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!

A Weekend Wedding in the Country

I did flowers for a wedding this weekend.  The colors were blue and yellow, and the main flowers were Tulips, Hydrangea, Iris, and Delphinium.  I think they turned out nicely! (If I do say so myself!)

The Bride

Table Centerpieces

Pool Arrangement

It's been a year since I had to do fresh flowers for a wedding, so it was nice to have a bride that was so easy going!  Best of luck to both of them!

A few moments of joy this weekend!

I should be invoicing, quoting, or drawing right now, but I need to blog or I just might go crazy!  I've already mentioned in my previous post a couple weeks ago that I've been inundated at work, but this weekend I finally got a few moments to hold my camera instead of a pencil.  Don't get me wrong,  I'm still busy.  I just forced myself to go out and actually enjoy the plants around me instead of seeing work that's not done.  It was nice to get back to the joy of my heart.

'Fragrant Cloud' Rose

Canna Lily

Calliandra 'Dwarf Powder Puff'

Crimson Passion Flower

Double Petunia

Pink Indigo

Itea 'Henry's Garnet'

Crazy Daisy

Society Garlic

I really wish I had the time to write a paragraph or two about each one of these plants for my Plant of the Day section.  ...Maybe later as Spring slows down I'll have a chance to properly add them. (Just take my word for it that they are all fabulous plants and I highly recommend them all!)  

These plants made my day!  How 'bout yours?

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!