michelle ward

rosarian

 

The other day Martha's guest was a 'rosarian" from the New York Botanical Garden.  I learned a few things about planting - good to know as we just introduced 3 more rose bushes TODAY...making 13!  I love that title and figured it was reserved for official rose specialists or rosologists...is that a word?  When I looked it up at Merriam Webster is simply said:  cultivator of roses.  I'm that.  I'm a rosarian ;) 

 

Above is the view of my five original bushes.  If you are considering getting one for yourself let me suggest Double Knockout.  Ours are really growing up and out and I have been cutting roses from them daily.  Here's the thing - when I first got these last July I was afraid to cut the roses off.  Once I finally did it I was rewarded with many many more.  Don't be afraid to cut some and bring them in to enjoy.  I promise you they grow back.

 

I have lost count of how many roses I have cut this year.  The first bloom opened only two weeks ago and I'll bet I have had 100 since then.  Seriously.  I did some reading and came across a great trick - have a bucket of water out with you to drop the roses into when you cut them.  And cut early morning or late afternoon when it's cooler because the stems are more likely to be filled with the food that keeps them nourished and they will last longer in your vase.  I'm sure that's good advice for any kind of flower you cut from your garden.

 

I noticed our newest roses came in a container from Jackson and Perkins - the same company that Martha promoted on her show.  I went to their website and uh-oh.....I think I found a few more things I need for the sunny spots in our yard.  Climbing roses called Stairway to Heaven?  Need 'em.  I'm ready to tackle climbers (I think) and so I was looking at the arches and trellis options when I saw these dome things.  Need 'em.  Yep, I'm a rosarian.

EDIT:  Linda commented about using coffee grounds on roses....my mother-in-law in England does that too, so we have been saving both coffee and tea and have used it on the Mother's Day rose bushes as a test.  I'm still waiting for that garden to begin showing optimism.  (I think the rabbits have been enjoying them.)  My morning check brought this.....just yummy....it's yellow down in the center.

here's what happens.....

She was hopping around online and somehow found me....wrote me...."I love your work and I want some".  That was four months ago.  She built a website and I did her graphics.  Since then she's been lobbing assignments my way and I do my best to complete them.  It's been fun!  Little did I know when I started messing around in Photoshop that my playtime would become a day job.  You put yourself out there with no real agenda and the people you are meant to meet find you.  Here's what I've been doing:

 

Irina has boutiques in Carlsbad, CA and Del Mar, CA.  If you ever stop in there let me know - I'm dying to hear all about it.  Her online store is FairenDel.com

make it your own

 

Over on my Street Team site I have posted a new challenge, Crusade No. 31 ~ Make It Your Own.  Come on over and see what it's about.  If you're at work you might want to turn down your speakers as the loud music may cause a stir. 

Did you vote last night?  I hope you dialed 01, 03 or 05!  Whoever wins (it better be Adam) I think it's a great show.  Fun to see people step up and go for it, using their talent.  It's always interesting to hear the judges, especially Simon.  I appreciate his honesty.  They are looking for star power, for uniqueness, for individuality.  I hear them say many times "you really made that song your own".  Stand out.  Be extraordinary.  We may not sing well, but we can strive for that same personal expression in our art.  THAT is exactly what we are sharing with Crusade No. 31. 

 

UPDATE:  Congrats to Kris Allen.  Great show - fun to see KISS and Queen.  The P!NK song the American Idols opened with sums it up "so what, I'm still a rock star...."  I'm with you Adam. 

yesterday

Yesterday was my 45th birthday.  I think that almost as hard as July 10th will be, yesterday was tough.  I really missed her.  For forty years we shared the same birthday.  And while we shared many other things, like our brother, our parents, a bedroom, a wedding dress,....sharing a birthday was something really special. 

 

There were many years when Shannon and I got matching gifts.  When we each turned forty our parents gave us these charm bracelets.  I got mine five years ago, and she got hers last year.  Her last birthday.  She is still wearing hers, filled with charms from all of us.  Forever, the 40 on mine will now mean the forty years I was gifted with her presence. 

 

I've been thinking about that...presents & presence.  I look at the many wonderful presents I received this birthday and I am ever more thankful for the presence of each giver, both nearby or long distance.

And then there was this....

 

Literally dozens of buds are reaching straight up, toward the sun, toward heaven.  My plants from last July, with blooms ready to open....and one did.  My Mothers Day roses are thriving, spreading their optimism.  And roses arrived at my door too....

 

 

   

 

Thanks for all the kind words and wishes.  xoxo

signs and symbols and strides

Oooh!  Up for pre-order is the new Dan Brown novel The Lost Symbol.  And this weekend Angels and Demons hits the screen.  Can't wait.  I loved the Da Vinci Code (book was better than the film) and soaked up all the connections made with signs and symbolism.  On my drawing table is a study of symbols, with my own personal connections....the obvious:  a cross, a pink rose, and a four leaf clover.  and the secret:  an "S".

 

 

Friday @ 4:15 I will be honoring my sister with this permanent sign.  If I could see her reaction I know it would be a roll of the eyes, just before they well up with tears.

On Sunday, Shannon's husband Andy will be honoring her with a team of walkers for Great Strides to benefit Cystic Fibrosis.  Love that their mantra is to turn CF into Cure Found.  Love that it is on our birthday.   

may flowers

 

I can't really count these lovely Diana roses as my first blooms since I recenty just bought her.  She makes me so happy.  This weekend she will finally have a permanent home in the garden after days of rain. 

The dark clouds made me turn to my journal to work out a few thoughts and to write down some memories.

 

You may remember that this time last year I was able to sneak in a visit with Shannon after my workshop at Valley Ridge.  Here's the amazing thing:  I usually teach in October.  Kinda cool that it happened I was there in May, and made this visit to Minnesota happen.  Tucked in the envelope are some of the last emails I got from her.  One of them mentions what a "day-brightener" it was to receive all your blog comments filled with good wishes.  Thank you for coming through for me back then.  This is the last photo I have of us.  That day she told me I was a great hugger.  I never knew that.  Do you see that pink and black sleeve?  I was wearing it for her.

 

The sun was out today - finally!  I inspected the roses and was gifted with this.  There are many teeny weeny buds but only one revealing petals.   Even better than a rainbow.  Send your good vibes the sun sticks around tomorrow as we are having the annual party for Sam (bumped from April in hopes of better weather!).

5.5.........5

 

Do you have MSN.com set as your home page?  If you do, you were treated to this clever ad campaign by Chanel for their new No. 5 commercial starring Audrey Tautou.  Love how the train ran across the top banner and the schedule billboard dropped down across the screen.  Love how the whole page was redesigned.  I spent some time this morning clicking around HERE where you can see the long and short version of the 'film', and even behind-the-scenes.  Then it dawned on me.....today is 5/5.  LOVE that kind of CLEVER.

 

Everything about Chanel is classy don't you think?  Karl Lagerfeld puts on tremendous runway shows for House of Chanel.  Did you see the one with all the paper flowers?  Imagine the work that went into this!

 

My own connection to Chanel:  the first gift I ever got from Graham was Chanel perfume, before we were married.  No. 5 is a fave.  And not more than a mile from our home is a huge Chanel coumpound.  It's two buildings and there is an over-the-street walkway connection between them.  I often wonder what goes on in there - kinda like the Wonka factory.  When the packaging used to say "Paris London New York" I thought it should include Piscataway.  What if the same water I drink is used to make No. 5?

 

 

I adored the Baz Luhrmann/Nicole Kidman commercial from a few years back.  I never knew you could see the "making of" clips until I went HERE, also found on youtube.  And for the newest one, visit HERE.  Did anyone see the Coco Avant Chanel?  It hasn't been here yet.  Hope I didn't miss it.

don't you love May?

 

I went to Lowe's for some contact cement (for mounting rubber, see below) and walked out with this lovely new rose bush.  I could have added 3 or 4 more other rose varieties to my cart but I will let my kids get me some for Mother's Day and my birthday later this month :)  Isn't this Diana divine?

Right out front we have this lilac bush - I love this time of year when the fragrance surrounds our home, inside and out.  Mmmm, take a deep breath.

 

The TruGreen guy stopped by this week.  He was walking the neighborhood trying to drum up business.  He thinks we need to get rid of the clover patches in our yard.  So I made him wait a second while I fetched my "lucky soup".  He nodded and walked away after claiming he had never seen a real four leaf clover, let alone a bowl of them.  I love how he took a second look out of the corner of his eye as he walked back down the driveway past my lucky "weeds".

 

This week we had a lucky visit from my Mom to celebrate Fallon's confirmation!  She knows some of my Valley Ridge friends will see this so she said to say hello.  Hello.

The first batch of Hot Topic has been arriving around the globe!  There have been a few questions from first-timers to unmounted rubber.  First, let me say the images are really packed in on the sheet and you have to carefully cut them apart.  I know I know I know you are cursing me that some are too close and you are saying you didn't realize you had to have a surgical residency before cutting rubber.  Just take it slow and try using a utility knife in the tight spots.  Second, here is a quickie on how I mount my rubber with kneeling pads.  (They were in the dollar section of my Target this week, bonus!)