More Red, White & Blue

This year I hung the buntings from the windows instead of the porch railing.  they are more visible from inside but from the outside, they don't show much at all. 

I love, love, love decorating for 

Memorial Day and the Fourth of July!

It's Almost Time!

The PEONIES are coming!

The Peonies are coming!

The PeOnies are coming!

Soon, I will ask them to pose for some new pics for you. 

Think they'll come through for me? 


A little info on cutting them to enjoy inside the house.


Taken from:  Reader's Digest 1001 Tips & Tricks For Your Garden

"For displaying peonies indoors, select buds that are just opening.  The striking blooms will unfold in a few days.  And cut the stems with only a few leaves.  The plants need to foliage to produce food for the following year."  

A few more peony tips:

1.  If you need to move peonies, transplant in EARLY FALL.

2.  They like to stay put so choose location carefully.  A sunny to partially shaded spot protected from wind.

3.  Plant in autumn when the little red buds on the crown are visible.

4.  Use a green screen for support so that the plant will not snap in the wind.

5.  Support peonies (ours are all either cozied up in front of a shed or in front of a picket fence. they do not stand well alone. 

6.  You can add additional support by giving them a string fence, setting this up early before the buds break.

Remembering The Sacrifice For Freedom

Today is a special day of quiet contemplation in each heart of Americans for the gift we've been given at a great cost to many.  


Not only to those who honor this gift is freedom given, it is also granted to those who don't appreciate the sacrifices and those who will only kick their country and apologize for it instead of treasure it.  

I hope that you've had a chance to stop in at a cemetery and say a quiet thank you in your heart to a soldier buried there for years as time sweeps across his resting place and freedom blows the flag placed there to honor him this day.  

We are so very fortunate to know this gift that billions in the world long for and don't know and may never know.  

We have what they want.  Do we use it for good?  Do we honor the memory of those who bought it with their blood?

Are we doing the diligent thing and watching over the freedom won at such a great cost so that we can pass it on to future generations?

I hope that it can be said that we were willing to put it on the line and make sure that our soldiers who have given some and the some who have given all will not have done so in vain.

That is what we of this generation will be judged for:  our willingness to fight for the preservation of our freedoms here at home.

Are you up to to the task?

Thank you to every one who has served this noble country.  I appreciate your sacrifice and inconvenience as well as that of those who loved you, to make sure we can peacefully lay down our heads on our pillows at night in peace.

And now...a word or two from the greatest President in my time...  


The first President I was able to vote for and did so gladly...


Wise words.