About Dana

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I'm a dichotomy of blue jeans, pretty jewelry, frugalista, and Southern girl living the simple rural life. I want to live my life holistically, thoughtfully, economically, and most of all gratefully, and encourage other women to do the same.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Why Can't We Hire a Housekeeper?

I don't like to rant or complain on my blog because.....well, we can get that ANYWHERE, can't we? I even go so far as to try and dissuade my son from saying negative comments by mimicking the music from the old Debbie Downer skit on Saturday Night Live when he tries to go there - WUH - WAH! Remember that? If you can't, don't tell me because it means you're a young'un. And once you're 40-something, well who wants to be reminded there are people MUCH YOUNGER THAN YOU out there?

But back to my original no-complaint blogging rule. Just so you know - I'm breaking it today. I'm stressed, and I want to share it. You should turn away now if you're in a jolly mood.

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Why doesn't anyone in business call you back when they say they will call back??

Why does my neighbor race his motorcycle up and down beside my house until I want to take his ride and smash it into a zillion pieces?? Make that a zillion trillion pieces.

Why does my head hurt??

Why are there weeds taking over my garden beds no matter how many I pull??

Why do we constantly run out of groceries??

Why does gas cost so much??

Why can I not sleep late on Saturday morning - the one morning I'm actually allowed to sleep late??

How come we can't hire a housekeeper??

When did the laundry start quietly multiplying in my laundry room??

Why can't my son finish all his school work without complaining??
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OK, I'm done. Thanks for helping me relieve stress before the weekend. I truly hope yours is happy and stress-free.

TCB

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

What's Blooming in my Southern Garden in February and March

We have had a super mild winter, so the blossoms have begun peeking their heads through a little earlier than usual this year. Although I've yet to spend a day weeding the garden, there are signs of warm weather sprinkled throughout my landscape.

If you need some ideas to add color to your garden this (usually) bleak time of the year (weather-wise, that is), consider these:

Eastern Redbud (a small tree)

Daffodils (you must plant bulbs in November)

Here's a shy one. It's called Daffodilus Bashfulus.

Viburnum. Mine is a small tree after thriving for about 10 years in the front yard. There are smaller varieties.

Dwarf Nandina are beautiful in the cold winter air because they turn crimson.

Camellia Japonica, of course. A true Southern traditional shrub whose cut flowers look beautiful floating in bowls of water.


And Breath of Spring. This is a photo from last year. My plants are sparsely blooming this year because they received a haircut at a most unfortunate time in the past.


Now you have six new ideas to add to your garden. None of these require a green thumb. After the first season of establishment, you really don't have to do much at all except occasionally trim Viburnum and Breath of Spring and feed them all periodically.

Happy gardening,
TCB