Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Supporting the rose


I had several questions about my trellis for the rose. Simple to make from some wooden stakes, flower pot and a finial found in the decking materials area- used for the tops of deck railings. The stakes support the pot and the finial comes with a screw that I ran through the drainage hole of the pot. The color choice is yours. One year I had several in the vegetable garden with the stakes painted purple and the pots and finial were bright pink, green and yellow with polka dots painted on them. Wish I had taken a picture!

Sunday, June 22, 2008


Twenty nine years ago....hard to believe. Twenty nine wonderful years. I would do it all again.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

My friends, the authors!

If you are on the garden tour, be sure to scroll below and see my gardens before leaving.

Publishing a book is so exciting! Two friends have recently published books that I would love to share.

(After the garden party I thought all of you might be interested in a great book on flower pressing. This one is really detailed and has some great step by step photographs!)

Gene Burkhart has just had his first book, Pressed Flower Art, delivered from the publisher. Gene is an award winning pressed flower artist that has created so many wonderful pieces. For many years he was a well known and loved exhibitor at the Philadelphia Flower Show and is now serving as a judge. His studio is at The Goggle Works- a neat place I will have to share with you another time. Gene is having a book signing this Friday night!



Joan Buzick and I have been friends since high school. She has written the greatest little book for parents (and grandparents) and children to read together. Too often we focus on negative things. Her book "What Went Right Today" focuses on just that. Click on the link and you can go to her webpage to learn more. The book has a CD of a great song that you will never get out of your head once you hear it! She will be selling her book on QVC sometime this summer. I have used this book in my work with parents and teachers. Knowing how important the early years are in developing resilient children, the positive message is a great tool as we work to raise responsible, happy adults.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Welcome to the Summer Garden Tour...somewhere in Pennsylvania

Welcome to Thistle Patch Hill.......






(Sometimes even the weeds pay a visit, though uninvited.)












Can you see why we chose the name THISTLE PATCH? We play a sort of "Where's Waldo?" game with it.


























Now head on over to Tracey's Garden Tour for more gardens!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Gearing up!


Thistle Patch Hill is ready for tomorrow's garden tour. I must admit that between work and writing my Master's paper, the weeds may be winning out this year. Nonetheless, Bunny and I are looking forward to taking some time to enjoy the other gardens. Bunny promises not to nibble along the way.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

House Tours


Joe and I had a wonderful Saturday. We went on a Philadelphia Art Museum members' tour of two houses in Fairmount Park. We had terrific guides at each house. We were the first to arrive at Cedar Grove and parked our car right in front of the house-pretending we were home:) The picture is what we saw when we parked. We then drove to Mount Pleasant. It is fun to walk through these homes, imagine the families who lived there and the lives they lived. It is also fun to imagine what I would do with the house if it were mine! Of course, I would want to add plumbing!
The day was capped by dinner and wonderful evening with our family. Even the rain couldn't ruin our BBQ. Hannah was acting like a real cool toughie with her hair spiked and the onesie from Uncle Tom and Aunt Gina.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Fathers

Some special fathers in my life......


I love this picture of my dad- taken about 50 years ago. He looks pretty cool, don't you think!

Dad is someone I admire for all he has accomplished in his life. He has overcome obstacles along his way with a great deal of determination. I am so proud of him and love him so much. I am so thankful that he is well once again!





My love- the father of my sons. I can't believe that this picture was taken 28 years ago! Time goes too quickly!

Here is that baby in the picture above. He is now a father, a very good father. I am so proud of him as I watch him car for Hannah.
Happy Fathers' Day to each of you!
I love you all!
(The Beatle's song you hear is special because that is what my youngest son, Tom, chose it for his mom and son dance at his wedding.)

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Babies gone...waiting on some more

Roberta's brood flew their nest. We have several other babies waiting to hatch and waiting to fly away. We can hear them but can't see them like we could see Roberta's babies. We have so much fun watching the birds in the yard. The goldfinch love Thistle Patch Hill.













Sunday, June 8, 2008

Gramma and Hannah



Hannah is growing so quickly. She is so interested in what is going on around her now. I am delighting in every moment. As soon as she hears mommy's voice, her head turns that way and she follows mom. It is so clear that mommy is her favorite person- just as it should be! She is such a blessed little girl to have such a wonderful mommy (and daddy!). She and I watched mommy water her flowers. Don't you just love the hat!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Home Again!

What a wonderful week! Next year I want two weeks in Cape May. We had a chance to be together as a family-four generations. Unfortunately I am not known to be a photographer- brought the camera and realized today that I never took pictures. Too busy enjoying every minute.

It is so wonderful how the Lord plans surprises in our days. He gave us a great one on vacation. A fisherman walked by as we were sitting on the beach. Tom said, "Hey Mom, isn't that Ray." Knowing he was on vacation that week and assuming he had gone out of town, I said, "No, doesn't look like him." Joe walked down to the water and the fisherman approached him. It was Ray! A dear friend for more than 30 years. What a delight to spend the evening with him!! It truly was a gift perfectly timed by our Father!

We hated to leave Cape May but it is also good to be home. It is the first time we have returned from vacation to plants that are still green and growing- thanks to our faithful waterers! I missed my peonies and small iris in bloom but came home to lots of roses....and weeds! There is a reason I call my blog Thistlepatch Hill!

My husband knows me through and through. While on a bike ride through Cape May Point he found a bucket just like the one at the right sitting in someone's garbage. He rescued it for me! I can't wait to plant it and add it to the others that I have throughout the yard.

I've gotta get things in shape for Tracey's Garden Tour.




Roberta's babies are getting bigger. It was so hot today that I wanted to leave the front door open so they could get some air conditioning.