Friday, May 8, 2015

HAPPINESS, SADNESS, AND BEAUTY THIS SPRING

SO MUCH HARD WORK WENT INTO EARNING THIS!
On February 27 our daughter graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree.  So winter ended on a very happy note.  We are very proud of her.
HAPPINESS!
I can hardly believe that we are already well into May.  This week has been wonderful.  Our son was here to visit for a few days. The time went by too quickly.  He was stopping by on his way out of the USA.  For the next four years or so he will be stationed overseas.  He had a busy few days here participating in a weight lifting competition, eating "authentic tacos" every time he had a chance after the competition, going to a winery with our daughter and her husband and their friends, and going to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS WEIGHT WAS 225 LBS.  HE WEIGHS BETWEEN 120 AND 140 LBS.


IN THE NEXT PHOTO THE WEIGHTS WERE UP OVER HIS HEAD, BUT THE PHOTO DIDN'T TURN OUT
HE PLACED SECOND PLACE IN THE SENIOR DIVISION WEIGHT CLASS
He said that where he will be stationed he won't be able to get any authentic tacos, so he wanted to eat plenty of them before he left.  I don't know how "authentic" the Bulgogi (Korean barbecue) taco from the St. Louis Seoul Taco restaurant was, but it was delicious, and I am sure that type of taco won't be available where he will be going.


AT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT.  OUR SON HAD FISH TACOS THERE.
It felt like he had just arrived home and then it was already time for him to leave.  Once again it was time for good-byes.  Hugging--at the door, then on the front porch, and watching him drive away, and then that "Please, let him be safe" feeling.  This was the first time that my eyes didn't get chapped from crying when he left.  Those good-byes never do seem to get any easier.

THE ROSES BLOOMED MAY 7. 2015
Just two days ago, the Knock Out roses started blooming.  So many roses magically opened overnight and there are many more buds still to open.  They may not have the beautiful rose scent that some roses do, but what a delight it is when they break out into bloom each spring. 
 This year the Red Knock Out roses are absolute velvety perfection. 


The clematis blooms are huge this year and gorgeous.  It must have been more than 15 years ago that I planted it.  For about 13 of those years it would only get two or three blooms on it and then it would just be an ugly-ish leafy vine, until it would "accidently" get weed whacked.  For the last couple of years I have been putting my potted mandevilla vine in front of it.  That probably kept its roots cool enough for it to thrive.  I gave it a dose of rose fertilizer when I fed the roses in early April, so that may account for all of the huge blossoms it is getting this year.

My chives were green all winter.  During the coldest times they were frozen, but still green.  I moved their pot up close to the house for winter.  They were the first plants blooming this year.  I didn't know that chive blossoms got this large. They look so pretty and fluffy, but as pretty as they are, they smell like chives.
AMERICANA PINK GERANIUMS. WILL THEY BE A SURVIVOR IN MY GARDEN THIS SEASON?
Geraniums usually are not flowers that I have very good luck with, but I couldn't resist these luscious, lovely pink beauties.  Hopefully, they will still have leaves and flowers on them by the end of June, or maybe even all summer. They are called Americana Pink.     

I just love this time of year.  Ah, Spring!

Here's a little bouquet of roses to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day!

HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!

12 comments:

  1. Two beautiful and talented human beings you raised! And then there are the flowers...

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  2. I know you are proud of your son and daughter. Your flowers are beautiful. My knock out roses have been blooming for some time. Have a blessed day and a happy Mother's Day. Madeline

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  3. Susie,

    Thank you so much for your visit which led me to your wonderful blog! You really have a lovely family. Reading about your son having to leave (and for 4 years!), brought tears to my eyes. I miss my kids when they--or we go on vacation. You are very strong.

    It seems we both love gardening. My Knock Out roses aren't "knocking me out" whatsoever yet! We've had a lot of rain but because they are under an overhang section of our house, They need me to physically water them. That's hard to do when the weather is never cooperating! I was foolish to plant them there but once I do get watering, they are gorgeous.

    Thanks again for the visit. How did you find my little old blog? ;-)

    Jane c

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  4. .. hello Susie...
    ..nice to see you had some happy time with your Daughter and Son..... congratulations to them for their achievements.....
    I love your roses and your geraniums...
    Have a great week...
    Hugs ... Barb xxxx

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  5. I hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day ;o) Congrats to your daughter ;o) Many blessings to your son! Gorgeous flower pics ;o) Big Hugs ;o)

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  6. You must be a proud Mom with two wonderful children! I know it must be so hard to say goodbye. Wishing them both the very best. I just planted some Knock-out roses. I've never grown them before, so hope they look half as beautiful as yours. I have never been able to keep a Clematis alive - I will try your tips! xo Karen

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  7. Thanks so much for stopping by!!
    I will keep your son in my prayers.....
    Congrats to your daughter on her graduation. Has she found a job yet? Nursing is a very hard and stressful profession, I am speaking from 37 years of full time experience...
    Your blooms are so very pretty!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  8. You have a lovely blog. I'm so glad I have discovered it!

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  9. Hi! Susie
    Thanks for your visit and comments. So hard for Mums when children leave and go across the world. I feel for you. When my son joined The Royal Navy 23 years ago it felt like I had lost him as in those days there was no communication with him when on a ship. So different today with Skype etc. as it happened he did not make the Navy his career in the end but I remember those times.

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  10. Hi Susie, so nice to meet you. You have such a beautiful family and Congrats to your daughter on her graduation. And, a big thank you to your son for his service. I know how hard the goodbyes can be.
    Your blog is lovely and I am now a new follower. Thank you for visiting me today too.
    Have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend.
    Hugs, CM

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  11. Hi Susie, I must've been on vacation when this post came out ~ i was very interested to see and read about your son and daughter ~ they have done really well. Quite understandable that it is an emotional roller coaster...my goodness, I'd be the same!

    Now we both have daughters who are nurses!
    Lovely flowers! Spring is nearly summer now.
    I'm still at honeypot-cottage. blogspot, btw ~ it's public again now.

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  12. Dearest Susie,
    Congrats with your daughter's achievement!
    Yes, saying goodbye is never easy... I've done it so often and last year in February I've hugged my Mom for the last time after we'd visited her several times during dialysis at the hospital. I knew in my heart it would be the last time and it was... She died on January 27 this year but I feel at Peace for having visited my Parents 64 times. Lots of sacrifices as we did this instead of going on vacation.
    Hugs and Peace to you and your family and enjoy your roses.
    Mariettte

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