Something new every day!

 by Diana McCollum

This year we've planted a lot of flowers and vegetables in our yard. Early mornings when it is cool I like to meander on the gravel paths and check the flowers and vegetable gardens. My husband always plants dahlias they are some of our favorites. When we moved in here 3 yrs ago, there was just a lawn and dirt out back. 

back yard

Area desert before we developed

Now these areas look so much different.

There are flowers and vegetable gardens.

This area we now call Rubble Butte. We have different kinds of catus and a fire pit, mounds of rocks.

The garden areas are developed too. With some in the ground gardens and some in grow boxes.

Bouquet from the garden

Peas, beans, squash and roses!

Kitchen garden-green onions, radishes, lettuce herbs etc

It's been a joy to watch seeds sprout and blossoms bloom. 

And I had my first fresh salad with lettuce, radish and basil from my garden. Tomatoes are coming along but not ripe yet, egg plants have set and we have a few growing. Only blooms on the squash, melons and watermelons.

Those are the new things I look for each day as I water the plants. Blooms, new growth, tendrils and new sprouts.

Do you have flowers or vegetables you enjoy?

HAPPY SUMMER(I know it's not here yet, but soon!)

Spring has Sprung!!!

 by Diana McCollum

Pictures were taken by me at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens! Such a beautiful place.

Love this gate. Very original design. The gardens have gates and fences here and there to keep the deer, bears and other wild life out.

Cactus garden with gigantic 10 ft tall cacti!

Window was at the cafe. Love the trailing plant.

This was on our hike on the Coastal trail. It was creared by locat Indians and the community of Fort Bragg.

This cherry blossom is from our tree!!! Yes Spring has Sprung.

What are the signs of Spring where you live?

Eggheads, what's not to like?

 by Diana McCollum

My husband and I took a trip to the California coast to the small town of Fort Bragg. Before we left for our trip we had several people give us recomendations on places to visit and restaurants to eat at.

The coast had some of the most spectacular views. We watched a photographer taking pictures of a bridal couple with stunning views behind the couple. Unfortunately I didn't think to take any of the bride and groom, besides they were pretty far away from us.

One of our favorite breakfast places on our trip was Eggheads.

The theme was all Wizzard of Oz from the menu to the decor.

    

There was a ton of collectibles, posters and pictures from the movie. And the food? Absolutely wonderful. They only serve breakfast and lunch. It's a very small intimate cafe.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the menu. On the menu you could order things like Wicked porched eggs, Yellow Brick Road pancakes,  or Emerald City omelet.

We ate there three mornings! The final morning we split the special which was a Dungeness crab omelet with a special cream sauce for over it. So good!!

I rode the Skunk Train up into the Redwoods. 

We went to the sea glass museum. Wow, all the different colors and the displays were very unique. One room was all glass with urainium in it and the pieces glowed under black light.

We both loved the 46 acre botanical gardens. My husband can't walk far so we rented one of the gardens electric carts, like you see in the grocery stores.

Here are some pictures from the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. 

The cactus in the background are over 8 ft tall!

Have you gone on any trips this spring? 

Is your garden sprouting flowers?

(all pictures were taken by Diana McCollum)

Flower Quotes and a visit to my garden

By Diana McCollum

I don’t have any one quote I live by. I do love flower quotes as I love working and sitting in my different garden areas.

The first five pictures are ones I took of our different garden areas.

When I sit in my garden I know my soul is fed just looking at my beautiful flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds and other birds.

This first flower is an unusual type of morning glory. I planted a dozen seeds but only this one came up. Part of the fun of gardening is watching for a particular seed to pop up through the soil. A newborn flower.

  

This is a picture of one of four butterfly bushes in our yard.

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” – Luther Burbank

 

“Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts.” – Sigmund Freud

 

One of two sunflower gardens we have. I love how their blossom follows the sun throughout the day. And come morning, they are facing east again.

 

“Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too.” – William Cowper

(deposit photo-Author Igor Vetushko)

"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.” – Doug Larson

Even some weeds are beautiful.  Who hasn't made a wish and blown on a dandelion weed?

I hope you've enjoyed the flower quotes and visit to my garden.

Do you have a favorite flower?

 

Let me Count the Ways!

 By:Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Happy Valentine’s Day reader friends! 

It’s February and the expectations of romance are sky high. Will he say it with flowers, candy or a two carat, gold ring?

As a romance author, I’m supposed to believe that tangibles are what romances are made of.  While rose petals spread on satin sheets are lovely, they’re hardly practical and dang they can be uncomfortable. We all know that expensive meals while appreciated, don't always buy true love. Yes, I’m what you call a romantic realist and I'm a true subscriber to show me, don’t tell me, or buy me. 

You can keep your roses, expensive dinners and horse carriage rides, if you don't make the time to spend with me.  I'd rather have the magic moments we create, and simplicity is often the key. 

Those special moments can be created in a kitchen making dinner together. They can take the form of a walk on the beach, or a shared ice cream cone at a sidewalk cafe.  They can be quiet moments curled up on a sofa together, reading out loud. It can be a simple back rub meant to relieve the tension of a stressful day. It can take the form of a glance across a crowded room; a silent acknowledgement that you have my back.  

Years ago, a friend and I spent ten days in Asia. We’d traveled to Tokyo and Bangkok, and by the time we got to Hong Kong, jet lag had set in. Yet we were determined to go out on the town. The long and short of it, we ended up at an upscale restaurant with a dance band. In a matter of minutes, a table of mostly men asked us to join them, and we were being twirled around the dance floor.

One man, a dreamy, silver-tongued Australian, we’ll call X, ended up being my dance partner for most of the night.  After the place closed, we talked for hours and walked the Hong Kong waterfront. As the sun came up, we exchanged business cards and he walked me to my hotel. I figured that was that.

Two hours later, there was a knock on my door. He’d arrived flowers in hand to take me to breakfast. We kept in touch by mail, (email was not an option back then,) and phone. We did see each other again, and while the relationship didn’t last, some very special memories were made. These are the memories I tap into when  I write.

Years later, I got asked to dinner in Chinatown, New York by another guy. I waited on line for what seemed hours to enter a dingy basement-style establishment. My first thoughts were this man doesn’t think highly of me. Then I took the first bite of food. Heaven! Our conversation took off, and by the end of the meal, doves were cooing from the ceiling. It turns out that the restaurant was  a favorite of his and he wanted to share it with me. It also turns out I later married that guy, and that restaurant (now very fancy) became our go to place.

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My two favorite scenes in my recent novellas, Naughty in New York, and Loose in Las Vegas aren’t the obvious ones. In Naughty in New York, it’s not when Anderson  takes Theo on a carriage ride through Central Park, but the one when he follows her home after a party. Some might label it stalkerish, but heck, the man risked embarrassment to go after the woman he wanted. That's romantic to me.

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In Loose in Las Vegas, my favorite romantic scene was not the New Year’s Eve scene as some might expect. It’s the one when Cato’s plane is delayed, and he races down to the parking lot to stop Lana from heading home. Cato’s not afraid to make a fool of himself and go after what he wants. 

While these examples may not be your standard or traditional ideas of romance, maybe you'll share yours with me. Is it the moment when he gives you jewelry, a card or candy? Or is it when he/she whispers those three memorable words in your ear? I Love You! 

 I'd love to hear!  Share! Share! Share!

About  Marcia King-Gamble: 

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

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