This moss lined planter hangs from the tree in the front yard. A few weeks ago, the girls and I were coming home from the grocery store. It was late on Sunday afternoon and we saw a yard sale sign. The sale was over, but there was a small pile of things with a "help yourself" sign. So I did. :0) The planter had two small geranium plants growing in it and I added a few impatiens.
Benjamin's sunflowers are doing well. Here it one of them this past Monday morning, a single petal starting to uncurl.
The very next day!
I planted my first Hosta this spring and I never understood what all the fuss was about them. That is, until it surprised me with this pretty bloom!
Three days later, the flowers look like stars!
The Wisteria by the front porch has really taken off. I'm hoping to get some flowers this coming spring.
The fairies are staying cool with their house surrounded by the ivy and herbs. A dragonfly watches from above.
Caldiums.
Lastly, if you enjoyed my "Once Upon a Time" story about our toad, you will be happy to know that he is having a great summer! :0)
Ok, now it's time for a snack. How about some peanut butter cookies?
I have been using this recipe for several years, they always disappear quickly.
Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1. Cream the butter, and sugars. Add eggs and blend. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and stir until well blended.
2. Measure out tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls. Place 3 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Make criss-cross pattern with fork.
3. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) 8-10 minutes until set, but not hard. I take mine out just as they are beginning to brown and let them finish cooking on the cookie sheet.
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com
Thank you for looking at my garden pictures!
Kelli, you have been busy. Your hanging basket is a good reminder. I have some baskets which I picked up from the hard rubbish (the footpath put-out each six months) a couple of years ago. They have never been planted. Spring is nearly here, so as soon as the frosts look behind us, I want to plant them up.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and bliss on all your productivity.
Good morning Kelli!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to start my day: looking at your garden pictures! Yes, Benjamin's sunflower is amazingly pretty and I like that little hanging basket a lot, too!
Say hello to your toad and your fairies when you crosses their way next time!
And yes please, I'd like to take one of your cookies, they look yummy yummy!
It's raining cats and dogs over here. At 2 a.m. I even was awake because there was a heavy thunderstorm outside! I was so worried about my NEW ROSE (yes, another new one!) that we planted yesterday evening.
Have a wonderful day!
XoX, Anita
you obviously have a green thumb. everything in your garden looks so nice. wish i had a garden that looked as nice.
ReplyDeleteand those cookies look absolutely yummy!
Great pictures! I enjoyed the tour of your garden.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by and sharing the link. You know I am envious of your sideboard...... *smile*
Mmmm, those cookie yummy, and a recipe that actually doesn't use shortening! I'll have to try these soon!
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks wonderful too!
Oh, those sunflowers are gorgeous. All of your plants are, really though. Your recipe for peanut butter cookies looks wonderful, hopefully once I get settled in, I'll be able to start trying some more new recipes. This one will be on the list!
ReplyDeleteWow, nice garden. I hope you all don't get too much rain, sometimes that is as bad as getting too little. Sounds like Texas is in for a wild ride in the next couple of days. Take care!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know a hosta would have flowers. Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteTell Benjamen he did good on the sunflower.
Peanut butter cookies are one of our favorites too!! Your rocking chair looks so inviting :o)
ReplyDeleteSusan
Another relaxing visit this morning Kelli. Thank you. The cookies are ... were ... yummy :)
ReplyDeleteI did not think that we in the deep south could grow hostas. My brother does amazing things with them in the Atlanta area but I have been told here in central Florida that they are not possible to keep. I hope you have good success with yours. The are so pretty even without flowers.
as always, your garden is lovely. mr. toad looks quite happy living there.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed the garden tour.
ReplyDeleteThose cookies look so yummy!
ReplyDeleteI commend you on well your plants and flowers seem to grow. I truly wish I had a green thumb and could grow such beautiful plants and flowers.
Maybe we should get our toads together, whadya say? They might just fall in toadstool love.
ReplyDeleteI love the sunflower. I have never seen one 'in transit' (before the petals spread out...) That was neat. I LOVE sunflowers and have, sadly, NEVER planted them! MUST change that...
I love how you've surrounded yourself with beauty! When it cools off a little, I hope to start planting some flowers and feeding the birds again. And, I think I'll try that peanut butter cookie recipe today! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI love these tours.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful garden.
Scrumptious-looking cookies. I'm going to have to make some today.
Your talent never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteI want to be like you when I grow up! LOL
What a beautiful yard! I love the way you hung a planter from a tree. I never would have thought to do something like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice comment on the vintage dress. The fabric isn't vintage, but it looks like it, doesn't it?
Your garden looks like a pleasant place to relax. Peanut butter cookies are always a hit here too :)
ReplyDeletexo
Kelli, your gardening pictures are beautiful--Hostas are a favorite of mine!! And the peanut butter cookies look great--I think I will be making a batch here in the near future!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful garden you have. That sunflower amazed me at how quickly it was completely opened up! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe. Those are my hubby's favorite. I will have to make some very soon.
God bless :)
Beatiful garden pictures Kelli!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I can say that is an excellent peanut butter cookie recipe, I use the same one :)
Love your pictures....we just moved into a new home and we cant wait to get to work in the yard....
ReplyDeleteI love looking at peoples gardens. I plan on doing my own garden post this week. Flower gardens inspire me. Vegetable gardens make me weary! :)
ReplyDeleteLove all the pictures Kelli and especially your Toad one, what a sweetie ;)
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a wonderful day,
♥Sandra
Thanks for sharing pics of your garden. I love sharing mine and adore seeing others. I too never knew what the fuss was about hostas until I moved to the south. They are so EASY!!! And boy do they multiply!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks beautiful. You always find the neatest things at garage sales or in this case, the side of the road. The cookies look delicious! I printed out the recipe and will be making them later today!
ReplyDeleteWow everything looks beautiful! And I just finished reading you story about 'Todd the Toad' and it made me smile. (o:
ReplyDeleteOh! And those cookies look great! I could smell them through the screen. (o;
Blessings,
~Mrs.B
I always enjoy your pretty garden pictures, Kelli. Such great photography! I love that little froggie in there, too.
ReplyDeleteMy mom makes peanut butter cookies by this same recipe. They are so good!
Kelli,
ReplyDeleteEverything in your garden looks so lovely and the peanut butter cookies so yummy!
Have a blessed day!
One of the best parts of the hosta is the smell. In the afternoon at my aunt's (no shade in our yard, so very few hostas make it) the most amazing smell will envelope the place. And it's the 100's of hostas that surround the front of her old farmhouse (that happens to be in the middle of the city now). It is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful garden!
Kelli,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and refreshing garden you have! I bet it's such a relaxing place to unwind in (after all of the work to get it to that point and maintain it, of course, LOL!). The sunflowers are brilliant!
Those sunflowers are gorgeou!
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are a feast for the eyes!
ReplyDeleteKelli--what a lovely post!!! Always such fun to read--I bet your neighbors just adore you :0)
ReplyDeleteYour sunflower is absolutely beautiful. And the cookies look so yummy:)
Julieann
Neat pictures, and the cookies would disappear quickly at my house too because I would eat them all up!
ReplyDeleteI'm drooling!! And I won't, no I refuse to show the cookies to hubby...that's his favorite kind! Boy, they look so yummy, and CHEWY!!
ReplyDeleteI just love to visit when there are pictures of gardening and all the good stuff in bloom and the little creatures partially hidden!! How beautiful is your garden....and the hard long hot work pays off!!
Loved the pictures! I've planted hostas about a hundred and fifty times (okay fine, that's an exaggeration...I've planted them about 20 times)- and I have never been able to get them to grow! So frustrating. And all you people have GOT to stop posting pictures of cookies! Keep it up and I'm going to the store to buy some really, really delicious looking ones to tease YOU guys with! (I can't cook...buying is my only option!). lol
ReplyDeleteYour garden pic's were pretty and I especially loved the two sunflower pic's. Amazing, the difference a day makes, huh? I grew "two" sunflowers this year... I planted a lot more, but only two survived. (something ate my seeds)
ReplyDeleteWow, your photos are looking better and better, darling!
ReplyDeleteYour Sunflower is beautiful. I hope that you aren't going to be affected by the tropical storm.
ReplyDeleteJusat stopping in to stell you that we are off to make your YUMMY LOOKING cookies... I feel the weight sticking to my thighs already...
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you have to show tomorrow!
Your garden pics are absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThose peanut butter cookies look delicious.
Kelli, I loved looking at all your pretty flowers. And your little toad is cute. I used to have a little frog that would come on my front porch and let me pet it with a leaf. :-)
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I have never been a huge fan of peanut butter cookies (though all my children love them). I know it sounds silly, but even though I'm not crazy about the taste, I *adore* the little fork criss-cross pattern so common to PB cookies. To me it just speaks of childhood! :o)
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks wonderful. It's so nice to be able to enjoy the abundance of summer blooms and beauty.
Your garden looks marvelous! I love the array of colors. And such Yummy cookies, I have to go make some now!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Ack! Kelli ~ I just realized I left you a comment in my son's account! I surely did think I had changed over to my account. So sorry!
ReplyDeleteB. is me, Jodi @ Deputy Domain!
Hugs and Blessings!
What an amazing sunflower, I had never seen it curled! The cookies look so yummy!
ReplyDelete