After the Rain - Ramblings - White Flowers

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We had a stormy day yesterday. Five inches of rain fell at our home. Surrounding communities had as much as nine inches of rain. I think the Florida panhandle,the SE corner of Alabama and extreme SW corner of Georgia got even more. We had so many alerts for severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. There was a lot of flash flooding.

The rain has only left a few blooms upon the dogwoods and azaleas in our yard. New growth is happening... Tree leaves are appearing; Canna Lilies are rising up and so are the mexican petunias and the angel's trumpet. In a few weeks they will bloom. The seeds I scattered in a pot are popping up. I found some seeds I harvested a couple of years ago. I know coleus is one and I think the other is probably zinnia. The pot grew vinca (periwinkle) last year and usually they reseed themselves.

I want to go sometime this week and look for flowers for my flower pot garden and for the flower beds.

From Mama's yard; Sweet Mock Orange.
My sister-in-law calls it English Dogwood.

This morning we did a little shopping at Wal*Mart. Frank drove; his first time driving since his surgery. We went in the big truck, a diesel Chevy Silverado. Frank said he felt comfortable driving it.

Yesterday I fixed slum goodie, my version of chili. I simmered it for about four hours. You can simmer for just 30 minutes if you want, but it is best if it is cooked slow for a few hours. Frank said it was the best I had ever made. I agreed... but I have no idea what I could have done differently than I usually do. There was cornbread left from the day before and that really went well with the slum goodie. Today was left overs and I don't know how the slum goodie got even better, but it did. There is still a bowl full left and I wish I could share it with y'all, but Frank has laid claim to it :-)

I'm not sure what is for dinner tomorrow. We eat our big meal at midday, so I call it dinner instead of lunch. Lunch is suppose to be light, just like our suppers are suppose to be. I read somewhere that breakfast should be our biggest meal of the day and then our midday meal lighter and eat even a lighter meal in the evening or nothing at all. I just can't bring myself to eat a big breakfast.

I do plan on slow cooking a chuck roast tomorrow, but we will eat it Tuesday and Wednesday... the days I won't be able to cook because of doctor appointments. Oh.. I forgot to tell y'all. The gastroenterologist's nurse called us Thursday and she said the doctor didn't want me to wait until the end of April for the endoscopy. So now I have it on the schedule for this coming Wednesday.

Frank is at his parent's home doing their taxes today. So I dusted and vacuumed and got very tired. I took a break and called Mama. Her right leg is still swollen. I'm hoping she will make an appointment with the doctor. We had a nice talk. Then I mopped the floors.

Oh last Friday we called Sonja for her birthday. She was doing okay... as she says "hanging in there". Brian was fixing her tacos for her birthday supper. She said she had a good day. Thank y'all for all the birthday wishes for her.

From Mama's yard; Spirea (I think)

I have had a couple of comments on my Makes Three Coconut Pies recipe recently; which is a simple and great tasting recipe. One comment was from Linda C of Seasons of Life who has a blog that I love visiting. Nazarina A of Giddy Gastronome also left a comment. Nazarina's recipes look absolutely scrumptious. Her presentations and photographs are superb. I hope you will pay her a visit.

From Mama's yard; Oxeye Daisy

Garden Magic
This is the garden's magic,
That through the sunny hours
The gardener who tends it, Himself outgrows his flowers.

He grows by gift of patience,
Since he who sows must know
That only in the Lord's good time
Does any seedling grow.

He learns from buds unfolding,
From each tight leaf unfurled,
That his own heart, expanding,
Is one with all the world.

He bares his head to sunshine,
His bending back a sign
Of grace, and ev'ry shower becomes
His sacramental wine.

And when at last his labors
Bring forth the very stuff
And substance of all beauty
This is reward enough.
-- MARIE NETTLETON CARROLL