A Rare Orchid

A few days ago Vickie sent me a link to an article in ABC News about a rare orchid in bloom and being on display for one week only at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum about 60 miles west. http://http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/02/12/rare-orchid-blooming-at-minn-landscape-arboretum/
The weather has been beautiful the past few days and it was a good reason to take the Vue for a ride. I had my friend Rose join me for the morning trip. This is a privet collection that is being shared with the public. It was a good destination.


Orchids that look like Hummingbirds.



The same plant and the flowers all look slightly different. One has freckles and the other not!

The large white flowers remind me of mouths.

This yellow and red bloom repeated hundreds of times on a cluster of stems. Outstanding!

And this is the rare orchid that we went there to see.

I photoed the discription so I wouldn't have to write it.

Quite a big deal.

They were all very breath taking in their own way.

While we were there we wondered around the buildings. We came across the library and the "Tea Room". This is a part of the property I hadn't explored in the past but I promised myself that I will be there more ofter this year to enjoy the gardens and explore. They just started renting snow shoes and there are trails around the Arboretum grounds. Think that would be pretty cool, I may want to try that one day before the winter is over. It's sort of good to see some of the plants during the winter and check out the bird area perhaps.

After spending the warm sunny spring like morning out were I know the total focus is upon gardens and plants; I am burning with the fever. I hope I'm not in for a big disappointment.... of course I am, it's February. Oh well, it's not too much longer.

Happy Valentines Day

Shall we compare our hears to a garden-
With beautiful blooms, straggling weeds,
swooping birds and sunshine, rain-
and most importantly, seeds.

-Grey Livingston-



I am not very good with words. And sometimes I don't think the people I love and hold close and dear to my heart don't realize how much they mean to me.

Have a very happy and love filled Valentine's Day.

With All My Love.....

Burr it's cold outside

Oh my word; I am so sick of this cold! The sun is brightly shining and when I look at the thermometer it reads -4. I will stay in this morning and reconsider if I will even go out this afternoon. At this point in the season there isn't anything that important that I can't wait till the day warms up. Yesterday we had the furnace guy out because the fan was starting to make unfriendly noises and this is not the week we wanted the fan to stop at 3 AM. So at least we know the fan is in fine working order.

I am thinking about making a trip to "Trader Joe's", a grocery store that has it's own brand of very reasonable priced foods with a good quality products containing fewer thing that I can't say let along spell. For those of you who have been there you agree that it is a great excuse to take the Vue for a ride. I do like driving the Vue, but the millage isn't what I would like it to be. I still feel a bit piggish when I pull up to the gas pump and now with the price of gas up over $3.00 a gallon it hurts even more. Yes I know; 'you only drive 10,000 miles a year'.

As most of you have probable heard Jeff and I are trying to adopt a healthier way of living (I'm sure Paula will be happy to hear that) though better eating and exercise. For the eating part we are receiving assistance through Weight Watchers. We have made this a combined effort and we are headed in the right direction. Part of my goal is

to make this a 'habit' so when I go back to work in a

couple months we won't fall off the wagon.

We aren't going to be vegetarians, but we are reducing the amount we eat or the type of meat, and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. We are reading the labels of the product we eat more clearly and changing some of the little habits can make a big difference, like butter. We are both feeling well fed and not deprived as I have on some other diets. The recipes and cooking methods are quite good. Jeff made a humus the other night that was fabulous, (I won't be buying that at Trader Joe's anymore). We are losing weight, slowly but surely.

To assist us with our working out and to make it more amusing we are employing the Wii Fit. I am the one that said I wouldn't use a game counsel to work out, but yet here I am checking in every day. I will admit that my balance has improved and we all know that our health only improves with physical activity. Besides, in 7 weeks it's back on the job site. I am also riding a stationary bike as well as the Fit and Jeff goes to a sports arena in town to walks the playing field with many other folks from the area who don't want to walk outside. I think that it is a social thing as well. Folks walk together and visit then move on to do a few laps before the next group they walk and visit with.

Yesterday was the second therapy for my thumb since I had the cast off two weeks ago and she is very impressed with the progress I have made. Actually my thumb bends better hers did! I still have a small splint to wear on the thumb alone for about a moth as I feel I need it, and no push ups.

I don't know what Vickie finds time but I saw that she has updated her blog with new pictures of the kids. Her blog site is; www.thehollandbaby.blogspot.com in case you would like to see pictures of Ridley and Haley.

Gee I wonder who gave this shirt to Haley? Any guesses?

Well that's the scoop for now. Take care of yourself and stay warm.

AML