The Nana Second

You know you’ve got the blogging bug when you wake up in the middle of the night thinking of names for blogs!  I had no problem with coming up with The Nana Second for my blog.  Owen asked me how I decided on that name and I told him the absolute truth – it just popped into my head!  He can tell you that things often “pop” into my head and I spit them out at the most inappropriate times.  I do have a problem keeping my thoughts inside my little head.  It’s just my nature, I guess.  This happens when I’m awake and many times when I’m just waking up in the morning or in the middle of the night.  We had been batting (pardon the pun) around names last evening while looking at other blogs on the net so we could see some of the names he couldn’t use.  We had a good list going, but nothing that has really grabbed him yet.  He wants it to be original, of course, not too geeky (he of past pocket-protector fame) and not to fluffy, but to be a reflection of who he is.  Though he will tell you he is a simple, uncomplicated man, I would differ with him.  Having been married to him almost my entire life!!, I know this! Honing in on his core interest is not as easy as it would seem for he is interested in many things and has opinions on more than many… 

If any of you who know him well have suggestions for a catchy and memorable blog name, please submit a comment and I’ll pass it on.  Surely one of them will strike a chord with him.  He loves music, is an avid reader of audiophile magazines, the Bible and political publications.  He is an electrical engineer and has an interest in gardening.  Well, let’s change that to riding the lawn tractor, planting trees, and pruning with any kind of power saw or clippers.  I have not seen him weed many gardens by hand.  He leaves that to me. Obviously, he thinks that I am the one who needs to do those deep-knee bends and squats in order to stay in shape. 

Speaking of that…I’m am off to do a quick walk around the garden, checking for any sign of bugs or dying plants.  We had a good rain here yesterday – probably a couple of inches.  The yard is soaked, so I won’t get to mow today.  Besides, I want it to look fresh for our overnight guest next Tuesday night.  I’ll be on the mower Monday.  If any of you are in the neighborhood, stop by and flag me down. I’m always ready for a cool drink under the oak trees.

I’ll await your suggestions for Owen’s blog.  I need a good night’s sleep tonight…

Just had my stroll in the garden – saw one bug on a rose bush and a couple of dead or nearly dead azaleas.  I have known this for a couple of weeks.  It happened when we were away the beginning of July.  We had a bit of a drought for a while – no one to water for us way out back.  Could not be helped.  They may come back.  Who knows??  A side note…while walking around, I noticed Owen pulling some weeds (by hand) near the tomatoes.  I spoke too soon!  Now, I have to ask his forgiveness!  The pictures you see here were taken this morning.  Not much color everywhere right now.  We have a mostly shady garden.  The height of summer is not the best time for it to show its colors.  But, we think it’s beautiful, nonetheless.  Hope you enjoy it, too.

Rudbeckkia – so welcome in the middle of the hot summer.  These welcome me just outside the back door leading to the patio.

More Rudbeckkia…with one relaxed frog.(Oops!, someone took a bite out of his leg – will have to locate a substitute.)

More Rudbeckkia…I love garden art – especially this one of a little girl clutching flowers.

Do you think this fellow is having fun?

Crinum lilies – an old time garden favorite.  They were in full bloom a couple of weeks ago.  Should bloom more this summer.

After wishing me Happy Birthday this morning – very early! – Owen asked me if I thought I would get to this birthday milestone this fast.  The answer was, of course, no.  I certainly don’t feel my age, whatever this age is supposed to feel like. 

There are some neat accompaniments to this certain age!  Let’s see, there’s the senior breakfast at Denny’s, discount days at a number of department stores, AARP privileges at hotels, car rentals, national parks and a number of other places.  There are other things that certain age brings with it – or is supposed to…like a little more respect (HA!) and an excuse for forgetting things, (I hope that I am not forgetting more than I am remembering).  Then there are absolutely wonderful things that certain age brings with it – grown children who have become friends (I am so thankful for my three!), grandchildren who grab your heart in a way that makes you feel as if you are floating on a cloud and sometimes make you feel like you are in a thunderstorm!  I love them and they continue to amaze me. There are things like closer friendships with siblings, now that we feel like we don’t have to do all the same things and be just alike in order for us to like one another.  We have always loved each other, but we used to want to change little things about one another.  What I’m trying to say is that we don’t worry about those little things anymore – not that me don’t notice them.

So many things for which to be thankful at this certain age – looking back (and forward). On this special birthday, looking back, I’m thankful for these past years of a life filled with more joy than sorrow, more love than hate and more friends than enemies.  Looking forward with great anticipation, I see more years of joy, love, friends, family (especially more grandchildren!) and life with a husband, who is my love and my greatest friend!  I want more time with family and friends to enjoy just “being” with them and doing those little things that make memories for everyone.   I may be middle-aged, (a little past by now), but I’m holding on to the middle for a long time.

Son, Bradley, has now got me up and running to post pictures , so I think I’ll show just a few today of those really special people in my life!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!  Oh…and thanks for all the calls and emails my birthday!  Love you all…

This is me with my mother, my daughter, Richele, and her children, Samantha & Alyssa. Next is Richele & husband, Michael, youngest daughter, Natalie; Brad’s fiancee’, Carrie, and son, Bradley. The third is of Natalie and husband, Marshall. The last one is of me and Owen taken on a trip to Pennysylvania and New York in the early spring of this year. 

Monday

(You will not see a picture here as I mention in the paragraph below…My #1 son informs me that my site is not set up for that yet, but he will get to it ASAP – my little wonder boy!  So you’ll just have to wait until next time.  I’ll have to be more descriptive in the meantime.)

I LOVE to walk around the garden and check things out – see what’s growing well, what’s not and what’s bit the dust.  The picture of the butterfly was taken a couple of years ago in the garden next to our patio.  I was just remarking to my husband, Owen, that I haven’t seen as many butterflies as I have in past years.  I’ve decided to plant more Pentas, like the one you see this beautiful creature feasting on.  I haven’t had a lot of time to garden this spring because of trips taken here and there, and other family duties that called me into service.  Now, it’s summer and it is definitely much too hot to spend a lot of time outdoors here in Chappell Hill, TX. The most we can do is keep the grass mowed and do our best to keep the weeds to a minimum.  

I was away from home for several weeks on and off and when I returned, the tasks in the garden confronting me were just a bit daunting.  I began to wonder why I had dug all of these gardens and planted all of these plants.  Some say that weeding is therapeutic.  The only thing therapeutic about it is that it gets you moving – bending over, squatting down, stretching and using muscles that I don’t use on a daily basis.  I should be doing this as a matter of routine, but I have other things on my mind (most days) besides exercising.  So, physically, I can see that it is good for your body.  I haven’t quite figured out how good it is for the mind unless it’s the extra oxygen flowing through.  And that’s good.  Nevertheless, therapeutic or not, the gardens have to be weed free for me to be a happy gardener.  I have managed to rid the back gardens of all weeds.  Those are the gardens I see out of my back windows.  The front and side ones will have to wait for another day.  I don’t look at them so much.  So, out of sight – out of mind, right?  I’ll get to them eventually…

Since I’m new at this blogging stuff, I haven’t set up categories on my site yet.  But I think that one category should be about gardening.  I think I may have a lot to share about gardening in general, most of which I learned from my mother and some of which I just learned by trial and error and lots of reading on the subject.  I would love to think that someone would actually visit this blog and then would give me some advice on gardening and such.  A good start would be how to keep the weeds out once and for all.  I will try to take some recent pictures of our few little acres on the hill and let you see what’s going on outside our windows.

More later…