50 Percent Off Priceless

Today is Heather's Birthday. We are married with children, and one on the way... so tonight won't be a rager party to celebrate.

While there won't be a rager, we have a lot to celebrate. As we get older we can celebrate what we have done together, and learned over the years. I think our recent weekend really sums up who she is and as much as this might sound more like a Mother's Day post, she is a mother that is expecting, and its pretty much all we talk about so here we go...

Saturday morning she made her breakfast potatoes (awesome!) and played with Cruz. She let me sleep in, and then we planned our errands and activities for the weekend. Goodwill had their 50% off sale, so had to go look for baby girl clothes. Cruz found a truck he liked, I found a nearly mint condition Dirty Dancing VHS (Heather didn't want it), and Cruz got dirty on the floor pushing trucks around.

Then we picked up Novali (she likes to sleep in), and little man Cruz got a haircut. Then it was off to Kolhs, we like to shop holiday decorations after the holiday. Heather scored a cool halloween table cloth, and yes 50% off. Not to mention costumes we got for Novalí, Cruz, and future baby girl for next year this week 50% off as well. We like to shop in advance...

As Novali likes to say, "Heather is crafty", so that afternoon they rolled, baked and frosted some Halloween cookies. Yes it was in November, we have learned to be flexible on Holidays because of when we can get Novali. So past date, but still great. Plus Cruz loves frosting no matter the occasion, belated or not.

Sunday, Heather planned our traditional backyard photo shoot. People always love our cards, and are surprised to learn they are usually taken with my camera propped up on something (cause I can never find my tripod when I need it), and after many outtakes we find just the right pic. I am sure Heather has a 50% off coupon to use, and you all will be getting a great card from us soon. Here is my favorite candid shot of Heather spinning Cruz around between pics.

So Heather is one year older, and her value continues to hold at priceless, no after holiday sale here for sure. Plus not sure what 50 Percent off Priceless would be anyways. We have learned to be thrifty, she is crafty as ever, she is great at mama snuggles, we have learned to just be who we are as we age and I enjoy her each year more and more. Love ya babe, Happy Birthday.

Fall Into Spring

Love the fall colors.

Here is a leadership lesson, from my plants. Yep, nature can teach us if we listen...

This weekend is fall back... you get a free hour and I will admit that I slept in a little. I will be honest and say that I don't see today as a "free hour", but as a reminder that how you use time today impacts your tomorrow. Good leadership lesson, and a more importantly a great gardening lesson.

I like to teach with analogies... I teach leadership, and I like gardening so this is a good fit. Each year since getting our house I post photos of my flowers, plants and landscaping changes. I don't, however, write a lot about what it takes to make them look so nice. I was thinking earlier how much gardening is like leadership, you get back what you put into a project, and you have to trust, follow directions, and be patient.

Fall is when you start prepping for your plants for next year. I learned a lot of lessons my first couple years with certain plants, when to prune, how to prune, cutting back in the fall, mulching before winter, etc. 

Over the past few days I have been prepping my plants. I dead headed the Hydrangeas, cropped back the daylily plants, cut my decorative grasses, and gotten plants ready to survive winter. I still have to put some winter fertilizer down, mow the grass nice and short, and put some mulch and fresh dirt around a few of the plants.

Still next season hydrangea flowers.

I learned the hard way that you have to follow the right steps and to be willing to ask questions and look up information. Not using good dirt means the plant won't grow, or putting them in a less than ideal spot for the sun they need they won't flower. I also learned not to lose faith, some plants I nearly lost, but with some time and patience came back and flowered for me. I also under estimated some plants... I planted some too close together thinking they wouldn't go that fast and then had to thin them out.

It is just like people... don't give them what they need, they won't bloom. Don't listen to what they need, you won't get what you expect from them. Sometimes the right things will happen, but you have to be patient and get results on their timeline, not yours.

Yeah my plants are smart and excellent teachers.

I love my plants, I love the zen feeling I get out there weeding and mulching and the pride I get of posting great flower photos. Hopefully winter behaves, and I have prepped the correct way so spring will be beautiful once again.

My 2013 Flowers: Album