Some Like it Hot

While I was away seeing the sights of the world.  My garden was growing and growing. The weeds are knee deep, but I wanted to show some of the wonderful plants that love the heat of Upper Sacramento Valley.  The summers are dry and hot.  An Average of  high 90's most of July and August. So I have been waiting all Summer long to show you what makes my garden look colorful even in the heat.

'Bat-faced Cuphea' and 'Black-eyed Susans'

'Bat-faced Cuphea' is an outstanding selection for pots, planters, and flower beds.  It is tolerant of full sun and drought with no major pest or disease problems.

Each flower bears a striking and pleasant, resemblance to the face of a bat.

Can you see the little bat face?  The little red ears and white nose. 

'Black-eyed Susan' a long-blooming perennial.  They like full sun and are resistant to insects and disease.

'Zinnia Envy'  I love a green zinnia.

  

'Lantana'

When the roses are resting and the sunflowers are not in bloom yet.  I have a great flowering edge for the garden.

Hope you have enjoyed your visit because I love sharing my garden with you.

I am joining Susan over @ A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday 

Please jump back and catch more of the beautiful outdoors.

Thank you again for visiting and please leave a comment and become a follower

xoxo

Betty

Venice

During my vacation I took photographs to share with everyone.  I thought the perfect way to show photos of each port of call would be to create a mosaic.  SO!!!!!!

Please enjoy Venice, Italy Monday July 26, 2010.

Venice is a wonderful place to visit.  St. Mark's Square is amazing.   The heart and soul of Venice, with palatial arcades and charming cafes.  The Byzantine facade of St Mark's Cathedral was originally constructed in the 9th century and   the gondoliers are standing around waiting for their next customer. There are many churchs in Venice. Visiting the inside of exquisite Doges' Palace, the former residence of the dukes of Venice and the seat of the Venetian government for 800 years was fabulous. Climbing the Golden Staircase to marvel at the paintings of Tintoretto and Veronese and crossing over the Bridge of Sighs to reach the prison and view the cells was like stepping back in time.  As the story is told.  The prisoners would walk through the passages to their cells and would see the beautiful sight of the island of  S. Giorgio and freedom for the last time.

Hope you enjoyed a snippet of the sights in Venice. 

I am joining Mary at Little Red House  for Mosaic Monday.  Please hop back and see more mosaics. 

Thank you again for visiting My Cozy Corner

Please leave a comment and become a follower

xoxo
Betty

200 Lavender Sachets

What a week.  Home from a trip of a life time on Sunday. And on Monday I started making 200 lavender sachets for a convention I am attending tomorrow at 8:00a.m.  I was so grateful that I had my two granddaughters to help me. They are eight and ten.  My daughter just started a new job on Monday and needed some instant child care assistance for one week before school starts.  YES Grandma said OK. LOL.

Here they are hard at work.......

 

Beth is eight and can iron, thread the sewing machine and thread the bobbin.

Lexi is ten.  She sewed 200 hearts.  What a girl.

Stuffing!!

Stuffing!!

More Stuffing!!!!

All Done and it's Friday

Bless the sweet girls for helping Grandma the last week of summer.

 Hip Hip Hooray

Three Cheers for the girls

Thank you so much for joining me at My Cozy Corner

I am joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

PLEASE link back and enjoy more handmade crafts.

Please leave a comment and become a follower

xoxo

Betty

An Amazing Cruise-Mediterranean Romance

Wow!!!!  I'm back from the most amazing trip.  I am a California girl.  Born and raised in San Jose, California.  I have traveled some over the past 15 years, but this trip to Europe was a trip of a life time.  Sharing experiences of a trip with family and friends is the most rewarding part of traveling.  I returned to California at 11:35p.m. Saturday night after a flight of 19 hours and 55 minutes.  Leaving Barcelona at 12:00nn on Saturday and flying around the globe was an experience beyond my wildest dreams. The countries I visited were filled with history, art and architecture.

Please join me on a visual journey.

'Venice, Italy'

'Dubrovnik, Croatia'

'Corfu, Greece'

'Cephalonia, Greece'

'Santorini, Greece'

'Taormina, Italy'

'Pompeii, Italy'

'Rome, Italy'

'Pisa, Italy'

'Barcelona, Spain'

I hope you have enjoyed your journey.  And I relive my travels again in my imagination with every photograph.

Thank you for visiting me a My Cozy Corner. 

 I am joining Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

Please link back to Susan's place for more Outdoors.

Thanks again for visiting.  Please leave a comment and become a follower.

xoxo

Betty

ITALY

I want to thank my followers for helping me celebrate my 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary. Now, I'm a little humming bird flying off to smell and taste the wonders of the Eastern Mediterranean's golden Greek islands and then explore the wonderful cities of Catania, Sicily, Naples, Rome, Pisa and Barcelona. 

I will return with new stories and photos.  What a joy it is to share with family and friends my journey thru life.
xoxo
Betty

Tablescape #5

50th Wedding Anniversary Party

July 17, 2010 I enjoyed the one of the most memorable days of my life.  OUR Children and Granddaughters with the help of my TWO fabulous sister-in-laws and their husbands and families surprised my sweetheart and I. They all planned a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party and I didn't have a clue.  We started the day  swimming at my son's house with snacks and soft drinks.

Our granddaughters played in the swimming pool.

 We toured a Craft Brewery and drove to my Sister-in-law's house.

SURPRISE

We arrived around seven in the evening and was surprised by the most elegant back yard dinner party.  The Menu had a Tuscan theme.  OH!!!!! didn't I tell you we are going on a 12 day Mediterranean Romance Cruise in celebration of our Golden Wedding Anniversary.  WOW I am so excited.

This utterly completely fabulous cake is 'Citron Framboise' translation:

Lime Mousse with Raspberries.

 The table was set with a rustic charm

 My talented sister-in-law Kim from Blue Heron Cottage made the beautiful table centerpieces and arranged the table place settings.  Thank you Kim.

 Oh the wonderful olives from the Mediterranean region.

We started off the evening with shrimp and gazpacho dip.

 

The sunflowers and all the other flowers and greens are from Kim's garden.

Ice Tea

Lemonade

and

Fruit flavored Water were served

Grilled Roast Beef and Chicken
Pasta Salad
Crusty Bread
Tomato Basil and Mozzarella Salad
Green Salad

The sweet little flower girl (7 years old) is the amazing women who prepared the beautiful dinner party and provided her home to help my sweetheart and I celebrate our special day.  Thank you Theresa.   

My  Mosaic

Thank you for joining my party.  I hope you had a great time.

I am joining

Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

I hope you hop back to your favorite party.

Thank you for stopping by. 

Please leave a comment and become a follower

Betty

xoxo

Tablescape #4

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Sunday,  July 17, 1960 at 2:00 p. m.  I was married.   Saturday,  July 17, 2010 is my  Golden Anniversary.   On this special occasion I wanted to share my wedding day memories with my Wonderful family and Great friends.  And, in celebration of my Golden Anniversary.  I would love to show you a few keepsakes I have saved for 50 years.  There is a Summer Cloche Party at A Stroll thru Life and I thought I would use cloches to show you my keepsakes. 

 Between Naps on the Porch is having Tablescape Thursday.  Golden Anniversary Tablescape is #4.  The soft white cupcakes with white sugar crystals and gold papers remind me of my beautiful wedding cake and the lemonade is very refreshing on a hot July day.

My thrifty find at a party store.  50 says it all.  

 This is my Bridal Headpiece.

 Golden Anniversary reminds me of GOLD.  I found this Limoges cup, saucer and dessert plate at an estate sale.  Just one. OK!!! $10.00 dollars. I love GOLD. 

OK. You're asking why salt and pepper shakers?  Well, our neighbor across the street from where I lived, gave me this pair of sterling silver salt and pepper shakers as a wedding gift.  And, she said "If you give the bride and groom a pair of silver salt and pepper shakers it will bring them luck all through their married life".  Oh my goodness, I think it worked.

 This pair sat on top of my wedding cake. And have moved around for 50 years in a shoe box.  I was very careful with the bottom, because it's just about to fall into a dozen pieces.  I'm so happy they made it to the party. 

I set the table with my 'good china' Style House, Fine China with a platinum edge trim. It was made in Japan and the pattern is called 'Rhythm'.  The silverware is 'First Love'. The salt cellar and spoon are vintage.  And the crystal was a wedding gift from a very dear friend. 

The crystal is called 'Shell Pearl' by Fostoria.  I received 12 Champagne, 12 Clarit wine glasses and 12 Water goblets. I registered for this pattern and I was so surprise when I opened the box and saw all the beautiful crystal.  I still remember the feeling of delight.  Thank you David for giving me this beautiful glassware.

  Group photo of cloches.  Golden Anniversary.  Bride and Groom 50 years ago. 

I know we look young.  Yes, we were young. 

Thank you for visiting me and I hope you enjoyed my romantic story. 

I think Marriage is a life long journey.  And, I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me and fabulous children and granddaughters who are my inspiration to live one day at a time and enjoy every moment.   

Please hop over to the fabulous blogs I am joining. 

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Tales of Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday

Miss Spenser's Blog for Tea Cup Thursday

Coloradolady for Vintage Thingie Thursday

A Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

A Stroll thru Life for a Summer Cloche Party

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Bargain Hunting with Laurie for A Few of my Favorite Things Saturday

The Tablescaper for Summer Sunday

Please leave a comment and become a follower

Betty

xoxo