Cozy Grey, Remembering, Flowers and Grosbeaks

We had a grey cool weekend.  But we made the most of it.  We watched an Outlander marathon and I worked on my Elise shawl while my little Buddy napped on my lap.  Do you see the tartan scarf I was wearing?  It's my clan tartan - McAlister - with a Scottish pin holding a rosette on the scarf.  I decided to get into my Scottish gear to feel part of the action.  :-)  Aye, I did!  Now I'm none too happy with how the last episode ended and I hope someone saved Jamie from Black Jack's nefarious plans!

I posed my shawl on my new to me vintage dress form.  I was very naughty.  I saw one on a fellow bloggers post and as I am known to do, I checked on Craigslist to see if one might be for sale at a fair (low) price.  No luck.  So, I checked on eBay.  Hmmm.. there was one for a fair price.  So, as a lark I put in the starting price as a bid, fully expecting to be outbid.  Well.. I wasn't outbid.  :-)  I was going to be in New Orleans when this very large box was to be delivered here so I launched into a long explanation of how I accidentally was the new owner of this item - to my dear husband.  He said.. "What are you going to do with THAT?  Where are you going to put it?"  Ummm... errrrr.. well... uhhh.. "I will finish clearing out my "studio" and set up my cute little Singer Featherweight sewing machine in there and put the dress form in the corner to model my shawls and things?"  Oh.  Hmm.  Right.   It's still in the living room.. for now.. :-)

But isn't it a nice place to pose my crochet projects?  Isn't it?  Right?  I sure am enjoying working on this alpaca shawl.  

I joined my blog friend Gracie for lunch today - she treated me to a Crab BLT Salad at Elmers - for my birthday.  We weren't able to do lunch in April due to both of our travels.  Wasn't that sweet of her?  We had a great lunch and a long chat and got all caught up on each other's news.  She is a treasure to me.

When I got home I snapped some photos of how my garden is growing to share with you.  My "Scentimental" rose is in bloom.. so early for it I'm just amazed.

I have big patches of Rose Campion - the color is really beyond thrilling.

Do you have this flower where you live?  It has dusty grey foliage and re-seeds itself.

My orange Dahlia is growing nicely and blooming profusely.

Our volunteer Bellflower is blooming next to it.

We went to clean my Dad's gravestone on Saturday and get it shined up and ready for those who might visit over the Memorial Day weekend.  Afterwards we went to Shorty's Nursery to try to find a Maidenhair Fern.  We got one to plant by our waterfalls and pond.  I'll show you that next time.  Of course we also found this pretty orange Tuberous Begonia and another Dahlia.  It's certainly colorful on our deck!

This Dahlia continues to make my eyes pop out of my head.  LOL!

My New Zealand Impatiens are gorgeous.

My little pink daisy flowers.. Brachyscome - "Surdaisy Strawberry Pink".  Just in case you were wondering.

Here is my dear husband while he is brushing off my Dad's gravestone and then he scrubs it clean, then he sprays it with this stuff that shines it up and protects the bronze.  We picked up some red and white carnations on the way and I cut the stems and arranged them in the bronze vase.  That is him actually smiling.  :-)

We are so proud of my Dad's service to his country.  He was in the Marines and went in on the first wave at Iwo Jima and was there the whole time.  It was a harrowing experience.  Approx. 250 of his company went in and only about 15 walked out unwounded and alive.  He was a kind and quiet father and was always there for us when we needed him.  He helped me out many times.  I loved my dad.

We visited Washington DC a few years back and when we were in Arlington National Cemetery I heard band music and I looked down at the road below us and saw a funeral procession going on.  I snapped several images, this being the best.  It was a very solemn and meaningful thing to see.  We also watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, aka as the Tomb of the Unknowns.  Wherever you are, please take a moment to thank those who have served to keep you safe and especially those who have given their lives.

KRISTI'S CORNER  --  My DIL snapped some new photos of an Evening Grosbeak, both the male and the female.

Here is his mate.  

This one is a bit fuzzy, it's hard to get one when they are bathing in our stream as they shake a lot!  Isn't he cute?

I have some things to get done in June as in early July Dayle and I are loading up the car and heading on a long road trip!  We're driving South through Oregon and through California, taking a left above Los Angeles and head to Las Vegas, Nevada for a night.  Then heading East to the Grand Canyon for a few days, then on through Albuquerque, New Mexico, across the top of Texas and into Oklahoma for a family reunion.  Then on to NE OK to visit Dayle's brother.  Then up to the Lake of the Ozarks to spend 4 days with my daughter Amy and our precious two granddaughters.  I am not sure what route we'll take to get back home.  Stay tuned.  :-)  

Do you have any fun Summer travel plans?  Do tell!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)