Don't Give Up On Me Yet!!!

Hi friends!  I am here, I am here!!   I know that my lack of posting has caused a raised brow or two.  To be honest, we did have a bit of unpleasantness creep up on us here, about a month or so ago.  We are dealing with it.  It has been a rough time, but we are finding ways to make lemonade out of lemons.  So bear with me, as my posting may be somewhat sporadic for a while yet.
Today is a beautiful day here in Southern California!!!  We have had two days of horrendous winds that caused a lot of mess, and some damage in areas near us too.  With all of the trees here on our property, a visit by the winds is very messy business!  I have spent all morning cleaning up from it.  Picking up branches, and debris that fell out of the huge sycamores in the front.  And a few avocado branches in the back.  Not to mention the dust and leaves that accumulated on our front porch and back patios.  So after doing that, I went around and watered everything, and took note of what is blooming, and what needs weeding, trimming, etc.
I noticed that the many iris' that I have in both the front and back, are just about to burst, revealing their grape sucker scent, and standing tall and proud in their brilliant purple!!

I have a gardening friend in Illinois who sent me a couple bulbs from her garden about 10 years ago.  I have divided them every year, and put them all around the front and back of our home.  I have also shared them with many friends too.  I wait eagerly every Spring for their show!
The California Poppies are "popping" and waving their delicate little orange heads in the breeze.  I love these Spring flowers so much!

I have a lot of Bird Of Paradise in my backyard.  They can become very unruly if not tended to.  But if taken care of, they are magnificent!

When  they bloom, the part in the back of the flower begins to dry up and fade away, as the rest of the flower continues to put on a show.  You can simply remove those dry husks from the pod, and then the flower continues to look beautiful and fresh for some time.

My Dad planted these roses in he and Mom's yard just a few months before he passed away.  His illness was sudden and quick, and we miss him every single day.  I dug up these rose bushes when my Mom sold their home and moved a few years ago.  They bloom faithfully, and I absolutely love what they mean to me.  I bring Dad yellow and red roses when I go see him at the cemetery.  But I talk to my Dad every day.  He lives in my heart, and I feel him with me when I am outside working in my yards.  We talk, and I hear him calling my name......"Kristin"

I have planted oodles of nasturtiums in the back.  They seem to thrive well in our poor quality, rocky soil.

Soon this patch will be filled with bright jewel tones throughout.  Also in this planter is a huge deep pink geranium that blooms all  year long.  I also have some of my Iris' in here too.

I have a cute ladybug bird feeder in this planter as well, that my Mom gave me.
There are bird baths, and feeders all around our yards.  As well as many nest boxes to attract my feathered friends.  This feeder was given to me by my next door neighbor Jane.  Pretty cute, tongue in cheek saying on it.  The actual dish is a painted tuna can.

Poor fellow is missing a few whiskers on him.  But the birds still flock to their black oil sunflower seeds.
I keep feeders both on the ground, and in the trees.

It is very important that you place your feeders amongst plenty of shelter and coverage for the birds to flee to, should a predator appear.  I do have a kitty.  But I keep a bell on her to warn my flighted friends of her approach.

This bird bath belonged to a favorite Auntie of mine.  She always loved flowers, and had the most exciting backyard for us to play in when we were little.  She planted sweet peas that climbed up her fences and the sweet fragrance will forever make me think of my Aunt Connie.
I have to keep my nectar feeders filled daily now, with the arrival of my beloved Orioles, and my year around Hummers.  I make up two gallons at a time, and go through a LOT of sugar!!  I also keep fresh orange halves and grape jelly at the ready for the Orioles to feast on.

In one day, all of these oranges will be completely reamed of their flesh, leaving only a dry and empty skin, which goes into the compost bin.
My back patio is a favorite gathering spot for us this time of year.  It is not yet too hot to enjoy our time here, and with the solid cover, it is a great spot to read, blog, and crochet.  After I finished my work in the gardens I had my lunch out here.
A chicken salad wrap with crimini mushrooms, avocado, sunflower seeds, shaved parmesan, dressed in creamy cilantro dressing, and rolled tight in a tortilla.  Erika's yummy fresh fruit salad to go with it.  Delicious!

I have put some potted flowers on the patio, and it is such a delightful place to relax.

I need to get a new rug for this spot.  That brown one actually goes on the outer patio underneath the other wicker set.  I am looking for a green one I like for here.

I have repurposed this wine rack on my patio.  I use the table top to hold iced tea pitchers and such when having company.  And the wine rack holds magazines.
This hutch was my Nana's.  I moved it out here a couple of summers ago, and it holds our outdoor silverware, and placemats and things I use for eating outside.
I love to decorate it seasonally.  I am thinking of painting it this summer with a green chalk paint.

 Those three little pots on the carrot plate are citronella candles that I have yet to put out on the tables. 

The nest in the little wooden chest was abandoned by a wren Mama last Spring.  I cleaned out the box in hopes of another nesting.  The eggs are so tiny and pretty in their speckled shells.  I just couldn't toss them.

From where I am sitting here on the patio, I can smell the clean laundry flapping in the breeze.  I have not used my dryer for about a month now.  Last year, I didn't use it until the days grew short and chilly, in late November.  To me, there is something so relaxing about hanging the wash on the line.  Perhaps if I lived in a time when there was no other way to dry it, I wouldn't feel this way.  But I do so love to line dry our laundry.  Everything comes off so crisp and clean smelling!
The garden is plugging along nicely.  It won't be too long now before we will be reaping what has been sown.

I will have to replant cucumbers.  I think the birds dug up the seeds.  I will be planting more along the way of everything.  But so far, all has sprouted and is growing nicely.  My watermelon and pumpkin hill is looking great too.   The herbs have already been snipped for use.

The tomatoes were teeny tiny when I put them in.  They are getting big fast, and have many blooms already.

I have been making some new blooms too.  I found this pattern on a blog I just recently discovered.  Do you ever find a blog that just speaks to you, and you have to go back and read every page you can?  Well this blog was like that for me.  It was just delightful and happy, and pretty, and fun to read.  I was captured immediately.  I hope you go visit her.  She lives in the Swiss Alps, and loves to crochet and sew, and garden and bake.  My kind of gal!  My Rose Valley  Her blog is written in English, with a lot of Scandanavian touches throughout.  I have Scandanavian blood myself.  This blog is beautiful.  Go say hi, and follow her on Insta Gram too!!  Her name is Annette.
Anyway, I saw these flowers on her blog, but I believe the link she gives is to another blog.  Also a lovely read, called  Emma Lamb.  She calls them Maybelle Flowers.  Don't you just love the name?  I do.  I am using my leftover odds and ends from the yarn I bought in England, and made my Bobble Blanket with.

I finished this during the televised Queen's Jubilee.  And so it has been aptly named, "Jubilee"  This is the yummiest, softes yarn ever!  Here are some of the Maybelle flowers I have made so far.

I love these!!!  They make up quick.  And are so cute!!!

I will be sitting out here on my patio, me and  my yarn...and my pups.  Stitching  up more of these pretty Maybelle flowers.  It is good for the soul.

A gift from my babies.....
Have a great week friends!!  Thank you so much for all of the loving support.  Hello new followers!  I will be over to visit you this week too!!!!
XO  Kris