This Year's Flowers

These are in my flower pots in 2011

I planted these Black Eyed Susan vines this year. They are so cute. The centers just look like polka dots but they are shaped more like a trumpet. So far they are growing about 6" a day. I have had to cut them back 3 times.

I thought these were so delightful and put them in planters on my deck. The tag said they bloom all summer. I got a few weeks out of them and then they went into hibernation. Aren't they amazing? I can't remember what they are. My fingers are crossed that they will once again give me a show.

Little yellow daisies are a happy, happy flower

Non-stop tuberous begonias like shade, and my deck table is the right spot for them.  They are also one of my very favorite flowers.  I know, I seem to have many favorites.

These little beauties bloom without fail and are one of the staples of  my flower pots.  They come in so many colors and are called Vinca.

African daisies are just abut the cutest flower around.

I also have the usual pansies, geraniums, petunias and primroses and zinnia.......yea, I live in a flower garden and I love it.  When I die, don't put me in a fancy coffin, just a wooden box covered with flowers.

4th of July, 2011

We had our traditional 4th of July at our  friends (and Colett's in-laws), the Yarros, at their cabin at Wallsberg.

They had built the pond a couple of years ago, but this year it was stocked with trout which Wes, Wayne and I tried our hand at.  I had two bites but didn't land one and the guys each caught one.  I had never really gone to the back side of the cabin to see the architecture before, but it is very BIG and very beautiful. 

Isabelle said she had been practicing to row in the swimming pool and by golly, she was amazing.  She scooted around the pond with ease.  Emerson hates dirt on his hands so after he got them dirty, he just held them like this.

Millie didn't know there was mud around the lake and ran into before she realized her shoes were caked with it.  Notice her expression?

Matt and Colett all tanned from their Mexico vacation and from laying,  lying sitting around the pool.  I didn't show them my neon white legs.

Emerson's hair is generally not curly but the humidity from the lake made it curl up and he is showing me the mud he got in the boat.  He  didn't freak out and finally accepted that sometimes we do get dirty.

Colett and Nick.  I had to click fast to get Nick.  He is not a poser, but should be.  Isn't he darling?

We have very few pictures of the 4 of us together because I'm usually the one taking the photos, but we got Wes to take this to prove that yes, we do all hang around together.

Wes is not with us on too many holidays because of his firefighting job in Park City, but for some reason, he is usually off for the 4th of July and we get to party together.

Besides dinner, fishing, dancing and fireworks, the Yarro's also set up bounce houses for the kids.  E loves them.

Colett and I didn't know it at the time but we color coordinated for the picture.

Plaid is "in" as you can tell.

Emerson takes his turn fishing.  The cottonwood trees had covered the pond in cotton so it was not easy fishing today.  We will have to try another time.
We ended the night with some fireworks,  pie and a little rain shower.  It rained last year too.  It seems a little odd for the desert in July but it wasn't bad and we had....once again....a great time.

YOO-HOO LAURA LOCEY....this photo is for you.  It is Isabelle with Clark Gable's grandchildren Clark and Kalee Gable.  Kalee was on the TV reality series with Paris Hilton.  I don't know if I spelled her name correctly. Clark just filmed a movie in Italy and is ready to do another one. He has also done modeling and was on the cover of a cereal box when he was younger.  Not name dropping here, I just did this for Laura because she is such a fan of Clark Gable and everything to do with him.  Click on the picture to enlarge it and see if he looks anything like his Grandpa. I believe he is quite a bit taller than Clark was.

                                       Happy Birthday America, I love you!!!

One of My Favorite Days

              It's National Chocolate Day.  I think a lot of people will join in this celebration.  I know I will.

I went to the dollar store and grabbed this cleaner.  Of course it's "Mr. Clean".  This was the Spanish version though, and now I realize I don't know how to use it. I can't read the Spanish instructions. Do you dilute it or use it full strength?   I speak no Spanish at all and I'm pretty sure the title "Limpio" across a strong man's chest would not fly in the US.

Let's Talk About the Weather

We have had the craziest weather (as have other parts of the country)  but since I live here, I will talk about here.  I lost two of my rose bushes, the big sturdy kind that Utah  is usually kind to.  Several of my other rose bushes have parts that died but made it through and  several of my neighbors lost roses too. I replaced two of them with the roses shown above.  I finally have 2 hibiscus coming up, but the third I am worried about.  My little Dr. Seuss tree is not looking good either.  Not only did we have the cold and wet Spring, but it fluctuates in temperature so often that the plants don't know what to do.  Now to top it all off, I just checked my cherry tree.  The birds are the thing I usually worry about, but there are a million teeny black bugs all over the leaves sucking out the life blood.  I hate chemicals but I hate bugs more, so I need to find a spray for those.  Wayne replanted the beans because some just didn't come up, but when he looked through the dirt, there were no bean seeds.  Maybe the birds really did have something to do with those.  It's almost summer and it sure feels like we got cheated out of a Spring.  Time goes too fast anyway, but it really seems like this one is going way too fast and soon I will be harvesting.  That is if anything comes to fruition.