On a positive note - it's a clear day!

Do you accent your

home or garden

with architectural

pieces? Show us!

Tell me about your

treasures, your

favorite finds...

I'd love to

hear of your

adventures.

To foster or not to foster - Yes I gave my Heart.

We had our sweetie foster dog for 8 months and it flew
by - Taco - 8 years old - "temporary" - just until a family of
of 7 got back on their feet and found a new apartment.
We gave him a flea bath, we cleaned his ears, we bought him
a collar - this is not good - he's under the cover in bed every
night - we buy him a fleece coat - he's stylin' - everyone loves
him - my grown sons, our 13 year old dog, the ladies at the
bank. The phone never rings. He's our baby now (he's gray,
grizzled and 8 years old). "My dog". Then the call comes ....
he's going home. I plan to be out, I get cranky. The day arrives.
No call, they don't show. Spirits soar! A week passes.
Taco went back to his family yesterday. We did a good thing -
When he left he ran out the door to an 8 year old girl with a leash
waiting. I found out she cried the entire week he left. You see he
was a birthday gift for her 1st birthday. He followed her to the car
with his butt and tail wagging. He never looked back
- which is just the way it should be. A little girl and her doggie
in love. Happy ending. I feel good.

New Jersey is for family, eating, visiting, relaxing, bears, and me!

Every year my cousin Linda and I drive to northern NJ to visit our cousin Ruthie. It feels like "home". From the first time we walked in the door of her gray blue shingled Victorian, we couldn't get over it. We sit on the sofa and look at each other and say " this always feels like home". Her neighbors all know her, know we're arriving, say "hello" at the corner breakfast coffee shop. We ride around and look at old houses, new stores, places our great uncle and grandfather and dads hunted and fished. At night we talk about family memories and in the morning we start all over again over fresh brewed coffee.

The time passes too quickly and we reluctantly put our bags in the back seat, hug Ruthie good-bye, always aware of her teary eyes. Did I mention she's a mush? Treasure your family... every moment. We do! I'll tell you the bear story another time...

Wonderful ideas for your home and garden! So many creative people....

Wreaths made out of garden hoses are just great for Spring and Summer - on a fence post, mailbox or front door.

I discovered these instructions and photos on making troughs for plants - Google "Hypertufa" and there are a myriad of ideas on these great - great planters! I plan on keeping busy this summer trying to make a few of these. You can add bits and pieces of glass, china , marbles or shells for something different too.