So, Its Been Awhile...

This poor little blog has been put on my back burner for a long time.  I'm hoping to start writing on a more regular basis.  As one of my dear friends has said to me before, "If you don't feed your blog, it will die."  I don't want that to happen!

In the time from my last post, I have been a very busy lady.  I started a photography company: Monarch Digital Photography.  I have put a lot of my time in getting the website set up, and it still needs even more attention since I have more photos to add to its collections.  Time, time, and more time is all I need!

I'm really excited about this new endeavor.  I am a person who thrives on creativity.  For a long time, I've felt like I haven't had an outlet for that to shine.  And when my creativity doesn't shine, I don't shine!  I felt like I had exhausted my floral design ideas, and nothing I created was fun for me anymore.  I felt like I had seen it all, done it all, and was SO over it!  Don't get me wrong, I'll still design for my friends and families weddings and events, but it's not a creative high for me anymore.

Then, with my job, I get to design landscapes.  A ton of fun, even now.  But, with the economy and time of year, we are slow right now.  So, that creative release I need has to just stay couped up inside me...pouting.

All that creative need led me to my love of photography.  It just seemed like a natural next step for me to master.  By no means do I think I know it all, but I know enough to get me started.  I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but I will learn from them and never make them again.  And when I do, I have an amazing mentor/friend that I can go to with questions when I need answers.  I've shot back-up for her at several weddings and even tagged along for a couple of portrait sessions.  I felt confident that I could charge for my services and also get that creativeness flowing again! So, I saved up my money for 5 months and bought a new Canon 7D! (I am REALLY excited about that!)  My hope is to start out in the lower price range for wedding photography, and then gradually work my way up from there.

So, now that I got my creative muse satisfied, I feel like I need to carry on with a few of the things I originally started this blog for.  The first being my love of gardening.  Since it's January, there isn't too much excitement going on there.  Plenty I could write about, but not too much excitement.

The second thing is my 101 in 1001 list.  I also put this on my back burner.  I had a friend of mine (who also has her own 101 in 1001 list) ask me this week how that was going, and I was kinda bummed that I hadn't crossed anything off on it in awhile.  I thanked her for "kicking me in the butt" to get me going again.  I decided I'd try and cross something off this weekend to jump start  me again.  Not too sure what that'll be yet, but I'm going to do something and post about it!

Anywho, I'm excited to get back in the saddle again!  I've missed it! :o)

Currently in May

I normally do this post on the 1st of every month. I missed last month's Currently post completely because I was so busy with work, so I figure while I'm still in May I should post my Currently post while I have the chance!

Current Book(s): I'm in the middle of the third book of Fablehaven and the newest book from the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I've kinda had to put books on the back burner due to my crazy work schedule.  But I'm trucking along through these two at a slow but steady pace.

I started reading the Fablehaven series after my husband recommended them for our kids to read.  I wasn't all that impressed with the first one as an adult read, but the second and third have been surprisingly better and more in depth that the first.  I would recommend them to anyone  who has kids that like reading adventures.  

Of course I'm hooked on Sookie, so I interrupted the Fablehaven book to start this one that just came out.  I haven't read far enough into this one to have an opinion yet....but it's Sookie, so I'm sure it'll be a good one!

Current Playlist: I've been on a Texas Country music kick here lately.  It just seems to match my mood with Spring in full swing where the nights are still cool enough to sit outside, watch the hubby grill something for dinner, and hang out with friends and family.  There's just nothing better than that!  Fav artist at the moment would probably be: Hayes Carll

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Eating the chocolate covered strawberries my kids got me for Mother's day!  mm,mm,mm!

Current Color:  I've really liked this Coral Pink color lately...not usually fond of pink, but this one is bright and fun.

Current Drink:  Sweet tea and Coke...the usual!

Current Food: We did a crawfish boil at our house...my favorite Spring time meal!

Current Favorite Show: I've tried to keep up with DWTS, but that seems to be a lost cause here lately!  Not much time to keep up with TV!

Current Wishlist:  I wish for funds to keep coming in for my family to join me in the Dominican Republic this June for a mission trip I'm going on.  I'm so excited to be a part of this group.  It's been amazing to see the various pieces of the puzzle come together for this trip to be a success!

Current Needs: I need a new pair of summer work shoes (which is actually my mother's day gift.) I just haven't had time to go pick some out.

Current Triumphs: I crossed off a 101 in 1001 list item this past week!  I took my boys dewberry picking at my farm and then came home to make miniature pies for them to eat.  My Grandma would do this for me when I would stay at her house, so I'm excited to share the experience with my boys.  I'm still waiting for the rest of the big pie I made to disappear so I can make Dewberry Delight, my ReeRee's specialty!

The harvest!

The mini pies!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Mosquitoes!  Why can't we just sit outside and enjoy a nice evening without becoming a meal?

Current Celebrity Crush: ehhh...not much on celebrities this month.

Current Indulgence:  Well, the Dewberry Pie is calling my name right now...

Current #1 Blessing: Life is grand!  My family is all good, Spring is here, I get to garden everyday after work (and sometimes while I'm at work!), the butterflies are out, and I'm perfectly content!  What more could a girl ask for?

Current Slang or Saying:  Hmmm, I don't think I have one at the moment.  

Current Outfit: A solid color T-shirt about the color of the coral above, khaki capri's , and flip-flops.

Current Excitement:  The AIM mission trip to the Dominican Republic!  I got my passport in over the weekend (yay!), and I went to get my son's made today just in case the funds do come available for him to join us.  

Current Mood: Exhausted from work but elated that Spring is here in full force.

Current Link: The AIM website!  Check it out and see what the mission is all about!  It's truly awesome!

Happy May!

Holy Cow, I'm Busy!

I knew going into this Spring that my work life was going to become very crazy.  Most of Houston lost most of their landscape this past winter.  That means the landscaping industry is hustling and bustling!  I've gone from a comfortable three to four consults a week to eight or nine with installs going on in between.  It's been a crazy month with no time in the office to get my quotes out.  I've had people begging for my attention with no time on my plate to give them.  I've officially gotten to the point that if I don't write down what I say I'm going to do, then it just doesn't happen.  I never thought I'd get to that point in my life.  In all that chaos, I've had a few good things happen that I wanted to blog about as they occurred, but time has just slipped away so I'm lumping them all into one.

These are a few plants I've admired throughout the last month.  Typically I'd put these into my plant of the day, but time wouldn't slow down for me!

Red Bud in bloom

Sinojackia

My Grandmother's Iris finally bloomed!  I dug these up from her yard last Spring.

Spiraea

Calceolaria: LOVE this one!!!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

White Bougainvillea

Chocolate Chip Ajuga

Next, a few of the landscapes I've done:

This was a blank slate back yard before I added a dry river bed with Texas Hill Country plants around it.  

I would have preferred to use brown mulch, but the homeowner likes black, so black it is.

Front Before: A truck ran into this house and took out the entire front yard landscape and far left side of the house including the porch!

After

Side yard: Before

Side Yard: After

Before

Before

After

In between work, landscapes, and plants, my family was squeezed in (somehow!)

My middle son, Kurtis, started Hockey 101!  He did great!  I think it's going to be the perfect sport for him.

My Dad, Sis-n-Law, and I all went to the Astro's home Spring training game!

My Dad-n-Me

Go 'Stros!

Next up came Easter:  The Bluebonnets were beautiful!

Bluebonnet

Me and my Kiddo's

Sweet pea!

The Girls: My Mom, Sis-n-Law, the cutest niece in the world, and me

My Beautiful Mom

Karrie and Me

(Yes, Karrie, I will post the rest of the pics from this day soon!  Love you, mean it!)

Finally, to catch up completely, I completed yet another to-do on my 101 in 1001 today!  I got my passport made so I can go on the Dominican trip this June.  I'm so excited about this mission trip!  I can't wait to see what God has in store for us to accomplish.  

That's it folks, you're up to date!  I promise not to stay gone for so long the rest of the month!

Currently in March

Current Book(s): I have started the Fablehaven series.  I'll admit it's a beautiful world the author has made up, but it's a bit too childish for my liking.  My husband roped me into reading it after he pre-read it for our boys to read. (We don't let them read anything until we approve it ourselves.)  I'll finish the series, if for nothing else but to have something to talk about with my kiddos....and the hubby.

After that series is done, I believe I've been roped into reading the Percy Jackson series.  I wish I could read the first book before we go see the movie tomorrow, but I don't see that working out for me.   My husband, good friend , and oldest son have all read (or are in the middle of reading) this series, and they all say it's really good!

Current Playlist: Country music is on the radio right now.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Ummm, I can't think of one.  Maybe Farmville on Facebook would be a good fit.  I can't farm in real life, so I fulfill my needs on a video game?  Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! ;o)

Current Color:  Lavender.  It's my all time favorite color!

Current Drink:  Sweet tea.

Current Food: Home cooked meals.

Current Favorite Show: I haven't had time to sit down and watch TV this month.

Current Wishlist:  For the window on the suburban to get fixed.  The motor went out while the window was down, and now it won't stay up.

Current Needs: For night time temps to stay above freezing so I can plant my spring garden!

Current Triumphs: I'm 95% unpacked in my new house!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: See above about the window on the suburban.

Current Celebrity Crush: This one is a toughy because I haven't done much of anything but unpack this month.  Haven't had the time to crush on many celebrities. ;o)

Current Indulgence:  Chocolate Chip Cookies that I made on Friday night. ( I cheated and made the store bought dough, but they are still really good!)

Current #1 Blessing: My family is under one roof, and life is good.

Current Slang or Saying:  Hmmm, I got nothing this month on this one.  

Current Outfit: Floral print top, jeans, Ariat boots and my green North Face fleece jacket.

Current Excitement:  Have I mentioned the house yet???  And, my son Kurtis has a birthday tomorrow! AND, it's March 1st!!!!  That means it's Houston's average last frost date!  woohoo!!!  Spring gardening can start really soon, and I can start cutting everything back that froze this winter.

Current Mood: Exhausted yet happy.

Current Link: The weather channel for my local area.  I've been watching it like a hawk for signs of true Spring.  I want to plant SO bad!

Happy March!

Currently In February

Current Book(s): Let's see, I finished all 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse series in January...I'm hooked!  Great series and I highly recommend them!  Then I finished the Immortals series.  Great 1st book...second and third, not so much (at least not when targeted for a young adult audience.)  Now I've started reading the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton.  I picked this book up over a year ago and only got 2 or 3 chapters in before picking something else up (not because it was bad, but because something else came out that I really wanted to read first.)  Then I tried it on audio book this fall and got about 7 or 8 chapters in, and I've just never finished the thing which is so not like me...I always finish a book once I start it, even if it's bad.  I'm about half way through Kiss of Shadows now, and I'll continue the series from there for February's reading list.  Oh!  and the next Anita Blake series book, Flirt, comes out tomorrow!  (That will definitely interrupt the Merry series again!)  

Current Playlist: My hubby bought the Avatar soundtrack.  I love it as long as I'm in the mood for instrumental music.  

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Reading...just can't seem to get my nose out of the pages!

Current Color:  Royal Purple

Current Drink:  Coke...completely failing at my goal of giving it up for breakfast!

Current Food: Napoli's Pizza: Stromboli is De-lish!

Current Favorite Show: I'm gonna go with a movie for this one and say Avatar.

Current Wishlist:  I'd really like a nook eReader!

Current Needs: Same as last month...For the weather to warm up so I can start Spring planting already!

Current Triumphs: I fixed the keyless entry to my suburban!  Yay!

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Time...or lack thereof!

Current Celebrity Crush: Hmmm... My hubby and I have been watching True Blood, so I'll say Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Current Indulgence:  Little Debbies Valentine Cakes! mm,mm,mm!

Current #1 Blessing: Lots to be thankful for this month, but #1 is family!

Current Slang or Saying:  No slang this month, but saying goes something like this:  "Don't cut your plants back until March 1st, which is Houston's average last frost date."  "Yes, I know their ugly, but you'll do more harm than good by cutting them back now."  I must say this 50 times a day (or, at least it feels like it!)

Current Outfit: Winter gardener clothing: Brown fleece jacket, teal blue T-Shirt and jeans.

Current Excitement:  Two of my friends had their babies this weekend!

Grace Elaine arrived on Friday and she is just precious!  Congrats to Sarah, Andrew and Katie!

And Lexi Lee arrived last night!  Congrats to Bryan, Misti, Isaiah, and Samuel!

I can't wait to meet both of them in person!

Current Mood: Excited and Hopeful!

Current Link: sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com This couple was on TV earlier this week after a man's fiance started posting things that he said in his sleep.  Even though some of the quotes are foul mouthed, most of them are hilarious! 

Happy February!