Entrepreneur Wanted, Gardening Experience a Plus.

One of my favorite places in Eureka Springs is for sale.

The Rock Cottage Gardens can be yours for a mere 700+ G's. I am not qualified to tell you if it's a good price, or if you could make a living running this quaint lodging business. But I can tell you these cottages, which look like the scenery of fairy tales, has some of the prettiest gardens in the area and is built from local stone.

Built about 1930, the property includes an Inn-keepers house and five individual cottages for nightly rentals, and a bonus gardener's chapel.

It comes complete with a white picket fence. If interested, click here.

Now you might wonder if I love it so much why don't I buy it? Well, see, I know I'm not in a position to be a full-time resident of Eureka. So, if I can't buy it, then I'd at least like to let my friends have a chance. So, if you decide to abandon the life you are now living and adopt the nicknames Hansel and Gretel, give me a shout and I'll come by and give you a big welcoming wagon visit when I'm in town.

Yep, We Got Culture!

Last week, Steve and I headed out in his new wheels for a road trip. We flew down I-44 to Oklahoma City, using the high tech navi to lead us there, even though we know the way. (Men and their toys!) Steve felt like Captain Kirk in his new car, which makes me the guy with the big ears I guess. Our destination: OKMOA, Oklahoma City Museum of Art for you kids who don't know.

And we saw all this rad modern art. It took me back to high school art class and Dennis Rutledge who used to make us paint BIG Canvases and try our hand at the then emerging pop art style. Let's here it for high school art teachers who push the envelope!  Even if all those paintings did make our mom's eyebrows raise and most of them ended up in the attic. The canvases, not our moms.
And then we went to the museum's top floor to see the permanent exhibit of Dale Chihuly's glass creations. It was like floating in an undersea world of gummi bear parts. That's the feeling I got from it, you are free to make your own analogies.

Silly String...

Jaw breakers.... and one eyeball...

Luke Skywalker's swords...

Waves of green koolaide...

Little Shop of Horrors... 

Amoeba's...
Then we drove over a couple of blocks and went to the Bricktown Brewery. Believe it or not, I drank Dr. Pepper. Then we let Navigator Nan (that's what I call her) direct us home. Yep, we are just like cultured pearls... we got culture.

p.s. I forgot my camera and took these with my cell phone. But it's just like being there, sort of.

Lampalooza: Cabin Style

If you're visiting  the Lampapalooza Party today, through our gracious hostess , The Nesting Place, welcome to my blog! If you're a steady reader and you wonder if I will ever blog about my own subjects again, there is a quasi-recipe at the bottom of this post for hanging in there with me.

I'm at our cabin in the woods, and if there is one thing I've tried to do in decorating, okay maybe three objectives, they are:

1. Bring only things I love here.
   
2. Enjoy the things here.
   
3. Go with the cabin's already rich color pallet of reds, oranges and greens.

Boy was I lucky to find this sweet lamp at Pier One, two winters ago. Now, I'm usually a hold out for sales, but when I saw it, I said, "that one is perfect, I have to buy it sale or no sale."

What I love about this lamp:

It's slightly retro styled. It's big and warm and makes a visual statement in the room. And probably the most important thing: it is the right height for reading.
I'm not usually a rule follower, but this is one rule I've found helpful, when seated, the bottom of the lampshade should be at eye level. This keeps the burning glow of the lightbulb from blinding you. This one is just right!

I love it so much, I was inspired to paint it, ha ha! Now don't get all art critic on me. Like the Nester says, "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!"

Now for the quazi recipe: yes another salad, it's the time of year.

• Baby spinach
  
• crumbled walnuts
  
• diced cantaloupe
  
• diced gruyere cheese
  
• thinly sliced red onion if you have it, I didn't.
  

The dressing:

• Olive Oil
  
• White Zinfandel or a sweet white wine (oh you wine snobs, admit it, you drink this sometimes too!)
  
• And the power booster: Peach Habanero Ambrosia from Prairie Thyme® 
  
• minced garlic,
  
• S&P
  
• a bit o basil and a bit o cilantro
  

Happy summer! Mix it up ya'll! Hope you come back and visit, again. The topic is ever changing here at A Cat in My Lap!

I also posted  Tablescape Thursday, Live from the Cabin today. Click the link and join me for some bagels and the best juice, you'll ever taste! Kick your shoes off, you're at the cabin! For more Tablescapes, visit Susan and Between Naps on the Porch. Is everyone completely confused now or is it just me?

Tablescape Thursday, Live From the Cabin!

Yes, peeps, I am blogging from deep inside the Arkansas Ozarks. Breakfast is served at 8:00 sharp, so don't be late. This morning you'll be served a hearty toasted bagel with cream cheese, a cup of joe and a glass of my favorite, Knudson's Organic Grapefruit Juice, available locally only at Ozark Natural Foods. Even if you don't care much for grapefruit, I think you'll dig this juice, it is yummy!

The birds are singing, the sun is shining and your table is set to celebrate the beauty that surrounds us... Starting with these lovely Birdsong Saucers by Oneida, nestled into a red terra cotta glazed dinner plate. The simple silverware right from the cabin cupboards reflects the casual dining style here at our home away from home.

I love these plates which are as much decorative as they are practical. We use them every time we visit "Peace of the Rock". That's our nickname for this little retreat in the woods.

It is darn amazing what beautiful things you can find on the clearance aisle at Target, one of my favorite places to shop, and where you are likely to find me when I head into the city. But not today, there isn't a Target for miles around!

But I did find these lovely cups locally at a hot spot for tourists, called Jake's Joint. He specializes in all things "Life is Good®".  I really dig the truisms they spell out on almost everything they sell.

I bought one for summer.

And one for winter. Now where is that coffee? Is it not done brewing yet? Good Gravy!

Other items of note on my table: Handwoven place mats from Pier One, Fiesta Pitcher and Salt and Pepper, found at Kohl's, and the not-so-subtle "Kindness" reminder from Wilson and Wilson, Eureka Springs' very own folk artist duo.

Please visit other Tablescape Thursday hostesses by visiting the mega host, herself, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. She is a real peach to throw this party for us each and every week! Thank you Susan! And when I get back to civilization, I'll be sure to catch up on all my visits, too. Toodloo Ya'll!

I'm just a blog party gal today, also see Lampapalooza, Cabin Style, hosted by the Nester at The Nesting Place!

No words Today

In a rare moment of being speechless, I will let this little one say it all for me!

Tuesday's Gift: This Day

Are you like me and still thinking of the staggering sacrifice so many have paid for freedom? If not, may I recommend the documentary "The Last Days" produced by Steven Spielberg. In this film you will hear real accounts of five survivors of Auschwitz and Dachau.

It may leave you feeling nauseous, disgusted, abhorred, and unnerved.

Or it may leave you feeling, grateful for today. Grateful you can wrap your arms around your husband and kids. Grateful for food shelter and clothing. Grateful for life and freedom. And it might also make you fall on your knees and ask God to guide our leaders through this perilous time in our country today. It might make you look at people who are different than you through the eyes of compassion. It might cause you to add another cupful of tolerance to your heart. It might cause you to consider your own heart and the pits of hatred you may have stored inside.

Be grateful today for this gift of life. As one interviewee in the film said, "God gives man life and abilities and free will, and it is up to each of us to decide what to with it."

Tuesdays Unwrapped, hosted each week by Emily at Chatting at the Sky.

Thoughts of Memorial Day

Maybe you're firing up the grill, or skiing the lake this weekend, Maybe like me, you're catching up on some garden chores. Maybe you're just glad for an extra day before the work week starts.

I think it'd be good for us all to think about the fallen service men and women who've sacrificed for these liberties and others which we enjoy today.

Can I get a witness?

Answers to Gardening Quiz

If you saw my post yesterday and are just dying to compare your answers, then here they are:

An annual is:
 c. a plant that grows and blooms in one year then dies.

A perennial is:
b. a plant who's roots stay alive all year even if the foliage dies back in winter

Both annuals and perennials can reseed. But a perennial's original "mother plant" will continue to live year to year.

When referring to plants as hardy, this means:
a. the coldest temperature to which a plant can survive

Many home garden enthusiasts misunderstand this term, thinking hardy means it can withstand hard growing conditions. Actually, plants are graded as hardy to specific temperatures, meaning the specific temperature that will kill the plant.

Now on the matching part of the quiz:

1. a fungicide is: c. a subtance that kills plant diseases that come from spores
2. a pesticide is: a. a substance that kills insects on contact, even the good ones
3. an herbicide is: d. a substance that kills weeds and sometimes other plants
 4. a systemic pesticide is: b. a substance that gets into the plant and kills insects when they eat it

Certified organic growers do not use any synthetic chemicals to control any of the above conditions. They also do not use synthetic fertilizers. Instead, they improve growing conditions and use organic and natural remedies. However, most commercial nurseries rely heavily on these chemicals to produce the most pest-free plants to consumers. Many home gardeners mistakenly use the wrong chemicals to treat problems, not understanding what category products fall within.

I hope you enjoyed this little quiz and maybe learned something new!

Hello again from the garden!

Say hello to my blue annual salvia, sometimes called flowering sage. Supposedly a plant that cannot tolerate our colder winter, I was told it would grow one season. It is on it's third season. Some plants are like that, they fool ya. This plant, to you more southern dwellers is actually a perennial in Texas and Mexico, and apparently in some Northern Oklahoma gardens too.

Which brings me to a few definitions. Let's see if you get these right. I'll post the correct answers tomorrow.

An annual is:

a. a plant that comes back every year

b. a plant that is hardy

c. a plant that grows and blooms in one year then dies

d. that pesky dr's appointment you go to every year

A perennial is:

a. a plant that re-seeds itself every year

b. a plant who's roots stay alive all year even if the foliage dies back in winter

c. a weed and should be removed before it takes over the garden

d. a word you should not use in public

When referring to plants as hardy, this means:

a. the coldest temperature to which a plant can survive

b. the hottest temperature to which it survives

c. Plants that do not need much water or care

d. Plants that have really woody stems and are hard to cut

Be sure and read tomorrow to see if you got the answers right! You win absolutely nuttin' but the pat you give yourself on the back for tryin'!

And here is a welcome steady bloomer in my garden... Coreopsis. This perennial plant can be a real show stopper. It can also be prone to white powdery mildew, which seldom kills the plant but looks awful, and retards blooming and growth. With all the rain we've had, I'm surprised these are not covered in it, but Jeff, the gardening angel has been spraying it. Which brings me to another quiz. Okay you guys, you are not actually being graded. Relax.

See if you can match the definition to the right word.

Definitions:

a. a substance that kills insects on contact, even the good ones

b. a substance that gets into the plant and kills insects when they eat it

c. a subtance that kills plant diseases that come from spores

d. a substance that kills weeds and sometimes other plants

Now match the right definition to the right word below:

1. a fungicide

2. a pesticide

3. an herbicide

4. a systemic pesticide
And while you are thinking on that, let me confuse you further. These coreopsis, while perennials, self sow. That means they reproduce and spread by dropping seeds. If you want to control the spread, you can dead-head the blooms, or you can use a seed retardant like Preen®, or you can thin the seedlings out while they are young. Now some of you are die-hard organic gardeners and I get that. I myself would rather pick a weed than spray it. My master gardener friends tell me, as does the label, that Preen® is actually an organic substance, so I think you are okay to use it. But I'd read the label to be sure before using it around edible plants. And be aware that if you like to sow packets of flower seeds in the garden, do not use Preen® in the areas where you intend to sow. Those seeds will not germinate either.
And that concludes this teaching moment from Dana's Garden. Don't forget to compare your answers tomorrow! Now go plant something and watch it grow!

It's called garden art...

I eyed this rusty, flat-tired bike in my MIL's garage. I said, "Hey Freddie, (my MIL's name), watcha gonna do with your bike?" Steve looked at me like don't you even dare! 

She said, "I thought I'd fix it and ride it some day. But that's probably not going to happen. Why do you need a bike?" 

Steve said, "No, she does not. She has a bike she doesn't ride either." 

I said, "Actually, I wanted to know if I could buy the bike from you?" 

Like a good MIL, she said, "Oh you can just have it!"

Steve shrieked, "What do you need THAT for?"

"Steve! For my garden, of course! D'uh!"

The first day my gardening guys came... "Mrs. Jones? Do you want us to haul that old bike away for you?"

Ha ha... "No."

Last week, from Steve AND the gardening guys... "Hmm, that actually looks pretty!"

Can I say it? "I told you so!"

Tablescape Thursday, Party on the Patio!

Follow me out back to our little private patio for some libations and grilled goodies! I keep this basket of patio-ware handy in case the weather and the mood seems perfect for such an occasion!
I'm such a practical girl, these patio chairs and table were from Lowes, three years ago and still looking good! The tiles on the table can be switched out to any standard floor tile so you can really customize the look of your table! I chose... brown... go figure!
My plastic, yes plastic, dishes are from Target... this season... hurry before they run out. They have that vibe that reminds me of my mom's aqua blue Melmac from the 50's. I also splurged on some plastic handled stainless steel ware. No glassware is needed because... 

We're having a porch party! And that means cold bottled bev's are called for. And here is my party animal, just waiting for that grill to get hot so he can cook us up some k-bobs!

I hope you had fun at our little shindig in the sunshine. For more tables, (most of them fancier than mine), please visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. She hosts this blog party every week, called Tablescape Thursday!

Frugal Luxuries and Generous Gifts

Blogging can be such a wonderful experience! Last Christmas, I had a new visitor to my blog, so warm and friendly, Tracey Mc Bride, from Frugal Luxuries. Well, I try to visit all those who visit me, still, I was a little bit surprised to see that my little ole blog was being read by a real live author. Not just a hobby writer like myself, but a published author! Wow! Tracey has written several books on the topic of living well, but not going bankrupt to do it. I think she coined the phrase, "Unlocking the mysteries of living within your means.™"

Well, fast forward a few months... So Tracey has several blogs, filled with wonderful ideas to make your life more rich, particularly if you are like my grandma who always said, Dana, you are rich in many things other than money. I love her for telling me that. And proving Grandma right, how lucky I am to be chosen as the recipient of a giveaway. Tracey awarded me one of her books, "Frugal Luxuries, Simple Pleasures to Enhance Your Life and Comfort Your Soul."  

And Tracey, being the generous souls she is, gave me autographed copies of two books, the other, "Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons".

Both books are delightfully easy reads with practical chapters on making the most of what you have. Wonderful! Delightful! And I notice these books are the kind you can pick up, and reference when you want to see what Tracey has to say on another topic. I love them! She offers advice on all things like flag etiquette, when and how to fly the flag, to making jam for christmas presents and making each package look like it's worthy of royalty.

I think this will be the first chapter I read: 
I wonder of Tracey can help me get out of my drab t-shirts and yoga pants but still be luxuriously comfortable?

I hope you'll visit Tracey's blogs, one will lead you to the others. Enjoy!

A Reason to Celebrate!

My niece, Kasey, graduated from high school, last night. That's her waving at me, looking right at me! 
Her brother, John was pretty excited about it all, too and all the commotion going on in the stands.
I'm really bad, I didn't even get a program. Their speaker was a former graduate who we surmised is maybe a poet or something. He used lots of rhyming words. And he talked about being somebody someday, and also about not being a silent giant. Actually, I thought most of the speech was engaging. Apparently, John did not....
But he found ways to entertain himself. He must take after Aunt Dana.
Then it was time for the processional.
Pictures before they crossed the stage, hmm, that's different...
And then TA DA! It was her turn to descend the stairs in high heels! Yippee! She made it!
One last time, her class sang their school song and rallied for their team.
And Poof! Like that! it was over and the crowd was dispersed and oh... my... good... ness. No, we didn't stick around. Cause I hate crowds, and I never thought we'd find her, and mostly, cause my feet were hurting in my own high heels.
Happy Graduation Kasey! We love you and are so proud of you!

p.s. Steve commented that they did not throw their caps in the air. At my own graduation they threatened us that if we did, we would not be given our diploma's. ha ha! Maybe they were told the same thing? Whatever they were told, it worked!