Part III Posy Walk

Come around to the backyard, my covered porch is set among the roses

favorite new peony with light pink corabell

Shropshire Lad

backyard border

trellis's filling up

Teasing Georgia

New peony still in pot Ernest Markman

Sharifa Asmara

Now I need to start picking some of my posy's and making some arrangements :)

Posy Walk II

Come take a stroll with me around the yard. I do the posy walk several times a day right now while every moment something new is blooming.  My roses have finally given me the privacy I was hoping for in the front court yard.

inside the front court yard

Martha and blue skies... blooming on the back porch

Here she is...Lady Emma Hamilton.  Remember all that deciding this spring on which new roses to purchase? This is my first new rose blossom. Wow I am wondering if I am going to love this color or hate it.

first year this peony has bloomed..I am in love

The roses are huge this year. Mild weather and sunshine.

Iceburg is always a moment of refreshment

These things I prize 

And hold of dearest worth:

Light of the sapphire skies,

Peace of the silent hills,

Shelter of the forest, comfort of the grass,

Music of birds, murmur of little rills,

Shadows of clouds that swiftly pass,

And, after showers,

 The smell of flowers

And of the good brown earth-

And best of all, along the way, friendship and mirth

Henry Van Dyke

This post is dedicated to my dearest friend Alida

The Scent of Water

My friend Vee has been blogging about this lately. This has caused me to reflect back on this book and the quote that I have on the top of my blog page.  The Scent of Water is the title of an amazing piece of literature written in 1963 by an author I have only recently been introduced to in the last couple of years by my fellow blogger Sara.  It is simply  fascinating for me to read Elizabeth Goudge's books. I do a lot of reading and her writing has really caught my attention.  She is a woman with a very strong faith in her creator. But she doesn't soak you with a hose when she shares her faith in her writing.  Rather she weaves in and out of her story a message that is not really direct, or offensive, but is more subtle and intriguing. A message that relates to the way we really live our lives.  A message that draws you in and really causes you to ponder.  I find myself writing down quotes from her books in my journals.

The title is taken from a passage in Job 14:7-9. I decided to add it to my quote on the top of my page.    I remember the first time I heard someone speak on this verse.  Something inside of me lit up with hope.  As you my faithful readers know I am just a tad bit into gardening.  So the analogy that just the scent of water can cause new life to spring forth from something that looks dead on the outside but deep down in the root system there is still life and hope, is a truth I have discovered in nature to be true.  I believe this analogy can also be true for us.

I had one of those "Scent of Water" experiences yesterday with a dream that I have held in my heart for a very long time. A dream only God really knows about. A dream and a desire that I have long to see come to pass in my own life. Yesterday it was like I smelt it in my spirit, that scent of water.  You know how even before a rain storm hits, sometimes even before the clouds roll in, you can just smell it in the air, that scent of rain.  The smell of moisture after a long dry season.  Well yesterday I smelt a shower of blessings coming down from the Father of Lights in whom there is no shadow of turning heading my way.   Okay, okay I am not as subtle as Elizabeth Goudge, lol we all know that.

My prayer is for all my readers...that if there is a dream, a hope, a passion in your heart, a wish, a promise you are holding on too, that soon, very soon, you too will get a whiff of rain, the scent of water. The moisture of hope, the understanding that soon new life can and will begin to sprout from that particular area of your heart, that looked to you and maybe to others a little lifeless.

Renewal...the goodness of God coming down like dew. Everything God touches is changed. Extraordinary reversals of God. Death to life, emptiness to liberty...He is himself reversal...loss turned to restoration, and decay to renewal at His touch.  Elizabeth Goudge

Birthday Treats!

Treats from my sis

Yesterday was my birthday and I have a few goodies to show and tell.  Mostly it was just about the way I like to spend a special day.  The day before two of my besty friends took me out for coffee.  We tried the new "how ever you want it" Frappuccino's at Starbucks.  Haha it took them, those working at Starbucks a bit of time trying to explain to me all my options. Then the gal behind me came up with the most amazing sounding frap I could never have imagined.  I did thoroughly enjoy my light, triple shot, with one splenda though.

P.T. and I smelt every single one of these lotions from Crabtree and Evelyn

This morning found me opening the door to Miss Puddin Toes, who jumped into my arms wishing me a happy birthday.  We went out for the morning and met up with mom and Sweet Pea later for...yes you guessed it, another fun stop at Starbucks. They are all over the place around here.  This time it was my normal dbl tall cappuccino with one splenda.  We also tried those mini iced scones...hmmm...gotta find that recipe.

Now these look interesting...leave it to Chris to find neat stuff even near  Death Valley 

My husband scheduled for me a 60 minute massage in the afternoon with the best masseuse I have ever tried.  Let's just say I have already re booked for next month.  Then he picked me up and we went to see "Letters to Juliet" Sweet, sweet movie. The scenery was amazing. I imagine travel to Verona will pick up significantly this year.

Tomorrow night we are heading out to Bella's.  A really lovely, down to earthy, deliciously divine restaurant that caters to Red Mountain AVA.   I love hanging out with my DH on a Friday evening for a special time together.

These were finds in my garden yesterday morning

The Posy Walk

Come for a  morning stroll around my garden.  There is still a cool chill in the air.  The birds are chirping, and I have some bedding plants to put out this morning. The irises are in full bloom, and my roses are popping out daily. After I finish this post I will be "IN A GARDEN" a place my soul delights in.

My new iris combinations are turning out most delightfully

Peonies and roses are starting to strut their stuff.

Thanks for joining me, I will keep you posted on all my new blooms that are out there waiting for me!

My Latest Internet Addiction

 Little girl pulling at her dress was my mom :)

Let's see how did it all start??? Oh yeah, I have been watching this show on Friday nights about celebs discovering their roots.  Who Do You Think You Are?  On the show they suggest you find your own roots at a website called Ancestry.com.

Well...I gave it a try.  You see we are planning a trip to France and Italy. I have been a little curious about what areas in Italy my family is from.  Oh my gosh!  I am having a ball. I am finding out all sorts of interesting info. I have three towns in Italy I can actually document my grand father and two great grandfathers are from. One side of my Italian heritage is from Umbria and the other side is from Delle Fierie and Massa I Giorgio, Messina, Sicily. I have found out I have an English sea captain from what I thought was just French Canadian and Irish roots. It turns out one of my great great grandfather is from Yorkshire, England.  Wow, now I know why I adore England (Barbara!)  I know both towns in County Cork, Ireland where my great great grandmother, and great grand father came from.  And I now know where my French Canadian grandfather came from Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada.

With  my immigrant background and grand parents all dead except one before I was born. (my little Italian Noni, who didn't speak English) I have been really clueless. My parents have both passed away so all this info is coming from Ancestry.com.  What I am finding that is so exciting is that I am able to see the actually original documentation tracing all this back to boat passenger lists, censes, and even a pension for my great, great grandmother when she was a widow from her seafaring husband!

Now DH is requesting I do his family...

A Days Outing

First garden bouquet 

Off to go garden shopping with Miss Puddin Toes.  Yesterday she and Miss Sweet Pea who just started walking everywhere spent the morning at Nana's.  I have been trying to figure out how to have a portable sand box so to speak for them.   I ended up just putting some sand in a plastic storage container.  Not glamorous but P.T. ended up playing till her hearts content with the sand.  I had the box on a wagon so we could move it around. (sand is heavy)  After a while they wanted to go for a ride in the wagon. So the sand box ended up on the ground.  When we came back P.T. looked at me with pleading eyes, can I put my toes in the sand Nana?  Sure why not.  Next thing I knew she had sat down in that little box with her little blue dress on and started taking a sand bath. She was enjoying it soooo much, how could I stop her.   Mama didn't mind too much since I gave her a bubble bath before I turned her over to her: = )

Walla Walla Washington

 Here is a little tour of the art, the scenery,and the vibe of a few wineries I have recently visited in Walla Walla Washington. I love saying that :)

 Approaching the town of Walla Walla on the outskirts sits a winery called Waterbrook.  This is their brand new tasting room.  What I am beginning to find fascinating is the winery art.  Each place has it's own vibe and style.  In this the third largest winery in the State of Washington, we found some interesting creatures on the outside and some fun oil paintings on the inside. 

 Driving out into the country we found some great vistas.

 Here is a winery where the wine maker/artist is from Italy.  His paintings were all around the building.

  This was a small tasting room in downtown with a youthful vibe called Righteous. Josh McDaniel The winemaker was only 21!  

Back out into the countryside we visited a really upscale winery by appointment only.

When we walked into the amazing tasting room we were greeted by several pieces of Chihuly glass art. He is based out of Seattle Washington.  He exhibits around the world. Do check this link out for a peek. 

 This chandelier was amazing.  The bottom picture shows the scale of the piece. 

I was completely taken back by how much this sleepy little town has grown up in the last five or so years.  The downtown is amazing, full of shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms.  So much to see, I will have to go back for several trips this summer. It is just a pleasant 45 minute drive from my house.