Alasandra's Reading list ~ May

1. The Devil's Punch Bowl by Greg Iles - This is the first book I have read by Greg Iles and I am looking forward to reading more of his work. This was a real page turner full of suspense and action. Tim discovers his bosses on the Magnolia Queen are into lots of illegal activities including dog fighting. He goes to his boyhood friend Mayor Tom Cage with his suspicions and promises to bring him the evidence.Unfortunately for Tim his bosses are willing to kill to protect their "investments".
2. The Silent Blade by R. A. Salvatore -The six friends set off to take the Crystal Shard to Cadderly so he can destroy it. Wulfgar realizes that he is a liability to the group as long as memories of Errtu haunt him and strikes off on his own. Jarlaxle tricks Drizzt into giving the Crystal Shard to him and arranges a battle to the death between Drizzt and Artemis Entreri.
3. Fang by James Patterson (Teen Novel) -Fang leaves the flock.
4. Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold -The perfect book for a rainy day. The story of how one family deals with the murder of 14 year old Susie Salmon. Told by Susie Salmon.
5. Free Lunch by David Cay Johnston - should be required reading for every American Citizen.
6. The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer - Fast paced and very enjoyable. Cal works with the homeless. One night on what he thinks is a routine run picking up a vagrant he finds the Father who disappeared from his life when he was nine. In an effort to discover what his Father is up to he calls on old friends in ICE for help. But nothing is what it seems and now Cal must find "the book" in order to stay alive and prove his innocence in his friends murder.
7. Daniel X Watch The Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust (TEEN) - Very entertaining read.
8. Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts - Sweet and Romantic. 
9. The 9th Judgment - The Lipstick killer is targeting women with babies can the Women's Murder Club stop him.
10. Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - abandoned and mistreated as a child Nykyrian Quiakides overcomes all obstacles to be with the woman he loves.
    

Alasandra's Garden

 My English Dogwood (aka a Mock Orange). It doesn't do very good here and looks as if it is dying now. Anyone have any ideas on how to save it?

The hibiscus are coming up.

My Nemesia and Kalanchoe with some cacti.

Wild flowers

The Encore Azaleas

I love the way they bloom several times a year but they really don't seem to do very well. It looks as if we are going to lose one after our COLD winter.

Flowering Quince, this is the first year it actually looked good. I am hoping for blooms next year.

My wisteria did GREAT this year, take a gander at Thursday in the Garden over at Alasandra, The Cats & A Dog to see it.

Drop by Tootsie Time Friday to see more flowers.

Alasandra @ Home

The second shelf contains The Maneki Neko, Peacock Vase, and Sake Set from Japan. The top shelf has some locally carved Sandhill Cranes that my Hubby got me for our 5th Anniversary.

I collect dinner bells and salt and pepper shakers. This is part of my collection. My Grandmother Agnes gave me the Rooster Salt & Pepper Shakers when I was very young.

I managed to find some interesting photo frames in larger sizes. My favorites are the two Arthur Court frames. One has horses and the other has bunnies on it.

We got the bookshelves and the entertainment center from Dedeaux's a locally owned and operated business where they actually MAKE the furniture.

Alasandra's Garden

I love Columbine, although I don't have much luck growing it.

I thought this one was a very interesting color.

It had both dark and light pink blooms.

I thought it look really nice in my flower tea cup.

Goes nice with the wind chime too.

Marine Heliotrope

I think the purple blooms are stunning.

And I love the CAT plant holder.

Flowers on Friday

This is one of my favorite places to sit and relax when I have the time.

I LOVE how big this Azalea got.

This is the first year the Grancy Graybeard bloomed.

Something got the Gander. The Goose and 3 of the Goslings were around for awhile until another pair of geese showed up and ran them off. 

 A Swamp Iris.

Thanks to Beth who blogs @  Beyond the Garden Gate and Food as Art  I just found out about Fertilizer Friday.

Drop by to enjoy even more gardens.

Thursday in the Garden

We have been getting lots of rain here so "The Wild Thing" (Artemisia) has been staying indoors. She is just the right size for a lap cat and has been sharing the chair and a half in the Family Room with me. Monday morning I was able to plant the Jonquils my Mother In Law gave me when we were in Meridian for my Mom's surgery . I planted some in the flowerbed in front and some around my Japanese Magnolia.  Then we got MORE RAIN!

I love wildflowers. This is wild Bugleweed.

Some cheerful yellow violets. I need to get rid of the dollar weed though.

I love these Azaleas. I wish I had some in front of my house too.

I love this color.

Dinning with Alasandra ~Alasandra's Seafood Delight Pizza

Alasandra's Seafood Delight Pizza

1 8 oz bag Sargento Italian Pasta Cheese
2 - 4 oz cans deveined medium shrimp
2 - 6.5 oz cans chopped clams
15 oz Classico Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo
2 Mama Mary's 12" Gourmet Pizza Crust

Heat oven to 425. Divide ingredients between pizza crust. First spread the Alfredo Sauce over crust then top with clams & shrimp. Top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes.

Wordless Wednesday

Alasandra's Garden

The Stokes Aster is full of blooms. I hope I have a chance to show you a picture of it blooming. We have been getting mega rain, so while I noticed it was blooming yesterday when I took Fenris for a walk I haven't had a chance to get a picture of it. The purple Verbena did great, it is one of the first things to bloom in the butterfly garden. I hope to get more Verbena in different colors. The Encore Azaleas had a hard time of it this winter and don't seem to be doing very well. While I love the fact the Encore blooms all year they seem to be less hardy then regular Azaleas so I don't think I'll get any more.

Hubby is building a raised bed around Charybdis' grave. This is his most ambitious one to date as he is making it round..

The pink & white Verbena around Whiskers' grave. The pink did wonderful, but the white seems to be struggling to survive.

The blue flowers died after we got a heavy rain. Sorry I can't remember their name.

I love pots that are unique, I am trying to find more. Especially in larger sizes. This one is a nice size as I was able to get several plants in it.

I think it looks nice on top of the water faucet. I want to get another one for the faucet in front of the barn. I'll probably wait till this fall though.

Abortion foes capitalize on health care law

Women are losing the rights because of healthcare reform?

"Implementation of this reform should be about increasing access to health care and increasing choices, not taking them away," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a member of the Senate leadership. "Health care reform is not an excuse to take rights away from women."

Abortion foes capitalize on health care law - Regional Wire - SunHerald.com

Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac

I manage to get in one of them last weekend when I was weeding and have been miserable ever since. Even taking oral cortisone I am still broke out and itchy. To top it off I really need to weed around my Bottlebrush which I am also allergic too.

Dinning with Alasandra

Olive Garden, Meridian - while in Meridian for my Mom's surgery I meet Hubby, his Mother, Sister & Aunt at the Olive Garden for lunch.  I got the Venetian Apricot Chicken, a grilled chicken breast in an apricot citrus sauce. Served with broccoli, asparagus and diced tomatoes. I enjoyed a nice Chardonnay with it.

The chicken was overcooked and tough, but the apricot citrus sauce was tasty. Frankly I would rather eat elsewhere as the food seems to be hit or miss. Some dishes at some restaurants are OK, but other times you wind up with tough or cold food. MIL seemed to enjoy it though and I enjoyed the break from the hospital. And the garlic bread-sticks are always yummy.

Dinning with Alasandra

My guys took me to eat at Bayview Gourmet for Mother's Day where the food is sure to please although the service is SLOW. I had Oyster Rockefeller Benedict, crispy flash fried oysters, sauteed spinach and artichokes, two poached eggs on toasted English muffins, topped with Parmesan Cream Sauce, served with Shrimp Grits and Cajun Grilled Tomatoes. It was delicious. Eldest got the Washington Avenue, Youngest got the Ultimate Omelet and Hubby got two Belgium Waffles.  


The weather was so nice today we ate on the deck, so I got to enjoy the fountain and the flowers.

Merci beaucoup to Beth @ Food as Art

I entered Beth's giveaway at Food as Art and WON!!!!! The prize was a Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles pink platter, courtesy of CSN Stores. Isn't it lovely?  I can't wait to use it. I have some vintage pink candle sticks I got as a wedding gift over two decades ago that will go perfectly with it. Once I get the platter I'll take a picture of them together so you can see for yourself.

If you haven't visited  Food as Art it is a lovely blog with delicious recipes and lovely table settings, complete with floral arrangements. I am looking forward to trying the Chocolate Chip-Toffee Scones she served for tea. Beth also Blogs at Beyond the Garden Gate, which is where I first met her.

 Today was spent outside weeding the bulb bed. (Sigh) I had just finished weeding around my Tiger Lilies when Hubby accidentally mowed them down with the weedeater. So I spent a lot of time weeding around them for nothing. I have my fingers crossed they will come back up but I think it is too late in the season.