"Like the musician, the painter,the poet, and the rest, the true lover of flowers is born not made. And he is born to happiness in the vale of tears, to a certain amount of the purest joy that earth can give her children, joy that is tranquil, innocent, uplifting, unfailing. Given a patch of ground, with time to take care of it, with tools to work it and seeds to plant in it, he has all he needs."

Celia Thaxter

Don't these guys look warm and toasty!

"All my hurts My garden spade can heal."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are deep in the bowels of old man winter, and with no end in sight! So what I do is sort of like a mantra. Close your eyes and say over and over - "Warmer days are coming, warmer days are coming!" Also helps to picture things in bloom and green everywhere! This is what my home looks like in early summer, and I am telling you I sure can't wait to feel the grass between my toes, and a warm breeze blowing. Until then I will just sit here at my computer and keep the posts coming. Will read paperbacks and magazines, exercise and play mahjong! Everyone out there stay warm and dream of warmer days to come

Another adorable picture. shows there is love all around us!

Java and his Boo-Boo!

This is my boy Java, who I told you had a tumor removed from his paw. Well I decided to show you how it looks. Hope everyone isn't too upset by the photo. He was being really good until yesterday when I took off the wrap and let him outside. Needless to say he went to work tearing out the stitches. One on the top and one on the bottom. So I quickly rewrapped it and luckly by today it is closing up again. So until the stitches come out he will pretty much have it wrapped unless he is inside by me. Here is a tip for anyone who will have a dog who has hurt its paw and needs to go outside while keeping the wrap dry. We found taking a rubber glove with the fingers pushed up inside will work really we.. Just hold it in place with the ever useful ducktape. The rubber also helps with not slipping on the ice. So when Java need to go out I just tell him to "come here and have your bootie put on" and over he comes. I will need to take a photo of that to post.

"Often I hear people say, 'How do you make your plants flourish like this?' as they admire the little flower patch I cultivate in summer, or the window gardens that bloom for me in the winter; 'I can never make my plants blossom like this! What is your secret?' And I answer with one word, 'Love'."

Celia Thaxter

This is where we sit and relax in the spring, summer and fall months. but right now all I can do is dream of sitting out there! Unless of course I were to take out the electric blanket and plug it in then maybe I could sit out there. BRRRRRR

Just love this picture, I believe it is a scottish fold kitten. The eyes just draw you in!

So here is another cute picture. Took me a few to realize what it was!!!!!

"Gardening gives me fun and health and knowledge. It gives me laughter and color. It gives me pictures of almost incredible beauty." John F. Kenyon

I have to agree with this as you can see from a few of the plants I grew on my deck last year.. And later took inside so I can have them grow again this summer..