A Great Day!

Today was a great day.  It started with homemade cinnamon rolls and freshly squeezed orange juice.  How can a day be bad when it starts so well?

I thought I was going to start work on Monday, but I just went in to fill out paperwork (W-4, etc.), and to take a drug test.  Since my employer is still waiting for the results of the test, I'm not official yet, so I have a few days left to goof off all day. I spent my day at the library, then in the garden.

Even though this isn't a large urban area, we have an excellent public library, and for that, I'm very grateful.  In spite of the fact that I probably own a couple thousand books, I faithfully go to the library every week.  I haven't been able to buy any of the latest books since I stopped working, so I've been lucky that our library has them.  I am a BIG murder mystery fan, and I usually have a book in my purse, no matter where I go.  I fully expect to be buried with a couple of books when I die.  Just in case.

Even though the library's CD section is small, I've been able to sample a lot of music.  Some of the artists are old favorites, and some I've never before heard of. 

My latest picks?

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These ladies are amazing; their harmony is incredible.  If you're a fan of swing, jazz and pop standards, you will love this CD.  Except for a couple of tracks, all the music is from movie musicals. The arrangements are very inventive, and it's fun to listen to.  This CD is going on my Christmas list this year.

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What a voice! I love these old songs.

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My favorite singer.  Jane Monheit has an incredible voice.  I have her 5 latest CD's, but this is one of her earlier ones.  A fabulous singer!!

As for the garden, we seem to be bypassing spring altogether and going straight from winter to early summer.  I've got the A/C cranked up in the house, but I spent a good portion of the day outside weeding, and enjoying all the great stuff growing in the garden.  Luckily, the weather wasn't too hot (summers are VERY hot here), so the time spent in the garden was a pleasure, not a chore. 

I had mentioned in my last post that I was going to my first meeting of a gardening club that's been around here for many, many years.  Each month, the club meets at the home of one of its members.  After seeing the first garden, I realize that I have a lot of catching up to do! Karen's garden was INCREDIBLE.  She had a Lady Banks Rose that was phenomenal!  I wish I had thought to bring my camera to share her garden with you; I'll have to remember next month at another member's house.  These ladies are master gardeners, and I'm just a novice, so I was a bit intimidated, but I had a great time.  When the conversation about getting rid of gophers started with, "First, I bought a gun", I knew it was going to be a fun evening! (don't worry about the gun, they live in the country on 10 acres)

So, I have a lot to do in the weeding and planting department.  But I'm enjoying what's already there, too.

See all those orange blossoms?  I'm going to have another bumper crop of oranges in about 6 to 8 months. 

The blossoms smell heavenly. I can even smell them from the open window in my living room late at night (I'm a night owl). I had to fight with the bees to even be able to take these photos.

The volunteer roses have a couple of buds!!! However, you may be able to tell from the photo that they also have a lot of aphids & other bugs.  I guess I need to go out to buy some ladybugs.

More volunteer plants.  I love sweet alyssum.  I know it tends to go wild and take over, but it smells so sweet, and is so easy to care for.  (Please ignore any weeds you might see in the photos)

I think this groundcover is called Pratia.  At least that's what my Sunset Western Garden Book says, and since the Sunset Western Garden Book is THE gardening bible if you live in California, I guess I have to trust them.  Well, whatever it is, it just appeared one day, and I like the tiny blue flowers.  I'm trying to weed around them so I don't pull any of it out, but it ain't easy!!

I have no idea what this shrub is, but I absolutely love the bright blooms.  There are three of these planted in my front planters, but I didn't put them in.  If anyone knows what it is, let me know.

The rose bush next door.  This is ONE bush. It's HUGE.  There must be at least 50 roses on it now, and there are another 20-30 buds. 

Which is why I have these all over the house:

I have so many plans for the backyard, but many have to wait until I have a few paychecks saved up.  I'd like to put in some sort of patio, and this will be my patio roof:

I love my tree in the backyard.  It's like having a canopy over half the yard.  The bright blue scrub jays flit from branch to branch and I can hear the dove sweetly cooing (I'd like to shoot the crows, though. Maybe I can borrow a gun from one of the garden club ladies! Hmm . . . )

Well, hopefully, the drug test results will be in soon, and I can start work within a day or two.  I need to start earning some money!!

Thanks for your visit and for your comments.  I love reading my comments and am enjoying getting to make new friends.  And if you haven't yet signed up to follow, feel free to do so.  I'm planning a giveaway when I reach 30 followers and wouldn't want anyone to miss their chance. 

Have a great day!