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.