Its stalk is bent, it hangs its head

in a bed of hearts so green.

Why lay in shade, it seems to hide its bed?

Show your colored faces, such delight to be seen! 

  (an attempt at prose to start off this weeks answer,

 written by me, Faythe)

What was our mystery last week? It brought out lots of wonderment and tease... I will show one more clue before I reveal the name and a new Wednesday Winning Wizard to announce as well! 

Can you see it hiding, like they sometimes do. A late spring ground flower that comes is shades of blue, purple and it family of cousins with more painted faces so cheery and bright!

This weeks Wizard correctly guessed a violet!

The wood violet is a small flower commonly seen in moist woodland and meadow areas, and along roadsides. This purple violet is very popular in the eastern United States and blooms between March and June. It is the state flower for Wisconsin, but it also holds this title in Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. 

Violets likes shade to sun and reseeds easily. Some consider it invasive for a groomed garden as it does seem to like even growing in lawns. Believe it or not, the leaves and flowers are very tasty and can be used in salads, candies, and jellies. I have not tried this and would suggest asking at your local University Extension office if the ones in your area are edible. 

It comes in white as well as the colors I already mentioned, but its cousins like the pansy have more of a tri-colored face. They all seem to bend their faces down especially when getting heavy with growing seed. I wonder if that is where the term "shy violet" comes from?

We had one winning Wizard this week, and many new visitors as well! I hope you all come back and enjoy the mysteries  (some silly, some pretty) I hope to befuddle and delight you with!

This weeks Wizard is Blue Violet from A Nut in a Nutshell!

Blue Violet be sure to grab my Winning Wizard button to proudly show off your superior knowledge! (wink!)

I have been still experiencing daily rain showers and the occasional thunder and lightning show. I hope it is slowing down. It is getting harder to remove the mildew growing between my ears!

I have another pretty clue for this weeks mystery. Some of you that have been reading a while may remember it being mentioned and shown as well. 

This one also comes in a variety of colors and is one I call my heirloom plants. Please be sure to leave a guess in your comments, so you can claim the wondrous Wednesday Winning Wizard Award! (wink!)

Mr. Linky will also be below for those that play along and invite everyone to come see what they have to offer this Wednesday! 

I await your answers

as normal lately, 

with slightly muddy hands!

Enjoy your week!
And for all my fellow Americans
Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Thundering and Lightning, very, very frightening!

Yikes! It is still raining on my head almost everyday 
of the week here in the dairy state. Last night was horrid and a bit scary too, lots of rumbling over head and bright flashes of lightning and then... KaBoom!

I was working on the powering down stuff
to turn off my computer and Phhtt... black... blacker than night! Weird, but I do not think we even had a moon, if there was one too many clouds to see it... No power at all! from about 10 p.m. until about 6 p.m. tonight! 

Hot, humid and wicked. Hubby's birthday ended with a big light show to no light at all. Surprisingly we did not find any big branches in the yard? 

But I swear, I am turning into a fish with all this moisture and the gills I have grown are even turning moldy! I do not remember such a wet and loud month of June!

We had some great guesses last week on our mystery photo. I wish it was of a magnolia, I would love one in my yard! It is not lilacs either, my 2 big bushes do not have a very pretty flower, and do not like to be cut and brought into the house to enjoy the scent either. I did not plant them, so I do not know the variety, but if I did I would not recommend it.
Here is a clue from last week, the buds are more open and showing a pretty blush of color.

Here you can see some of the hard covering the bud still had in last weeks clue.

I still have yet to perfect working the macro tool on my point and shoot, and find a cure for my ever present shaky hands, but the back buds are pretty clear to make them coming out of that covering.

The answer, which was correctly answered by Wednesday Wizard Linda from The Crafty Gardener in Canada is Rhododendron! This variety is called "White Lights". Only one branch really grew but it did surprise me with more flowers then previous years. I was practicing (cough) my techniques and this shot was at dusk, it give it a different hue and contrast.

A bit shaky and it was also windy, so I will blame the blurriness on that (wink).

Here it is all open and in-between the many rain showers so it also has splatters of dirt and grit on its pretty pale pink flowers. Why it is called white lights?? I do not know. I was amazed of how full this branch was, I have never had more then 2 flowers on it since it's terrible truck accident! So I am much more encouraged that it may just grow into a handsome shrub after all!

A good thing I was able to snap it's pretty photo that day as the continuing pounding showers ripped the flowers to shreds!

I am going to leave you with this weeks quiz in a close up (the best I could crop it anyway ) and I hope many more of you can figure out this one! And my friend and Master Gardener...(wink) Linda, if you correctly guess this one I would also like the full genus name from you ( Oh, I am being a naughty game host aren't I??)

Since I feel lucky to even log in to post this week, I thought the pretty color of this weeks tip-off would cheer up anyone who is seeing through grimy moldy eyeballs like me. Mr. Linky is below for those that play along.


I wish everyone a beautiful week ( I still have more storms and rain in the forecast, sigh...) So leave me some great hypothesizes and link up your photos ( hopefully sunny) to help me chase the gloom away!

Until next Wednesday 
I leave with muddy 
hands (still!)...

For all the "Dads" Happy Fathers Day!

  What is a father??

An age old question that passes from generation to generation.

There is an old saying that any fool can be a father, 
but it takes a Special Man to be a Daddy. 

Simple sounding but hard to accomplish.

This man will need several qualities. But being human this knowledge may not all be known to him all at one time. With experience comes wisdom. Ask any "hands on" parent, children do not come with instruction manuals! Every child is different, personality, eyes, hair, smiles, color, size and even volume! The same can be said of parents. But we as parents take on a huge commitment to raise a child into a respectable, responsible adult. It has been called the best, most rewarding and hardest task you can take on. Take the time to learn, listen and love. Be brave. Love.

  Today we celebrate Father's Day.

I would like to touch on some of the qualities that makes that Special Dad.

Strength to carry, protect and shelter...

Hardworking, inspiring, thoughtful and stern when needed...

This man will be a hero, mentor, spouse and playmate.

Being a Dad is not easy, never was promised that way, but this tough job brings so many rewards!

You must show courage, support and integrity. Have patience, humor, be quick thinking for kids can throw out the most amazing and unbelievable things into your life. Most often at the least opportune time.  

You can and will survive! 
This is when a sense of humor can be your best talent.

A Dad is a man who cares for his child's physical 
 and emotional needs.

A Dad puts the child's wants and needs ahead of even his own.

A Dad listens with his heart, speaks with his hugs
and teaches not always by words but leads by example.

A true Daddy is hard to come by,

    but truly is a special someone!

So this goes out to all the Dads, Papas, Grandpas, Buppas, Great-grandpas, Step-dads, Uncles, foster-dads and all men who guide us and our children through life. This is the day we celebrate you!

These are wishes for you to have time to relax, and find more days to get to do all the things you want to do. And most of all Enjoy your family and the precious days and moments you have with them. 
For all to soon they will be the next generation with the that question being asked... how ? 

I also want to send a special wish to all the dads that can not be with their children today. Whether you are serving our country in uniform or away from home for work or other reasons. I wish you God-speed home and many happy memories to come in the arms of your family. 
May the smile of your child be your bright light to show you the way.

Until next time ...

           Faythe
 

From Savory to Noxious

Or a Tale of two spring greens

Another week of raindrops on posies not fun times for digging or enjoying colors and scents in my corner of Wisconsin. 
I have lots of green to share since rain in spring (almost summer!) with a spattering of sunshine brings out plenty of green!

We have winning Wizards to announce -
Too-toot-da-toot! As well!

Here is the one photo I found that shows enough of this tasty spicy delight, that I had snapped in-between the deluge of rain that has come very late as a spring libation for the fields and fauna.
The correct response for last weeks query was Chives!!

I have mine planted close to the house since I do not have a vegetable or herb garden. This brings it to life a bit quicker as it get the reflective warmth from the back of the house. It is also the sunniest, hottest part of my garden areas. Considering chives, from the onion family, add a bit of heat and color to a dish it is a fitting spot for it to grow. What do you think? It always has a nice fresh earthy smell.
I have already de-headed these pretty lavender orbs as they are past their prime, but I should be able to snip the greens whenever I need throughout the summer, as long as I do not let it dry out to badly. 

Before I bring on the nasty noxious part of my story let me call out the Wizards that were so astute last week!

(note to self... 'I thought you were going to make this harder??' self: 'I was but maybe this week I will stump them, bhawwhahaahaa') 

Henrietta from A Hen's Nest !!

Linda from A Crafty Gardener !!

Yup, repeats!! Bravo!! make sure that Wednesday Wizards badge is shown with pride!! (if you have not been able to right click and save it, please let me know and I will send you either the code or the image, I have not yet figured out how to make the darn grab box! too busy drowning in the misery of to much rain *snort*)

I have two more Wizards I feel deserve a mention as they replied in the correct family of plants/genus ( for those who like fancy terms {wink} Oh, btw- I have been known to get words mixed up as well as mis-spelled )

Sukhamandir from A Guide to Sikhism Religion

Marilyn from A Lot Of Loves

Around of applause for all of you! 

Now before we continue in our adventure of discovery in my jungle, I felt it time to bring out one of the nasty gremlins that relentlessly plagues in my thickets. It is the thorn in my side, a major kick in my rump, my annual Nemesis!! Look below if you dare!!!!

Is that a chuckle I hear??? 

What can be so scary about a few (deceptive) seedlings?

Don't let that young tender green fool you. They are evil, noxious, the antagonist of my spring splendor!
I will be just strolling along picking twigs and leaf without a care, in my gratification of seasonal renewal, when all at once I spy it! So green, too green and healthy looking, just barely uncovered by a foot of snow and it brazenly shows it's presence.
It has returned... the pernicious enemy has sprung to life! Laughing at me, as I look and see more! Oh No! I grab my plastic bags and start pulling and stuffing... endless, tiresome work... and it still continues to laugh... A shriek it echos in my head... I must prepare for battle!!

Do not scoff!! To some this may look a tasty herb... tis true some do eat the very young and tender leaves. But if you do not pluck it all and especially before it flowers.... it will soon consume you! That is if it doesn't knock you out from its odorous rank.
What is this nasty, evil monster that keeps returning year after year?
Garlic Mustard!
It multiplies so easily, since it is not a native but hitched a ride from some European land. It will grow just about anywhere! It prefers some shade, but it will become emblazoned and creep its way out into sunlit areas to LEAP over into a fresh spot to spread it's abundance of seed. Garlic mustard can spit at will as soon as you see its delicate little 4 part white petals. Much worse arrives when it grows to a tower like stalk and the flowers are cast into the wind and leaves behind nothing but a skeleton of stems full of ripe seeds! This will be when the temperatures are higher, as it seems to like it cooler. But beware if you try to sneak upon it as it naps to whisk it out of you or path... those bony fingers are just waiting for a chance to blow apart and spill it infamous embryos.

So now do you understand my horror? Why I fight this demon even tho my woods are more wild than tame? These beasts are trying to claim way to any spot where a geranium or trillium grow. It makes me weep. Sigh...
Would you care to join me in my battle or do you already wear the scars from its fight? For those who like to eat their enemies, err harvest... I have found a few recipes I can share... just leave it in the comments and I will share them next week.... bhaahahhhaaawwwwwww!!!

Okay, shake off the fright for now... sorry I had to be so cruel, I felt a warning was desperately needed. Plus I do not wish to be alone in my weary siege.

Now I leave you with the weekly tip-off. This little beauty shown below with just a blush in bud has been nursed as I try to bring it back into health and size after a terrible accident with a huge delivery truck! The darn truck backed up and ran right over it and smashed the poor thing to less than half its size. It is bravely persistent and had some very pretty flowers this year on one lovely stem. Care to take a chance this week?

What can it be??? I await your comments and retorts.
Mr. Linky is below for those who follow along as well.




Until next week...

I leave you with muddy hands
( I may have to start an ark!!)

The Ladies Room {overheard, laughs and snickers} PSA

An Important Message For Women !!

An Alert for Ladies!

You've no doubt heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves. 

I have just as terrifying a warning to share with you!

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs!!

It was just that quick. 

The replacements had the texture of Cooked Oatmeal.
It was horrible! Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs.

Finally, hurt, angry and disgusted
I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans.

And then the thieves struck again! 

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new butt was attached at least three inches lower than my original!

I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favor of long skirts or worse ‘house-dresses’. I hate long skirts, I yearn to wear all those cute shorts and jeans stuffed in my closet.

And then two years ago I realized my arms had been switched!

One morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of my hairbrush. 

This was really getting scary - 
my body was being replaced one section at a time. 
What would they do to me next?  

 

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided it was time to tell my story.

Women of the World wake up and smell the coffee! 

After much research I believe I have figured out who the thieves are! 

Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted', look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX.

This is happening to women everywhere Every Night.

WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

      P. S. Last year I thought someone had stolen my Boobs! I was lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them safely hidden in my waistband. 

I thought this news was too 'important' not to alert and share with my readers. 
Feel free to warn your friends!!

Consider this a public service announcement. We ladies need to be extra vigilant. It is bad enough the young, sassy and sexy of today are already stealing all the male attention... Now they want our "vernal parts" too!! 
Forewarned is forearmed, I say! 

What do you Colum-bine...

in your garden?
Quiet, time, family or fun?

Welcome back Wednesday Wizards!

Ugh, what a terrible "pun" to start out this weeks quest...

A reminder of last weeks clue...

Hummm, I see a hint of color showing... it is about 8 to 10 inches taller than last weeks clue photo in about 9 days, tho you can't tell from the photo. I am only showing her head!

The answer is Columbine! 

Here below is that lovely dark purple head opening for you and I to enjoy!

I was experimenting with angles again this view (below) is with the late afternoon sun peeking over her shoulder.  
This plant is in dappled to heavy shade.

I do have several colors around the yard. 

I mentioned before we planted wild flower seeds in different parts of the yard. The last couple years they have dwindled so I have been harvesting seeds again to dry and sow again where we like them and they seem to grow best.

I have been searching the yard for the few double-bloomed (headed? help me out gardeners whats the right term?? I have soggy brain this week from all the rain that is still coming down) plants we had but no luck the last 2 years.


Here is a delicate pink columbine that is way across the yard and gets late day sunshine.

Did I mention how rainy it has been??? Oh, many windy days as well.
This is the same pretty pink with a few of her fellow flowers enjoying the day.

So you are enjoying these pretty blooms from mid-May. A good thing I was out that day digging and a bit of weeding to capture them. It was just before the rain, rain, rain... did I mention rain??? I haven't been out since!

We had some great guesses last week and 3 Wizards that knew the correct answer!

I hope you are enjoying my little game around the yard. I appreciate everyone's nice comments, but it really is a jungle here! I do tend to like the natural look since we live deep in the country sticks, and it is harder for me to keep manicured... but my {BFF} has the "park" next door, and I may have to start sharing scenes from her place for more variety ( and beauty, they are so talented and dedicated to taking care of their slice of Heaven, and it sure feels and looks like Heaven too!)

Now back to the Wizards!!!

In no particular order...

Once again have Linda from the Crafty Gardener!

(I do not think I will be able to stump her again!! LOL)

Virginia from Lady V dZine

and  Henrietta from A Hen's Nest 

A big round of applause to this wise trio!! Visit their beautiful blogs, just click on their blog name, and enjoy their worlds!

Attention Wizards!! If you look to your left in my sidebar I have made a special badge I thought might be a fun reward for playing along. I Have to figure out how to add the grab code and will work on it soon. If you send me you email addys I can send it to you if it is not already posted by the time you visit. I hope you display it proudly! (for your knowledge and humor, to visit me each week it takes a bit)

I think she sort of reminds me of myself!
 A bit crooked and puzzled!

I do have a hint to leave you with for pondering, commenting and just a reason to give your head a good scratch until next weeks Wordless/word-full/or Watery Wednesday...

Hopefully by next Wednesday I will be a bit dried out. But not eaten alive by the huge mosquitoes I am sure are actively awaiting a nice steamy sunny day to hatch just so they can snack on me with bloody delight! (Help!!)
Mr. Linky is below for those who like to link up for visits. Please feel free to leave a comment, question or giggle. I do my best to return all comments in kind.

I shall wait as always

with dirty,

well muddy this week, hands...

Looking for some fun stuff for summer?

What if this fun stuff could also be free?

I have some great blog giveaways to recommend, 

and have really great odds to win too!

Head on over to Good Golly Miss Blondie for her Summer Beach Bash going on now! Most of these close soon, so the sooner you head over the better your chances are to win! And while you are there look around at what else she has going on and a few other giveaways not part of the Beach Bash.

Another place to hurry and check out, especially if you are still wondering about Father's Day is For The Love of Chaos. She has a great Fathers Day Guide and giveaway going on with a lot of techie stuff and other goodies for the guy ( or maybe yourself) in your life!

She also has a list of giveaways on one of her other blogs you can find here at Colloquymoms ! 

Lady D dZine has another great Father's Day Guide and giveaway going on and here is a great book that is ending real soon ( low entries) ! 

Lisa over at Crazy Adventures in Parenting has a good one going on with 10 winners! For Tyson Chicken and a yummy recipes as well!

Chelsea over at Mama Makes Money has a quickie for Domino's, and another for a $50 Wal-mart card.

Mommy Musings has a quick one ending for Aqua-Fresh products & a entry into a bigger grand prize as well.

And one last one here is more ending today at It's All about the Savings! 

Always check a blogs sidebars for any other giveaways they may have going on. It is most important to pay attention to what the first 'mandatory' entry is that is needed to win, if you don't follow what they ask ( it is usually very simple) you could disqualify yourself for any extra entries they are offering for that giveaway!

           


 

   
      Faythe






Enjoy, have fun and let me know if you get lucky!