Sweethearts of San Acacia

I need me a pair of these...

I got a perfect score.  In spite of all the silliness surrounding me this week ~ including bad moods and bitch sessions ~ I keep mulling that over in my head.

I got a perfect score.

Hank was not thrilled with his get up.

I'm a member of ACTHA - a national trail riding competition group - 6 miles, 6 natural obstacles and 6 judges watching your every move.

Been a member for 2 years but have never actually saddled up and tried my luck...

Until Valentine's week.

When I competed at the Sweethearts of San Acacia ACTHA competition on what might have been the coldest day on record, in sunny New Mexico. What a blast! (Just in case you're wondering, you get bonus points for dolling up your pony. :)

I waited a whole week to check my scores ~ first time and all, plus I never think I'm very good at anything.

Nearly fell over when I saw that out of a possible 20 points... We got 21 on the Standing Jump (which I've never done before.) 10 for me, 10 for the horse. And, an extra tie-breaking point for perfection. Wow!

And, then I tanked on the Dip A Coaster ~ A steep up and down where my horse did just dandy. She got a 9. And, I got a 3. Oops. Here it is, just in case you're curious.



* These pics were taken by a horse pal o' mine, Lisa W.

Negatory.

I'm looking for a dressmaker.

Over coffee, before dawn this morning, I was chuckling to myself about the massive number of blog posts I've recently written.... in my head. 

Ages ago, when I began this blog, I deemed it 'My Positive Place' ~ setting a firm guideline that I could only post about happy stuff.

A bright spot: Orchids are re-blooming.

Perhaps it's the introvert in me, but I don't like it when people use their blogs as a soapbox for all the problems in their own little worlds. (I'm even less thrilled with bloggers who prescribe to that infernal ABC meme. Have you stopped to consider how tiring it is to visit blogging friends when 12 of them are dedicating a post to E is for Echinacea?? "E" is for 'enough already...') 

But, as of this morning, I'm thinking if I don't allow myself to bitch a little, I may never blog again.

This is wedding year. My darling daughter is getting married. (She has, so far, not given me approval to be in charge of the bouquet, but I'm not worried. I'm highly skilled at groveling.)

The Pure White Orchid is re-blooming, too.

The thing is... I couldn't be happier!

And, yes, I know weddings are big business, they're very expensive, but I don't really care if it will take me a year to pay this off. She's my lucky charm! I want it to be a lovely day.

I'm talking in the singular because I'm happily divorced. (To be clear, that was his idea. Shocking, I know! That somebody wants to rid themselves of me...? :) And, while she has a very well-to-do Dad, he's claimed he's too poor to contribute very much to this event.

Now if that is, indeed, the case I'm actually okay with this. But, then I got his email: We are taking care of designing, writing and producing her save-the-date cards and invitations. On us.

It made me ballistic. As if somehow an hour of his time, in creating an invitation, was equal to offering to help her pay for her dress. Seriously? Writing? Ahem. "You're invited. Be there with bells on!" Whew! That tough project's done.

What do you do when you're mad? I pull weeds. Or, pet horses. Sometimes I pet horses while they're pulling weeds.

And, as far as this bitch session? Well... I just thought I'd toss this one out into the universe in case anyone has some wise advice.
 
* PS: I am, really and truly, looking for a seamstress who can sew L's gown. Know anybody?

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Free-Range Chicken Gardens

Sure, they lay eggs but do you know how beneficial they are to a garden?
I'm giving away a copy of this fabulous book. Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

My neighbor owns a half dozen chickens and every one of them is named Dixie. (The Dixie Chicks, get it? I thought that was so clever.)

She also owns a turkey ~ a turkey with no name ~ and I was quite worried about his future.

She spends half her day hanging out in the coop.

When No Name Turkey waddled out of his coop, the week after Thanksgiving, I breathed a mighty sigh of relief. So, he was not intended to be dinner, after all. It sure is cute seeing him waddle about their gardens...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday's Freebie is showing up a day early this week so you can get in on the tail end of a pretty cool contest.

ENTER TO WIN A CHICKEN GARDEN KIT!

Cluck Click HERE and enter to win a complete chicken garden start up kit! 

Seriously? You're still reading? 

Scoot on over there right now. 

'Cause this contest ends 2/17/12

Which is... tomorrow.

Being the flower crazy chick that I am, I've been toying with the idea of raising chickens ~ though that has little to do with the delicious eggs they bring to the party.

They're all named Dixie.

It would be grand to have a free-roaming flock of colorful chickens doing battle with the bugs that plague my garden. They tend to ignore flowering plants, so I've a feeling we'd get along pretty well.

Then there's the fertilizer factor...

And, of course, the egg thing. Plenty of reasons for you to enter that contest. Or, this one. I'm giving away a copy of this book.

FREE-RANGE

Chicken Gardens

~ by Jessi Bloom

Even if you don't want to raise chickens, 

you'll probably love this book.

I loved everything about it! The colorful design. (Definitely coffee table material.) The fact that I learned something new on every page. Author, Jessi Bloom's, delightful writing style. Plus, the bigger picture of what she's trying to promote: Beautiful, chicken friendly, organic gardens and the bonus of farm fresh eggs! Just by inviting a couple of cluckers into your life.

* Timberland Press gave me this book to read and review and now I'm giving it to you. Just leave me a comment if you'd like to be included in the random drawing for this book.

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Lookin' for Love

Heart-shaped rocks are more common than you'd think.

If you go for a walk today, look down, not up.

Try to find a heart-shaped rock. I've been collecting heart-shaped rocks for years! It's a warm, fuzzy feeling to spot a heart rock, just lying there, quietly, waiting to be noticed.

And, they're way more common than you'd think. I find one nearly every time I'm out exploring a hiking trail. 

So, get out there! And, start lookin' for love!

P.S.

Happy Valentine's Day. :)

Friday's Freebie: BHG's Herb Gardening and Encyclopedia

Saffron Crocus

I'll confess ~ the herbs I grow in my garden are more for show than anything else. I'm such a sucker for a pretty flower that I'll plant those vs. the ones I use all of the time.

Which got me wondering what everyone else uses. ALL the time. Come on... Spill! I'll tell if you will.

* If I missed your favorite, please add it in a comment.

I've got herbs and spices on the brain after reading this VERY comprehensive book.

Better Homes & Gardens Herb Gardening is a great read, filled with gorgeous photos, wonderful recipes. It even has an encyclopedia section with the low down on pretty much any herb you'd care to grow.

For instance!

Did you know that most herbs hate wet soil so unglazed terra-cotta planters are best?

That Tuscan Blue Rosemary is the top pick for beauty and fragrance?

And, that no one really needs a lifetime supply of cloves?

Okay, that last one is not in the book. That's my big revelation having done inventory on my own spice rack.

I've never even cooked with cloves!

Which looks pretty impressive until you get up close and discover it's just jar after jar of the same dang thing.
 
Other ingredients collecting dust? Anise seed, fennel seed and more jars of celery salt than anyone should be allowed to own.

***********

Better Homes & Gardens 
Herb Gardening.

 I'm giving this wonderful book 
2 thumbs up & now I'm giving it to you. 

* Please leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

*********** 

After reading this book, I think I'm ready to unload my spice rack altogether and rely on my own freshly harvested aromatic herbs.

Because they seem to have it all ~ gorgeous foliage, stunning flowers, and heady fragrances that make birds, bees and humans go hog wild.

Saffron Autumn Crocus

* BH&G gave me this book to read and review. I give it two thumbs up and now I'm giving it to you. To be completely impartial, my neighbor draws a name out of a hat. Please leave a comment if you'd like to be entered into the drawing.

** The spice, Saffron, is the dried red stamens of this very pretty autumn crocus.

Congratulations to Carly. Winner of last week's freebie ~ the Better Homes & Gardens Orchid Manual. Plz e me your snail mail address!

What To Do...?

Johnny Jump Ups are the cheeriest little flowers. I start them from seed indoors.

For weeks, now, we've been suffering through the worst weather conditions imaginable: bright blue skies, warm temperatures, gentle breezes, happy sunshine...

It is so miserably beautiful around here, I feel like jumping off a cliff.

I am grateful for a super sunny room, where most any flower happily blooms.

I'm one of those weirdos who actually likes winter. Which is why I live in ski country. Only this year, we have no snow.

I have not called in sick, lying about an illness so I could go skiing, even once this season. (My employers are becoming suspicious of my sudden dedication.)

This is a favorite color combo of mine ~ yellow + red = loud & proud!

While the tourists are rejoicing ~ 'Oh, it's so warm!' ~ I'm left pondering what this weather pattern will do to my world.

Can't live without a window full of Cyclamen. (This pic inspired by Jenn, Garden of Threads.)

Will winter show it's pretty face? And, if so, when? Seems summer comes later every year. And, it's already painfully late. These last 2 seasons I've had to wait until mid-June to plant perennial seedlings.

Love the Daisy-like blooms of this crazy little cactus hybrid.

So, I'm sitting here, staring at a stack of flower and veggie seeds.

All befuddled. 

Should I start them? 

Should I wait? 

Should I take out a loan for a greenhouse? 

Perhaps I should throw in the towel and build myself a biosphere.

You know what they say... Go big. Or, go home.


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Friday's Freebie: BHG's Orchid Manual

Brassia Rex Christine ~ my most 'exotic' orchid

Do you grow Orchids? I avoided them for years. Thinking they were too high maintenance. The only person I knew who grew them kept all of hers on a kitchen counter, near a north facing window.

When they're not in bloom, they're the ugliest things. Or, so I thought. 

Gangly stems stretch to the sun as new buds begin to take shape.

Once I embraced the challenge of getting orchids to re-bloom, I totally changed my tune. These days, I'm as excited with the green shoots and buds as I am with the stunning flowers.

Orchids keep me company while I'm washing dishes.

This is my kitchen window. It faces west. Whatever orchids are currently in bloom take up residence here. No sunlight reasons behind that. Simple selfishness! Inspecting those intricate blossoms takes my mind off the fact that I'm standing there, washing dishes.

Lady Slipper Orchid

Which brings me to this week's Freebie  ~ a book I absolutely positively DO NOT want to give away. (I promised I would give it away, therefore I have to.) I learned a few new tricks by reading this book.

BH&G's Orchid Gardening book is everything you've ever wanted to know about Orchids.

From basic care to DIY orchid soils to creating an orchid hospital when some of them require life support. (Plus, some hand holding when it's time to throw that baby into the compost pile and start all over again. :)

I have one copy of this book to give away. Please leave a comment if you'd like to be in the drawing.

* Better Homes & Gardens gave me a collection of plant-related books to read, review and give away.

Hence, the 'Friday Freebie' thing, which will continue with something new for the next few weeks. If you're not big Orchids, pop over next Friday to yak about Herbs.

** To be completely fair in selecting a winner, I have my neighbor draw names out of a hat. (Gives me a fine excuse to hang out over at her place and eat all of her cookies.)

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S WINNER: Melospiza. I'll be mailing you the Yes! You Can! canning and preserving book. Just as soon as you send me your address. :))

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Wordless Wednesday: Window Sill Gardens

Azaleas

Geranium (I'm a total sucker for this peachy keen color.)

Micro-mini Roses

A delightful mess of my favorite indoor flowers ~ colorful Kalanchoe

You know what I love about flowers? Everything.
How when they start to smile, they put a smile on my face, too.
How could anyone look at this crazy mess of blossoms and still feel grumpy?

To meet more Wordless Wednesday participants, click here!

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Ortensia Blu and a Recipe, too.

Hi, Everybody ~ I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine. Laney is a Connecticut gardener who recently combined her 3 great passions ~ gardening, cooking, and the wonders of Italy. Her online store ~ Ortensia Blu ~ sells gourmet goodies imported from Italy.  I'm always on the prowl for fab Italian recipes so I invited her to do a guest blog post and share a favorite recipe with us. Buon Appetito!

'Ortensia Blu' means blue hydrangea.

{From Laney} Gardeners and cooks have a lot in common ~ we enjoy working with our hands, we're tantalized by the scents and fragrances in our gardens. It takes patience and time until we can celebrate our finished product. I’ve found that there’s a huge crossover between gardening and cooking – with many of us wearing and enjoying both hats (preferably brimmed straw ones!)

Ortensia Blu is the fruits of my labor. A new online store that brings together Italian specialty food products I’ve had a great time sourcing in Italy, plus recipes I get a thrill out of creating and preparing for my family.

What started it all is a simple blue hydrangea, which in Italian is called ortensia blu.

True blue Hydrangeas prefer acid soil, turning pink and purple in western alkaline soil.

Actually I have a yard full of blue hydrangeas ~ my most favorite flower that I’ve planted and nurtured every place that I’ve lived. Aside from ones bought at the garden center or even the grocery store, many of them were gifts, since planted in the garden with fond memories of the givers.

I live in a part of the country where hydrangeas grow beautifully in the summer and I’ve turned some of the lovely white and pink ones to a gorgeous blue by adding aluminum sulfate to the soil. Kate says my soil here is more acidic which is why blue grows so well. I planted white ones a few years ago that I’ve kept pure and pristine, though they have the slightest hint of blue in the center so I guess Kate is right.

Pink and purple hydrangeas ~ as well as yellow, red, orange, white and all the shades in between of the many other plants, flowers and shrubs complete the color palette of my garden.

As much as I love all of the colors I see, my heart beats just a little faster and my mind calms a bit more when I gaze out at my beautiful ortensie blu.

I’m not too much of an indoor gardener so I have to wait several months until my hydrangeas bloom. In winter, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. So, I thought I’d share one of my recipes with you that’s simple to prepare, smells amazing, looks terrific and tastes fabulous.

Click here to find more recipes at Ortensia Blu.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day ~ January, 2012

I love it when GBBD lands on a weekend, when there's plenty of time to take stock of what's going on.

Outdoors ~ weirdness abounds. I was taking pictures out there, this morning, without a coat on. It's that warm. In January. In a ski resort.

Up close & personal with my favorite Kalanchoe

But, since it is January I hope I can get away with playing up my indoor garden..

By some bizarre stroke of luck, ALL of my Kalanchoes burst into bloom last week.

I squeeze all the colors into one big pot so it has a garden bed effect.

I take full credit for this though it's not from a good gardener's tender loving care. This sunny window is filled with a bunch of rebellious and horribly root bound houseplants crying uncle.

I don't have the nicest house but I do have a killer view.

I'm not very kind to my houseplants. I only re-pot them when they threaten suicide. I figure if there's no where to grow 'downstairs' (in the potting soil) then they'll get bizzy 'upstairs,' and gift me with lots of pretty flowers.

A few fab re-blooming Orchids. Hopefully more, next month.

I'm even worse with my Orchids. They're on crack 24/7. :) I soak them every Sunday in a diluted water/organic fertilizer mix. Which inspires fanatical blooms though I doubt they're all that healthy.

Micro-mini Roses

I was just delighted to see everything blossom this week because I had a garden friend visit on Friday and that window was a joy to behold.

African Violet

My one and only African Violet is putting on a pretty show.
 
I wish I could photograph her properly (her petals sparkle!) but I don't have a good enough camera... I used to have an entire window of these pretty violets until somebody (I'm not naming names, though it could be me) left them out on the deck on a freezing night.

One of the very few freezing nights we've had this year.

Winter has not yet arrived. I'm beginning to wonder if it ever will.

It's disturbing to me that the trees are not dropping their leaves. (Leaves are shed to ensure a tree's winter survival so the fact that they don't feel compelled to drop their leaves seems odd. Perhaps you know what's going on? If so, please fill me in.)

And, I'm doubly worried about the fact that they're budding. In January. Isn't that strange?

I'll leave you with a pic of my favorite houseplant, Auntie Edna...

She's still radiating happiness and I have high hopes she'll keep this up 'til Easter.

Happy Bloom Day, Everyone!

Pay a visit to Carol @ May Dream Gardens to visit more flower lovers for this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day monthly meme.