Dusty Us Diaries

Garden Diary: Basil Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:10:00 +0000

Yippee! I counted over forty little basil volunteers in my herb bed! Can't wait to make pesto!

At Krispy Kreme

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Krispy Kreme in Branson is always one of Talon's must stops. He drags mom and dad in kicking and screaming. Ha! If you know us for reals, then you know that is a lie. We race Talon to the door! Free doughnut, people, free doughnut! (we buy a dozen too so as not to appear totally tacky)

Garden Diary: My Gardens 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:25:00 +0000

After last summer's triple digit heat wave and drought that hit in early June, I declared: No more gardening!

Hahaha! Yeah, right. I've declared that the last few summers of uncooperative weather. But I do have less garden this year so that if it all goes south I won't have too much money, time and effort invested.

Here are the garden beds that I'm utilizing this summer:

My small main herb garden. Well, mainly basil garden in the summer but my Mexican tarragon, chives, lemon balm and chamomile also live here along with a few flowers.

A couple of weeks ago, I pulled up most of the pansies, lettuce and radishes but left a few to flower and drop seeds. I filled in the new empty spaces with marigold and dill seeds which are already sprouting.

Here is my second largest garden bed and it houses a combo of herbs, flowers and veggies. This is the garden that I can see right out of my kitchen windows. So pretty and peaceful to watch all the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds enjoying the garden.

Lavender, sage and rosemary are permanent residents. I have a large patch of okra growing behind the lavender and sage with green beans, squash and zucchini scattered around.

The flowers that are already up and blooming are volunteers. Like with the small herb bed, I recently pulled up the cool season crops and sowed summer crops in the spaces. Later photo updates won't look so bare!

This little garden bed is built around an old clothesline pole with fencing for vining plants. I have three such poles-- the previous garden bed shown has one too.

Right now, there are extra cucumbers starting to climb on this one and a large cherry tomato which is too small to see right now. Also, a patch of carrots in limbo... more about them in an upcoming garden diary.

My only round garden! It has daylillies and a variety of flowers and veggies most of which are just sprouting.

My big garden which is actually two rows shorter this summer. See I am gardening less! This is where the tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, beans, squash and gourds live.

I took these photos over a week ago and my gardens are getting more lush everyday. Just wait till the next photos!

Hope y'all enjoyed this tour of my 2012 summer gardens and stay tuned for more garden diary updates!

What is growing good in your garden so far this summer?

Joining these parties:
Thursday Favorite Things party hosted by the lovely Katherine of Katherines Corner!
Happiness is... hosted at Rub Some Dirt On It.

Biking at the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Talon has been practicing riding his new bike at the park. The park is much safer and easier than the rocky driveway and the weedy hole-ridden pasture at home. He is still a bit shaky and stayed on the grass during the first trip to the park. But these photos are from the second trip to the park...

And Talon gave the paved exercise path a go! Look at him concentrate and...

Off he goes!

Talon is so proud of his new skill. And Mom and Dad are too. We were a bit worried for his sake since he was so frustrated and discouraged at first. Learning new gross motor skills is always a bit of a challenge for Talon but we took it slow and easy and step by step. And now he is peddling like a pro!

Well, some day soon he will be peddling like a pro. It is funny how many things a newbie has to learn about riding that we 'old hands' never think about: coasting, tapping the brakes to slow but not stop, turning, veering around holes and obstacles, stand up pedaling for more power and braking.

Ah, braking! Braking is such an important riding skill to master. I sure hope Talon starts remembering to use the brakes soon. He brakes like Fred Flintstone which isn't very efficient and is quite terrifying for his parents!

Gift of Orange

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Talon ended his first grade year reading at a third grade sixth month level! Wow! Needless to say, Talon's first grade teacher, Mrs. R, was fabulous! So dedicated, energetic, creative and fun!

We wanted to give Mrs. R a special end-of-the-year thank you gift. But what? She gardens and loves orange (Go Pokes!) so when we spotted a display of these gorgeous Asiatic Lillies 'Tiny Dino' it was an 'Eureka!' moment.

But I could not find a decorative orange (Go Pokes!) pot in the correct size to save my life so used this lovely fabric to hide a plain beige pot. It added the perfect finishing touch!

So if you ever need to pretty up a plain pot for a gift or for home/party decor, look in the fabric/craft section at Walmart or Target ect. There is a display of ready-to-use fabric squares in various sizes and in a rainbow of gorgeous colors/patterns to choose from. I don't frequent that section of the store so had no idea such handy dandy fabric squares existed.

So what did Mrs. R say when Talon presented the lilly: It's my favorite color!

Linking to: Macro Monday

Can You Spot The Real Boy?

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Can you spot the real boy?

He moved! Can you spot him now?

Talon has been posing with mannequins since age three. Wonder if he will outgrow this behavior? Probably not as long as his parents keeping laughing. And not as long as his mom continues to indulge in the silliness of posing with mannequins too. Actually, I hope he never outgrows the silliness...

Breakfast at School

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Talon's school invited all the moms to a breakfast in honor of Mother's Day.

Breakfast with my little boy. What a lovely way to start the day!

Vehicular Inflatable Fun at the Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Isn't this a cute inflatable bouncy slide? Talon had lots of fun bouncing...

and punching and sliding with Lightning McQueen.

But his favorite was this monster truck slide.

He had never seen one like this before. Very cool!

And a bit creepy! And very tall...

There is Talon way up in the tippy top. Hallooo, Talon!

A Blanket of Buttercups

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:21:00 +0000

These buttercups bloomed overnight. Like magic!

We spend a lot of time outdoors and I'm very observant where nature is concerned but I still had to ask my little boy: Were these flowers here yesterday? Just to confirm that I wasn't losing my mind and all powers of perception.

Such pretty little flowers. And they are small-- only about 1/2 inch in diameter. I love the vibrant yellow and in person the blossoms gleam as if wet. Don't know how to make the sheen show up in a photo so please take my word for it-- the flowers look wet even on a dry day. Very unusual.

Now friends, if you run across a field of buttercups don't be tempted to weave flower wreaths. Buttercups are toxic! To livestock and humans.

In humans, handling the plants can cause contact dermatitis. I got an itchy little blister on my ankle from wading through these buttercups. The lengths I'll go to... even endangering life and limb for your entertainment!

Buttercups are members of the the genus Ranunculus and you can learn more here.

Joining these lovely parties:
Mellow Yellow Monday
Macro Monday

Red In My Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:42:00 +0000

These vibrant red cuties in my spring garden are Scarlet Globe radishes. Very aptly named and very tasty too. What veggies are growing in your garden this week?

Joining the Ruby Tuesday 2 party this week.

Daffy for Dillies

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:57:00 +0000

I'm downright daffy for daffodils. Such merry blossoms... so many shades of yellow welcoming the warm spring sunshine.

These earliest blooms grow in my herb bed.

Notice that I'm working the daffodil look myself... yellow blouse, green capris, dirt brown sandals. Silly? Maybe... but it is a celebration of spring and a girl must dress for the occasion!

Oh, I just love these frilly trumpets!

A few of the naturalized daffodils in the front forty.

I planted a bushel of mixed bulbs 13 years ago and it was full of lovely surprises.

These daffodils run the gamut from white to cream to yellow to orange... from giant blossoms to petite clusters... from long trumpets to no trumpets.

Notice the flower with the spider. Looks like it has fangs of its own-- Mr. Spider better watch out!

Did I mention I was daffy for daffodils?

Yep, daffy at the very least...

Joining these lovely parties:
Mellow Yellow Monday
Macro Monday
Happiness Is...Bloghop

Mystery of the Lone Daffodil

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:41:00 +0000

On an early spring nature walk, I spotted a lone daffodil at at edge of the woods near the creek.

See it?

I don't remember planting a bulb in such a faraway out of sight location. But I must have... how else would it get there? Do animals bury bulbs?

Daffodils are minglers so it is odd to see a loner. Sure cheers up this desolate patch ground though. But I really need to get it some neighbors so it doesn't have to work so hard.

Egg Day Photo Diary 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:58:00 +0000

Egg Man!

He stands out in the crowd!

At the school egg hunt, Talon found 19 eggs. That was the most eggs found and he won a chocolate bunny! Later, Talon told me he actually found 20 but gave one away to a friend who hadn't found many. What a good boy! I think I will keep him!

The Easter Bunny stopped by... he left the basket on the hood of the car out of the reach of naughty not-to-be-trusted canines.

Eggs everywhere! In trees, on the house, in garden plants and odd little holes. I hid one egg in the car muffler. Not the most brilliant idea I've ever had. When Talon tried to get it, he pushed the egg too far in. No worries though-- Hub started the engine and the egg plopped right out!

The Grand Prize Egg!

Happy Egg Day 2012!

A Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:55:00 +0000

Talon is very excited to be seven!

His birthday was the last weekend of our spring break so our little holiday ended with a big bang.

This year, instead of a decorated cake with a toy on top from the bakery, he asked for a homemade tiered coconut cake. What a funny boy! I did the best I could-- at least the cake wasn't too lopsided. Talon thought the cake was very fancy. He was so thrilled with it that he has already put in an order for a cake with eight tiers for his next birthday. Yeah, right...

Talon's February Photo Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:33:00 +0000

Hee-Haw! Riding a donkey during intermission at his school's donkey basketball game.

Talon's class made dalmatian hats to celebrate 100 days of school!

Did you know that dalmatians can play video games?

Playing sniper from the top of the stairs. Sometimes he gets sniped back.

Aw, Talon spent a day at my school. He attended PreK and Kindergarten at my school and I've missed seeing him during the school day. He had a ball seeing his old friends, helping out with speech therapy and picnicking at my desk.

Making hearts with his teacher at the Valentine party.

Sundae Reward

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:39:00 +0000

Talon received a reward coupon from school for a free sundae at Braum's. Why did he receive a reward? For making 100s on all of his reading tests on the computer! Hurray, Talon!

Crazy HHR Door Lock Drama

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:45:00 +0000

Our Chevy HHR is possessed... really.

Both key fobs stopped working a few months ago. Even with new batteries. Fobs are pricey so we started locking the door with the inside button and unlocking it with the key-- old school style.

But what to do when the actual key won't unlock the door?!

Yep, you read right. On Friday night, the key went in the keyhole but wouldn't turn.

Have you ever heard of such a bizarre thing?

And scary! What if a mean dog or killer was after you! Yikes!

Our situation wasn't that dire, thank goodness. My hub and I had met in a nearby town so luckily we had two cars. But it was after dark and we were exhausted from work and grocery shopping at Walmart.

Funny how bad stuff always happens when one is exhausted, isn't it?

So what did we do?

We drove sixteen miles home-- hub soldered three spots inside each fob and put in new batteries to give us four possible shots. Two keys and two fobs.

We drove back to the car to try but expected to have to leave it overnight.

Guess what? The first key fob tried worked! And seeing the headlights flash on was a beautiful sight to see!

I don't brag on my hub enough but let me say now for all posterity: He is a soldering genius!!

Have you looked inside a key fob? The insides are tiny. Don't know how he did it.

And actually, both fobs work now but we are too gun shy to lock the door. It is still a mystery why the door wouldn't unlock with the actual key and we don't want to take any chances.

Online research shows many complaints concerning keyfobs, doorlocks and even an ignitions that won't turn off so probably the HHR is just a poorly made Chevy-- it is being discontinued, after all.

But my hypothesis is that the car is possessed and in need of an exorcism.

What is the weirdest car glitch that you have experienced? Have you or anyone you know had bizarre problems with an HHR?

Wonton Hits The Spot!

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:02:00 +0000

Love the mixed red and blue china patterns. Adds a bit of whimsy to the soup eating experience, don't you think.

This beautiful bowl of comfort is from the Hong Kong Restaurant, an off the beaten path joint, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

My little boy and I split this big bowl for a light lunch on a busy Christmas shopping day in December. The day was just chilly enough for this soup to perfectly hit the spot and tide us until the next treat--- handmade ice cream from the Mexican ice cream factory. Yes, the day was also just warm enough for ice cream and we do like our dining to be multi-cultural.

The Mexican ice cream factory will be featured in a future foodie post-- It is ah-mazing so be prepared to swoon.

Ruby Tuesday 2

Lovely Yellow House

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:56:00 +0000

This is my brother's new house in Portland, Oregon. Isn't it beautiful?!

So charming and so much character.

And it is yellow!!

But can you guess what else has me swooning?

That lovely wraparound porch! Us southern girls do love big ol' porches... and this one is just perfect for reading, thinking, visiting and, of course, tea sippin'.

Oh, I can't wait to loll about on this porch with a good book. (and visit with my brother)

Here is a photo of the house in Portland's snow storm last week:

Definitely too chilly for porch sittin'!

My brother emailed this with the title 'Life in a Snowglobe'. It does look like a winter wonderland.

Heehee, and very funny in a karmic sort of way. Why? Because my brother lived in Hawaii for years... whenever it was stinking hot or frigidly cold in Oklahoma, he would call and tease us with perfectly balmy island weather reports.

So far, Oklahoma is having a very mild winter with lots of 'no jacket' days.

So in accordance with official big sister code: Hahahahahahahahahaahaahaha!

Linking to: Weekend Reflections

Winter Swingtime

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:11:00 +0000

Look! Nary a jacket-- in January!!

So far winter here has been temperate-- no snow or ice storms or minus 0 windchills. That is just fine with us.

Well, Talon would like at least one decent snow but he is enjoying all of the out of the ordinary winter parktime and outdoor playtime.

Confetti!

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:36:00 +0000

I was so productive during our holiday school break-- cleaning, de-cluttering and organizing. Barely knocked the top off but still it was a great feeling.

There were drawers full of paper to shred so Talon and I shredded ourselves silly.

And what is shredded paper good for?

Confetti!

Talon had a ball tossing confetti at midnight New Years Eve.

A Dangerous Composition

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:42:00 +0000

At Guitar Center awhile back, Talon tried out all the keyboards and even composed a tune.
If your speakers let the bass come through, you'll hear the full of effect of his dangerous composition.

His Gram and his Dad are songwriters and they are going to love this video. Bet they think he might win an Oscar for best movie score someday!

Lesa Loves... Hawaiian Tea Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:31:00 +0000

Nothing better than a cuppa to make a winter day more cozy. And to make it cheerful as well?

A happy yellow cup.

And tea from Hawaii.

Isn't the packaging beautiful? Takes me away to one of my favorite places on earth. Blue ocean, fragrant flowers, fresh fruit, warm sun, balmy breezes... mmm... okay, okay, I'm back.

My sweet grown up baby brother sent this tea to me.

Love. Love. Love.

The gift and the giver.

Do certain colors brighten up your dreary winter days? What happy warm place do you drift off to on a cold winter day? Please share.

Also, linking to Ruby Tuesday 2. The RT button wouldn't work for some reason.

Ringing in the New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:01:00 +0000

This fun bell shaped shadow is cast by a nearby town's Christmas decorations.

Ding Dang Dong...

Happy New Year!

Merry Medley Photo Diary 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lesa) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Oh my, after a week long bloggy break, I uploaded my Christmas Eve/Day photos. Guess how many there were.

Over 300!!

Can you believe it?! Silly question, eh? Of course, you guys believe it. Most of you are crazy camera clicking bloggers too. But still. That is a lot.

Between getting back to work, parenting and housekeeping, it took another week just to edit. Whew, I'm worn plumb out so without further ado...

The Official DustyUs Family Merry Medley!

The main event?

Talon, of course!

Stocking surprises are almost as cool as Santa toys.

In the top right quandrant: A cool sportscar computer mouse with working head/tail lights; Talon slicing a tiny Darth Vader candy dispenser with a light saber; Wonka bar!

One of my favorite things?

giving Hub funny stocking stuffers. The paint sticks and gloves are hysterical... well, to me anyway! Don't worry! My hub isn't only a skilled bone idle procrastinator... he is also a good sport!

We love our...

MamaGram! And not just because she gives great gifts!

A little bit of Lesa too. And more Talon, of course... that little scene stealer! Making his mama share the limelight! For shame!

Love me some Christmas merry making!

Can you tell?

Until next time...