Garden Update

Dave built this pergola in just a few days ( he amazes me, so very talened). It cost about a $100 and a lot of Dave's sweat, but he did a great job and we are very pleased with it. We recently saw a pergola in a catalog that was $1000! This isn't a very good picture but it will look better with some lumination and decoration with plants. We moved the grill here since this side of the yard is right off of our kitchen. A lot of meals will be eaten here.
Have I said what a great husband I have? Well I do. When I got home from work one day last week, this beauty was waiting for me. I have want a wicker lounge to add to our wicker set for a while - and there it was. I immediately reclined and I got this:

My favorite cocktail- Apple Martini, which Dave has perfected. Better than any I have had at any bar, restaurant, etc.

Dave under the pergola, painting it.

Our garden is doing great - this is the sugar snap peas climbing up like crazy, in the back, our corn about 2 inches high.
These are brussel sprouts. I have never had much luck with these, one of my favorite veggies. So far they are looking very good.

This section has cucumbers, melon, green beans, okra and rhubarb.

This is our rose garden - Dave loves roses, they are his favorite. We have never had much luck with them but we won't give up. The latest one we bought was a beautiful peachy-yellow color and was named "Princess Diana". I love the titles they give to roses - there is a deep velvety red one called "Mr. Lincoln".
Another type of rose - climbing roses. We have two of them and their blooms were absolutely gorgeous this year. These are light pink, I took the picture a little too late, a lot of the petals have already fallen.

This is the climbing rose in the front yard.

This is my favorite, one of many - hydrangea - the first bloom of the season. The bushes are looking real good but not many blooms yet - I keep hoping.

Visit with the twins

The kids came over Saturday afternoon to spend the night, it was very hot so they wanted to swim and play outside.

Meighan loves to feed Papa. Although we have always referred to Dave as Grandpa, Meg seems to prefer Papa. She calls me Mama and Amy Mommy. Alex isn't quite as articulate as Meighan. He talks like crazy, you just can't understand much of what he says. Sounds really cute though and you catch a word more and more.

Meighan looks so cute in her new bikini. Is she a doll or what?

I must get Alex a bathing suit soon! I just haven't found one I like.

Alex taking a drink.

Aren't they the cutest?

They love bath time, but really loved it tonight. I had finger paints for them and they loved making a big mess. The best part was the easy clean up.

Emmy and Aidan's Graduation

Aidan and Emmy had their graduation from preschool Friday night - they move on to kindergarten in the fall. The kids were so cute. It was an Hawaii theme, note the grass skirts, flower shirts and sunglasses. Aidan is the fourth from the left and Emmy third from the right.

Miss Emmy.
There was dancing, singing and music!

Aidan after receiving his diploma.

Emmy going for her diploma.

And there was cake.

Aidan, Emmy and Samara.

Emmy's 5th Birthday Party

Emmy had a clown at her party! The kids had a blast. There was a magic show, face painting and balloons in the shapes of guns, dolls, giraffes - made by the clown.

Samara was enthralled by the cute clown.

Our birthday girl- hard to believe she is five already and starts kindergarten this year.

Grandpa and Samara.

Aidan with his painted face - spiderman??

Emmy and Ian with Grandpa.

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day! I spent it with some of my favorite people.

Beautiful tulips from Amy, Paul and the kids.

We had dinner at Topeka's - Mrs. Robertson and Willis.

Alex enjoying a ride on Dad's shoulders.

Mrs. Robertson, Amy, Meighan and Alex.

Cupcakes Yum - chocolate and coconut.

Herb Festival

My favorite festival of the year - the Herb Festival at Maymont Park. Meighan Rose spent the night on Friday and went to the park with us.

We took a picnic lunch and it was a beautiful day for it.

Meighan enjoyed running around and snacking.

Taking a juice break. It was a lot of fun.

The Garden is on its Way!

My Herb Garden

Lavender at the edge of the patio.

My potting area.

My parsley is a little slow this year.

Rosemary - one of my favorites.

That's comfrey to the left - I just planted this after finding it at this years' Herb Show at Maymont. Most of the herbs I have are for cooking. Others I buy because I like the foliage and flowers - comfrey has a little pink flower. It is known for it's medicinal benefits - the leaves and roots contain a protein that encourages cell division and is known for it's cures, from stubborn leg ulcers to broken bones.

This is my "Thyme" area, along with a few others. That's chives to the right with the blooms. There is thyme tomillo, White flowering thyme, doone valley thyme, citrus lime thyme, and silver thyme. I have lots of other herbs that I will show later.

Our Veggie Garden:

Sugar snap peas are bountiful - they are already about 4 inches tall. I have plant silver queen corn in the back and a few beets on the left.

Brussel sprouts to the right. In the back there are cucumbers, melon and squash. To the left of the gazing ball is green beans, okra and rhubarb.

A better look of that side of the garden.