Hot summer days are here.............

and I have only worked in my garden in the early morning are very late afternoon.

Every plant looks fresh and happy in the early morning

and everything has blooms..........

but by mid afternoon

every plant looks wilted and tired. 

The heat has been up to the 100s on some days........

yet, every thing seems to survive it all

I have even been able to enjoy a plate or two of fried green 

tomatoes from my tomato vine!  No one else in my family cares for fried green tomatoes...........for me there is nothing better......

don't  you agree? 

My little group of tiny chickens......seem to not mind the heat as much.

They have plenty water and shade..........

yet, I am still surprised at how they enjoy running and chasing after bugs and such

when the days are so hot and muggy. 

So when the heat is just too unbearable, I spend my time with my needle.

I finally finished a luncheon cloth and napkin set that I have been working on for months.

I designed it to match some of my vintage dishware in my shop.

You can see more photos and read about this on my embroidery blog at this link

Yesteryear Embroideries

I also went through some old recipes and decided to make a 30 Day Friendship 

Fruitcake..........yes, it does take 30 days...........but so worth the effort! 

To get the recipe and to read the story about this cake you can visit my cooking blog at this link

30 Day Friendship Fruitcake

So how is the temperature in your back yard?  Are  you growing a garden or creating something with your hands? I would love to hear!

There is something in the nature of silence which affects me deeply.......

Why it is I know not; but I do know that I love to be alone at such an hour as this. I love to forget the outward world and hold communion with the beings of the mind. 

Charles Lanman, "Musings," 1840

Early one morning, while outside,

enjoying the quietness and beauty...............

I watched, with intrigue, a rabbit........

dashing, back and forth, with something

in it's mouth

I quietly got closer and could see it was gathering strings of weed and grass.

Mouthful after mouthful, several times, until it finally stopped

over the place it was carrying the assortment.

Later in the day, I quietly snuck up to the place where the rabbit

had been placing the weeds, to discover a small nest

it had made for itself underneath a group of wildflowers. 

Weeks have passed, and yesterday I went once again, to check

and was wonderfully surprised to see a nest of baby rabbits.

A couple of weeks ago, we had non stop harsh 

wind and dirt blowing for days. 

The dirt covered everything in sight and it took me 

days to rinse it all off.   Just something that 

is a "normal" here in Texas.

We have been getting an unusual amount of rain now, 

and the change from dirt to moisture is wonderful.

I have decided to try container gardening this year. 

So far, the containers have proven less work with weeding 

and less attacks from pests.

Although at the moment, my garden looks pretty slim, 

If you look a little closer.........

you will find, .............

There are cucumbers, 

okra,

carrots,

tomatoes, 

which,  are already showing much goodness!

The lemon trees are starting to produce lemons.

I also planted gourds in a container to run up along the fence. 

The only thing I have in the ground is pumpkins.

My little pomegranate tree/bush is starting to leaf out well. 

My garden is in the far corner of the back yard and close enough to where 

I can happily

sit out and look upon it

Across from it is my greenhouse,

and to the side ,is the wonderful wild woods.

One of the pretty flowers that is currently blooming ,is 

the lantana bush.  I love it's clusters of pink and yellow flowers. 

This year I have a few that have grown up and done well. 

One in the back patio,

one in the front of the greenhouse, 

and one in the side greenhouse garden, 

and one very large one out in the front entry way. 

and all over the grounds.............where there is still remaining paddle cactus,

the blooms are brilliant in the bright sunshine........

June is here.........

It is the month of June, 

The month of leaves and roses, 

When pleasant sights salute the eyes 

and pleasant scents the noses.

Nathaniel Parker Willis

Wishing you calm and happy days !