Happy Birthday...

... To Me :-)

Thank y'all for your kind words, good wishes and prayers. I still have the headache. It is less severe if I forgo the computer. So I still am not able to visit each of your blogs.

My mother tells me it was extremely hot when I was born. The hospital was but a house made into a hospital. There was no air conditioning.... just a metal fan blowing the hot air around. Mama's kidneys failed. At one time my Daddy was told that Mama and I were dead. I often wonder how that mix-up happened. Somehow Mama and me survived. I became number four of 5 Zs :-)

August's flower is the gladiola.



The gladiola is one of those rare plants that is most commonly referred to by a variant of its botanical/Latin name gladiolus.

The common names for the gladiola are glad, corn-flag, corn iris, and sword-lily. The term corn-flag and corn iris refer to the fact that they are unwelcome pests in corn and grain fields. The name sword-lily is a reference to their Latin name.

The Latin term gladiolus is rich in meaning. The Roman sword was a gladius and a diminutive sword was a gladiolus. Linnaeus is attributed with naming the gladiolus and it is suggested that he borrowed from Pliny’s writings which referred to the plant’s sword-shaped leaves. The same word is the root for the word gladiator who was a soldier who “lived or died by the sword.” It seems natural that a plant that shares its name with warriors would be a symbol for ‘strength of character.’

Like many flowers that figure in Greek mythology, the gladiola is said to have sprung up from the blood of a person who died violently. When Hyacinthus was killed by Apollo’s reckless discus toss, Ovid said that the flowers that sprang up from his body were hyacinths. However, some argue that Ovid was wrong and that the blossoms were actually gladiolas.

The gladiola represents strength of character, sincerity, and generosity.

Thanks to Mildred at Nalley Valley I will have more glads next year.

I plan on having a nice quiet birthday at home.... doing laundry. A nice chicken soup is for dinner. I have such a great sweetheart.

Gladiola -- Apron

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After we got home Thursday morning from our trip to Reed Bingham State Park Frank went out the front gate. He looked to his right; which is where the flower bulb garden is and said: "we have a gladiola blooming". Me: "a gladiola? I didn't know we had any gladiolas". I looked and sho'nuff there was a beautiful gladiola bloom. It was laying over on the neighboring iris's green stalks. The plant ain't much to look at, but the blooms are beautiful. Yesterday there was another stalk of blooms opening, so I cut them and brought them in the house to enjoy.

Frank said that years back that he planted some gladiolas, but they never did anything. Maybe this one will prosper and we will enjoy their blooms for years to come.

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Judy at Daily Yarns 'n More sewed me an apron. Isn't it beautiful! Thank you so much, Judy!

I should have brushed my hair and put on makeup (one of these years my left droopy eye will droop enough for insurance to pay for it to be fixed). We had just come in from visiting Frank's folks and shopping at Sam's Club... so a little tired. I had my hair whacked off a week and a half ago so with the surgery I can take care of my hair one-handed a lot easier. I don't usually ask for my picture to be taken, but I wanted to show off my beautiful apron to the world!

I love the prints, colors and the pattern... the pockets! The edges are scalloped and gives it a really nice look... a girly look that this tomboy doesn't do enough. I love it! Frank likes it too. He said a lot of work went into it and that I got the better end of the deal.

A few weeks ago Judy posted a photo of a quilt she had made. I told her that I had some quilt books and all I was asking for them was shipping cost. She said she would love to have the books. Judy offered to make me an apron. How could I turn that down! Judy is a very busy lady and I don't know where she found the time. Yes, Judy I will think of you every time I wear the apron and every time I see the apron. I will find a place to hang it in my kitchen... where it will be handy.

Judy, you didn't have to pay for the shipping of the books. The apron is enough payment. I will give the cash to a charity.