Living the Dream in Retirement
While in Vegas I had the opportunity to go to the festive 32nd Annual Holiday Cactus Garden Lights. I’ve been to the cactus garden during daytime on a prior visit to Ethel M Chocolates and a few years ago, tried to attend this event only to arrive during a power outage.
This year, no power outage and an unseasonably mild December evening allowing us to stroll through the lovely, lighted cactus garden with Christmas music playing…..
After being on vacation for a week, I came back my garden bursting with blooms.
Then there’s my beloved Peony Tree that I moved from my home of many years to my new one nearly three years ago. It’s so beautiful I had to give it its own gallery of multiple photos.
Some fun photos taken last weekend on a perfect, sunny autumn day at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
A darling boutique near me recently announced they were closing but were offering a final craft class – a “garden sparkler”. It was on Saturday late afternoon and I signed up at once!
Of us nine attendees, I was the newby but not for long. After receiving our supplies and instructions, we started the process of choosing beads, cutting wire and assembling our creation. It was a spirited group with lots of great conversations happening simultaneously.
After 3 1/2 hours we were winding up so I knew this morning I’d need my trusty glue gun to assure everything would stay put. While doing so, I got out my beading supplies and added a cute beaded topper and strand of sparkling beads to wrap the cork.
Here’s my creation, and while not perfect it’s very pretty – and it does sparkle!
Michigan had a fairly gentle winter and early spring making me excited about the flowers already blooming in my garden. I brought some plants from my old garden when I moved in 2022 adding a few new ones in 2023. This year have added a peony, 2 iris, 5 columbine and 2 violas. Not having the garden space I once had, I’ve created an “herb garden” with a cluster of mixed pots of my favorite herbs.
I’m sharing a few photos of what’s blooming now with more to come over the summer, stay tuned….
I enjoy photography and find it nearly impossible to pass by beautiful flowers without stopping to take photos. These were taken yesterday at my BFF’s home in Traverse City Michigan where I spent a fabulous extended weekend.
