TGIF and HUMMs

Wow. I am GLAD it is Friday!!! I took these pictures when I was at home for lunch on my iPhone. Sorry they are not the best quality, but I think you can pick out the hummingbirds. Our house is hummingbird central! Buying more feeders is on my weekend to do list! I hope you all enjoy your Mother's Day with your mothers!

Escaped

I've escaped for the rest of the day to play with my mom! Hooray!!



-- Post From

My Mom Started a Blog

That was an easy sell! My mom is hooked. She started Gardening with Beth. Check it out! Seriously, she is the Queen of Texas gardening, which means I am the Princess right?! I am excited to start getting produce from her garden. My grocery bill will be happy too!

My dad working on their new veggie garden...

Guest Blogger: How to Start a Herb Garden by Beth Thornton (my mom)

I made my mother guest blog. She is thinking of starting her own, and I think she should! I'll keep you posted. Anyways, here are her thoughts on all things herb gardens. Enjoy!

Insect pests generally have pretty poor eyesight and as a result they seek out their dinner by scent rather than sight. In your own garden or patio, you can easily confuse those bugs by mixing up the scents that waft their way on the breeze. There is something about herbs that is repellent to most insect pests. They don't like to eat herbs, and they don't like to smell them. You can take advantage of this by inter-planting all your gardens with herb plants. Almost all herbs are good for discouraging insect pests, because almost all herbs have strong scents. Some are particularly repellent to particular insects. Of course, most of these little pest controllers are also good for cooking gourmet meals. With a little knowledge you can enjoy both benefits of herb gardening.

Did you ever admire window boxes in pictures of cottages from days past? They were charming, but the real reason people had them in their windows was to deter flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs. The people in the past did not have air conditioners or usually even screens for their open windows in the summer. Flowers that come to mind for this use are geraniums and marigolds. If you think about it, these don’t smell sweet like some. The bugs don’t think so either, so they move on. Planting these around your back door will work for you too.

Basil – Speaking of flying insects, another herb that deters flies and mosquitoes is Sweet Basil. Basil also discourages tomato worm so it needs a place in your veggie garden as well as near the back door. Best of all, fresh basil makes lovely pesto and other culinary delights. Basil plants come in a purple as well as green varieties. It is easy to grow from seed in gardens or pots, and transplants are available at garden centers. It prefers a part sun, part shade setting, but it is really not too particular. Basil is an annual, but you can bring a pot indoors in the winter.

Garlic – Garlic is another herb we cannot do without, cooking or gardening. It also discourages pests by its odor. It even deters fungi, as well as aphids, beetles and spider mites. Plant garlic around everything except beans. Garlic grows from a bulb. If you examine it, you see that it will break down into several small bulbets. Some say it helps to refrigerate the bulbs first, if not planting in winter. When you are ready to plant, break the large bulb into small pieces. Save the small ones for eating and plant the bigger ones for best results. For more information, go to www.garlicfarm.ca/.

Mint – Another must have in herbs is mint. You can find many varieties of mint such as spearmint and peppermint. All kinds of mint are great in drinks in summer, and they also deter insects. A pot or two of mint on the patio will delight you as well as deter pests. Be wary, however of putting mint in a garden setting. They tend to take over an area. They are best in a pot all their own. Mint can be grown from seed, from dividing with a friend who has a large plant, or from a transplant from a nursery. Mint needs part sun, and are easy to grow. Mint does like lots of water. It may be your first plant to show wilt from needing water, especially as it gets hot.

Rosemary – Rosemary is one of those must haves in the herb category. It is even evergreen, so you have it all winter. I have a large stand of rosemary in the back of one of my rose beds near a back door. It helps with the bugs in the roses, as well as bugs going into the house. It deters flies, mosquitoes, other flying bugs such as moths, and beetles. It is good to have in the vegetable garden too for pest control, especially around carrots and cabbage family veggies. Also I have even used it for greenery around Christmas. It looks like little pine branches when cut. Sometimes you find it cut into the shape of a little Christmas tree. Beware taking a large amount of rosemary indoors though, because the odor can be very strong. You will probably like the scent if you use it in small doses. It makes wonderful chicken dishes too. Plant rosemary from a transplant or a division from somewhere such as my house. I have an abundance of rosemary.

Sage – Sage is a beautiful and tasty herb to include in your plantings. Sage is one of the stars in Italian cooking. It also deters insects in general. Sage is hard to grow from seed, so the easiest way to grow it is with a small transplant. It usually comes with a gray green foliage which contrasts nicely with other herbs planted in a group. A great idea is to have one of several herbs and plant them together in a big pot, a washtub (punch holes in the bottom for drainage) or an old wheel barrel. I have my late father’s old wheelbarrow planted with herbs. It came complete with holes already in it. It sits near my back door, but if a storm comes up, or it gets too hot later in the summer, it is easy to move to a different location.

Tansy – Please note that we do not eat tansy. It is a beautiful fern-like plant that works wonders in the bug deterrent department, but it is toxic to pets and small children. Think carefully where you would put tansy to be sure that it would not be mistaken for an edible herb. I have one near a back door, but I plan to put in a hanging basket for safety. It is great to deter flying insects, beetles, ants, and even squash bugs. It has a strong odor. If you have a pesky fly or mosquito, just pinch the tansy leaf which releases the scent. Problem solved.

Thyme – Thyme is one of my favorite herbs. I especially like lemon-scented thyme, and there are other flavors available that are very suited for Italian cooking. Thyme is a small ground cover-type plant which spreads as it grows. It has leaves smaller than clover. It is great as flavoring for chicken and other dishes. It fits in beautifully in a mixed herb bed too. Thyme also makes a great edging along a bed or a walkway. If you step on it, the wonderful subtle scent is released. Some people plant thyme in between rocks on a rock walkway for that very reason. It can be grown from seed or transplants. Sometimes it comes back the next year. As an insect deterrent, it discourages cabbage worms and cutworms in the garden.

Cilantro –No Mexican meal is complete without this herb. The leaves are called Cilantro, and the seeds are used as a spice called Coriander. It is in the parsley family and looks very much like flat parsley. The aroma is definitely different. To use Cilantro, just snip the leaves off the plant, wash, and chop. In the garden cilantro repels aphids, Colorado potato beetles and spider mites. More good news, cilantro attracts ladybugs who love to dine on aphids.

Oregano -- Oregano (sometimes called Pot Marjoram) is a chief spicing ingredient in Italian and Greek dishes. It also works well as a general insect repellant. Oregano is perennial and gets to be 2-3 feet. It is best to prune oregano plants to keep them compact. It prefers dry warm weather, but is easy to grow almost anywhere. Grow with transplants from a nursery or from divisions from a friend. (Marjoram is a type of oregano.)

For more information on growing different herbs in your garden see http://herbgardening.com/.

To make your own organic pest control: Grind 3 large onions, 1 bunch of garlic and 3 hot peppers. Mix with water and leave overnight in a covered container. In the morning, strain through fine strainer or cheesecloth and add sufficient water to produce approximately one gallon (16 cups) of pesticide.

- Beth Thornton

Whirl of a Weekend: Growing a Green Thumb and Antique Shopping

I had a wonderful and relaxing weekend! Friday night we didn't do much. The hubby was exhausted, so we just chilled at home. I think we had pizza? Don't remember...

Saturday my sweet Greg went to work. I slept in, and then had a massage at 11:00pm. My massage therapist got an awful migraine and started getting nauseous while she was working on me and had to stop about 30 mins into my massage! I felt so bad for her. I did get my little massage for free though, so that was nice. I hope she is okay though! Need to reschedule!

After that, I met my friend Tracy for some lunch at the awesome Don Juan's and then we did a little antique shopping. She had NEVER been!? I think she loved it. I am excited to know I have a new antique shopping friend. I could seriously go every weekend if my budget allowed. She got a really cute white mini drop leaf table for her living room, and I got a white plant stand. (Pictured below) I'll get Tracy to send me a photo of her table (Tracy, send me a photo of your table...)
Saturday night my Greg was tired again, and had sports to watch on TV, so I went to dinner with Christie and Nathan. So much fun! Nathan is such a boy! It is amazing to see how much he changes every time I see him!

Sunday we were heathens. Greg went into work, I know... seriously?!?, and I slept in a bit and then went to the grocery store. He met me for an early lunch and we hung out. I have missed him so much!!! I worked in the yard the rest of the day, and ran some errands. I got the cute patio table, pictured below, at Marshall's for $39! Awesome deal!

(I got a really cute new pink camera, obviously I didn't know the date stamp was on. BOO!)

My mom is teaching me how to have a green thumb. She is an EXCELLENT gardener, and she learned it from her mom. I am trying my best to learn. My front yard is looking great, and this weekend I started an herb garden. I have had several people ask me about how to do it, and so I asked my mom to guest blog about starting an herb garden. She could seriously write a book!

Anyways, that was my weekend. I have a crazy week ahead of me!

Ebay Love

As most of my regular readers might now, I have a serious love and addiction to antique jewelry. The majority of my jewelry that is worth anything is old, old, old. I love it! I love that most of it was made by hand, and that no one else has one just like it.

I've been kind of stressed, bored and blah-ed out about a few things this past month, and my sweet husband told me to purchase something that might cheer me up. Yes, I know things can't buy happiness, but they can sure cheer you up! And to get my husband's blessing to go shopping makes me so excited! Yes, I know I don't really need (and don't usually get) his blessing to shop, but when he gives it to me it makes me think much harder about what I want to purchase. It also makes it that much more special.

So, he told me to get something to cheer me up. Of course, I turn to my favorite... EBAY. That is my place to go for funky antique/vintage jewelry. There is also an antique jewelry dealer I like, but I'll save that for later.

This is what I purchased.Seriously, have you ever seen anything like it before? Not I! It is made of white gold and diamonds, set with a 2ct garnet that has been carved to look like a fish. Also, a STEAL for $86.99! Kind of crazy, yes, but I think it will be my summer wardrobe staple along with my mermaid ring carved out of turquoise that I got for Christmas last year. (Terrible Christmas morning picture below, but only one I could find avec the mermaid ring.)Every time I see my new fish or mermaid ring I think it will remind me of Dori's (Ellen in Finding Nemo's) motto to "Just Keep Swimming." It will encourage me all day long!

Another kind of random puchase... a silver vintage JENNIFER ring. Not the best looking item on the market, but for $7, including shipping, I couldn't leave my name on a ring unsold! It is a size 10, won't fit anything but my thumb, and that might be a stretch, but I had to save it from unsold-ness.

So, long story short (right Tracy), I love Ebay, but I love my husband more for letting me shop on Ebay!

Oh My Gosh this is FUNNY

What a rock star...

Guns and Trikes

So, after work on Tuesday night Greg and I decide to go out for a night out. Our new favorite place is Buffalo Wild Wings. We happen to really like to play the bar trivia- strange birds I know...

So after some delish pulled pork nachos and a few rounds of trivia, we headed over to Academy Sports. Greg has been getting up really early to go into work, and he thought that this was the perfect excuse to get a little gun to take with him. Granted he works in the nicest part of town, but alas I fell for it. Safety first. I think his buddy Walter is actually to blame for this, but I love Wally- so ca va.

So we head over to Academy. Long process getting a gun, which I guess is a good thing. I have never been a fan of guns, but I believe if you are a good law abiding citizen you should be allowed to have one for protection. He wanted a Bolt Derringer. It is tiny and can fit in your boot. I am hoping he doesn't shoot his foot off or something!


In typical Jenny fashion, I got bored and started to wander. I came across this...A Schwinn Town and Country Tricycle! How cute is that! I road it all around the store. I have no idea what I would carry in the basket, but I love the idea that I could carry anything in the basket! Puppies, groceries, fresh pies to deliver to Tracy down the street, etc... I like that there is zero fear of tipping over too. I think a bad bike crash in the 5th grade has scared me for life.

Anyways, that is what I am adding to my want list. Not sure if it will still be on the list next week, but it sure is today!!! I am thinking that I am a pretty good mother to 4 puppies and 1 cat, so maybe I'll get something like this for Mother's Day?

Rain, Rain... Please Stay!

Love Bianca Gomez. Such sweet simple images- awesome.

I am still tired, so I don't want to go to tennis tonight. I haven't been in ages though! I need to get my butt back in gear! I haven't played since April 19th! Crazy for someone who normally plays 3 times a week! Ca va.

My flowers really like the rain. I need to take pictures to update you all on their growth. I feel like I actually have a green thumb. My secret- water and a little Miracle Grow! Also, I have been listening to the advice of my queen gardener mother. She is growing a massive veggie garden in her back yard to match her massive rose garden. She has planted corn, pumpkins, okra, squash, broccoli, lettuce, herbs, watermelon and enough tomatoes to keep up with her habit. Not to mention her never ending rows of blueberries and blackberries in the front. I'll take pictures of it next time I am out there. It really is a masterpiece! She made me stop and see her 2 inches of corn spouts on my way home Sunday- it was actually kind of neat. She started me a little herb garden and gave me a few pepper and tomato plants to try.This is not hers, but it is starting to resemble this...

I just re-read my last paragraph... I am so turning into my mother and grandmother. WOW.

Update:More Bianca Gomez. I would hang this in my home in a heartbeat, my mother would not. So I am not 100% my mother just yet ;)

Whirl of a Weekend: Serious WHIRL

I am REALLY tired today, so sorry this will be sort of short.This past weekend I went to a Tyler Women's Fund retreat in Plano. We stayed at the Shops at Legacy in the Marriott there. It was a work thing. We manage The Women's Fund at the Foundation where I work as the Grants and Marketing Director, so I went. I didn't really mind going, granted it was work, but I had a fun time. We had great food and great conversation. My sweet Jarany even came out to dinner with us on Saturday night to MiCocina. YUM. (I am so ready for my hair to grow back out- just FYI)

So my Friday-Sunday was consumed with Women's Fund stuff. After we finished up on Sunday I went shopping at the Galleria. Naughty me. I bought these in silver and a pair of flats that look similar to these. I can't remember the brand, but I'll update when I figure it out. I also got some fun things from the Gap. Including a really light weight white open cardigan for summer. Again, can't find it on their website. Annoying! It is new, so maybe it will show up on it tomorrow. They had lots of cute Ts on sale for like $4.00. I was excited!

After my quick shopping trip I went to visit my friend Courtney and her family. Good to see them! They are such a close and sweet family! They also make really good dips! Yum.

Then I headed to the mecca of grocery stores- Central Market. I spent way too long picking out fancy wines, cheeses and breads. Delish!

I drove home late in the afternoon on Sunday, and my goodness it is good to be home. It is hard being away form my hubs and the puppies all weekend.

Anyways, so Greg is on this new 4:30am schedule with his new job. He goes in at 5:00am so he can leave by 5:00pm. It is totally messing with me b/c I tend to wake up when he is getting ready. So, today I woke up and decided I had better get up to b/c I need to get on his schedule. So I decided to work out on my elliptical machine for an hour. So I was perky and awake sweating away watching last week's Grey's and Mamma Mia. Got ready for work after that and went to work. About 9:30am I CRASH. I have zero energy, and I am exhausted. I think the busy weekend, going to bed late and getting up at 4:30am have caught up with me. I will be doing good to make it til 5:30pm before I go to bed today! SO TIRED.

Also, big in the news- the Piggy Flu. Apparently there have been 19 people at our local hospital with the Piggy Flu. How can such a cute little guy cause so much trouble? I hope I don't get it!

Ok, I am seriously about to crash. NEED to find some caffeine!

Happy Earth Day!

Love the Earth! God expects up to take care of it.
Plant a tree, grow some flowers and/or use the super cute cloth and chic grocery bags!

Happy Birthday CLJ!

Today is my sweet friend Christie's birthday! HOORAY! Happy Birthday Christie! Can't wait to party and celebrate tonight!Christie, Nathan and puppy Rusty went to see the bluebonnets last week in Ennis. Nice eh!? Go Texas!
Nathan learned how to do a fish face. Best thing EVER! I am a proud Aunt Jenny!

HOORAY!

We just booked a trip to Disney World for our 4th Anniversary in October!
I couldn't be more excited!!!!!!!

Whirl of a Weekend: News and Art

Good morning and Happy Monday! I am excited today. My husband quit his job at his firm last Thursday, and starts at a new firm today! I am wishing him lots of luck today!!! We had the BEST weekend together. It was wonderful and so nice to just hang out together. I sure am glad I married him! He is a keeper!

I also finished Larry Goddard's portrait this weekend. Larry and I were in Leadership Tyler together when I first moved to Tyler, and he has been a great friend ever since! He celebrates each decade with a portrait, and I am excited to be year 50!!! He wanted something fun and crazy, so I gave him fun and crazy!

I am ready for a short week. I am in Dallas this next weekend for a Women's Fund retreat with work. Kind of sad about loosing my weekend, but kind of excited about seeing my friends in Dallas on Saturday!

Also! Follow me and my hubs n Twitter! I am JenniferMoreman and he is GregMoreman. Very fun!

I hope you guys have a great Monday!