Goodbye to Gardening 2009 & Hello, 2010!

These are some gardening photos that never made it onto a post this year.

Redbud blossoms

Hill Country Penstemon

'Aztec White' Verbena

Engelmann daisy

Hypericum

Coral honeysuckle

'Natchez' Mock orange

Haydn Larson flowerpot & Texas longhorn sculpture

Shakespeare in the garden

GARDEN!

Lollipop (Justicia sp.)

Blue potato bush

Redbud in fall color

Crepe myrtle in fall color

Bigtooth maple

Strawberry bush (Euonymous sp.)

Red oak leaf

Pansy

It's been a year full of changes for me, much like a spring to winter transition in the garden.  There was a burst of energy and activity at the beginning, with a move from old to new science buildings at work, and a much needed re-entry into the gardening state of mind.

The summer was a sizzling buildup toward learning my way around here, sending two sons off to college, becoming an empty-nester, and helping to plan and prepare for my daughter's wedding.

The fall brought cooling rains, warm memories of a beautiful wedding, kids doing well in college, and a contentment marred only by continuing complications and additional surgery for a broken kneecap suffered by my oldest son just before the wedding.  All's well that ends well.

This winter brought exciting news of a grandbaby on the way!  Christmas break has been great fun having all the family together, and adding a new son-in-law to the mix!

I've so enjoyed being here.  It's been a real adventure to jump into this community and have all my senses blasted at warp speed!  :-))

Live long and prosper, my friends!  Happy New Year 2010!

Memories Fond Move the New Year Along

Ho Ho Ho

and a dusting of snow!

Lights merry bright

and cookies tonight.

Carolers tiny

and pretty things shiny.

Santa surprises

and Big Bird prizes.

Dogs happy

and children laffy.

Projects galore

and paper on floor.

Mimosa brunches

inspire mutant hunches.

Memories fond

and deep nights long.

Been a wonderful year

sharing the cheer!

Love in the wings?

No need for rings!

'Cos Cupid's success

Is all our happiness!

Happiest of New Years!

May ♥ love keep you in its warm embrace.

Them Chocolatey Ones

Today I baked "them chocolatey ones," the cookies referred to in a previous post called A Note From Santa.  These are a favorite of my oldest son!  This particular recipe came from The Texas Cookbook by Mary Faulk Koock.  I've seen the same recipe under different names in other cookbooks, and of course it must be on the internet.  The recipe may be called Chocolate Snowballs, because the uncooked cookie balls look like snowballs.  As the chocolate dough bakes, the powdered sugar coating cracks, and the finished cookies look very pretty.

I like to refrigerate the dough overnight.  It needs to be very cold in order to form it into balls.  For this recipe, I use a melon ball size scoop, and can make about 72 cookies.  Be sure not to  overcook these.  The cookie should be soft and chocolatey on the inside!  If you want to print this recipe, you can click to zoom, then print.

Cookies are starting to take over the kitchen!  :)

Lights Up at the Garden House!

My first child home from college on Wednesday for Christmas break said, "I was sure glad to see the lights up, Mom!"  I had just put them up the day before, and I had delayed, entertaining the thought that maybe I would skip the roof lights this year.  Well, I did want to make a bright "welcome home for Christmas" impression.  And now I'm glad that I didn't get lazy!

During 2008 I started a big project to repair, replace, scrape, sand, bleach, and paint my 31-year old plywood siding, which was in really poor condition.  I worked alone and managed to finish about two-thirds of the job.  I haven't been able to make the time this year due to two kids going away to college and one kid getting married, and having to tend to a yard that got neglected for a year while I worked on the house.  Not to mention a crazy busy year at work that left me exhausted.

Overall, I'm very pleased with my remodeling efforts.  I would like to put an arbor on the front of the house to make a nicer entry transition.  I added the cedar ledger board and corner trim to tie into the future arbor.  Lots of work ahead, and it's slow and painstaking, but it's extremely rewarding.

I look forward to 2010 and a season in the sun.  Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the lights!