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The Blind Side

 
College boy returned home. From the looks of the laundry he dragged home, I'm baffled how both he and the laundry all fit into one vehicle. But they did. And how wonderful it is to have him home for the long Thanksgiving break.

Even more wonderful is that he wanted to spend last Saturday night with his mom and dad. Pinch me. I've heard this can happen after they've been away for a while. How sweet it is...

We decided to grab dinner out and take in a movie. We ordered our tickets online and arrived early to grab good seats. The place was packed. And for good reason. This movie was very special.

A heart-warming story. If you're one of those brave souls who heads out shopping on Black Friday and find you need an escape from the frenzy of it all, take in this movie! Superb acting...a beautiful portrayal of what compassion looks like in real life.

As for me and the shopping frenzy...naw...I'm tucked away in our cabin up in the mountains contemplating how to avoid the frenzies of Christmas and make it something meaningful. If I figure it out, I'll let you know!

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Pink Saturday...

{photo source: www.countryliving/.../enchanted-cottage-0105/}
A wise gardener knows that fall is the perfect time to plant perennials. Wanting mostly to be wise, and then a gardener, my thoughts have turned to perennials. The key words are my thoughts as I've done nothing beyond the dreaming stage. But let me share my dream...

 

{photo source: http://www.southernaccents.com/outdoor-living/flowers-plants/pretty-peonies-00400000036154/}
My flower beds need some peonies! HAPPY is all they know how to do! Well, that, and attract a zillion ants to their sweet nectar.

 

{photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picsnapper/25371851188/}
 Southern climates {like mine in GA} are supposed to be a bit more challenging when it comes to growing peonies. Beyond the tips for soil and lighting conditions, the key, I've read, for enhancing one's success in the south is to not mulch over the root base.

{photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10925099@N00/150969363/}

 A humorous story I read in a Southern Accents article made me chuckle. In 17th century England, the peonies fell out of favor with wealthy aristocrats. Was it the ants?

Nope, it wasn't the ants. It was because peonies can live in excess of 50 years. That would be a good thing, right? Not according to these folks. Let me share a quotation from the article:

"They felt that any plant that would last a lifetime was vulgar and common. No self-respecting gardener would even consider growing a poor man's flower."

 

{photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13634983@N06/1806279781/in/set-72157606041899766/}
 

{photo source: www.flower-arrangement-advisor.com/}

  

{photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/3576884032/}

 Hopefully, one day I'll have my own little bushes of  happy peonies. But I'm told it takes two seasons after planting before the flowers appear. Oh well, a wise gardener is a patient gardener, right? And if you happen to be a Southern gardener and can offer up any tips on growing peonies, I'm all ears!

 Thank you for stopping by and for a complete listing of today's participants in Pink Saturday, head over to Beverly's at How Sweet The Sound.