THE HELEN KELLER OF KITTIES

This is my sweetheart kitty Dixie.

She was found as a kitten in the Chattanooga Battlefield,

Chickamauga, thus the name.

Dixie has been with me for many years. Once an energetic, frolicking cat, now an

old slumbering soul.

Dixie had the most amazing blue eyes.
Two years ago she developed blindness in both eyes, we're not sure why, some trauma perhaps, She is mostly deaf as well, just from old age I guess.

Now, strictly an indoor cat, she manages to get around alright.

She has her favorite chair

and can still jump up on the bed to snuggle at night.

I'm linking today with Angela and her Tuesday's Show & Tail.

LAUGH OUT LOUD!

A smile starts on the lips, A grin spreads to the eyes, A chuckle comes from the belly,

But a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, Overflows, and bubbles all around.

~Carolyn Birmingham~

I happened upon this while taking a walk.

Good Sunday to all.

Happy Gardening.

ART IN THE WILDERNESS

While vacationing this month in Maryland, we wandered for a couple of hours in the woodland grounds of the Annmarie Garden. The park is located in Leonardtown and is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.



We happened upon a very unique and unexpected exhibition.
("Goodnight Moon"...maybe?)


The woman at the information center didn't have much information, in fact she wasn't even aware of the exhibit. Luckily Rick and Terry, our host had been there before and guided us through.


Throughout the woodland path we saw miniature renderings of important works of art. I knew some, recognized others and was completely clueless on many.


Have you seen this before?

What about this?

We've all seen this one.

I have no idea!

We know this smiling lady.

Anyway it was a lovely outing, but most of all I enjoyed the company. We don't get to see my brother, Rick and his wife Terry very often, so when we do it's a special time.

I'll let you peruse the rest and I'll see you next time.

Happy gardening.

LADEW GARDENS

One of the outing my sister and I did last week during our travels was to visit the

Ladew Topiary Gardens outside of Baltimore, MD.

They have been called "The Most Outstanding Topiary Garden in America", by the

Garden Club of America.

Both the gardens and the house are on the National Register of Historic Places.

A very knowledgeable lady took us through the house, then we were on our own to browse the gardens.

Harvey S Ladew (1887-1976) designed and created his unique 22 acres of flower and topiary gardens after purchasing the farm in 1929.

Mr Ladew was a self taught gardener, and one of the first Americans to create garden rooms.
There's hope for me.





This is the Tivoli Teahouse, it was designed after the Tivoli Theatre ticket booth.

The inside was very sweet, I wish I had taken pictures.





The garden played host to many topiaries such as lyrebirds, hunt scenes, swans, ducks and much more. The trimming of the topiaries begin in July and take three months to complete.





This was a wonderful hunt scene.






Another structure on the grounds, this one in the Yellow Garden.




On the pond we found this boat...

...and in the water.





This was the Iris garden, and amazingly there were some bloomings.

A private residence on the grounds, wouldn't you just love it!

View looking back in the opposite direction from the cottage.

Happy Gardening

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES

Have you ever been traveling and come across something that just takes your breath away?

It happen to my sister and I while traveling through Maryland.



We were in search of the Ladew Topiary Gardens and came across this.

If we had never found the garden, the day was made!

Susan with a smile on her face.

Sunflowers, as far as the eye could see.

I died and went to Heaven!

Happy Gardening everyone.

AMISH COUNTRY

Back home today after a week of travel. Susan and I took a road trip up to Leonardtown Maryland. We visited our brother Rick and his wife Terry for a few days, then up to New York to see my niece Kate and her boyfriend, Dylan.

One of the day trips we took was to an Amish Farmer's Market.

It was late in the day when we got there and Terry told us many of the vendors were already gone. It was still amazing to our eyes. The flowers and produce was beautiful.

The rows of pumpkins put us in the mood for Halloween and Fall decorating.

Even though it was late, people were still shopping for their dinners.

If we hadn't been traveling, I would have taken these home!

Mouth watering watermelon.

One of the things I love about traveling is it gives you a chance to glimpse other people and their lifestyles. It makes you either jealous or thankful, or maybe a little of both.

THE BIG CITY

Susan and I are on the road this week. We have been in the Chesapeake Bay area in Maryland visiting our brother Rick and his lovely wife Terry. Now we are in Jersey City visiting my niece Kate. I've taken lots of pictures and can't wait to share our adventures. Last night we went to see Memphis on Broadway, it was fabulous. We've got one more day in NYC, then it's on the road again for home.