Treasure Box Wednesday: Of Flowers, Forgiveness and Field Trips

It's been a heckuva week for me, friends, and I ask that you please forgive me for a less-than-hearty post today. For the last week, I have had two writing projects for work taking my attention-- and both of them are, in some twist of fate, due at the same time!

This has meant long workdays, weekend work, and--(gasp)-- no thrifting! So while all work and no play makes Jenn a mildly grumpy girl, I don't want to leave you all empty-handed today. You all deserve better than that.

So in addition to these couple of snaps (and in one case, a snap-dragon!) of the flowers in my yard...


I thought you might also get a good Wednesday chuckle from these past tales on my humor blog.

• Showdown at Crazy Francois' Maison de Fier details what happens when a work friend of mine gets himself sucked into a jalapeno daredevil taste test in New Orleans' French Quarter. Will he survive? Will I have to call the fire department? Click here to check that one out.

• Office Pranks, Pens and the Shrinkwrap Trap is about my quest to be Queen of the Shrinkwrap machine at work, after a sly practical joke by my boss sets a dangerous (and hysterical) precedent. Click here for that one.

• Henry the Eighth Goes to Counseling is from the perspective of King Henry Tudor's therapist, Mrs. Harker, who's been trying to help Henry work through some of those intimacy issues of his-- you know, what with all the beheadings. If you were curious what I actually sound like, here's your chance to find out: I'd done it as a sound file. I won't win any awards for acting, but I hope you'll get a smile. Check that out here.
  

And that's all from me today, my buds! I'll be back on Sunday with the regular weekly post, as my life should have sorted itself out a bit better by then.

Take care of yourselves!

Treasure Box... Thursday: The Rose Parade

Well, folkses, thanks for bearing with me regarding the delayed Treasure Box Wednesday post. I really needed this extra day to get myself together.

And you know, it's very lucky I did. Because this morning's rain afforded a few more photos. Flowers love nothing better than to mug for the camera, and when they're covered in drops of rain, doubly-so. (It's like their own special performance of Flashdance.)

So today's post is mainly designed to let them show their stuff. I've been longing for days where I could look into the backyard and see big beauties like these. Like these Helen Hayes roses...



Each one has different colors, depending on where they are in their lifecycle. I love it.


This red rose just opening speaks of promise...


And these Miss America roses get sassy...



This Joseph's Coat is new to me this year, but I think once it gets established, it will be lovely...


In addition to our friends the roses, the foxglove thought they'd put in an appearance...

There are two kinds here. One Camelot in a purple, and one sort of a pink.


This columbine planted itself in my front yard, and having never seen one quite so red, I've left it where it chose to be...


This Sweet William was another one which planted itself. I love the zingy pink color.


The irises are just about done...


And the nigella are just beginning...


I can think of few greater treasures than these...

Well, maybe just having you stop by today as you did. Thank you!

Treasure Box Wednesday: The Best Things in Life Are Free

This is my absolute favorite time of year. The world has gone bright with blooms, showcasing some of the treasures in life you just can't buy.

Well, okay, yes, sometimes you have to buy them to plant them. But not always! Like these little fellows in my neighbor's yard...


I don't know what they are (anyone know? Greg?), but I love how they've just nestled themselves in her grass and then run rampant. The reason she hasn't mowed the grass yet is because of an attachment to these free-roaming little purple and white lovelies...


And who can blame her? When nature puts on a display like this, forcing it into submission just seems wrong somehow.


And here are some more rogue flowers. Little violas that have infiltrated the neighborhood, and have embedded themselves wherever there's dirt and a drink of water-- even between the cracks in my driveway...


I just can't move myself to root them out. It's so cheery to come home to a driveway populated with little purple blossoms. :) As you're probably already getting the impression, I try to roll with nature's whims a bit; I like to think we're both happier that way.

The backyard has also given forth a pretty amazing display of mossy phlox. Here they are after some morning rain, dripping down my back wall onto the plaster seat. I wish they stayed this vibrant all summer long.


Also, the bleeding heart this year has gotten large, and is loaded with hearts. No Victorian garden is complete without one!



And lastly, here you can see the front yard, filled to bursting with more mossy phlox-- and the infamous mosaiced stepping stones.


Well, I hope you enjoyed this somewhat different Treasure Box Wednesday. I think it's nice to take a step back and appreciate all the natural beauty around us now and then. It's not all about the thrift store. (Though that's fun, too!)

Oh- for those who have children of your own, or who just remember being a kid, I thought you might enjoy a post this week on my humor blog entitled, "Stealth Mom and the Mayonnaise Infiltration of 82."

• If you've ever tried to make your kid eat something he or she didn't like-- or if you were that kid (pick me, pick me!)-- I believe you'll be able to identify. Click here to check it out.

• Also, if you didn't get a chance to see Sunday's post on the Cottage Living forum's spring swap, you might find something of interest by clicking here.
  

May there be an excellent day ahead of you!

Flowers, Fun and... Feathers?

I found out this morning that I was the lucky winner of the caption contest over at the "Go! Smell the Flowers" blog-- I'm so excited! Apparently, I've won $50 worth of free flowers-- which means, I guess I will be my very own Valentine this year. (Ha-ha! -- sure beats taking myself to H&R Block to have my taxes done, like I usually do. :) )

Anyway, thanks very much to the Flower People for choosing my caption for their cute photo. (The title of this post will make sense, when you see the pic, trust me!) You can view that page by clicking here, if you like.

Now, I just have to go get the "Flower People" song from the movie "Spinal Tap" out of my head...

Anyway, that's my good news for today. Join me tomorrow when I share with you some of my Victorian postcard Valentine collection, and we marvel over the funny, sweet and interesting stories that can unfold on the back of a 3 1/2 by 5 card.