Happiness is Homemade Bread

Happiness is Homemade Bread!

I'm happy to say,

my "chef" has long enjoyed baking bread using

a no-knead bread recipe from his Aunt Nevada.

At the Table With the Traveling Totes

Summertime and the livin' is easy .

The Traveling Tote team decided to challenge "our girls"

to a little help on the tabletop this summer.

As you can see, Miss Merri Mac and Miz Checkers

happily obliged the request.

Lady Bird Day @ The Wildflower Center

July 23, 2017 ~ Lady Bird Day!

Each year, The Wildflower Center 

honors its namesake and founder with a day

of free admission and special activities planned

to celebrate Mrs. Johnson's environmental legacy 

and the legislation that she inspired.

With Lady Bird's influence, 

more than 200 environmental laws were enacted

under President Johnson's administration.  

Adding a Little Chocolate to the Garden

Have you ever heard of 

Chocolate Plant?

A member of the Acanthaceae family, this heirloom plant

is rarely found in catalogs or plant centers.

Rather it is usually shared with others by garden enthusiasts such

as my friend who recently passed some along to me.

Happy Birthday, America!

~ July 4th ~ 

American Independence Day!

Americans all across this beautiful country

are out celebrating today.

Neighborhood parades are a tradition in US communities

large and small, and as with every year, 
I started my day as a spectator at the annual Tarrytown Parade.
I never miss the neighborhood 4th of July Parade!

The Yellow Rose of the Cacti Family

Not a rose, but this stunning bloom

reminds me of a Spanish Rose.

The Opuntia Robusta, better known as

the Prickly Pear or Wheel Cactus

can be seen blooming in May and June

in gardens and open land here in Texas.

It's a superstar in the state of Texas

and can grow to be five feet tall.

The blue-gray round or oval pads

can grow to be four to ten inches long

and have very sharp spines.

These stunning blooms can be from

 two to five inches across.

Once the flower blooms, it leaves

a barrel-shaped fleshy pink or purple fruit.

These edible plants are used in traditional Mexican cuisine.

Though no  Prickly Pear grow in my garden,

there are several large plants growing in neighbors'

gardens that I pass by on my daily walks.

I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of

Texas "sunshine" from one of my recent walks.

Thank you, Pam, for hosting

the Gardens Galore Link-Up Party.

Also joining

Sundays At Home @ Love Of Home

Dishing It and Digging It @ Life and Linda

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Monday Inspiration @ All Things Heart and Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern 

StyleInspiration Gallery @ Zevy Joy

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Peonies and Orange BlossomsShare Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsenHome and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome LifeShare Your Style @ Vintage NestVintage Charm @ Blue Willow HouseFoodie Friday and Everything Else @ Rattlebridge FarmFeathered Nest Friday @ French Country CottageHome Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound