95/365

April 14th

Passion flower

I know these close ups are getting repetitive but the plants just look so amazing this time of the year.

94/365

April 13th

Decorative Chili Peppers

93/365: When you're happy and you know it...

April 12th

Children's week at the Captiol

One of the festivities is hanging of hands sent it from daycares all around Florida. The photo doesn't do it justice, it's three levels of hangings... hands as far as eye can see. There are so many we couldn't pinpoint Mika's daycare or her group :)

92/365

April 11th

Blue- eyed grass, Sisyrinchium atlanticum

This is one of Florida native grasses usually described as very sturdy and very perennial. One of the things I learned when I started our family garden was that I should pretty much forget all the plants I love and enjoy. The bulbs mostly had to go because the winters here aren't cold enough, and I had a lot of problems dealing with so much sun.

It's not just sun, it's scorching, smoldering heat the burns... combine that with the humidity and all the plants I imagined in my garden were a gonner. I had to learn the hard way but I have finally accepted that I will have to relearn everything and let the land teach me.

One of the finds is this grass, this is its second year in the garden and it is proving to be the most wonderful surprise. It is growing very fast, last year I started with two plants and this year I have three that are double in size of the originals. It has survived the winter and has surprised with an abundance of cute button flowers that resist the heat amazingly.

91/365: Ornamental

April 10th

Went plant hunting at the Tallahassee Nurseries.

90/365: Ache

April 9th

This is a detail from a photo album I am trying to make using the photos from our first family summer in Croatia, two years ago now.

I have about 10 pages so far and about 20-30 to go. The reason it's taking so long is because every time I start I end up breaking down in tears. No one can explain to you what it feels like to be separated from the people you love until you experience it first hand.

Now that I am a parent myself, I respect my parents silent acceptance of my marriage even more. Obviously, they see our happy little family and that makes them content, or maybe just not worried. But now knowing first hand what it feels like to not have your child next to you (no matter how old) I am in awe how brave they were, to just hug me and love me and wish David and me well even though their hearts were breaking inside.

To not have your child near you, your family, is like...... someone takes a piece of your heart and nothing you do can ever fill that void. It doesn't matter how happy you are, how well things are going... despite of it all you walk around with a part of you hollow; there is no filling it, there is no replacing it.

My parents knew this feeling, they knew how much every day apart would hurt and yet they never, not once, spoke against my marriage. David and I have always had their full support and for that I will always respect them and love them beyond words.

89/365: Inspiration

This photo wasn't taken so much for the azaleas as it was for ideas.

I am on an idea hunt for Mika's 3rd Birthday Party. Her birthday isn't until end of July but I have to churn things in my head for a month or two, and then when I have it all worked out I can actually make the stuff fairly quickly.

I fell in love with this color, I know I want strong colors for this party: lime green and powerful dark pink, orange and red. Did I mention it will be a bug party?

Mika's crazy for all things animal but I thought narrowing it down a little will work better so it's a bug party: D Lady bugs, butterflies, dragon flies you name it.... Ideas I have so far:
- dessert and regular food table will be under trees next to each other so we can hang pom poms and big breezy butterflies above....
- mason jars!
- pink and green lemonade, if you have ideas on how to make them be that color please let me know...
- desserts: sugar cookies and raspberry ice cream for ice cream sandwiches, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes with fresh fruits....
- regular food: mini sausages, puff pastry maybe, carrots, cucumbers, cheese sticks...
- felt crowns for all the kids
- big felt flowers all around the yard
- felt bugs for goodie bags
- bug coloring pages with crayons
- chalks (I hope the $ store has these cheap)
- bubbles!!! ($ store again)

I will have to stop by the $ store one day next week, they should have plenty of Easter merchandise I could use for this.

Please let me know if you guys have any ideas.