Spiderwort.

We always called it blue-eyed grass. These pictures do not show how vivid these really are. 

They now line the path from where we originally planted them. 

And are popping up in new spots. The extra sunlight has done amazing things.  

Here is the whole pathway and a cute dog. 

More sun brings new weeds however. What even are these things?

Thistle almost at its peak. We will need to cut it down before the down flies away or we will have a million come up. I don’t know how Ed is going to cut this thing. I’m a little reminded of The Little Shop of Horrors play by it. 

Also, first mosquito bite. One good thing about winter. 

Yard

The thistle grew while I was gone. Now has blooms all up and down the stem. 

Impressive 

This tree has never bloomed before. Transplanted it from Riverwood. Dad called it a Haw tree. 

My plant identifier called it Parsley Hawthorne. 

I always loved the leaves. 

GH finale

Went to Bucky’s sunset bar before dinner our last night. Bucky was a waiter at the Grand for over 60 years. They renamed the place in his honor. Here he is in pouring rain. Decided to stay for dinner due to rain. 

Before heading home the next morning. The buffet is legendary. That is their signature crabmeat scramble.  Packed up in a thunderstorm but drove home safely. 

The Grand day3

Started the day with rain. It’s even pretty in the rain. 

Sneaked a plate from the convention buffet. Not that anyone minds. Just felt like eating alone in the room. This trip has been therapeutic. No one has needed me for anything. 

View from the spa. Got my first ever facial thanks to Amy’s employer. We were disappointed that the hot whirlpool was closed due to weather. 

This guy has been a constant companion. This is the closest he got. But he lives around this pier. 

The Grand day2

The oak trees are so beautiful here. 

Lunch at a marina. 

Shrimp poboy. 

Sunset Pointe restaurant. 

Found a little candy shop. 

Inside the hall was an antique shop. 

They weren’t cooking today but you could see the kitchen. 

Cute Easter candies. 

Unexpected pocket of fun.

Amy2 asked me to come along on one of her conventions. Grand Hotel at Point Clear. 

Net Medea on the way down in Mobile. 

Oysters raw and…

Cajun 

Why would I ever want to leave this view from our room? 

Book Club

At my house. Sue had to miss. 

The book we read was By Any Other Name. So I had to have roses from the Shakespeare quote. 

It was a book with the premise that a woman may have been the actual author of the Shakespeare plays. So my little row of sheep had a day. We all liked the book. 

Lenten altar. 

Thistle update

Thistle is growing and attracting visitors. 

I think it may be a dating site. 

Bud is close to opening. 

More attic finds. Kindergarten Native American shirts for each girl. 

Krista the Cave Girl! Sophie loved this Halloween costume I made to look like a favorite character from a show she loved. Land of the Lost. 

Big dreams for Ivy Rose. 

Purple

Y’all saw my violets. A walk around the yard revealed a lot more purple. 

Blue-eyed grass or spiderwort. 

Periwinkle 

Just a pretty weed. 

And the best surprise.  Our neighbor’s wisteria crept over our fence. That extra sunlight really has made things grow. 

So pretty. Of course Ed says we need to cut it off there. 

I know it could damage the fence. Let’s wait until it’s done blooming. 

Guess I should include our neighbor’s redbud. 

It’s also crossing the fence. 

Corned beef turned out great. 

Made Ruebens out of the corned beef. Even made the Russian dressing. Couldn’t find it at Kroger. 

And for its grand finale, it became hash. I hope I did Candy proud. She taught me to make it. 

This giant thistle is growing in our yard. 

I think we will just let it grow. Looks pretty scary. The thistle is a symbol of Scotland and her tenacity. 

Sandy trying not to catch my eye because she knows I want to sit down.