What A Lazy Day For Me!

I have made a lot of progress on the second pair of socks I am knitting. I spent all day today (again with the all day knitting on Sunday) knitting these socks. Watch out everyone, there are socks for Christmas gifts in your future! I'm thinking that maybe I should try knitting sweaters now! But, maybe I am shooting a bit high with all my sock enthusiasm.

I also made my usual weekend breakfast consisting of eggs. When I asked Jeff this morning if he was hungry for breakfast he quickly answered "are you making eggs?" So, I guess I have gotten a bit predictable. Usually I make eggs and turkey sausage but, to keep things interesting today, I left out the turkey sausage and made a southwestern omelet. When I was mixing the cheese, black beans, salsa, and green onions (those cute little green onions were hand picked out of my garden) I thought all the colors looked so pretty, so...of course I took a picture.

My hollyhock is blooming. This is the first time that it has bloomed since I planted it last October. I never realized how pretty it would be!




I also picked up some basil and parsley at Central Market because this weekend was their herb fest. They had such pretty herbs and I could have bought more but I am trying to save space for the annual Botanic Garden Herb Festival (I know I have mentioned this before but my sister and I are in that picture in the right hand corner. That festival was about 2 years ago.).

Once again, it was another lovely Sunday.

Cheers!

Oh No He Didn't!

This means war!!!!

I will not be out smarted by a squirrel! I was so close to catching him in the act. Right when I opened the front door I saw his little bushy tail run up the tree and jump on to the roof of the house. That is his get away trail because I have seen him do that before after he has finished burying pecans in my garden. When I looked down to check on my pumpkin, I noticed that my pumpkin's face had been eaten out!! I sprinkled Cayenne pepper on it yesterday thinking that it would burn his little tongue but who would have thought he had a taste for the spice! He even left the evidence behind in my garden during his getaway.......

Well, speaking of my garden, I planted my hollyhock and columbine today. To my surprise, I had 2 bags of mulch in my garage so I was able to put down a fresh layer of mulch. My garden is very happy right now!

Stay tuned to the continuing saga of the battle between Liz and the squirrel. Sounds like a good title for a children's book. :-)

Cheers!

Our Thyme Garden Open House

Every year at the Botanic Gardens Herb Festival my mother and I visit cute little ladies from "Our Thyme Garden". They sell the most wonderful herbs that last forever! Twice a year they have an open house at their farm, in the Fall and in the Spring. Today was the Fall open house and my mother, cousin, and I went. Their farm is in Cleburne. I have a special place in my heart for Cleburne because my grandparents had a farm there for many years. We would go almost every weekend to stay at the farm and also for several weeks at a time during the summer. It was such a special place. My sister describes the memories rather well, click here.


Their farm is absolutely beautiful! There are so many gardens surrounding the farmhouse and neat little decorations that add a special charm. Everything is just so practical and quaint. There are tables and chairs set up in various places so you can just sit and enjoy everything the grounds have to offer.

There is even the most fabulous persimmon tree! There are butterfly gardens too. It was fascinating to see that many butterflies swarming the flowers. I think if I had a place like this farm to retreat to I would be the most happy person in the world!

They have a little store too where they sell their vinegars, oils, salts, and rubs.

If you make a reservation to come to the open house far enough in advance, you can request to have a box lunch while you are there. The lunch was absolutely fabulous. We pretty much ate the whole thing. In our box lunch was a sandwich served on a french bread baguette with Salomi, Havarti cheese, pickled veggies, pesto, olives, and a red pepper spread. There was also a black bean salad, roasted herbed pecans, and an oatmeal raisin cookie. The black bean salad was wonderful!

They were selling some of the plants and herbs they grow, so of course, I was in need of a few for my garden. I have some room for a few shade plants so I got columbine and French hollyhock. They were soooo nice and threw in an extra hollyhock for free! They were also giving away free tea and gourds! It was a really fabulous time and I can't wait to see what the open house in the Spring will have in store for us!

Cheers!