Merry Christmas!

It’s hard to believe that Christmas has arrived already.  I’m not sure where the time has went but I’m just not really in the mood or even spirit for it all.  So today is being spent home alone just curled up in bed enjoying Hallmark Christmas shows.  I’ve seen most of them more than once except for the new one they release each week. 

Happy Birthday to my heavenly father Jesus Christ and the true meaning of why we celebrate this holiday season.  The greatest gift of all of gifts. 

there was no decorating this year for the holiday so I didn’t have to worry about taking a tree down or doing any cleaning and that was fine with me.  My Christmas meal was baked  Chicken breast with a baked potato which made a excellent meal  and I finished the night out watching my all time favorite movie .. Yep, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

From my home to yours …. Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve & Happy B’day Ole Lady

Today the Ole Lady (birth mom) would have been her 75th birthday if she were still here on earth.  She has been gone 8 yrs.  It’s amazing how fast time goes by.  Happy Birthday in heaven!

I had a ruff night sleeping so I was very slow moving this morning and getting my coffee and morning routine done was a challenge.  Today was spent at my mother in law with the grand kids and family.  We had a great meal and the kids opened presents and us adults all scratched off our lottery tickets.  We all buy tickets to give to each other and see who comes out the biggest winner.  My mother law hit a $100 and her totally was $111.00, my ex daughter law hit $40 and my nephew hit $40.  last year I won enough to almost get my money back on the tickets I spent but this year I only ended up with $5 but hey better than nothing! 

It was a great time spending it family but I have to be honest and say I was glad to get back home and tucked into bed and spend the rest of my evening curled up in bed as I ate more than I should of with all the tummy issues and It was a miserable night.  It was spent watching Hallmark

Sweet dreams from my home to yours …

Holiday Blues …

This sure does fit me as this year I've  seen to have the holiday blues.  I just can’t get myself into the spirit and I'm doing money as gifts this year.  I just don’t feel good and told the kids I don’t feel up to having anything here for the holiday so were just doing it at my mother in laws house.  It’s much easier than trying to cram so much into one day and the kids all have other places to go.

I’ve been spending most my time in bed on heating pads as we’ve had some pretty cold temps already and winter is very hard on me.  In fact I had a Dr’s appointment & surgery scheduled I had to end up cancelling as I'm just not healthy enough yet.  Winter here where it is cold is mostly me spent hibernating in bed trying to keep the back from screaming.

From my home to yours …

Happy Birthday Tyson

Today my oldest son turned 33 yrs old!  It’s hard to believe how fast the time has gone by.  He is a father of a 12 and 8 yr olds.  It seems like yesterday he was just a baby himself and it’s even harder to believe my grand babies are no longer babies and my grand daughter will be 13 the end of January!  Wow, time seems to just fly right on by.

 

His dad and him, he loved cuddling with his daddy.

all grown up

Happy Birthday Ira

I never know what time I'm going to end up getting to sleep, how much sleep I will get once I get to sleep or even what time I'm going to get up.  Some days I'm up at 4 or 5 am, others mornings may be 9 am or then again it may be 2 PM, it just depends on what kind of night it was for me and how much sleep I actually got.  But no matter what time it is, the first thing I do and need is my coffee!  I was drinking more coffee but have limited myself to 1-2 cups per day due to tummy issues and then it’s lemon ginseng tea after that or plain room temp water.

Today is my father in law’s birthday.  I miss him very much, he was wonderful to me and I was blessed to have him in my life.  Happy Birthday in heaven, your deeply loved and dearly missed.

This is very fitting for exactly what my father in law Ira gave me, his Love, Kindness and Heart.

Snow … Cold … Winter

The plan was to pack up and head back to the stick home on Sunday but waking up to a surprise of huge Snowflakes coming down changed that right away.  It was just enough snow to cover the ground and make everything wet, yet beautiful!

Right away of waking up, I knew it wasn’t gonna happen and looking out the window I definitely knew it wasn’t!  So instead it was a Hallmark Movie Channel day of laying in bed and trying to keep the back and legs from screaming with pain. 

Monday was another Dr’ appt and that ended up being a long day which is common with me.  Nothing ever seems to go as planned and new medication was ordered and of course the Pharmacy has to order it as it’s not one kept on hand.   I was just happy to get my screaming body back to the home on Wheels and into bed. 

It was decided that since very cold weather and more snow is being called for, it was best to make the best of it and get what was needed to head to the stick home.  Since the cold weather moved in quicker than predicted I've been under the weather in bed and I will be honest, the home on wheels is a wreck! 

There was so much too do and my body just wasn’t cooperating like it needed to.  The dishes were done, dirty clothes were gathered, food that could freeze was gathered up and the frig was emptied out.

I left things in the cabinets that freezing wouldn’t hurt and that I knew mice couldn’t get into.  Although I did leave them some food out that will not be good for that just in case.  It took most the day as this body just can take so much.  Finally the van was loaded and the fur balls and we made it to the house.  It’ gonna be a big adjustment for us all as Sparky and the dogs have to go back to being leashed in town.  Momma cat can still run loose.

We are now back in the stick home and the end of the week, cold and more snow is being predicted.  It’s time to hibernate and I'm dreading it.  On the plus side I'm glad to have my unlimited electricity as I used my heating pads all night long on a screaming body. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

From my home to yours ….

I spent the morning getting myself motivated as mornings or evenings are good for me.  Mornings are ruff getting up and around and evenings I'm exhausted from the day.  Go figure huh?

I went and had lunch at my mother in law house and it was a small, quiet but enjoying way to spend a day of Thank.  DH, his mom, our youngest Son Gabe (his wife went to her family) enjoyed a great meal cooked by wonderful mother in law.  We had the usual Turkey, and being I'm on a special diet she added more vegetables for me but I did splurge and ate some of broc/rice casserole and a slice of cherry cheese cake.  It didn’t take long and I was wore out so home was in order and I spent the rest of my day in bed resting and watching Hallmark.   Gabe and his dad took the afternoon/evening to spend some time together while I was given some needed time to lick my wounds as well. 

This was the first Thanksgiving that when I got home I didn’t get a text message from Momma Rosie where we chatted and ended with I Love You’s.  Instead, I cried some tears and sent my I Love You to her in heaven. 

I was sick most the evening from eating too much at one time.  Not thinking I usually break my food up into small portions at a time but as always on the holiday you eat till your stuffed and miserable.  Well due to health issues, I stay stuffed and this was no different.  I don’t make myself puke unless I truly can’t stand the pain any longer as puking is something I only do if it’s a have to!  I was able to take some med’s and endure it. 

Blessings & Thankful?

The past few days have been very dreary day filled with lots of clouds and looks as if it could snow!  Yes, I said that 4 letter word.  There hasn’t been any Sun for several days and that isn’t good as that means no Sun, No Solar!  No Solar means no electricity unless the generator is used to charge the batteries.  Not only has there been no sun, but it’s been windy & cold and later in the afternoon the rain came and it has even rained today. 

We had the deer hanging in the shed to cool out so no heat could be used, so today was spent going to work on cutting & packing up & put away in the freezer for the winter.  Last year I didn’t get to help with the processing as I was horribly sick so as I was working inside my home on wheels and listening to worship music.  They were talking about blessings and being thankful.  It made me realize I am blessed and thankful that I’m well enough this year to help with putting food away for winter.  Sometimes I think we can take for granted the simple things in our lives and it’s not hard to stress over the negative things that we’d like changed but really is out of our hands.  I’m not sure if it’s because I'm getting older (I'm sure it’s not wiser) but I’m trying to take each day for what it offer and be thankful for what I have and not worry or stress out because of events or things I can not change. 

 

Anyone who has a dry roof, warm home and food on their table is blessed.  There are many in our own country and around the world who are not as blessed to have those luxuries.  In the Bible God says he promises his children to provide for our needs not our wants.    So as I celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow with my mother in law and possibly our Youngest son Gabe and his wife Kelsey (never know about those 2) I will be thankful for all the great food, that I'm healthy enough to spend time with family and having a warm roof over my head.

2nd Day of Deer Season

It was a windy night and we were all rocked to sleep but we stayed nice and warm and toasty.  I woke up to my happy hunters bringing me home some meat for winter which makes for a very happy Momma! 

Yes, years ago my hunters hunted for that big buck but luckily they’ve all been through that stage of trying to kill a nice trophy size to hang on the wall.  Now as they have matured (well somewhat) they hunt for meat to place on the table for the cold winter that is always around the corner.  My kids have been blessed as they never had to go hungry as a child.  Yes, it’s true it may have not always been what they desired to eat but they always had food to eat.  Growing up poor like I did and being 3rd from the youngest of 13 children in one household couldn’t be said the same. Some call me a hoarder and it’s probably true, but I'm not a hoarder like you see on TV where you can’t walk through my home due to trash.  I believe because I was raised so poor that I am what you call a frugal person?  I’ve been blessed throughout my adult life.  But there is always that place in my brain that has never forgotten what it’s like to not have things you need and so I guess I'm one who doesn’t like my pantry to be empty.  At times if my cabinets start to get so low I begin to panic.  Plus, I believe that living 25 years of my adult life so far out in the country that it also instilled that fear in me.  I can remember winters where we would be snowed in for several days so having little kids I always made sure I had everything I needed and extra’s always in the cabinets for that just in case.  I froze bread, milk you know the everyday things that most just run to the store and pick up when they need them.  We lived on a farm and I hated having to drive 50 miles round trip to the store just to get a few things, so when I went grocery shopping I stocked up for several weeks at a time.  People just don’t seem to do that anymore?  In fact being raised in town we didn’t either, many of times in the cold and snow I can remember the ole lady sending my brother or sister up town with me to get bread, milk or whatever was going to be cooked that day.  Food was in the pantry but most times a trip to the store everyday was normal.  Even living in town I find myself not doing that as I hated it.

Since it was a windy cold day, a nice size ham (purchased on sale) was placed in the oven to cook for dinner and also help heat up the inside.  The cold is not good on my body so an afternoon of laying in bed cuddled up with the fur balls.  I had planned to watch some Hallmark but my eye lids seemed to close for a nice nap.  A trip to town was also on the list while I closed my eye lids, fuel for the generator and a trip to the house to get the processing items, plus the furnace at the house had to be turned on and set on low to keep things from freezing.  Later some carrots, potatoes, celery & onions was tossed in the oven with the ham juices and a wonderful meal was done for the hungry crew.  The brownies Hailey and I made yesterday were finished off for a tasty desert.

Later in the evening it was time to curl back up in bed and Hallmark Christmas Movies were watched.  It may be cold outside but there is lots of Love and warmth inside my home on wheels. 

Deer Season

It was a fun night last night and making room for places to sleep is always fun esp when Grammy is a packrat and has things stored in every nook and cranny!  We managed and even though no deer was gotten this morning there is still hope for tonight! 

It’s a windy, a bit on the chilly side but we took advantage of the temp being warm enough before the cold truly moves in.  YES, were talking some cold temps moving in and maybe even some rain.  I’m praying no rain as that means mud  

 

 

Hailey took advantage of getting some 4 wheel riding in and yes she is a silly girl in shorts and a t-shirt!  I had my winter house coat wrapped around me!

 

 

 

Lacey is so cold natured and that is where she thinks she belongs, it doesn’t matter what, she likes to be inside whatever I'm wearing and staying warm by sucking my body heat! I truly believe she believes that is her pouch and where she belongs, she is my little kid and I'm her mother Kangaroo!

 

 

Of course Sparky had to have some Hailey time as well as he loves being the center of attention and well let’s just say that whether you want his attention or not you get it .. LOL  As you can see he loves hair and special treats! He doesn’t know he is a goat but I truly believe he thinks he is a dog as that is all he has been raised around and he see’s them do something and he has to try it.  You gotta love him although at times you also want to wring his neck! It didn’t take long for the temps to start cooling down and before we knew it that time had arrived for the hunters to head out and see if they could bring in some meat.  No deer today but hopefully tomorrow there will be meat to put in the freezer for the winter that is fast approaching.  It was a quiet night of Hallmark Christmas movies until the eye lids closed early due to being wore out through out the entire home.  While the wind bustled, we all remained snuggled in our nice warm beds dreaming of ….

Windy Day

It’s a semi-cloud-sun peeking through day but the wind is blowing enough that the home on wheels is doing a bit of rocking.  Although the temps are pleasant and I was even able to open the door when I got up!  Of course I didn’t get up until 10.45 AM!  I had a really ruff night with knees hurting and the problem I have is laying to where my back is not screaming doesn’t fit with my knees!  I’ve put in some semi-miserable nights of sleeping and unfortunately there really isn’t much that can be done which infuriates me!

They tell me I have 3 problems going on within my knees and therefore it’s hard to treat, I have OA & Rheumatoid Arthritis and Nerve damage due to spinal injury/MS. Due to years of taking steroids for my back/MS issues my body has grown allergic to steroids and I’ve had a problem with anything Aspirin since I was a young kid just like Latex!  So that really limits my options and a side affect to treatments I received over the past few years for that dreaded word. Another complication I now have inflammation of the gastric and intestines areas that are causing weight gain, severe bloating, pain and incontinence issues and working to find a diet has been almost impossible as I'm finding more and more foods are not tolerable.  The worst part is because it’s a bacterial infection no type of injections are possible to help with the knee pain as becoming Septic is a huge risk the doctors are just not willing to take.  So the option is to try to treat the pain as best as possible and the worst part is learning to live with it!  I’ve been told this so much of my life that those words go through me like fire and my blood starts boiling instantly!  Because I took treatment for one health issue I have to suffer with another at time life sure can stink!  I have tried multiple diet alternatives and special herbs and all that is out there. 

I believe for me worse than the pain and trust me it’s horrific! Is that my independence is slowly slipping away from me.  I’m dependent on either a person or electric wheels at this point in my life and I will be honest it’s hard at times to realize and accept!!  There are some days I just don’t even want to get out of bed but I know I must and I think the fact that winter is close to approaching makes it worse because let’s face it being where it’s cold I do not have a choice but to spend most of it in bed as that is the only way I can keep the pain tolerable.  Sitting, standing, bending and many others make my symptoms worse.  Weight gain, severe bloating, fullness, swelling, pain, just pure misery.  Anyway, enough of me.

The day turned out to be beautiful even though the wind continued to blow.  Tomorrow is the first day of shotgun deer season and the youngest son stopped by to get things ready for the big weekend.  Deer season has always been a major holiday in the Walters household since well before I joined the family. 

What is fun about deer season is the family gathering and spending time together without all the hustle bustle of every day life as during this time nothing else in the world matters.  It’s our own little world at the time.  I’m even gonna get some Grammy time in with my precious jewel Princess Hailey!

Another beautiful Fall Day

I have been truly blessed enjoying these beautiful Fall days in my home on wheels!  The nights are cool and crisp & cool and the mornings are Nippy but the afternoon’s and sunset’s are absolutely stunning!

 

In the morning’s I wake up to nippy well let’s be honest, anything below 60 is freezing to me so cold mornings but with a few button hits of turning up the furnace it kicks on and warms up nicely.  I sit and enjoy looking out the window at the dew/frost on the ground while the sun is shining in and helping to warm up the inside all the while sipping on my morning coffee.  I enjoy my morning coffee while surfing Facebook to see what family & friends have been up to.  I have to be honest I sometimes spend more time than I should on Facebook and it’s a habit I'm trying to break. 

I need to spend more time doing my morning worship and bible study as I sometimes (more times than not) let Facebook take up too much of my time and before I know it too much time has slipped away and it’s time for therapy and once I get done with that I'm hurting and wore out and ready for rest and a nap.  If the weather is warm enough and the sun is shining I spend several hours in the late afternoon outside on my deck enjoying mother nature and watching the fur balls enjoy playing. 

Sparky is a total pain in the butt at times but then there are times I don’t know what I'd do without him.  He is very protective and always there when I need help.  He has learned to stand between my legs when I go to transfer as I’m having horrible pain and buckling of my knees and legs holding me up so he is there to catch me when it happens. 

Some nights I even get to sit outside and enjoy looking at the stars & moon if the wind isn’t blowing or it’s not too cold for my body.  I’ve spent many beautiful nights sitting on my deck and just enjoying the stars.  I sit and remember how on hot nights we’d take a blanket outside to sleep and my sister and I would lay and look at the stars and we’d pick a star and make a wish upon a certain star.  Then we’d try to guess what each other wished for. Usually my night is getting my bath & tucked into bed as the pain from the day has done me in and it’s TV time or web surfing.  I think most of all even though I deal with life’s stress and health issues I need to remind myself that no matter if it’s a good or bad day taking the time to be grateful for God’s blessings is the mot important in life.  No matter what life throws my way, I am still blessed and appreciating life’s precious moments is what’s about. 

Fall is in the Air

It seems Fall has officially arrived when it comes to cool weather and turning of the leaves.  I’m still at my home on wheels and so seeing the trees turn colors has been far and in between as I just don’t leave to go anywhere unless I have to and well let’s face it, I am surrounded by acres of open land!

I love the feeling the of being back in my home on wheels, don’t get me wrong I have enjoyed living at my dad’s house as I feel close to him even though he has left this earth.  I spend many hours chatting with him.  The feeling of knowing I'm in his home gives me comfort when things are going so rough in my life. 

I’m going to be honest it’s been a very long, hard struggle these past few years and being restricted to living in one place has taught me that deep in my heart I have a need or urge to roam free.  I guess it’ like a wild animal that someone has taken in and caged as a pet.  I often wonder is this what they are feeling?  Yes, they are loved, being well cared for and all their basic needs are met but one?  To roam free? 

I’m thankful for all the blessings I have received by being restricted to one place.  I have gotten to spend time with family and friends I wouldn’t have traveling on the journey to no where.  I made and kept a promise to a mother who loved me and I her as if she gave birth to me.  I got to be here for my grandkids while they were still at the age that Grammy was all there was.  I got to enjoy having flowers and tending them with TLC.  The list goes on .. but now that Fall is in the air there is this need/urge in my heart that wants to load up the home on wheels and hit the road to no where again.  Is it wrong of me?  With health issues and other things I won’t mention to want to just run away from it all? 

Since I was a little girl, for me the answer for things when they got bad was to run from them, to leave them behind me and not look back and as an adult that same need or urge or what ever it is called is still there.  I’m ready to leave life’s struggles behind me, my desire is to hit the road running from it all! 

My kids are adults and it’s time they learn to depend on themselves, my grandkids are getting older and it’s time for them to learn that life lesson’s are blessings to learn from but what do I do about health issues?  Do I stay and get treatment or do I say NO more and do what soul is screaming for?  I have prayed to God but either he isn’t ready to answer or I’m not listening because I haven’t seemed to receive any answers.  I do know this, it’s getting colder and soon a choice will have to be made and moving back to the stick home will be a must if the decision is to stay for the winter. 

I wonder if being in the Home on Wheels is because it was home for so many years that it’s my comfort zone or is it because it’s my way to escape the world around me?  Although the stick home I hibernate and only leave it for needed appointments and spend my days/nights in bed trying to survive the pain and misery the cold brings me.  Yes, even in the home one wheels there are those bad days but it seems I can move it to warmer climate where those bad days are not so many unlike hibernating. 

There is a huge issue that I have that at this time I can’t speak of that prevents me from making the choice my soul urges for and so for now I will just say Fall has arrived and so has the urge of my heart and soul. 

Blogging vs Facebook

It’s funny when I think back to when Facebook first came out and I refused to use it. But, being on the road and so many family & friends were using it I found it was a great way to get photo’s and to keep up with everyone. Plus it became another way for me to keep everyone up to date with what was happening in my life as I was moving home where ever it was parked. I still preferred blogging and to be honest I still do as I can sit down and type what has been happening that day and save it and go back later and finish up and just hit publish or save at the end of the night. Depending on if I had internet service at the time.
I miss blogging and when I had to stop moving my stick home I stopped blogging as my blog was suppose to be about moving my home on wheels around the country. But here lately I realized blogging is more than just keeping those I love updated and informed or those who enjoyed following my adventures in life. It was also a journal that I enjoyed looking back on to see I did and I realized that these past few years of not doing it I don’t have that. Even though many of the days I didn’t blog have been some rough and bad days I miss that I didn’t journal or blog about them. Blogging I have found is also a therapy for me. It’s not just for loved ones but also for myself. So I plan to start doing more of it, I may not blog everyday but I plan to blog more than not. So I hope that you will enjoy following along my adventures of everyday life and though some days may not be so good, while others are, that you join me again. My goal is to do less and less of Facebook as more blogging. Facebook seems to have more drama than I need in my life at this time as I truly have more drama than I need and my doctors kept telling me less stress, more upbeat and unfortunately winter is just around the corner.

Flu?

The past few days I’ve been sick in bed.  I’m not sure if the new medication I've been taken has opened me up and made things start moving or if I have the Flu?  I’ve been weak, cold chills, tummy cramps and spent more time in the bathroom than anywhere else.  The problem is the same flu symptoms are what I can experience when this new med they put me on is working.  So for now only time will tell and I just know I feel horrible! 

Yesterday I did capture a picture of the rain moving across from the river.  It’s beautiful to watch the storms  move across the open field.  I love seeing the open fields, it gives me the feeling as if I'm in the dessert. 

As far as you can look, it’s open field.  This summer it was all corn and beans, now it’s open and the best part is no one is around as far as the eye can see and I'm enjoying being away from the world around me.

 

 

 

 

 

The past few days it’s been cloudy which isn’t good for the solar power so running the generator a few hours a day is a must for the electrical needs.  I’m surprised how the trees haven’t really started turning colors yet.  They seem to be late this year?

 

this big cedar tree that sits over by the pitcher pump.  For the water needs it’s like back in the old days as you go out to the hand pitcher pump and pump water you need and carry it inside.  It’s really not been hard to adjust to this basic life style.  In fact I'm enjoying it.  I am truly enjoying living the simplicity and the best part is it’s free! 

 

 

 

Having the home on wheels here in no man’s land has been great and It truly feel like l’m living in the dessert of AZ on Quartzite.  I loved the time we spent there and I loved dry camping and the simplicity that went with it.  That is what life is like here now. 

 

During the summer months it was just too hot and so spending time here wasn’t possible and so it summer was spent in the stick home. 

 

this shoemaker doesn’t look like it in the picture but he had a beautiful bright red color and now it’s turning burnt red. 

It’s time to call it a night, as I'm still not feeling well and still sleeping lots. Wishing you all a great week!

What is simple?

Have you often ever wondered what simple means?  It seems like more and more we live in such a fast pace life style and the day has done passed us by and nothing your truly wanted or desired was done?  That is how it’s felt for me for some time, how about you?  How did we get to be in a society that we had to have more and more?  What happened to days when families gathered around the dinner table and talked about the days events, daddy’s and mommy’s read bed time stories and material things didn’t really matter?  I think back through my life and for me as an adult some of my favorite times were when I took the time to do these things with my family.  Then it seemed as my boys got to be teenagers it got less and less until it didn’t happen anymore?  On a normal basis days go by and I don’t talk & barely see my boys, my grandkids have reached the stage where Grandma is kind of a thing of the past.  As I sit and think about my life as it today I’m not happy?  Several years back when I was living life on the road I was happy?  It wasn’t because of material things and there were bad days that things happened but it seemed like dealing with the bad was easier because I was happy.  Now I spend my days waiting for the next surgery, the next doctor appointment.  I find I'm asking myself why?  I am stuck in one place which isn’t pleasing.  I miss my home on wheels, I miss new adventures.  Is getting medical treatment worth giving up my happiness?  When do you ask yourself about quality over quantity?  Isn’t quality more important?  Families no longer are close, instead there seems to be always that one or more who is causing chaos or havoc and in returns splits the family apart.  When I was a kid family picnic’s or events were the highlight of the week, now family seems so distant?  How and when did things change so much? 

As you know In Feb 2013 we came home because of a family emergency with our oldest son and grandchildren.  Then in Jan 2014 I came down ill and it’s going on 4 years later   So I guess the question I’m sitting here asking myself is do I stay unhappy and have more surgery, more treatment or do I say enough and go enjoy life?  Do you please your family or yourself?   Do I go after the simple things in life my heart desires or do I stay and continue as I am? 

Flowers of Love

Warning lots of pictures!   Since nothing is really happening in my life to blog about, I thought I’d share what I spent my spring & summer doing. 

My rose bush that has traveled many miles with me.  It has flourished but at this time a bit on the sickly side but hopefully soon it will be back to it’s flourishing self .  Those dreadful Japanese Beatles cause havoc and are horrible pest to get rid of!

For several summers I've been sick that just making it one day at time has been a chore and blessing.  Getting out of bed at times are difficult and some days even impossible. 

This old ash bucket was at a garage sale It was in the for free pile and I took rescued it. It makes a great flower pot, don’t ya think?  Hidden behind the Zinnia's  is a bush that has beautiful yellow blooms in the spring so in the summer I Plant Zinnia's around it .. The first year I planted some beautiful freesias but they didn’t come back the next year and I didn’t think to dig up the bulbs.  I admit I’ve never really had a green thumb even though I have always wanted a beautiful yard with lots of flowers.

This summer has been better and I’ve been  trying Alternative treatment and it has helped make me feel better and I’m able to do a few things other than just surviving day to day.  The past few summers I've attempted to start flowers at the stick house but the problem was I just didn’t have the strength or energy to keep up with them. Hubby and the boys planted a garden for me as fresh vegetables have been in my diet but let’s be honest, their just not good care takers for flowers that require maintenance but they are great gardeners! 

I started my first summer with some Wildflower’s, Zinnia's and Marigold’s and it was a good thing as I just physically couldn’t care for them.  Thankfully hubby or boys would give them water when they began to look like they were  needing a drink.  The first fall my DH was so good to collect me some seeds for years to come. 

My autumn Joy has done great, I love how the blooms start out a pale green, then they turn almost white to a burnt red look! Plus it takes hardly any special care other than a bit of water here and there when it’s extremely dry.  I love succulent's and I love that this one can survive the winter to return in the spring!

 

This succulent I've had for several years, it came in a pot with multiple different types and has blossomed and grown.  I decided to take it out of the pot this year and plant in the ground and as you can see it’s grown.  Unfortunately it has to be dug up before the first frost as it can not take our cold winter.  I believe it’s called ghost plant (Graptopetalum Paraguayense)

My sister in law brought me a small amount of this and it has gone wild!  It’s a ground cover and she called it cemetery weed but I haven’t found it anywhere on the internet called that?  I love it as it requires no maintenance and grows anywhere! 

I bought (with my mother’s Day money gift) these red and pink polka dot plants at the flower shop and just love them and they have flourished this summer.   I’ve read they can’t take extreme winters and I’m hoping to dig them up and keep them alive inside for the winter.  Some Annuals will survive and some won’t. 

 

If not than I will be putting them on my mother’s day/birthday list for next year.  Some annuals you just can’t keep during the winter inside, I found that out last year when a friend was nice and dug up some of hers and brought to me but they just couldn’t get the sunshine they needed inside my dark stick home. (This was my garden earlier in the summer)

This is my Purple Dragon that I've had for several years my sister in law (Faye) got me at the annual spring flower sale.  I love it and it comes back every year!  She got me another this year but it hasn’t done as well as I think I planted it where there is too much shade (it may have to be moved next year, if it returns)

These round bricks my sister in law (Faye) gave me to make a small flower bed out in my front yard with.  The little bird cage my grand daughter Hailey got in her craft set for Xmas and made for Grammy!  This picture was taken during the 4th of July and bought some fake red, white & blue flowers and a couple of the flower holders you use at cemetery's  to add some color for the holiday.

 

The white you see is called Dusty Miller and I just love it, it adds such a beautiful addition and I got package on clearance and  5 survived out of a package of 6 for a buck so I'm happy with it!

Making my gift money go along ways, I've been visiting the local flower shop as on Wednesday they have flowers on sale for a buck! I got me some of my favorite flower Geranium’s.

In the spring this is where my pink peonies grow and after they bloom their mowed down and Zinnia's & Marigold’s were planted.  The hanging basket is a Geranium.

This is a view of my front yard past the side walk into my home. 

I was wanting some type of fencing for flowers around my side walk and I found these at Wal-mart on clearance for $2 bucks a box!  I bought all 5 boxes!

 

This Coleus is one that came back from last year and it has popped up in several different places and I’ve transplanted them.  They seem to do well

Pictures of my stick home … I love that I've felt well enough this year to plant and take care of flowers.  I will admit I have to work at weeding several days a week as I can only work a bit and then I'm exhausted

My brother and sister in law (Faye) live in the house across the street.  He takes care of his lil sister.

I planted flowers on the side of the house toward the road and the other side has my garden

see how much this flower bed has grown from earlier picture above?  I only had 3 bricks for the circle so I added a few chimney bricks which work great for holding the bird house.  It’s hidden on the back side toward the house.

 

In the far background is a small red flyer wagon that I've used for holding a Jade succulent plant

The side of my stick home facing the road. 

I have a couple old wooden small chairs that I put small buckets in but my other flowers over powered them.  Hidden is a small mini snow shovel that is old as well. 

Marigold’s have really done great and are so beautiful along the house and around the electric poles in the front and back of my house.

A couple of trees came in a couple of the flowers I purchased and being a tree lover I hated to see them go to waste I planted them in my yard.  One is a hickory nut which my squirrels will love and the other is a oak tree.  I pray they both make it.

 

 

 

 

I know these are not pictures of flowers but as you can imagine I can’t plant any in my backyard because that is service goat Sparky’s territory and well let’s just say he loves my flowers too much! 

Lexi watching Sparky eat his ear of corn and the first chance she get’s she takes it and runs off with it.  Although there will come a day he will rule over her but for now he gives into her when she takes his treats.

I told you earlier in this most it was a warning of lots of flower pictures but I am just thrilled with how well they have done even though it has taken lots of rain & AC water saving as well as city water since it’s been a dry year.

 

A better shot of the recycled ash pot I rescued.  On the down side of being able to work out in my flowers the grass I planted several years back is not meant for high traffic and my electric wheels have not been good to it.  The plan is to catch some of the good high traffic area grass on clearance at the end of summer to plant.  Plus there is an old side walk that went around the house from front to back that needs torn out that I've been slowly working on doing.  My yard is going to be a venture of a work in progress for several years.  Due to my health I’m limited and I’ve accepted that fact in my life.  I do what I can on my good days and on the bad days I spend them in bed waiting for a good day to return.

 

The chimney vent they took off my dad’s roof when the new roof was done, I decided it was something I wanted to keep in memory of my dad and so it spray painted brown to match the roof.

 

I found the Purple Coral bells on the end on clearance as well and the pink Coleus

 

Yes I even planted flowers around the stop sign!

 

 

See the small bricks with the Zinnia's planted, that is where the oak tree is planted as well, I'm hoping it makes it.

 

This Coleus is a transplant from a stray from the mother plant and the bucket is how I collect rain water, I have buckets under all the gutters to collect rain for watering flowers.  The metal roof is great at collecting water

these Coleus are doing good, the green one even grew back from something eating it and I had to cut it down and thought it was dead but it came back   this summer My sweet potato vine I had the chimney over the pot and not thinking the sun heated the metal up and was scorching it so it didn’t do too great but I got it on clearance so I didn’t lose a lot.  I’m planning to bring it in for the winter so hopefully it will be make it for next spring and it will flourish next Year, if it makes it.

 

The wishing well is a gift from Momma Rosie and Pops, they had it and didn’t use it anymore.  The plan was to get it painted but I've not found the energy to do it yet.  It’s going to be red & white.  Now you know what I've been doing all summer long  in between test, Dr’s appt, therapy and surgery.  The spider plant in the wishing well my sister in law got me, Yes she enjoys flowers like I do and she is great at getting me one when she gets her one.  Anyone have any extra flower starts they want to share, I'm taking donations Hope you enjoyed my flowers as much as I have!