my extra CD...
They also gave me a few photos they have taken of me... this made me look at some of my old photos this morning... I just don't get it, may-be I have a split personality? May-be 30 or more... It could happen... cracking up here... it seems that I look like a different person in all my photos, even if they are taken only hours apart... go figure...
Steve Luis and Dime went out to see if they could find the turkeys, they did... Luis wanted to shoot one, I asked him what he was going to do with it... he said cook and eat it... I asked when? he said tonight... shaking my head here... told him we wouldn't eat till around midnight then, and that I thought he wanted T-Bone! so he decided that I was right, looking at them was good enough... the turkeys came early this year, think it was the first snow...

A young Mountain Lion had to be put down... It was sad to say the least... There are many reasons why, children being the number one reason... When trying to get a photo of it in the tree, it scared the crap right out of me... I have never been that scared of an animal before...

Everyone get out for a walk today... breath in the cool Autumn air...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

OUR FIRST SNOW!

2008-10-09T22:43:00.008-06:00

With Autumn still upon us, today we got our first snow of the season ... falling peacefully on my mountain...as beautiful as it is, like diamonds glistening in the moon light... Truly one of the most serene sights I have ever seen, still I hope it stops and this is all we get for at least a month... I am not done with Autumn yet... So much gathering still to do... brisk walks in the crisp mornings still to take... Apple picking and countless other Autumn activities to partake in...It's going to PISS me off... To say the least...

Everyone sleep well and stay warm...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

THINK NO SNOW!

2008-10-09T06:27:00.004-06:00

Someone left a box of Sedum on my porch, who ever did it still has not let me know... I thank you though... I will plant them Saturday (If it does not snow) ... First I want to go find just the right rocks, this just boggles Steve's brain as there are so many rocks right here, but HEY! I want just the RIGHT rock...

Here is a photo of a Mountain Lion Kill... I am so glad I did not stumble upon it... Steve and a friend shot this photo, the things Nature allows us to see... After the kill the Lion eats what it wants then covers it so other animals won't find it... in this photo you can see the hooves to the right and if you look you can see the head to the left... I truly think it's a cool photo... sad that the deer had to die , but a Lion has to eat too...

They say snow today and Saturday... I hope they mean the higher mountains and not here... I am so NOT ready for snow...

Hope everyone has a wonderful day... and please think NO SNOW!

Nothing but love Lina

PROUD NANA

2008-10-06T07:40:00.009-06:00

I am a PROUD NANA... Damon was invited to take tests at Duke University in Durham North Carolina, for those that don't know... Damon will be 13 in November... OF course Heather/Holly/Steve/Darren and myself are so excited... Look at the things Richard gets to miss... I know this is not nice, but I am pretty much excited about that too! That he gets to miss these things... It was his choice to be a coke head... so he gets to live with his decision and we get to watch this beautiful young man grow up before our eyes, reach for all those stars one after another... Richard gave us one of the best gifts a person could give others, a life to nurture...

Now mind you, I am not just proud of Damon, but all my grand-children, they are all very intelligent young people... and all loved so much by me...

Vote for Cartman... cracking up here! Hey, it's as good of choice as any... You all know I will be giving my vote to the left side... It's a Lina thing... And NO DEAR FRIEND (you know who you are)... You can't sway my mind... so stop already!!! Cracking up here... I still love you so much...

Friday when in town I stopped at Rudy's (Rockne that is) and picked up Emmy lou Harris 'All I Intended To Be', (here is another site)dang... It rocks, for what ever reason when a tune comes on by her, I always can tell if it's one she wrote... I was 100 percent right with this CD... I also purchased two oldies to replace... Neil Diamond 'Stones' 'I am I said' still a great tune...and Atlanta Rhythm Section 'Champagne Jam' the latter of the two were only 5.99 each... Diamond still rocks as does Altanta Rhythm Section...

I got this new piece of Fiesta ware... going to bake my first casserole in it today... I still would like to get the bigger one in either blue or Red... not sure yet, still thinking... if they still have it next Autumn I will get the bigger oblong one in an orange color for the Autumn months....

Here is a shot I took up Nine Mile when following Linda home to make sure she got there as her car was sounding strange...

I keep running back and forth to the powder room getting ready for my test today, so this is the longest it's taken me to ever post a post... Not as bad as I thought it was going to be... for a few hours yesterday I thought I was going to die, I was so hungry, but it went away and everything seems to be OK now... still, setting here thinking about where Steve can take me to lunch... Haven't decided as of yet, but it's going to be a place I like... May-be Rocky mountain grill... that's always a good choice, or may-be the Montana Club... another good choice...

Everyone have a good day... Take a brisk walk in this cool weather... It's good for you... Remember to hug those you love... a Hug is always a good thing...

Till Next Time

Nothing but love Lina

GLACIER PARK

2008-10-03T11:25:00.014-06:00

Since my last entry... I have been to Glacier Park... I just posted some of the photos taken, the rest are in our Nikon still camera... It was such a spectacular day out, as always the Mountains were impressive... We could go to Glacier Park 12 times a year and still not see all there is to see for the next 20 years... I must admit that I think Glacier Park has four times the beauty that MT Rainier does, (and we all know how I love that Mountain)... Beautiful to say the least... There is not a photo around that can do her justice... Each time I gaze upon her beauty a million things run through my mind... The number one thought I always have is that everyone needs to see Glacier Park through their own eyes...I truly don't believe that the USA has another spot that is as spectacular,(There are a few that come close) It has the most dramatic Vistas that I have ever laid eyes on... To think that Global Warming will have such an impact on her sadness me to no end... Please do your part to keep this from happening... I do understand that it is not all mans doing , still we can do our part! It was sweater weather when we went up... a misty rain all day... The kind that the Oregon/Washington coast often has, Misty all day, still you truly don't get wet... I could enjoy these kind of days more often...

Took three young people up to Garnet Ghost Town, no photos as I have been there a dozen times or more... , they will be going back to their home countries in less than two weeks... I will miss them...

Here is a photo I took going to work one morning, how beautiful is this???

Planted a few things that came in from Wayside gardens that I had forgotten I ordered it's been so long... Iris sibirica 'Jamaican Velvet' thought I planted two already... may-be I did, will have to go back and look... though what I thought I planted does not look like it made it, so it's a GOOD THING... Milk weed or 'Asclepias tuberosa' ... Hope to pick up some bulbs from the garden shop, not sure what I want... will decide when I get there... Still to arrive are tulips from Park seed... Tulip 'Groenland' Thought they would be here last week, but no such luck...

Going to the Doctors Monday for a Colonoscopy, for those of you that don't know... an anal probe ... Cracking up here... couldn't help myself... Doctor just wants me to have the procedure because I am over 50... I/we foresee no problems, all test came back normal a month or so ago... Date for Colonoscopy was made two weeks before other test were done... So just the Colonoscopy and a few more blood test... that should be all till my next check up comes rolling around again...

I will run into town late this afternoon... Brendan's Birthday is coming up and I need to get him something... Should call Heather to see what he wants/or needs... I need to stop by CVS and pick up the crap I will need to take for my anal probe...cracking up again...

For you music lovers out there, you got to hear Peter do his version of 'Folsom Prison Blues' You all know I am not a Johnny Cash fan... but I would buy this...

Here is a photo of the girls and myself at a party for one of the boys that will be going home soon... It sure was a lot of fun...

Have a grand day... Take a walk, breath in that air... It's a good thing... And do remember... When this war if over it will be a better day, but it won't bring back those poor boys in their graves... Eric Clapton

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

FAVORITE MONTHS!

2008-09-17T11:45:00.010-06:00

September and October are my two favorite months by far... don't know if it's the cool crisp mornings perfect for taking walks/The smell in the air/That road trips are much more comfortable?... Is it that Nature gives me a chance to collect her bounty for my Autumn/Winter arrangements/my wonderful smelling potpourris/for teas/and jellies and jams/... or more Thomas Kinkade mornings... The one thing I do know is they slip away from me much to fast...Like a child growing up, some things just Slip away to fast...

This morning someone said something, and I though everyone knew!... I am the biggest liberal this side the Mississippi! entries in my Blog should tell you all that... Also if you read my profile, it's all there... Still I don't mind if you are from the other team, some of my dearest friends are...Cracking up here dear ones!!! It's not my fault you poor fools are leaning toward a woman that has shit for brains... She is a disgrace to every woman who ever walked this earth... Did you see the interview??? and still you think you might vote for her??? I am shaking my head at you all as I am sure you are shaking that head at me... But PLEASE lets not vote for someone because of their beauty, or their perfect legs... Or the fact she is a woman... Take the time to LISTEN to what comes out of that PIE hole of hers... Yes, you heard me... PIE hole...

Five new pieces of Fiesta ware I picked up last night... The oval bowl is exclusive to Herburgers... didn't think they had an exclusive... that's what I get for thinking... just love the Autumn colors...

This morning I had to go fix one of the bird feeders as the wind kicked it around... what were we thinking purchasing land on this ridge with this wind that won't stop... OH, WE WERE NOT THINKING!!! Seems that the Steller Jays/Chickadees/Grosbeaks/Woodpeckers and Pine Siskin's...well of course for the fargen deer! ... all I have seen up on the ridge for a few days... as I watched the birds feeding today I thought of our trip to Bannack and how much I enjoy road trips,the memories that forever remain embedded in our minds and hearts... Taking the path least travelled is always the best, just ask me! I have seen some of the most beautiful spots on back roads...I found myself back in a place when the girls were young... Robbers Roost (Robbers Roost Alder Montana) (Robbers Roost History this one is in Utah that someday I want to see)out side Virginia City... a place where Outlaws sought refuge... There we were, coming down the steps and Steve snapped our picture... I have decide that when next the girls are here I want to go back to 'Robbers Roost' and have our photo shot once again as we descend the same stairs as we are leaving a room full of stories to tell... stories they didn't get the first time around... my daughters will see this room in a different light, not for the bullet holes in the wall... and please, how cool is that? but for the stories each hole tells...Talking about stairs I would die to have these...

This years battle has once again been lost to the long legged rats though with each new year I am able to see more and more in bloom... this year with all the ugliness Stella has had to face, I am still able to rejoice in what she was able to show us... So as Autumn approaches I will continue planting bulbs along with a few plants to enjoy next year, or NOT... smiling at myself... I will continue to fight each battle with my head up and know in my heart that one day Stella and I will prevail... there will be peace in the garden, the sun will shine down on Stella and she will be as grand as any garden in a book...The birds and the bee's will sing their songs... and Lina... Well, I will have the music up, my legs kicked up on a chair, a glass of wine in my hand... Or the music up, glass of wine in my hand and BUSTING A MOVE... Nothing better than busting a move unless it's having someone you love busting that move with you... Most important... My hands will GET DIRTY...

Remember to ride the river...

So till next time
Nothing but love Lina

MY BOUNTY!

2008-09-16T13:36:00.002-06:00

Just wanted Brenda to see my bounty for this year... THOSE FARGAN BASTAGES.... I so wish they had a smiley face I could add to this... I am so cracking up here... may-be so I don't cry... They are also a little wrinkly as they have been setting in the dish for over a week now...Everyone have a wonderful day...
Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

JACK POT!!!

2008-09-15T13:29:00.017-06:00

Our drive to Bannack was beautiful... such a grand day! We started out with breakfast at 'Rocky Mountain Grill' ... It was my turn to pick the music... I picked mid 70's to early 80's country rock... Marshall Tucker band , CCR, Amazing Rhyme Ace's, Outlaws and Pure prairie league... we listened to them there and back, never did put on the radio... but hey, can't get the trail way out there...

The Pintler Mountains had snow on them... Took a photo but didn't turnout as well as I wanted it to... Steve and I will go back soon and take the scenic route/
loop, we would love to drive in them instead of around them...

It took us two and a half hours to get there, spent two hours there, went for a late lunch/early dinner... then found ourselves a creek to pan for what ever... JACK POT! as you can see in the photos... I found a lot of little garnets, lots of little ones, a few pretty good size ones... But look at the big one... I was doing the happy dance... It's the biggest one I have ever found... Pretty sure I won't do anything with it... just add it to my clear bowl and keep them on the windowsill so I can gaze upon their beauty...

The Methodist church is the first building to the left... it was not open, hope to go back when it is... they were doing some repairs on the floor...Built in 1877 fifteen years after the founding of the community to this day it is the only building in Bannack that was built for the purpose of worship...
This photo is of the first brick County court house built in the state of Montana, it was built in 1875 for 14,000.... Later the County seat was moved to Dillon and Dr. Meade purchased it in 1890 for GET THIS...1,250.00 what a steal that was... It became the 'The Hotel Meade'... soon became the center of Bannack's social activity... I will share more history on Bannack here and there... I guess what tickled my funny bone the most was a 'Lady of the Evening' they have a photo of, pretty good looking lady too! her name was Soiled Dove... cracking up here... Please!!! I wonder what crack pot gave such a beautiful lady that nick name... yep, still smiling about that...There is a lot of history in Skinner's Saloon... that is where I had my photo taken leaning on the bar...

And what the hell are these? Palm trees in Deer Lodge Montana... saw these when stopping for gas... again cracking up here, the things we see...Is that not a beautiful sky/moon though?

Heather and family are still without power and water... No phone, and the cell phone is hit and miss... so glad she has Darren...

I also made a video with some of the photos from Bannack... It's called Welcome to Bannack... music by the Amazing Rhyme Aces, tune 'Burning The Ball Room Down'

Remember if one can do it, two can do it to!

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

UP DATE!!!

2008-09-14T14:18:00.008-06:00

On Heather and family...They are without power... Roof is leaking... Trees gone... Whole block has much damage... Will post again sometime this evening or tomorrow after I upload my Bannack Photos... for now here are a few photos, will add the link to them when I get them uploaded.... UPDATE... LINKS ADDED

Remember you never know what will happen tomorrow... so play hard... love hard!!!

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

IT'S ALL GOOD!!!

2008-09-13T10:26:00.005-06:00

I just want everyone to know that Heather and family are alright, been trying to call her since 4 AM... couldn't sleep... The first time she called back about 20 minuets ago the cell went dead because of the circuits being busy, 10 minuets after she called back... she went outside to try... still I could only hear every other word... power polls and wire all over the street... trees down and even more damage, will find out more tonight... Would have been on the road already... but you all (loved ones) know me... not a chance I was going to leave before I heard from her... Remember how I handled it when Holly was in hurricane Andrew? I didn't go to work for two days till I knew she was fine, I was a noodle till I got word... Love my girls... yes I do...

Was able too talk to Betty... Circuits not to busy ... she reports a lot of damage, but not as bad as the last one... The bottom line is that she and Heather/family are alright... for this I am thankful... and yes doing the happy dance...

Now to get on the road... Talk to you all soon...

Be good, Be happy.... and remember life is what you make it... don't dwell on the past... It's "NOT A GOOD THING"...

Nothing but love Lina

NOT LIKING IKE !!!

2008-09-12T13:33:00.007-06:00

IKE will be passing by Heather's place at around 2 AM today... that's a few hours away yet... I am setting on pins and needles... Don't know that I will sleep till it's over... To top it off, Darren was ordered to work 18 hours, yes... you read that right 18 hours... For those of you that love her and the children almost as much as I do... Keep good thoughts for them...

I will be planting some bulbs this afternoon that came today... 3 'Persian Blue' Allium and 5 'Pink' Daffodils, well they are white with a pink trumpet...So far I have always had luck with the deer leaving my spring plants alone... just a nibble here and there... those bastages...

Driving home yesterday I saw this, though it was much more beautiful seen through my eyes... that is Hole in the Wall road...

Autumn is fast approaching and here is some proof... The rose hips are starting to do their thing, just another week or so and I will be out there picking them... For rose hip tea, and potpourri

I have to get back to the sea side (I know ocean, just words here)... Been way to long... I find myself imagining that I am there... Not good! I am in need of a fix ... Beach combing fix that is....

Never did get to Glacier Park... been raining, windy and cool... Hoping to get there before months end... Tomorrow Steve and I are going to go down to Bannack Montana, another Ghost Town... About a three hour drive from here...The weather is to be nice, so they say... we are going rain or shine...

When I shared a photo of my Hyacinths Jan Bos, I was wrong... My Jan Bos did not give me a show this year... I don't know the name of this one...something I will try and find out this winter...

Just remember... "The half of pound of chopped ground round ...is still a burger when you go down town"

Nothing but love Lina

STILL HAD FUN!

2008-09-08T06:57:00.011-06:00

Saturday if rained... off and on all day... Still a few of us spent the day up in the mountains and down by the river playing the day away...

we had so much fun, around dusk a beautiful rainbow appeared...ended the day with a campfire ...

A few of us are going to Glacier Park today or tomorrow, have not decided as of yet... Haven't been there this year, looking forward to it... what a beautiful back yard I have...

I have three of these 'Ursila Red' Ferns... all three are doing well... I planted them in late June... they were nothing in fact didn't even look alive, they should get four times this size next year, then the following year their full size... Don't know if the deer just didn't find them, or they don't like them... either way am glad that for the time being they have left them alone...

Be good, be happy and don't worry...

Till next time...

Nothing but love Lina

NINE MILE

2008-09-05T07:06:00.003-06:00

Maria and I went up Nine mile to see if we could find the spot they rolled... Could not! So today one of the guys will take us up... they fixed the fence and it has rained since Monday so may-be that is why!

Everyone have a grand day... if it is raining stay dry! If it is sunny, well get out and have some fun... but don't stay in the house and waste away...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

JUST GOES TO SHOW!

2008-09-04T06:39:00.005-06:00

If it's not one thing... it's another... Don't know what the girls were thinking when they took this truck for a joy ride... Then said they were only going 25 miles per hour... I don't think so... They moved a bolder, went through a fence and landed upside down...They were so lucky that they both walked out of the truck with only one small scratch between the two... (None of the girls in the photos were in this truck... ) I went to work on Monday, but then decided to come home when I knew they had enough people, so glad I did... Thinking neither of these two have a job left to come back to, not sure though... After all there was no reason for them to be on nine mile, and neither have a license to drive... There are 9 photos in all...

Here is another plant in bloom... can't remember what it is so will look it up in one of my books tonight... Have three of them, the other two were eaten by you know who!... THAT'S RIGHT DAMN IT... BAMBI'S MOTHER...

Everyone have a wonderful day... Hug those you love, drive safe and be good...

Till next time Nothing but love Lina

SUMMER SLIPPED AWAY!

2008-09-02T12:22:00.014-06:00

Summer seems to have passed me up with all that has been going on... Starting to feel a little better, but not where I want to be as of yet... I hope none of you ever get this, it takes so long to get rid of, plus most always you have it for some time before you know you have it...

As summer passed me up, I will take two Holidays one this coming Autumn then again in the spring, I have a little over four weeks, by Spring I should have at least another week... Not sure what I will be doing yet except for I will Pick up Holly and we will drive to Texas... May-be for Easter, we will see... I want the girls to go also and with Phoenix being in school I have to play around her if I want her to go... and I do...

Holly continues to do well in school, the girls are doing great... Heather and the boys! Great also... That Damon just keeps making me smile... Child is to smart for his own good... SMART ASS that is... smiling here just thinking of some of the things he has to say...

Stella took a real beating this season... Never did get the fence up... First Steve and his knee, then the family/friends here for three weeks, then I go and get sick... May-be we will still get it up before winter hits... we have over 200 plants and were able to see just over 100 bloom... made me so sad... I was able to see all but one Asiatic Lily bloom, and only one day lily... they got my tiger lily and it had six buds on it...

Asiatic Lily 'Nerone'

Asiatic Lily 'Centerfold'

Coneflower 'Summer Sky'

Of all the Coneflowers only two were seen by us, they all had so many buds on them...

Gaillardia ... Blanket Flower 'Burgundy' Just love this color

I went nuts at Rocken Rudy's buying CD's on Saturday... Had not purchased any in so long... I had to stop myself as I could have left with another five... Loudon Wainwright 'Here Come the Choppers' Dr John and the lower 911 'City That Care Forgot' 'Michelle Shocked 'Short Sharp Shocked' 'Buddy Guy 'Skin Deep' and an oldie The Traveling Wilburys... it has both Cd's in it plus a bonus DVD... enjoyed all of them very much...My favorite of the bunch being Michelle Shocked... 'Anchorage' being the reason I purchased it... love that tune...

My dear friend Jen got this magnet set for me... I dress him different every morning... Yes, I am a child and love it...

Weather has been wonderful... No real fires to speak of this season, that sure is a blessing... able to breath deep all season makes for a grand summer...

Till next time, I leave you with these words..."In times like these, may we suggest blaming everything on the Republicans"???

Don't get your knickers in a knot there... it's just me, and yes, I am smiling at myself...

Nothing but love Lina

2008-08-31T20:21:00.002-06:00

STILL NOT FEELING WELL!

Was able to get out yesterday... went to a friends 50th wedding anniversary, so much fun was had... I dressed for Autumn as it's just to cold for me, even when it's between 80 and 90... Put a video together for the girls, you are all welcome to take a look if you want...

Here is a photo taken yesterday of Rhonda and myself... Sorry about the sun glasses, sun hurts my eyes right now...

Will post when I can, hope you are all having a good day/night...

Nothing but love Lina

GAZING BALL

2008-07-21T10:32:00.007-06:00

Here is a photo of the Gazing ball Steve got me this past spring... It looks so nice where I have it... I was feeling punk before the girls got here... I manned up so I could go to the wedding, have a good time with everyone when they got here, and I did... Just felt like I had a bad cold... Then it felt more like the flu... Started to worsen two days before Heather and the grand's left... I slept one whole day, drove them back to Great Falls the next day, slept the next few days then off to the Doctor... I have Pneumonia!!! Who would have thunk? I didn't feel weak or anything like that! Come to find out, most often you don't... The coughing and the chest pain has to stop! I go back in on Thursday... No one here to baby me, so I guess I will just baby myself... I have to admit that Steve has been real good... helping keep things up and has been doing my yard work for me, I just sit in the garden soaking it in... He calls from work a few times each day to see how I am doing...

How beautiful is this Palmers Penstemon? It's wild, and I started it from seed two years ago... now that I have it growing, I do hope that more comes along...
This Lavender is doing so well also... Its the Munstead strain...I didn't think I could get Lavender to grow up here, after all it's hardy to zone 5... I now want to start more...

I miss the Girls and grand's already... We had such a blast... We are all talking about Christmas here this year... I would rather have it at one of the girls places as their homes are much bigger... but they want to come home... how can I say no?

How cool is this photo I got to snap yesterday while sitting out in the garden? It's a Baby Downy woodpecker... It is just starting to get it's red feathers on it's head, but you can't see it in this photo... Bummer! Going to close and go take a nap... Will catch up when I am feeling better...have a good one everyone...

Till next time... Nothing but love Lina

NOT FEELING WELL!

2008-07-18T10:53:00.003-06:00

Just want to share a photo of us... I must admit that it is hard to try and get all the children to smile at once... Going to the doctor in a few minutes, hope he can do something for me...

Everyone have a wonderful day... Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

THE BEAR!

2008-07-08T18:10:00.004-06:00

Just sharing a story... Both Steve and I at work... A co-worker calls Steve to tell him someone is on the phone, tells Steve it sounds like a younger boy... the boy sounds frazzled... Ends up that there was a bear in the yard, about a city block away... Damon runs for the bear spray, gives it to Holly... Phoenix takes it from Holly, Holly said don't mess with it, but before anyone knows she sprays it thinking she is going to get the bear (a city block away... cracking up here, just wish I was there to see this episode of yet another day in the lives of the Offenbacher clan)... instead sprays it and it gets everyone but the bear... not a soul was to happy with her... poor girl was still getting crap when we got home...

Also sharing a photo of a Blanket Flower new this year... Planted from seed last Autumn...Unsure of the name of this Blanket Flower, will know when the other four bloom...Taken early July 2008...

Hope you all have a wonderful day... I am loving every minute with my beautiful family!!!

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

TRIP WAS GREAT!

2008-06-25T10:58:00.004-06:00

Holly Ray and Phoenix on June 21 2008... The mighty Columbia is their backdrop...

KEN, NICK AND PAT... Three wonderful young men... can't ask for better...

Busy week... Wedding was wonderful... Trip both ways great... Holly and the girls are here, will pick up Heather the boys and Julia tonight... What a long night it will be...

Will pop in and out for the next few weeks... here are some photos I have to share...
The mighty Columbia... I used to love to play on this river... This part of the river is in Richland Washington...

Sedum... Taken just before I left for Washington State...

One of the new Iris's we purchased last Autumn... Will try and find the name...

My Wine colored Iris... It's doing so good...My first Asiatic lily to Bloom... the Grand Cru... New this year...

New Album of Stella started...

Have a wonderful day/night... love one another...

Till Next time

Nothing but love Lina

Alliums Karataviense Ivory Queen

2008-06-18T07:24:00.004-06:00

What a difference one day makes! Taken 6/17/08

Everyone have a wonderful day...

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

ALLIUMS

2008-06-17T06:49:00.007-06:00

The weather has been so nice here... high 70's to low 80's... Love it... I so look forward to even warmer weather come this week-end when we visit the Sillies...

Three of us had the pleasure of having a Cow Elk and her Calf cross our path while taking a joy ride up the Belmont ... Though I have seen many Elk in my life, I have never seen such a small calf in the wild, we all had cameras, it happened so fast not one of us had the time to snap a shot...

The first of the Alliums have started to bloom... this one being Alliums Karataviense 'Ivory Queen', she only gets six to nine inches high... I will transplant these as I will all Alliums when they lose their blooms and go dormant as I want them in different places...I will take another shot of her when her flower is more of a globe shape/full bloom...
One of the new Iris's I planted last Autumn has also started to bloom, a yellow one, this one was given to me by Dee... don't know her name, don't think I ever will, I looked it up, but there are just to many yellow ones out there... she is beautiful though... Here is the start of the new photos I took of Stella and her buddies ... I also started an album for myself so I could keep track of what I have, I will be going back to see what has bloomed already this year so I can add their photo and names here... Steve Colbert of the 'The Colbert Report' Not as funny in real life as he is on TV... but a hoot and appears to be a down to earth man...

Everyone have a wonderful day... and do remember, if you don't like me, and don't want to read my blog... then stay away, it's really that easy... Why you ask? Read the comments on Paranoid People just a few entries below this one... Do remember as a proponent of freedom of speech I will post all comments good or bad as it is your right to say what you feel... but know I will rebuttal... after all it's my right!

Till next ... Nothing but love Lina

MY FIRST HYBIRD

2008-06-15T07:11:00.004-06:00

My first hybrid, I am so excited about this Columbine... it has a touch of pink going through it... She is beautiful if I don't say so myself... She seeded last Spring...

Have a Happy Sunday everyone!

Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

LATE BLOOMER!

2008-06-12T06:34:00.001-06:00

I have a Daffodil that just bloomed... How Crazy is that? What is even a little more NUT'S... Is that I still have a Daffodil that will be blooming in another few days...

Raining this morning... Tomorrow and the rest of the week-end will be in the 70's and sunny!!! So looking forward to it... Tomorrow I have off, work the week-end... Will not be going anywhere tomorrow, will stay home do a few loads of wash... Play with Stella, bake some cookies so I can get them frozen, don't want to do a lot when the girls are here, only what must be done and as we all know there are tons of things that have to be done daily... don't want to add to much to that...

Bob will be flying in today from Nevada, going to be so good to see him, last we saw him was the Christmas party... he flew in for that...

Hope you all have a wonderful day... Love hard, play even harder... it's a good thing... remember to get those hands dirty...

Till next time...

Nothing but love Lina

LOADING MY GUN!

2008-06-11T16:33:00.016-06:00

Not really... Love those long legged rats...

On the ninth my Painted daisy and two Columbines that are in the bed closest to the gate got a bite taken out of them... the painted daisy looked like this...

On the morning of the tenth it looked like this...
I woke up to spot a deer in the garden, I was able to chase her out with little damage done to Stella or the fence... We hope to get the electric fence this week-end...

I feel so sorry for Washington and Oregon, they are not used to snow in June...We on the other hand are, Both Lolo and Lookout passes got around six inches... We didn't get much... It started out like this...

And then this... If it were not wet and the weather colder we would have had around four inches in four hours... It was all melted by one in the afternoon...

Here is a photo of my young friend Pino from Bulgaria, he wanted his photo taken to send home...

Next week is the start of a busy month for us... First a wedding in Washington State to attend... Holly and the girls will come back with us... The middle of the next week I will pick up Heather, Julia and the boys in Great Falls Montana... Then a wedding here... Friends from both Washington State and Oregon will be here the second week of July for Steve's birthday... The girls will go home and then the clean up begins...

Here are a few photos taken in the garden on the ninth... More photos here... McKana Giants Columbine, only one out of five made it...
More Columbines... I will have to look up the names as I have forgotten...

Hope everyone has a wonderful night... I have some cupboards to go through yet... Relax and be with those you love...

Till next time...

Nothing but love Lina

THEY SAY SNOW!

2008-06-07T07:13:00.002-06:00

Getting ready for work... Not a happy camper!!! They say snow today... It's not like I have never seen snow in June... But come on, I am ready for Summer... Let's face it, haven't seen much of a Spring here... Wanted to share a photo that I took yesterday , this is what I see when looking out side the East Window in the Master Bedroom... How beautiful is this? How lucky am I? Pretty darn lucky if I don't say so myself...
Remember to give those you love a hug...

Nothing but love Lina

PARANOID PEOPLE

2008-06-06T07:06:00.000-06:00

A list of what has been planted in the last few days... Echinacea 'Sunrise'; Delphinium Elatum 'Chocolate'; Echinacea 'Sunset'; Echinacea 'Green Jewel'; was not sure the first few days that she was going to survive, but yesterday we saw the smallest of leaves coming up... Painted Daisy, Tanacetum 'Robinson's Red'; Echinacea; 'Ruby Giant', Sedum 'Black Jack' Oriental Poppy 'Brilliant', lost the 'Wedding' Poppy planted last Summer; Hollyhock 'Charter's Double Purple'; Delphinium 'Astolat'; Echinacea 'Fatal Attraction'; Dicentra-Bleeding-Heart 'Old-fashioned'; Dicentra-Bleeding-Heart 'Old-Fashioned White' lost both Bleeding-Hearts planted last season, think it's where I planted them, so am trying again...That would be the Perennial's

The Annuals would be Two Bacopa's one purple one white, one white still to plant; Mini Yellow; eight Statice plants 'Fortress Mix'... I have a few Perennial's and a few Annuals to plant tonight if it's not raining... and Still some to arrive from mail order... Set up my Gazing ball that Steve got me this Spring... OH, and Steve also got me a Dianthus 'Raspberry Surprise', not sure it will survive the winter, after all both the Dianthus I got a few years back in the Raspberry line bit the dust, if nothing else it will give us a wonderful show this year (if the deer don't get it) as it was a gallon potted plant...

Morning did not start off well... Yesterday I sent a link to a few people that I knew had girls or thought might know someone that did have little girls... When I put the e-mail addresses I missed my niece and hit someone else instead, the person that I upset a few months back... It was a mistake, I just hit the wrong name... and I do the BBC thing so no one will get their address... so this is what I got when I opened my e-mail this morning from her..."thanks for the virus - well, the attempt at one anyway.." Talk about paranoid... Just so everyone knows It Was not a virus nor an attempt... I would never attempt to give anyone a virus... I just sent it to those with girls or those that might know someone with little girls, including my daughters and nieces...

Shaking my head, some people...

Will take some photos tonight... Just a few minutes before I have to leave for work...

Have a wonderful day

Till next time... Nothing but love Lina

MORE SAMPLES

2008-06-05T06:23:00.005-06:00

Morning, I will try to catch up this evening... Planted lots of things the past few days... even planted some in the rain yesterday... Another two big black garbage bags filled and ready for the good will... Pretty sure by the time I am done there will be at least five or six more to go...

Just a photo of Crabapple blossoms... wanted to put something here...

Samples:
Clorox colors, with this offer there is an email sent to confirm your email...

If you use coupons here is a deal... I went to get a coupon for Mr. Clean Liquid Ceaner, with this comes 31 dollars worth of coupons..

Sample of Stayfree

Here is the Teddy Grahams site... Free Product Sample

Have a good day...

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina

A BUST!

2008-06-02T06:33:00.011-06:00

Yesterday was a bust as was Sunday when it came to Stella... It was off and on rain both days, I didn't want to scar up the paths that are not finished yet... Instead we took a drive down by the river yesterday... Still very high as you can see in this photo...A few more here...

I/we saw a pair of Common Merganser in the wild for the first time, no photo as they were across the river, to far for a shot with this camera.. I decided it was time to take a photo of 'Hole in the Wall' road sign... Don't know why, just did...May-be the bullet holes... Smiling here!
Here is a shot of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot wildflower that grows in abundance on our land... each Spring it is a sea of yellow in every direction you look...

Eric and Shawn came up for a visit... Fellow ridge rats... Nick name given to us by dear friends... The boys talked and played cards as I did my list for this weeks trip to town... I will be going this morning as Steve has a doctors appointment to see how his leg/knee is mending... Hope the weather holds up as they say it will as there is so much to do in the garden, can't get much done when it is raining every day...

Gearing up for the busy season... Not sure I am looking forward to it... But the money is so good during this time of year... and money! Well, it's not everything... but it's a good thing...

Betty is back home, got an e-mail from her this AM... will call her tonight or tomorrow... Just love that lady!

This is how I have felt the last week or two..."You can't be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: 'Holy Christ, whaddya know - I'm still around!' It's absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career." Paul Newman
You all have a wonderful day...

If it's not raining where you are at, go outside and get those hands dirty... it's time!

Till next time...

Nothing but love Lina

NOW THIS IS COUNTRY...

2008-06-01T07:06:00.003-06:00

Now this is country...

Talked to a friend last night... not going to mention the name, most of you will know whom I am speaking of... She had me rolling... Her ex lost his job of 30 years due to not showing up, not really sure why this was going on... what cracked me up, was the answer he gave to Washington power supply system when he was fired... "IF I knew I was going to get fired for this, I would have showed up"... Now, he has never been my favorite person, but didn't think he was lacking in common sense... The part that had me cracking up was she said he looked like he was 100 pounds soaking wet, has a hog and every time she see's him on it all she can think of is Adam Ant... Now mind you, when I go to the wedding and see him, it's going to be hard for me to keep a straight face... All I will see is Adam Ant... Thank you Dear Friend for that vision...

Going to work in just a bit, when I get home I will find a home for the new plant Steve picked up for me on Friday/divide one plant, and transplant another...

Sign up at Jennifer Lopez Beauty, take a small survey and receive a sample of deseo...

This link will take you to Wal Mart Free Samples, I go here about once a week to see what is new...

Here is a link for a sample of Dove shampoo...

Maxine says... "Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them." Just love so many of her thoughts... no wonder that old lady is one of my favorites...

Have a wonderful day... Make some great family memories... Hugs to you all and till next time.

Nothing but love Lina

FREE SAMPLES

2008-05-30T19:04:00.005-06:00

Raining out so not much else I can do out there... Did get a few nice photos of the Evening Grosbeak this afternoon... two more here... After posting this and checking out the status of some of my plants ordered I will finish the laundry room... then watch a movie as I wait for my honey to get home...
Thought that I would start sharing some of my finds... I like to clip coupons and get free samples... Hope you enjoy, as I am going to start sharing... Remember start an e-mail address like excite/yahoo or something so you don't get junk mail in your inbox at home...

First I found this free sports watch , while supply's last... enter the penn for the code...

Folgers lively Columbian Coffee sample...

Clean and clear sheets sample

Gillette Body Wash Sample...

Have a nice night...

Nothing but love Lina

IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

2008-05-30T09:54:00.016-06:00

The Clarks Nutcracker's were having a blast yesterday evening... I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with camera in hand... I have more photos of them in my More Animals Album...

I also took 9 photos of the many Asiatic lilies that reside in Stella's garden along with many more photos... If you would like to see what I have not posted in today's blog...they are here... My Canada Violet is doing so well, with just a tiny start three years ago she is starting to do her thing... Mine is a White one with a tint of purple like this one... I want to stumble across the pinkish one like this one... Wish me luck!
The Catnip is starting to do her thing, I will be able to enjoy her for at least two months for her blooms, but her foliage will give a show all season... in another two years it should be all around this bed along with the mini Iris's... I can't wait... Another beautiful white Daffodil ... No clue what her name is... there are at least a dozen Daffodils that did not give me a show this season, pretty sure they will give one next season... there are at least six right now that are in bud, can't wait to see if any of them are different from the ones that have already bloomed... The bloom life for most of them have been at least two weeks on an average... a few longer... How cool is that?Here is one of the many new Feverfew that are coming up... I will let them all go for a while, then will remove what I don't want... I just love the color of this herb... and it goes so well with so many plants... My favorite color in the Johnny-jump ups so far... I hope I get more of this one... Here is another shot of a Johnny-jump up... There are many of this one around the garden...Here we have the Tulip 'White Marvel'... I love the soft hue of purple going through her... Here we have a Wild Strawberry plant growing... You can see an Asiatic Lily growing through her... This Wild Strawberry plant lives in the upper tier of the bed that the Catnip is in... Here we have the Silvery Lupine, she is a wild flower... Before you know it she will fill the mountain sides and valleys alike, giving us a show for at least a month... I didn't know that she was a poisonous plant till today! Always learning... It's a good thing!
Not much happening... Going to clean the laundry room today, then go play outside...So much to do before the girls get here, both inside and out...Steve is working the late shift tonight... He is in town having the oil changed in the car... Going to stop by Lowell's and pick up some birdseed and suet, may-be he will come home with a new plant! It could happen...Have a wonderful day... Take some time to go out and look at the flowers...
Till next time

Nothing but love Lina

Hillary

2008-05-29T06:55:00.003-06:00

I keep forgetting to show you all my Hillary Nutcracker... Here she is, I can't help but to smile each time I see her... I am also going to get some Hillary nuts, I wish I would have seen this site before I purchased mine... Hillary Nutcracker... Read the top ten reasons to own her while there... I just crack myself up... It takes very little to amuse me, as you all know ...

Saw a pair of American Kestrel's yesterday... I can't believe that a Falcon can be this small...

Pondering how beautiful!

2008-05-27T15:46:00.021-06:00

This photo of the Blackfoot River was taken on Saturday, it's higher than it's been in years and this photo shows 4 feet or so down from a day or two before... Here is another one of the River... On the same day just about the same spot I turned around and took one of Road 200...Here is a Photo I took on Hole In The Wall Road on the way to town Saturday, many of outlaws hid in this spot... Just one of the many beautiful vista's you will see coming down Top O Deep... Pondering once again how beautiful the Blackfoot is as I take the drive into Missoula, So I once again think about the last few lines in a River Runs Through It..."Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."...Norman Maclean

Can I hear A-MEN SISTER!!! Why you may ask? ... Well look at the Lady Slipper... She came back... Neither Steve nor I thought she would... we are both so excited to see she now resides in Stellas garden permanently...

Love this Daffodil, It's double, white and it's trumpet turns pinkish when mature...don't know it's name as it came in a collection of bulbs, I will try to find it... This Daffodil looks great with the 'Kaydee'...

Then there is the Orchid-Flowered Daffodil 'Thalia'...All White, so beautiful. added her bulb in a few different beds, in a few years I will dig them up to divide and put all extras somewhere where I will have a drift of them... This photo is 'Thalia' with some 'Grape' Hyacinth... Such a beautiful combination...

These Crown Imperials were taken within days of each other...

Love the Mini Iris's... Here is a photo of the Mini Iris's with some Catnip... This bed like all others will look so different in a month or so...

I have six yellow Tulips, this is the only one that has a red stripe through it... How cool is that?

Then there are the horse's... Just wanted to add them, no reason... You all have a good night, going back out to play with Stella... Just a note, I got the plane tickets... Going to pick up Heather and the children in Great Falls, I got three tickets for the price of two if they landed there... don't know why the difference, don't care... dollars saved per ticket is well worth the beautiful drive... plus I get them all to my self for a few hours...

Remember to hug those you love... smile at everyone, it's a good thing... Till next time...

Nothing but love Lina

SHOOTING STAR

2008-05-16T09:55:00.012-06:00

Shooting Star... Wild flower... In the primrose family... This photo was taken up by the Well House... There are tons of them up there... Glacier lilies getting ready to do their thing...

Been pretty darn busy with work and helping Stella through this hard Spring of ours... The eighth coldest Spring on record here in Montana I'll have you know... Yesterday was in the mid 70's, first day above 50 it seems in over a week... Today till the end of next week will be in the mid 80's... July weather, no complaints from me... Guess where I will be all of today and most of tomorrow ? ... First thing tomorrow there will be some needed things I need to go pick up in town... Like last week I hope to be home by noon... The end of next week back to the norm for here... High 60's

I wanted to apologize for not e-mailing back to some of you... by the time I get home, I run to play with Stella and before I know it, it's time to make dinner, then back outside before the sunsets... I will do my best to get back to you all this week-end...

Met Maximilian Riedel... For those of you that don't know who he is... well, he is an 11th generation Austrian crystal maker whose family makes the most famous stemware in the world... Smiling here, like I knew who he was before his visit... I was impressed with him... I love my job...

After work yesterday Steve and I put on J.J. Cale 'The Definitive Collection' he had his beer and I opened a bottle of wine... Tunes like 'Call Me the Breeze' and 'Crazy Mama' get me to busting moves... He did some raking... I did some weeding in the last bed we made last season... This is our biggest bed to date... It will be weeded out and amended by middle of next week... I have to have it ready as new plants will start arriving soon... now they just trickle in, but soon it will be one after another for a few weeks... as always I will just plant them somewhere without any rhyme nor reason... it will be a few years yet till most of them have a home where they will stay... as of now only a few have that...

One of the Crown Imperials that I planted away from the others got frost bitten... poor thing...

I need help if anyone out there knows can you tell me what this is? I have forgotten... going to be a surprise, a good one I hope...
Wanted to share a few photos of Stella I took yesterday... you can see more here... If you see a cage around a plant it would be because it has just been planted in the last few weeks, if the deer do get in I don't want them to pull out the plant by the roots... Once they have taken root I will take the cage away...

This is a Red Tulip that Rhonda gave me last Autumn... I am not sure of it's name, she told me, but I forgot... will have to ask her ...

This is the Daffoild Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus ... Heirloom 1831... Last year it gave me one flower is this spot... This year three... Here I have a Daffoild Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus... and Tulilps White Marvel and Negrita...

Wildflower season has indeed arrived ... One of my favorites is Lithopharagma parviflorum or the Prairie star... It's White to pinkish flower is so small... dainty... I love it's foliage it's so beautiful and makes a wonderful grown cover for Spring... though when it's crowded it does not give many flowers... this is OK with me as I have it growing everywhere on the land... I will take a photo of some that I planted in the garden a few years back... This photo was taken outside Stella's fence...Tickets well be bought tonight for the boys flight out the end of June... Our gift to the boys... Heather will get her own ticket and Julia is free...

Cowbirds are back, they have been seen a few times here and there by us, but now it seems as they are here to stay for summer... Mourning doves have been playing in Stellas beds, something we have not seen before... a beautiful bird indeed... Saw a Horned Lark for the first time in the wild a few days back... How cool is that?... Red tailed hawks seem to be everywhere this Spring, such a beautiful bird...

"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." ~Mark Twain... So then why is it so hard for me to forgive? I need to work on this, such a down fall for me...

Yet remember those that I love... "For you see, each day I love you more.Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow."~Rosemonde Gerard

Be good, love one another and till next time...

Nothing but love Lina

CROWN IMPERIAL 24 INCHES

2008-05-09T06:53:00.010-06:00

My tallest Fritillaria Rubras 'Crown Imperial' grew to 24 inches as of yesterday... could be 25 today... compare this to the photo of the 'Crown Imperial' a week ago...More Iris 'Harmony' in Bloom... these have come up as the last ones did, what are the odds of me planting them all to deep... so I will indeed wait till next season to see what happens... So many plants are coming up... I know I lost two so far... Echinacea 'Twilight' and Coral Bell 'Obsidian' ...will try to replace both before seasons end...Annual Verbena, Alyssum (both white and pink) and Snap-Dragons have been planted... more annuals wanting to be planted, will try to tend to them this afternoon...

'On and On' daylily has arrived from Jackson and Perkins as have "Siberian Iris 'Steve' and Echinacea 'Ruby Giant' ... All have been planted and awaiting new guest to arrive...

Hyacinth 'Jan Bos' are also blooming, six so far... Behind these three is one of my painted daisy's planted from seed last year... she sure is looking good... Can you see all the wild 'Yellow Bells' in the background?

Steve's knee/leg is healed and he is doing great... said it's been a long time that it has felt this good... I am happy for him as I am sure most of you will be... Steve on the 6th also had the lump on his neck removed... He shared what it looked like... Pretty sure I could have lived without that information... I just hate gross stuff...

Been chipping away at the Knapweed in the garden for 8 years now, I am pleased to report that throughout the pathways and in the beds I have a handle on it, this year there were a dozen or so small ones that I had to pull... There are still tons out there, but now I have it under control... That's a good thing... This is a Noxious weed, a pain in the butt...Such a pretty flower, such ugly foliage... it's in the cornflower family... we have a problem with it due to all the digging we did when we first started the road/house... It lays dormant till the soil is disturbed... Each year we also plant more wild flowers and grass on the land, this helps so much as they do not like to compete for anything... A scum bucket in the weed world...

Can you answer this? Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to? Think may-be "THE GOVERNMENT GETS IT"!...

Raining here, stay dry... If it's not raining there enjoy the sun... Hug the ones you love...

Nothing but love Lina

KNOW YOUR FACT'S

2008-05-08T06:14:00.004-06:00

It's been said you never get anything for nothing... May-be that is why the IRS rebate does not have me jumping for joy... We will end up paying it back as we did in 2000 ... How?... only time will tell... Most of us will end up spending twice what we get back... So many scams going on to get you to spend, spend, spend!!! How will you stimulate yours? Not sure how we will stimulate ours yet... May-be we will be smart and save it! NAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Do they really believe that 600 dollars will help out the average Joe? They can't really believe that! Can they?

I have to share this about someone that went to school to be a teacher, my age (52)... She insisted that ... 1. The Cascades are part of the Rockies... No, they are not, they are a Mountain range in themselves...therefore, the name 'CASCADE MOUNTAIN RANGE'... 2. That the Rockies run East and West... Please, this can't be true, anyone with half a brain knows they run North and South... 3. That the Rockies stop in the United States... Again, PLEASE! has she never been to Glacier Park, does she not know that Glacier Park has a Canadian side? It's called Waterton Lakes National park... has she never heard of the Canadian Rockies? 4. That we have over 42 different Eagles in the United States... I am beside myself, there are TWO, the GOLDEN and the BALD... Yes, there are various kinds of Eagles, but only two in the United States... 5. That there is no such thing as the Alaskan Railway... OK, enough those five alone keep me smiling when I think about them... I am ever so thankful that she NEVER taught Heather and Holly... I would be beside myself having two morons for daughters... Me being me had to prove these facts wrong to her, needless to say she has no good words for me as when I proved them wrong she still called me a liar, so then I waited for others to be around and brought these facts up, with books in hand... Call me a liar when I KNOW my answers to be FACT... I laugh in her face... To stand by your words without looking them up... shaking my head at her... May she never teach another child...

The girls and their families are doing well as are Steve and I... Stella is shinning more and more everyday... More plants arrived and have been planted, more on that later...

Can you really be the person everyone expects you to be? I don't think so, SO BE YOURSELF...

Always express yourself, it's a good thing...

Nothing but love Lina

WEDDING INVITATION

2008-05-02T08:40:00.014-06:00

What a busy two weeks we have had... I have the next two days off HURRAH!!!... Go here and enlarge to get a better view of the Golden Eagle

I purchased a new Daylily from Jackson and Perkins 'On and On' this daylily is a descendant of 'Stella de Oro' I am looking forward to another Daylily with a long bloom life...I will plant it with my 'Hush Little Baby' that has arrived... On and On' will be shipped on May 12th... I also purchased another Siberian Iris 'Steve' ... I am thinking of purchasing Geranium 'Johnson's Blue' to plant in front of the 'Steve' ...

What a deceptive art a photo shoot is... Boggles the brain... Spring and we do a Fall shoot... I so look forward to the fall catalog to see how it turned out...

Will run into town first thing tomorrow morning, get a few needed things, stop at Rockin Rudy's , Lowells and then Albertsons... I hope to be back home by noon...

Love to watch the birds play... seems one or more fly into the window with a thud a few times a day, most often they just shake themselves off and continue on their merry way... Yesterday one became Fat Cats treat... hate when Fatty does that... guess Steve is right, shouldn't get mad, it's just another balance of nature...

Today it will get into the 60's with sun, Stella and I will play most of the day... tomorrow through Monday the same, only with the rain... I can do rain if the snow is gone... it has snowed all but three days in the last few weeks... granted it has not stuck, but snow just the same... they say 15 inches in some parts East of the Divide today, better them than us...

Our CD's that we purchased from Damon arrived two days ago... Lynyrd Skinner and U2... then yesterday another fund raiser for Damon came in the mail... what magazine do we want... we don't really need another one... but one's gotta do what one's gotta do...

Also a surprise Wedding Invitation came in the mail... My dear friend Mary's oldest son Kenny is getting married on June 21st in the Sillies, I will call her today, the invitation came from Alaska, don't know if Kenny is now living there or if that is where his gal and family are from, but I will find out, can't wait to meet this gal, can't wait to find out what Mary thinks of her... it's been six months or so that I last called her... she is not hooked to the internet so every once in a blue moon I give her a call ... Heather will be here, so even if we just drive there and back, we plan on attending the wedding... Mary's three boys grew up with us and I love them all dearly... as do the girls, oh the memories of when the girls babysat those three... and the things the five of them would do... Just boggles the brain to think that Kenny is old enough to get married, mid twenties by now... may-be even late twenties... where does the time go? All three of Mary's boys turned out to be fine young men... The HELL those three put her through, smiling here just remembering the past... Boys will be Boys... Pretty sure the girls were a piece of cake compared to those boys when they were little...

Almost forgot... My Fritillaria Rubras , 'Crown Imperial' are between four and ten inches tall now, 9 of the 12 I planted are up... It's an heirloom, 1665 ... The bulbs I purchased said zone 3, and they indeed made it through this hard winter... Also many of my tulips are up, I can see buds on most...

The Iris 'Harmony' are also in bloom, about 7 so far, it seems just the blooms, not much of the foliage, we are thinking may-be all the snow kept the foliage from doing it's thing, so we will leave them till next season, if the same thing happens we will know they need transplanting, may-be I planted them to deep, only time will tell... Daffodil 'tete-a-tete' and my crocus's are also up

I hate the fact that someone can be so phony right up in your face and turn on a dime to push that knife in your back even harder. With that note I will close... Remember to be true to your friends... it's a good thing...

"Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star." William Stone

Nothing but love Lina

MALLOW'S

2008-04-28T07:24:00.002-06:00

Question was asked of me this week-end... How to get rid of the common Mallow... This is my answer...

Most Mallow's are weeds...Mallows ONLY reproduce by seed, like the Columbine (though the columbine is beautiful, is not a weed and does not go crazy) ... I made the same mistake in planting some common mallow once, I sprayed weed killer both in spring and Autumn, this did not help... I had to start pulling them... what I found out was that you just have to chip away at them, that would be futile if you allow any of the Mallow to self sow... what I did was continue to pull the Mallow (make sure you get the crown of the plant) cut any buds off, so NO flowers are left to seed (the seeds ripen in 15 days or so and make tons of seeds )... It's best to pull them when they are young (seedlings) as they have LONG tap roots... With the big/large plants try breaking the steams in half (or cut them) then on a non-windy day spray the plant close to the ground and also on the broken stems, though the weed killer will most likely not kill it, it will make it weak and easier to dig and pull at the crown, remember you need the crown... It took me five years to rid it all, but I never let any go to seed, I dread to think what would have happened if I allowed them to do so... The only Mallow I now plant is Hollyhocks,and the new hybrids these Mallows are beautiful and not invasive

LONG WINTER

2008-04-21T06:06:00.004-06:00

It's been such a long winter... Our first real snow fall was late September, here it is the middle of April and we are still getting snow... Friday, it snowed...Saturday it snowed again two inches, Sunday another 6 and the high only 31, today snow and a high of 36... they say snow until at least Thursday though the tempts get back into the 40's... To warm up to the 50's by the week-end, only good thing is the snow keeps melting, there is still some out there, but thank goodness not a lot... It should all melt starting tomorrow when it warms into the 40's, even with the new snow coming...

Wonder if the 'Johnny Jump up's' will make it... they have been under snow for four days now...

Got an e-mail from Jackson and Perkins telling me my debit card was declined... Called the number they gave me, it turned out they got my expiration date wrong... All is good now and they will be sending my Daylily 'Hush Little Baby' and Echinacea 'Ruby Giant' sometime this week... How cool is that...

Did you know that Australia only has one native deciduous tree? It's the 'Beech', or Fagus, Nothofagus gunnii... Found only in Tasmania... Just love to learn new things...

Be good have fun send some Sun...

Nothing but love Lina

COLOR

2008-04-15T09:04:00.007-06:00

What the heck is going on, about 1/2 an inch of snow out there, OK, I know it will be gone in an hour or so... still, just so sick of this...

So nice Sunday, in the 70's, yesterday in the 60's... today in the 40's... Tomorrow in the high 40's then back to the 50's... Yesterday I spent a few hours playing with Stella as I did Sunday, Saturday I was out there all day, it was 65... Even Steve came out to the garden to watch me play... I ran in to get a pillow to put under his knee, he was just going to keep his leg down... What is wrong with that man? Remember when he had surgery done on both of his feet? when he had his gallbladder removed? and can't forget the chemo, thought we were going to lose him due to something he would pick up when playing out in the yard, digging in the dirt without gloves or a mask ... Shaking my head at that man, hope he learns to relax here soon... don't see that happening...

Planted my Asiatic lilies both the 'Hot chocolate Mixture' and the 'Grand Cru' Not to sure about one bulb in the Hot Chocolate Mixture... only time will tell... also planted the 'McKana Giants' (Columbine)... they too looked pretty sad when I pulled them out of the box... though I have planted what looked sadder and they came up, so again only time will tell...Planted some yellow 'Johnny jump ups' that I picked up on Friday wasting time waiting for Steve, ... wonder if the deer will get them, or if they will leave them alone... with my walk about yesterday I noticed that deer were in there, but nothing appeared to be eaten nor trampled upon... One good day is better than none... Worked in the garden a few hours , more bulbs coming up, a few other things also... If all survive the deer I will have a little over a hundred new plants blooming...mostly blubs... the good thing is, if the deer do get them most will come back next year...

A few Yellow Bells (wild flower) are in bloom in the garden... Stella and I were both so excited to see the blooms...

Anyone know? What is the purpose of that little ball on top of the flagpole?

Linda and I will be taking a small road trip today, will leave here around 12:30... Not sure where yet, there is so much to see in my own back yard... Miles and miles of things I haven't seen, so it will be somewhere neither of us have ever been... heck just up The garnet range there are tons of roads we have never taken... Was thinking about taking a drive up the Belmont (been there many times, she hasn't) but not sure if there is snow... don't mind taking the car on mountain roads, but not to keen on running into four or five feet of snow, those back roads leave little room to turn around...Many memories of the Belmont and Steve are still fresh in my mind from the 70's... like the time we drove up in early Spring with our new Jeep, about 5 miles in there is a drift of snow about 3 feet in the middle of the dirt road, cliff on one side drop off with the river below on the other, thought he was going to turn around... but nope! he went right over it, scared the crap right out of me... Later that week when at the PO bar someone asked.. "Who was the ass that drove over the snow drift on the Belmont, anyone know?" Yes, me being me, I through Steve under the bus... "That would be Steve" as I pointed at him...The good thing was, is he made a path for others to drive over... We still crack up about that... I love the part where I was able to through him under the bus the best...Smiling at myself here...

We decided that if Steve wares his glasses outside the car that he has to use nerd bars... He agreed, besides we are in our fifties... there is no need for fashion statements... cracking up here thinking of those of you that know Steve... pretty sure you are saying, Steve and fashion statement should not be used in the same sentence...

Went grocery shopping on Friday killing time, waiting for Steve's surgery ...now I love shopping, any kind of shopping... But how I hate putting the groceries away... By the way, Steve is just fine except for some pain...

Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice"? Please, don't practice on me...

Better go...a few things I need to get done before I jump in the shower...Slept in this AM... didn't get up till 5:40

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale

Be good, Be happy! Play hard, Love hard... Till next time

NOTHING BUT LOVE LINA

NO NAME YET

2008-04-10T06:30:00.006-06:00

Good morning... just a short post here... Wanted to share one of the new baby's, no name yet, but so beautiful...

Purchased a box of 5 'McKana Giants' (Columbine, bare root) from a friends child's he was having a fundraiser... they arrived yesterday, look pretty healthy to me... Hope to plant them Friday afternoon after I get Steve back home... or Saturday... I plan to start cleaning up Stella's winter damage then...

Someone gave me a rating of five stars on my Evil, Mean and Nasty... my video of Stella dancing to Swamp Mama Johnson... but didn't leave a comment, how sad is that? Wish I knew who did it...

The three Asiatic lilies in the Hot Chocolate Mixture are.... 'Nerone' The solid Dark, 'Centerfold' The white one and 'Black Beauty' The dark with green center... Didn't know that till I went back to read up about them on the link I had found...

They say the weather will be in the 50's Friday, 60's Saturday and 70's Sunday... I do hope they are true to their word... But we are talking the weather man here...

I wonder? What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Steve gets surgery on his Knee tomorrow... Hope this works for him, his leg/knee has been pretty bad for about a year now...

Will let you know how things go with Steve...

Steve's Maui Jims I got him last summer got back from the shop yesterday also... They have a 2 year warranty yet they charged us 60 dollars to repair them plus 8.45 for shipping and handling... they arrived with another 2 year warranty, don't think I believe them this time... For over 300 dollars you would think they would live up to their word... I told Steve he can't ware them to work anymore, smiling here... they are only for driving and such... we can't afford to pay that when something happens to them... Steve asked what I was thinking when I got them for him... I don't know what I was thinking other than he needed good lenses for his eyes... and for driving they are great, even he said it makes such a difference... said they are wonderful, so we agreed that they will be used only for driving or when we go out...

Have a good day... Be happy...

Nothing but love Lina

Carriage at the EC

KEEP IT SIMPLE

2008-04-07T09:40:00.008-06:00

I haven't seen anything in bloom except for the Buttercups and the Pussy Willows... I do have many bulbs coming up, though it appears that it will be a few weeks before we see any blooms... I have seen some wild larkspur coming up in one of Stella's beds, three so far, only had one there last year, it appears that letting it self sow did give me a few more, pretty sure the birds got the rest of the seeds, ahhhhhhhhhhh, the balance of nature... So many of the trees in bud, just a matter of time before we see them in their glory...

Snow again this morning... we hear it will be off and on till the end of the week... below normal temps for this time of year...

Did get my hair cut ... Got bangs this time, Steve likes bangs on me... Had lunch at the Montana Club...Stopped by Rockin Rudy's before leaving for our drive up the Bitterroot ... Purchased Shawn Mullins new release ' Honeydew' also Van Morrison's new release 'Keep it Simple', enjoyed both very much... picked up a few other things like cards, mints, and burts bees liquid bath soap for Steve, yes it's spendy but his favorite so I get it for him...Stopped in Florence to say hello to a friend... off to Stevensville to a gift shop we love,didn't get a thing, but loved wasting time there... then to Darby and back home... Next time we want to take highway 12 to Idaho...

On Saturday we didn't take our road trip... we decided we would wait a few weeks for the weather to get better... As we want to visit one of the Ghost Towns...

Co-worker and I did take a ride up the swan valley yesterday, we drove a little over a hundred miles there and back... He loves the car, let him drive it back... The car was a week old on Friday, when we drove it off the lot it had 16 miles on it, 11 of those miles were us test driving it... 957 miles as of last night when she was parked ...

Saw a Clarks Nutcracker this week in the garden... Wanted a photo so bad, but it would not let me get close enough... Of course I will continue to try...The cowbirds have arrived this week... Got a photo of a mountain blue bird , but to small to see... though I can't get the camera I want just yet, I will be getting a better one in a few weeks, one that I can zoom the photo in and crop right on the camera, just like the one Heather has... I love hers, will give this one to Pam...

Going to waste today and tomorrow away, hope the weather allows me some time to play with Stella... It could happen! Talking of Stella, when in town on Friday I did get 6 Asiatic lily bulbs 3 'Grand Cru' and 3 'Hot Chocolate Mixture' ...Then on Saturday from Wayside gardens I purchased Iris sibirica 'Jamaican Velvet' Dianthus 'Bewitched', this one blooms from late spring to mid fall... And Asclepias tuberosa 'Milk Weed', the deer got mine last year and not sure it will come back... If it does, it will be a double plus...

You all have a wonderful day/week... till next time remember... Hugging has no unpleasant side effects and is all natural. There are no batteries to replace, it's inflation-proof and non-fattening with no monthly payments. It's non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable. ~Author Unknown

So hug someone... Nothing but love Lina

POOR WESTERN BLUE BIRD...

2008-04-04T06:50:00.008-06:00

Phoenix and Ray coloring eggs for the Easter Bunny! They had a blast...

Weather is much nicer, the week started out cold and snowy... Yesterday, high 40's, today and tomorrow we are suppose to be in the high 50's... Found and covered more life coming up in Stella's garden... Hope she looks better this year then last... Evil, Mean and Nasty is nothing compared to what I will feel like this year if the long legged rats don't leave Stella and I alone... They have eaten some more Squill those fargen bastages... Long legged rats they are... Still they are beautiful... What do you do?

Here are a few photos taken of different things...

Elk hair caught on barbwire...

How sad is this, cleaning out the 11 blue bird boxes we found this in one... Click here to see an enlarged photo of my dead Western Blue Bird...

Even sadder is the eggs never got to hatch, looks like four, but there are five in this nest... Don't know what happened... This is the first time this has ever happened to us... I know Fat Cat didn't get it's mate... We have never seen her with a Western Blue Bird, and we have never seen a Western Blue Bird dead in the yard... It Boggles the brain...

Going to take my new car for a real spin today with Carla... Then tomorrow Tia and I will take it for another real spin...

Everyone have a good day, or not... your choice... I choose to have a wonderful day... Now remember, hug those you love it always makes us feel better...

Nothing but love Lina