My 85 year old father-in-law, runs circles around us all, literally.  We were teaching my daughter to do a forward roll, he showed her how.  He is mentally as fit as he is physically.  He is a WWII vet, a retired coal miner and business owner.  He is an “Old Timer”  who respects the land and loves the Lord.  He loves to garden, keeps bees, and is handy as a pocket on a shirt.

He gives us lectures on a regular basis, I have begun taking notes and will share them very soon.

Life hands us all ups and downs, get over it!  I am so frustrated by the pity parties out there.  You’ve heard the expression when life gives you lemons, well get to making some lemonade.  Every single person could be hateful and bitter because of something in our lives, but why would we?  Everyday God gives us is a fresh start.  Yesterday may have been the lowest point in your life but without a low point we all to often don’t appreciate the high points.

In my life I can think of at least a dozen reason to hate the world.  I choose not to let things that have happened dictate my life.  You don’t always have the ability to change the circumstances you find yourself in, but you do have the ability to choose how you will react.  For every action there is a reaction,  make your reaction count.

In the last year I had gall bladder surgery, kidney stones, my son had an emergency appendectomy, they found a mass in my daughters knee, I could go on for much, much more but instead of the negatives I turn them into positives.  Yes medical bills are piled up at my door and I will probably be paying on them until my children have grandchildren,  but I thank God for the doctors.  Yes my house is usually upside down, but I thank God for the roof over our heads.  Use almost any situation as learning experience, let it go, and move on.

Enjoy the journey, love life, and live it to the fullest.

Had a fun week with prom flowers.  Only planned on two, but finished with ten.  I love to play with the arrangement, some small nosegays others full blow bouquets.  I love to make them match the attire and their personalities.

I love the fun hip dresses with a cute wristlet, and I love the elegance of a long flowing gown and a hand tied bouquet.    Some girls love multicolor rainbow and feathers, blinged out flip flops or converse, or simple elegance.  The fun of prom is being able to express your style and I was happy to be a part of it. 

4 boneless skinless breasts (or about 8 tenders)

2 springs rosemary (remove leaves from stem)

2 cloves garlic

1 package Ritz crackers/ or wheat crackers

1/2 cup Hellman’s mayonnaise

Parmesan cheese

Put crackers, rosemary, and garlic in blender or food processor, finely crush.  Place mayonnaise in a large bowl and crackers crumbs in another. Dip 1 side of chicken breast in mayo then into cracker mixture. Place in baking dish cracker side up.Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes until golden.   You can do both sides, but bake on cooling rack with a sheet pan under it to catch drippings. The rack will keep the chicken crispy.  Sprinkle with parm while warm.

* This is a great recipe to play with we’ve used sunchips for crackers, omitted rosemary, and seasoned our mayo first.  This is also the recipe we use for our Chicken Parm.

Some of our favorite annuals

For sun:

• Supertunias (Bordeaux, Mini-Blue Vein, &  Mini- Pink Vein)
• Lantana
• Black Eyed Suzy Vines
• Calibochoa, Million Bells Cherry Red
• Diamond frost euphorbia
• Angelonia
• Stella d’oro, daylilies
• Knockout Roses

For Shade:

• Ferns
• Impatiens
• Hosta
• Astilbe
• Ivy

Sweet Potato Vines and Bacopa work wonderfully well in sun or shade.

Always check your baskets before watering by gently lifting, in the morning baskets should be watered and feel slightly lighter than half gallon of milk, by evening they should feel very light (for standard baskets/ iron and coconut baskets may weigh more).  Only water when you need to,  don’t water if baskets are still heavy. Try to avoid watering in the evening to help prevent mold and fungus.   Remember to feed your plants using an all-purpose fertilize on a weekly basis, 20-20-20 is great for this time of year.   Do not fertilize if your plants are wilted.

When mixing containers, use plants that have similar watering and sunlight requirements.  For example don’t put impatiens and lantana together.  The impatiens prefer moist shade with the lantana thrives in dry sun.  Mix colors and textures for that Wow effect.

Happy Gardening!