Green

Ask my grandchildren what Nana's favorite color is and they will always remember,

GREEN.

This is the year that I realized that maybe I could try to grow GREEN inside. I'm actually more of an outside plant person and not much of a 'nurturer' with those. If they aren't pretty tough, they simply don't make it. I knew I better read up on these 'houseplants'.

It started back in December with this 'fiddle leaf' fig. Ugliest plant ever, I thought. Then I fell in love with it.

Super proud of this guy's new growth (FINALLY!)

Earlier this month, my daughter in law gave me this orchid and I love it's classy lines. 

This 'closet plant' was given to me by a friend when my mom passed away last summer. It sits in a dark corner in my family room and is doing so well!

Then, my love affair with succulents started this spring. Oh my. Love these hardy little fellows.

Now, these are just cut flowers from HEB, but they are some of my mom's favorites and I love having them to remind me how often she had fresh flowers 'just because'. I love that my Dad still has fresh flowers on the kitchen table every week...not just because I've come in to visit.

"just because"

My cute little 'ugly' fiddle leaf fig back in the corner. This guy has been hard for me to figure out. I think I seriously underwatered him initially. Hopeful that he will grow, grow, grow!

Sweet little succulents. I used them for 'favors for a baby shower recently. 

My 'money tree'. This guy has REALLY  taken off. Super easy. Not so picky about water requirements.

I never realized how much a large green plant INSIDE would be so pleasing to me. It just feels 'fresher'. I enjoy watching them grow inch by inch. Also, succulents would not have appealed to me a few years ago, and now I think they are amazing!

indoor outdoor rug

I'm loving this indoor outdoor rug on our deck. It is softer than I thought it would be and I feel like it helped hide some of those 'bad' spots on our deck. This is just not the year for patio redo.

I have two umbrellas out there and the trees have really grown up in the last 10 years, so it's really pleasant spot to sit.

I think I've had this patio furniture for 100 years. I looked for new stuff last year, but couldn't find anything as comfortable as what I've got. If it works, why fix it?

I DID buy these new red plastic adirondak chairs, though, at Lowe's. I love them.

I'm also into succulents this year. This is a little pot I made up for my mother in law for Mother's Day. She was super pleased with it. :)

Next on my list is to buy a Thermacell Mosquito Repellant lantern. The reviews are awesome on it. I happen to have something in my blood that is extremely repellant to mosquitoes. I can look down and see about 50 of those buggers on my legs and NOT ONE of them wants a bite. The rest of the family is not so lucky.

Hope you all are having a great start to summer. I got my first official sunburn for 2014 today, sitting out in my chair reading a book.

Nana Monday, April 28, 2014

When Mom passed away last summer, I did some thinking and talking to myself. Sue Anne, life is so short and is getting shorter! Time to rearrange some things so I can spend MORE time with precious family. I KNOW that many grandmothers would love to do this, but just can't. So, I post these with love for each of you.  I'm very fortunate to be able to have this liberty.

I'm thrilled with what I think my daughter started calling, "Nana Mondays". My post today is about her 2 youngest yesterday, but I'm also getting to spend time with my daughter in law and her youngest on several Wednesdays in May, so more to come!

Yesterday we spent time playing cars, cooking up pretend cupcakes, coloring all kinds of colorful horses with very interesting names, painting with sidewalk paints, and my personal favorite .... finding a little park trail just a few minutes from the house. 

If you "click" on the picture, I think it will bring up the full photo for you.