Garden Designer

Well I just picked up my new computer this very hour! (Macbook Pro )I have had many Macs over the last 10-15 years, and I just cant believe how simply it is ...to open the box.. plug it in and poof, within 30 seconds of walking in the back door I am blogging, and checking out the new creative things to do! 
I am going to have to be one of the first ones in line to get a new iphone next week!!I still have my beta version.. and I love it SOOO much!! but I am looking forward to the upgrades... just because I am into gadgets,and gizmos...I am so excited! 
... basically  I am just a computer geek Gardening Mom... hee hee
New camera this week too! So more flower pictures to follow soon!!
AHHH I Love summer!!!
~Vanessa

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I just Loved this! I got goosebumps!!
The first night they cut out the words " My Jesus ... My Saviour"
But Last night they got it perfect!
It was actually a Wonderful preformance!
I will definately buy it on itunes!
David Cook sounded So good in it too!

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I Pray for the thousands of souls that are so lost, that they actually would reach out to this ....
               "McReligion"



Really... Its so sad...

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"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." In the Bible, the Book of John, Chapter 14, verse 6

I am ordering flowers for some gardens at the ...Realtors~ Home and Garden Show, ( Its at the end of this month)  
So that means a trip to the wholesale flower greenhouse...( Do you hear The Bells chiming!)
YEA!!, I am so excited! It always smells so wonderful in there, and to see all the colors all in one place is amazing!!

The flower books have been filling the mailbox for weeks now, I love looking at the pictures, and planning what will go in my own yard. I will never have enough!


Just the thought of spring being around the corner gets me excited!!

I am going to cut some forsythia branches today too,Its easy to force the buds,just put the in water and they should be blooming on my counter very quickly, that always helps!!

I also swear I heard a robin singing!! I DID!!! I hope she can find some food!
I have 6 red male cardinals and their wives eating regularly at my 9 feeders...
looks like they LOVE the safflower seed the best.

..... Spring IS in the air... I swear!!
Got my Harley tickets all lined up too and Im ready to go! There is a fun Tropical party coming up at Hals, and ( I got a beautiful rhinestone and leather vest from Theinsville/suburban dealership !)
I can hear the rumble from the garage!

Hee hee ... got to go open the store.


Come ON Spring!! We are counting on you!!
Bye 4 now,
~Vanessa

Well as seen in my interview at my store, V GARDENS with Julie Feldman on Fox Six yesterday, ...

Our retirement party Plans for Brett is a REAL Happening!! YEAH!!!

6 o'clock (in honor of fox six!!) FRIDAY Night!!!

Menu:
Tanya-Buns,Mustard,onions, sour kraut-Check
Mom -Potato Salad,crepe paper,gold watch-Check
Me- Brats,beer,Beans Green and gold flowers!!... OK!!!!
Laura-from cookiesfromscratch.com "Packer time sugar cookies"-Ordered!!! COOL

On your mark... Get set... Decorate!!!

Invites are being made, THE Party is ON!!!!

Our family and friends have always been the celebrating clan, as in:

( This reminds me of our "Seinfield party", where we had muffin tops, soup,Bobka,
and other Jerry favorites... Ha)

I am sure we will not be the only ones having a tailgate retirement party,

This is not just "yesterdays News", we want to pay tribute in our own way.

Should be fun, fun fun!!!
we have ....SPRING... IRISH...EASTER ...and BRETT all rolled into one!! WOW... hee hee

Bye 4 now....
~Vanessa

p.s. I would love to see Brett as the PARADE MARSHALL for the HARLEY 105th!!!!
       Now he has the time, and it would be SOOO COOL!!!...

I am amazed at all the activity  at the bird feeders this morning!! All the seed on the ground must be frozen solid under a sheet of ice!!! I just put out some oranges for a special treat... I wonder how long it will take them to freeze solid? 
OK Birdies and squirrels ... on your mark...Get set.....
ATTACK !!!!!

Giggle.....

Man... That was SSOOoo Disappointing... I felt sorry for them, it was brutal cold!!!

Not an excuse, but wow... They all looked FREEZING!!!

 Versace's Day at the Milwaukee Christmas parade!

 

I was in a silver mustang with the fm106  country station in the back seat! We have done this for ten years in a row for them!
  My dog Versace is with me...in her pink fur coat!
we have on fox six on the radio!!! and are Blogging from the car!!!

This was one of the coldest and windiest years we have ever had!

we took pictures with local celebrities from Kiss FM also!

 

 

Versace really liked Katrina!

we are having a blast!!! A cold winter blast! Hee hee !
bye for now!!
Vanessa and Versace ...

 

Wow,

Its funny how the different times of the year and seasons have such an impact on my mood.

I am in my "Fall" stage right now,
starting to build my nest for the winter.. which means :
* switching over my colors in my wardrobe, and home decor

*Digging out the flannel Sheets, extra quilts and furry blankets...
*Moving all my bird feeders to see what are the best views from in the house.
* Stacking up firewood close to the house, for easy access.
* increasing candle supplies...( I burn more in the winter)
* My mood is more pensive, ( not depressed, but rather I am thinking alot about feelings and Life lately)

*I dont tend to set alot of goals this time of year, I am more in the hanging on for dear life mode, Just wanting to snuggle and feel protected... I am also waiting for some sparkles...!!!! which I know the Holidays will bring for sure! ( Smile)
*Even though every thing is dying back in my Gardens, I am still optimistic, Some where in the back of my brain as I plant thousands of bulbs across the area.There is hope!!( some times its the only thing to get me through the winter!) The thought of their tiny little bulb bodies just waiting to burst through the frozen ground!! and announce the rebirth of a new season (and Me!!)

* This is also the dreaded Birthday week... I tend to be a bit selfish this time of year, But I really cant even think what I want to do...for "it!"
I am going to have to give it some more thought today....
I am so blessed, I really dont need anything...I Think I am going to try and turn it around and do something for someone else instead...

~Musings Continued~ (October2-4th)

Wow, I was out in my garden last night photographing my flowers..... when all of sudden...WHOOSH!!! BUZZZZZZZZZ..... I come across the HUGEST bees I have ever seen!

"Now this is coming from a person that is eye level in the gardens across the area almost daily..." 

Even the wings are Big~ and there were 5-6 of them so I dont think it was a Queen Bee? Any ideas?I hope they're not the KILLER Bees! Ha ha... No wonder they call It: Bee balm.. It is one of my favorite  flowers! Its like fireworks!

The Rain was Perfect timing! for the perennials and flowers....

They really needed a good downpour....and then twenty minutes later .. a second steady watering... Yeah!!

I dont think this will help the grass that has went into its summer draught stage, but time will tell .... 

Its stiil a great time to add perennial/flowers to your garden ..

The stores are full of such exciting new varieties (Like all the new colored coneflowers~SO COOL!)

I dont know about anyone else but I have seen sooo many hummingbirds in the gardens this year, more than my whole life! they are loving the bee balm, and trumpet vines!...

What has been your favorite bloom so far this year?

Just curious......

~ Vanessa the gardener...

Got this Email this week ...thought I would share...


   this is an Army soldier in Iraq with his tiny 'plot' of grass in front of his tent. It's heartwarming! Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq, stationed in a big sand box. He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer, and some grass seed so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil -- to bring them good luck.

If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.

Upon receiving this, say a little prayer for our soldiers that give and give (and give up) so unselfishly for us.

 

~Vanessa









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Musings from Vanessa...
(before coffee!!)
Blog-ing with Style...
********************************************
This is a pep talk: yep... here it is

"There's always room for a Happy Day..."
So Start using yours!!!!

Some times I wake up with  a clarity ...
A Day that is a blessing, and a gift.
 I've been inspired  with just a couple
"brain blurbs"
*************************
"Use your space "(as in live the day!)
such a carpe diem attitude!

It's as old as the hills, but also so simple.
*Accessorize Liberally! This means scatter yourself around (dont be a bump on your chair!) make the effort to reach out and do something Extraordinary!
*What is failure? as I see it,
it's never something that we have to accept permanently...
..Look at it this way...

You can ALWAYS get something out of the situation......

Its what you take out of it!
you will get... some kind of knowledge..., some contact with another personality..., another view point for whatever...Maybe A Lesson Learned... How about just a way too see, another Way to live!!!  Is that a failure? Absolutely Not!
Isnt it exciting?

Life is that way!...it really is! We all have this opportunity!
So,... in answer to the question :
What would you do with your life if you could not fail.?...
Answer is...:Start  livin it!! Really Jumping in with both feet!
********************
ok ... for you skeptics...Hear me out,
for those of you that need some one to SCREAM at you from the rooftops!!!....
AAAARRRGGG!!
 of course... There are going to be Trials in your Life ...Think of the person sitting in an asylum , who has lost brain functions, cant walk, cant taste food, cant smell , cant HAVE YOUR LIFE?!
Most of us are not this catatonic state,

it always helps to look at something or someone worse than you ...
but really,How are you Dealing with YOUR Life situation...?

Is every thing a bother...... or an opportunity?
Are you feeling this? or backing away, thinking "I cant get this..."

Let's try this for a scenario, .... another way to try Life...
say,We are starting the day.... Start with  your outlook... What are you going to bring with you for today?
 If you have your suitcase packed with the wrong stuff for "Living" you are not going to be prepared for
Real Life!!..
Hurrying....
fear,
doubt,
anger,
jealously,
worry,
these all take up way too much room time and energy...
 (why would you want to waste any of YOUR LIFE on this crap?) I mean really.. what does any of it accomplish?    

Have you ever said this?:         "I remember the time I was so glad that I was ___ (angry, worried, fill it in) all day                because that really helped the situation! YEAH RIGHT!

This is your Life and YOU  get to choose!!

Try to Remember to pack a lot of:
*Smiles... (it comes in every language, color and size!)

*an Attitude Adjustment kit! Sometimes,It takes a little effort on your part...
   
*Special Outlook Glasses! (just to see things as they really are, in the right perspective)

*a Sparkle or two! hee hee

* Eyes to see where you really ARE in Your Life!

* A compassionate heart to feel for others who have not grasped on to this reality that this is your ONE life, every day is special, and it is happening RIGHT NOW!

really, take this with you, hold it close to your soul , and USE your space in this life here on earth!!!!Your Life is Special!

There is always room for a Happy Day!!!
SO...START  USING YOURS!!!

Smiles~Vanessa

I am so excited for spring FINALLY to be here!!  YIPPEE!!!
I am planting flowers every where, and it makes me so happy!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am asked all the time what is my favorite planting, and

I am going to start out with a challenge for all you gardeners!!..........

Try to do something a bit more inventive than a vinca, geranium and a spike!! ......

There is so much more easy care and excitement out there!!! Really!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is an idea to try:
How about Golden bells Lysmachia for the trailing part....
Pink and orange profusion zinnias ( THey are awesome!)
and a tropicanna canna for the center.... WOW... WOW ... WOW what a knockout combination!!
add in a sun coleaus or two and you really have a trafficstopper!! .....
~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are some combinations that you might try this year? Let me know how it works!!....

Got to go ... the birds are singing and the day is Started!! hee hee
 Vanessa