Outdoor Wednesday - Longwood Gardens

Answering a question from the
previous post...
with a few photos.

In the comments from my
previous post Mrs. Rabe
asked if the tulips are
blooming at
Longwood Gardens....

Oh, some are.
They really are....


Many thanks to Susan,
at A Southern Daydreamer,
for the opportunity to share these photos.



Check out these double tulips.



One could almost think they
were peonies.
But they are definitely tulips.



The trees are loaded.
Amazingly, one that was
only opening two weeks ago
is fading already.

But others are at their peak.





More tulips.



A little creativity with
some hedges. Fun?


Really have to marvel at
the many brilliant colors.






My family had to see what it was looking
like at the top of these steps.
I figured I knew what they would find.
It is the stage area.
No real displays at the moment so
I wasn't going to follow.



However, they did not come back.
So...I decided to follow.

Smart, I know.



I am glad I did.
This tree that looked pretty
from a ways away...
was totally awesome up close.






So, if I were to give you any advice based
on my experience it would be to not take
things for granted. Enjoy the details.
Follow the lead of those you trust...

Laughing...

Ok, so that may all be corny and a bit
of a stretch....but you know what I mean.

Have an awesome day!
And please come back soon...

It is a Cloudy Day.....

But yesterday was
simply perfect!
Just look at
some scenes
from Longwood Gardens.



The wildlife was visible.
This frog was taking in
some sunshine.
While the ducks very
much enjoyed
the warming waters.



I love this picture of
Warren and Chelsea chillin'
by the water.



This structure may be one
of the most photographed
places in the gardens.
This is why....











Warren is always a
bit green with envy
when the kids and I
go there without him.

So, what did he want to do
on the day he took for Easter?

Of course!

Visit the Gardens.

Chelsea insisted that I not simply
take photos of the plants.
She wanted people in the
pictures this time.

So, she and Jonathan posed.





And posed.



And then posed some more.




Unfortunately for him,
Mikey had to be at work by
noon so he couldn't come
this time.

Sadness.

But that is what responsibility
brings sometimes.

Prompting Jonathan to say
that is why he should not
get a job....

Wrong, Jonathan!

A job is a good thing.....

He will like it when he gets over the
nerves of the unknown.

Jonathan took photos for over
an hour. I'll show them on another
day. It was so much fun to see him
really focusing on this. He figured out
how to get great pictures of moving water.

But, again, that is for another day.

Tomorrow I'll show more from
Longwood Gardens for
Outdoor Wednesday.
It has been a while since I have
linked in there. Frankly, the
weather hasn't been conducive to
pretty outdoor shots until very
recently. But it is making up for
it now....

I'll leave you today with this
shot of Jonathan and Chelsea
waiting for imaginary coffee
drinks to show up.....


It never came.

They survived.

Have a great day,
wherever you are.

Thanks for stopping in.
I appreciate YOU!

Blue Apron....Lovely Gift

I am linking this post written on April 5th to the Reluctant Entertainer's Apron Party.
We are becoming big fans of the Apron as Chelsea spends more time in the kitchen...
baking and baking.

I need to get one for myself for candle making.
I cannot tell you how many tops I have
spotted up with fragrance oil.

This is the apron
I got for Chelsea from the
Creative Chics.

Freda Marie and Deborah Leigh are
mother and daughter that share an
Etsy shop and a blog.

These ladies live up to their name...
they are very Creative Chics.

I had hopes of getting an apron from
them as a Christmas gift for Chelsea
but was so busy making candles up to the
last minute that it didn't happen.

However, when I realized recently that
the aprons were on sale I ordered one.
Just to surprise my girl.

We are so pleased with it!
The material is sturdy.
It fits her perfectly.

She was so excited by the
fabric colors and the details...
like the pocket and the ruffle.

We are also tucking a lovely
embroidered towel from these ladies
into Chelsea's Hope Chest.

I would definitely order from
Freda and Deborah again!

Hope you'll check out their
wonderful work.

Warren is taking a vacation day
today so we are headed
to at least one garden, maybe two
today. You know how we love to
wander among the wonderful things
God has created for us.
So relaxing.
So inspirational.

Enjoy your day!!!

Defining Easter

Celebrating

the

Ultimate
Confrontation
of
Death vs. Life.

LIFE WON!!

In Revelation 1:17b, 18

Jesus said:

Fear not;
I am the first and the last:

I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and,

behold,

I am alive for evermore,

Amen;

and have the keys

of hell and of death.

"Leave the Light on for....

...the worms!"

Yes, I actually heard this
come from my mouth.
I did a double take!!

Remember the post about Mikey
starting a vermi(Worm) composting
project?

Well, they arrived.

We have had chicks in the garage.
We have had a rabbit as a pet.
Multiple dogs and cats.
A hamster.
A guinea pig.
And several fish.

However, I never in a million
years thought I would be concerned
about whether the worms were getting
enough to eat or that we would be
leaving the garage light on 24 hours
a day until they get acclimated.

Weird stuff!

Even for me.

Death and New Life

The beauty of Spring is
preceded by the death and
pruning of last year's growth.

Our gardens wouldn't be nearly
as pretty if we didn't take the
time to carefully remove the
spent blooms, always gentle so as
not to harm the plant as a whole.



I've been gardening and
pondering....
What pruning is God doing
lately so that His beauty
can shine through me?

He is working, folks.
That I can promise you.
Each day can seem like a
new lesson in something.

Here's to beautiful new growth.
Brought through the loving and
gentle hands of a Master Gardener.


John 15:1-8
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

A Birthday Party

Jonathan had twenty-six guests,
not including us,
at his birthday party last night.

He was thrilled that our 87 year old
Associate Pastor came. Pastor Jack
is a very popular guy with lots of
stories to tell.

He was a veterinarian for most of his
life and then God called him into
ministry. He was Pastor to a
church in Delaware for years before
moving to Lancaster County upon his
retirement.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about
Jonathan's party, isn't it?

Well, first the overview of the food
table....



I took the two leaves out of our big
dining room table and pushed the table
to one side of the room, under the window.

This gave more room for seating and helped
with multiple conversation areas.
I highly recommend this if you have not
tried it before and your home is on the
smaller side.

Peanut M&M's and Tootsie Rolls were
perfect in these fun jars.
Soon, these jars will be terrariums
as Mikey's Spring Horticulture Project
but for now....they hold edibles!



I had in mind to make Jonathan
a "Cheeseburger Cake".
However, since I had never done it
before and only had one chance to
get it right on the afternoon of the
party, I chose to get a Costco Cake
as well. I didn't want to take a
chance on ruining his party and not
have a cake.

Mikey and Chelsea took Jonathan
away to a park to play Ultimate
Frisbee with friends for the afternoon
so I could surprise him with my
efforts. Hmmmm....



Bread and seasoned olive oil.
Yum!
It is easy...and popular.
The bread was gone at the end
of the evening!



Two cheese balls were at the center
of our menu. Georgia made them up
for us from recipes I chose.
They were so very good!

They were the nod to the
cheese in the cheeseburger.
Then there were meatballs...
the beef. And of course the
bread. So we had all of the
parts represented.

A lemon cheese ball.
You can go here
for the recipe!
Your guests will love it!
I served it with chocolate
graham crackers.



The most popular Cheeseball.
Bacon, cheddar, Ranch....
Awesomeness!
The crackers are Honey Wheatables
made by Keebler.
Cheese ball Recipe HERE.



Chelsea made these M&M cookies.
They looked so pretty on this
plate.



The plate looked great on this stand.
I recently purchased it from Melissa
at The Inspired Room, from her OpenSky shop.
I can see this being a staple at every party.
Offering additional table space and interest
by adding height.

I have another blog purchase and
a gift to share on Monday.
It has just been too busy to get
good photos.



Chelsea also made this
amazing pudding dessert.
Layers of chocolate, vanilla
and banana pudding with graham
cracker and sliced bananas
layered in. So good!
And so pretty!
This just happens to be the
third container that Mikey
will use for his terrariums.
Thought I would get some use
out of it first since it was
in the way. New, in the box,
no less! Would be a shame
to not use it! Smile.



And now for the disaster of
a Cheeseburger Cake.

Not exactly what I had
envisioned but I could see
it getting better on a second
or Tenth try.

It was good for
conversation anyway....



Jonathan would have preferred the real
thing and we promised to get him one
today...but he thought this was pretty
funny.

Here, we are being directed in the
Happy Birthday Song.



Soon after this
the guys broke out a much funkier
version of the Birthday Song and a Conga
Line broke out. I kid you not. It was kids
and Grandmas alike going around the living
room, kitchen and dining room. Until somebody,
who shall remain nameless, spilled a glass of
drink. LOL

I missed most of this foolishness as I was
serving cake and ice cream.

We have truly interesting
family and friends.

He enjoyed his party and is
off and running into this new
year. One of his ideas for a
gift to buy with birthday money
is a lifetime fishing license.
I know that will make his Uncle
Allan very happy.
It will also guarantee some relaxing
time along a gurgling stream....
Sounds great to me.
Only I don't have to be fishing.
A book to read and a comfy chair.
That is all I need.



It is Good Friday. I hope yours is filled
with meaning. We will have a Good Friday
Service tonight and then look forward
to a Sonrise Service on Sunday.
We don't start at the crack of dawn
so I don't call it a Sunrise Service.
We are celebrating the resurrection of
The Son!
Hallelujah!!!!