Zinnias and 'Reflecting Accurately'

When I was teaching (high school English), on occasion in the midst of a lesson,

I would think to myself, ‘ I am not going to do this lesson this way again’.


This was all happening in my thinking while I was teaching the lesson.

Why?  Because it didn’t feel right, or because it didn’t sound as interesting as I thought it should,or because my students weren’t ‘getting it’.

This kind of teaching mental gymnastics happens in classrooms daily.

In teaching lingo, this is called 'reflecting accurately'.

Now to my zinnias of 2016.

They look pretty, I am enjoying them as I always do, but something

is a little off.

At first, I couldn’t quite figure out what it was, and then I thought of this.

I have shared this video before as my zinnia gardening inspiration.

I am not going to separate my seeds by color again.

I thought that would make things so convenient in cutting zinnias for bouquets.

 I won't separate the colors again-

not because it isn't beautiful, but because it isn't natural,

it isn't working, they don't 

get it, and they don't like it-

just like my students.

Here's to 'reflecting accurately'.

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Summer Finds and Favorites

 

Melli Mello by Lenox

Summer is here in South Texas.

This past week the temperature was in the 90’s and according to the weather man.

it felt like106.

It is still May.

Just think about that for a moment.

And so my thoughts have been about all things summer and a few things I currently love.

*the Melli Mello Eliza Stripe Collection by Lenox, (shown above and below) exclusively at Macy’s

I wouldn’t know about this fabulous dinnerware pattern if not for a wonderful Texas blogger, Tikaa of the blog

Totally Tikaa.

Her instagram page took me down a rabbit hole for hours.

This Cinco de Mayo tablescape made my jaw drop.

Visit Tikaa at Totally Tikaa at her instagram account as well as her blog.

Her jewelry collection is phenomenal.


And if your sleep patterns have been a little off lately,

you must try these two products .

After an evening bath , apply the cream, put on your night gown, and mist your pillow

at bedtime.

A dear friend gave me these as a gift, and they work!

The pillow mist is

amazing.

If nothing else, your night time routine will be elevated simply from all of that misting !

*Bath and Body Work’s Lavendar Chamomile Pillow Mist and Body Cream

And in my ongoing saga to find magical, affordable skincare,

I found this ‘cleansing water’ at TJ Maxx and decided to give

it a try.

Oh my.

I just thought my face was cleansed.

I did not pay the price stated on the web site. Maybe your TJ Maxx has it too.

*Coast to Coast Illuminating Cleansing Water


***

While writing this post, I drank my new favorite summer soft drink.

How’s this for a flash from the past?

How hot is it where you live?

 

Thoughts of Home On Thursday #16

Welcome one and all to the sixteenth edition of Thoughts Of Home On Thursday.

We are delighted that you have joined us, your presence brightens our spirits.

Our hostess this week is Jemma from At Home With Jemma

She is sharing a little about herself with you today on her About Jemma page.

         Since Jemma is sharing a bit about herself today,

                       she is also including a bit more about the Ladies behind the features. 

After all, we are much more than a page on the web!

DIY

Joy is blogging over at  a Vintage Green.

Joy's love of vintage kitchen, china, treen and tin, as well as making vignettes from her own 

vintage collections and stenciling, is evident in many of her fabulous DIY projects.

If you do not know the definition of Treen, here is a link.

Desserts

Peonies and Orange Blossoms has a passion for French, Swedish and Belgian decorating.

She shares many recipes but her most favorite confections are French viennoiseries and 

patisseries!

Last week she shared this beautiful and fabulous Le Fraisier~A French Strawberry cake.

Decorating

Maria Elena grew up in Madrid and has had a passion for decorating most of her life she 

enjoys sharing her creativity and inspiration with us on her blog 

Our Home Away From Home.

Such a pretty use of neutrals on her front porch to welcome family and friends.

 Inspiration

Well, Cathy is just cruising around in her darling Shasta camping trailer.

Believe me, this is no ordinary camping trip for she and her hubby- they go glamping not 

camping!

If this is not enough to inspire you, Cathy has a degree in Microbiology and is a Chef too!

Stop by and visit her at 1929 Charmer.

Gardening Debbie delights us all with her passion for life, gardening, decorating, family and 

her commitment to her nursing career.

She loves the Victorian time period, her home and thanks God for her many blessings.

In 2013 she had 19 Christmas trees in her home! 

You can visit Debbie at her blog Debbie-Dabble

We ask that you please,

1. Link back to this post or any of the four hosts websites.

Laura at Décor To Adore

Stacey from Poofing the Pillow

Jemma from At Home With Jemma

Laura at White Spray Paint

2. Share up to three of your favorite posts, remembering to not link to advertising or shops.

By linking up you are providing permission that Thoughts of Home on Thursday can feature your post and accompanying photos on future blog posts or other forms of social media such as Facebook and Instagram. A link back to your blog will always be provided.

We like to think of this as a very special gathering place where thoughtfulness reigns. If you have a moment please visit two or three other participants. Thank you! :)

By linking up you are providing permission that Thoughts of Home on Thursday can feature your post and accompanying photos on future blog posts or other forms of social media such as Facebook and Instagram. A link back to your blog will always be provided.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Zinnia Garden 2016

Welcome to our second Garden Party, hosted by your friends at

Thoughts of Home and Share Your Cup.

We look forward to seeing your latest gardening projects. 

Please join me right around this corner in my

Zinnia Garden.

It’s no secret that I love zinnias, and it is a real blessing that they thrive

in Zone 9 here in deep South Texas.

The hard rains this spring have been a blessing , but my zinnias have had to battle to stay upright.

They may seem fragile, but they are strong-

and beautiful.

This spring I added a few more places to rest after long afternoons

of gardening.

From this small patio area off my garden shed , I can

look at my zinnias, and across the backyard, I can see

my tomato bed.

This small patio is out of Mexican pavers, and the recent rains have

tested its endurance.

In this corner I can lounge with my feet up on one of 4 wrought iron chaise lounges

I found at the flea market years ago.

And then there’s the fountain I put together out of fountain parts.

I always look for fountain parts at the flea market.

Do you?

In addition to my beloved zinnias, four of my favorite plants are here as well:

pink begonias, Aztec grass (seen above in the flower bed border), airplane plant, and a Kimberly fern.

I wish you could sit here with me.

In gardening, there are always questions to ask and stories to tell.

Just link below to share your gardening stories too and visit the other hosts.

Art and Sand
At Home With Jemma
Poofing the Pillows
White Spray Paint
Decor to Adore

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Dear Daughters: Feeling Irritated

Dear Daughters,

 

The test of a well lived life is often facing the little things that irritate, worry, or anger just slightly.

The women in our family are normally strong in a crisis, but what about when you forget to buy coffee

at the store , or you get a speeding ticket driving through George West on your way to El Paso, or you know it

is less expensive to make cupcakes for the birthday party, but for some reason cupcake success escapes

you?

This is what I think. (You knew this was coming .)

I think the key is accepting that at times we will have cause to feel irritated, worried , or angry.


The source/cause is real.


At the point of irritation is usually when well meaning friends or family say ‘let it go’, which is sometimes fuel to the fire.


I refer to this as ‘the hot lava button in my big toe getting punched’.

Here is my antidote.


While striving to let feelings of irritation go- look back at what was happening prior to becoming irritated.

Are you overly stressed?

Are you tired? Is there an unresolved issue that needs addressing?

Is there an amends you need to make?


Here it is in a nutshell :

Don’t feel guilty for becoming irritated-

instead look at what was going on in your life prior to that point.

That’s where the answer is.

Phew…


Don’t you just love these letters dear daughters? Aren’t you glad I post them on the internet?

I love you,

Mom

 

Spring in the Guest Room

I once asked a friend what she did over the weekend, and she said,

“Played with my dishes.”

I knew exactly what she meant.
I recently played in our guest room.

Using my own tried and true system, I looked at the colors on the cover of one of my favorite books.

I then found what worked in that color palette from around the house.


One thing always leads to another, but that is where the best ideas are.

Another tip?  Blue and white is the great neutralizer.

It makes everything work.

I hope you are getting to play this weekend.

*****

I hope you will join us Monday for our Next Garden Party,

hosted by Thoughts of Home and Share Your Cup.

I can’t wait to see your latest projects

from ’playing’ in your garden

Thoughts of Home on Thursday #15

Welcome to Thoughts of Home on Thursday.

Our host this week is Laura from White Spray Paint.

Each week we- your TOHOT hosts- appreciate your invitation into your homes, showing us your latest project, sharing your favorite recipe, or taking us on a walk through your garden.
 

Now to this week's features.

Inspiration 

Sarah of Hyacinths for the Soul treats us to another of her thoughtful, beautifully elegant posts in 

Inspiration From My Mother.

Decorating

 Richella of Imparting Grace in her post The Evolving Door

reminds us how the beauty we strive to create in our home is really

all about living life.

DIY

Zan of Flourishing at Home does wonderful DIY projects. These

painted terracotta pots are just one of many.

Gardening

Wait until you see Terry's garden. It is stunning. Her blog Forever Decorating is always full of creative ideas.

Recipe

And then there's Julie's BBQ Chicken Naan Bread Pizza.

Her blog Live From Julie's House is full wonderful recipes and home inspiration.

And now to this week's party.

We ask that you please:

1. Link back to this post and follow any of the four hostesses at these blogs:

Laura of White Spray Paint

Decor to Adore

Stacey at Poofing the Pillows

Jemma of At Home with Jemma

2.  Share any of your favorite posts, remembering not to link advertising or shops.

By linking up you are providing permission that Thoughts of Home on Thursday can feature your post and accompanying photos on future blog posts or other forms of social media such as Facebook and Instagram. A link back to your blog will always be provided.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Going Again Soon

After a wonderful ten day visit to El Paso to visit our oldest daughter and our grandsons,

where all I thought about was their baseball games, driving my youngest grandson to school each morning, and what to cook for breakfast, I have been tired and ready to go back.

There is tired and then there is tired and missing them. I will take the first any day.
 

My husband and I took the scenic route home, which turned a normally 12 hour drive into 15, and so I felt-

as my father would say- ridden hard and put up wet.  

 The next morning while still in my gown, coffee in hand, I made a round in my back yard.

Standing at my zinnia bed, nothing

was easing that sense of homesickness for those

two boys until I saw this.

 A ladybug had come to visit.

Seeing that at that tired and lonesome moment was like my mother pressing her hand against my forehead , as she often did when I was a little girl.

That hand meant she was there, and that I would feel better soon, and that everything would be alright.

It was as if she said,

"Laura Ellen, I am so proud of your gardening.
Isn't it satisfying?

I know how it feels to miss your grandsons.

They are wonderful.

Heather has grown into such a wise and wonderful mother.

Of course you miss them.
Go again.

Soon!

Go!"

Everything is ok.

Everything will be ok.

I am going again.

Soon.

 

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Thoughts of Home on Thursday #14

Welcome friends to Thoughts of Home on Thursday #14. 

Stacey is your hostess this week. You all knocked our socks off last week with a record breaking number of entries. We can't thank you enough for your support and amazing links. 

Inspiration

Su's post at Butterfly Bungalow first appeared to be a decorating post but no, it's a beautiful life lesson. If you read nothing else today, please read this post.  

Gardening

BJ's potting area is the cutest thing ever! 

Doesn't the bright red toolbox make you want to put on your gloves and get to work?  

Decorating

Katie at Let's Add Sprinkles recently shared how her kitchen has changed over the years. Her latest change included a new backsplash which completely elevated the look of the kitchen. 

DIY

Part DIY and part craft project, these fun map themed placemats at Pillar Box Blue can be individualized for any family or occasion. If you have the cutest plates ever it doesn't hurt!

Recipes

This Leek and Shiitake saute shared at Make Mine Lemon looks delicious on pizza

 but could also be used in several other ways. Sounds great to me. 

We ask that you please:

1. Link back to this post and follow any of the four hostesses at these blogs:

Laura of White Spray Paint

Decor to Adore

Stacey at Poofing the Pillows

Jemma of At Home with Jemma

2.  Share any of your favorite posts, remembering not to link advertising or shops.

By linking up you are providing permission that Thoughts of Home on Thursday can feature your post and accompanying photos on future blog posts or other forms of social media such as Facebook and Instagram. A link back to your blog will always be provided.

An InLinkz Link-up

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