Jun5

The view from the 27th floor & a few favorites

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The view from the 27th floor, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

At the top of Baltimore’s World Trade Center at the Inner Harbor. I’m proud of this photo.
Baltimore Aquarium in background
A view from the walk ways of the Baltimore Aquarium. Those are paddle boats.
Masts of the Constellation
The Civil War ship ‘The Constellation’ showing it’s masts.
Sean with Aquarium behind him
Sean with Aquarium behind him.
View of the harbor-wooden fence
Fort McHenry with harbor in background
Yound lady building fire to wash clothes
Young lady building a fire to wash clothes at Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry residences

Fort McHenry became famous when the British tried to attack Baltimore during the War of 1812. When the bombardment began on September 13, 1814, there were 1,000 soldiers defending the fort. Some were federal soldiers who were stationed at Fort McHenry all the time. Many were volunteers from the city of Baltimore. Their commanding officer was Major George Armistead. For 25 hours, the British bombarded Fort McHenry, but the fort’s artillery fire kept the British away. Baltimore was saved.

Col. George Armistead statue
Captain George Armistead-only lived to be 38.
Francis Scott Key was in a ship and saw the ‘Star Bangled Banner’ still flying, thus inspiring the American National Anthem which became the ‘official’ national anthem in 1931.
Key sees the American flag 'at dawn's early light'

Jun4

Waving from Baltimore

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sabatinos, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

We didn’t realize how close we are to the Inner Harbor and really like it down here! Sean took this shot with my cell camera at an Italian restaurant in “Little Italy” that a high school pal recommended. It was good. I believe Sean had Manicotti, Brian Bked Ziti and I had Shrimp in a Wine sauce with a side of spaghetti. Then we stopped at a bakery for homemade cookies. Super expensive but the place was mobbed too.
We saw a lot earlier, but you’ll have to wait to see and hear about that.
Think we had walked 5 blocks or so to get there.

Dianne and Brian at Fort McHenry
Us at Fort McHenry

Jun3

Baltimore Inner Harbor

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Baltimore Inner Harbor, originally uploaded by deepseaNemo.

This is where we are going for the weekend, so I hope to share similar shots-(well not this good). I have Roamy the roaming gnome here, so he will tag along!(Those little cut out flowers in Roamy’s box keep falling out, plus he says it gets stuffy in there).
I’ve been having issues sleeping, so hope the travel and change of scenery will help with that if possible.

Jun2

Gnomeland

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Gnomeland 4" x 4" Collage Card, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I’m waiting on the arrival of the little roaming gnome from Canada. If he comes in the next few days, we’ll take him on a trip somewhere. We decided we’d like to see something different, just not sure if it’s the beach or what!
This is my nod to gnomes. I had that little gnome a while and I picture this is what his world may look like. : )
Here’s a peek at who Roamy will meet:
Strawberry Gnome Home
Brian went to the dentist today and I didn’t get to go. Something told me to call to check if it was 1 or 2 and I wasn’t on the schedule. So now I have to wait until Monday.
I spent the day tidying up the living room and redecorating. I still had Easter things to put away! I kept saying to myself if I find one more Easter thing and then an egg would show up someplace!

I usually add too much and then take stuff down. The little flickering lanterns are coming down as only two work. I have changed it a bit and need a bigger photo in the shell frame.
So the scale moved down a pound! I’m happy, but I know when you are trying to lose weight it’s water weight first! The app says I’m not eating enough calories but too much sugar. I did eat a lot of fruit, so that may be it. Sean bought some MOi a liquid water enhancer or whatever they call it and it’s good. We have peach tea and sweet tea-no calories but it has Splenda.
Going to a new dr later just to see if I’m acting like a lady my age should act. ; ) I feel better and all, so thinking the second hbp med was messing with me. The new one may not be strong enough. Or maybe the weather is bringing my pressure up a little. I hate taking medicine!

May31

My Fitness Pal

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As you know, I acquired Sean’s ‘old’ G1 phone. So 4 days ago, I started to use the above named app which is also online where you can utilize it for free. The phone app is pretty good and it’s really an eye-opener too. For instance, after eating lunch, I had used all my sugar credits-that quickly. You plug your weight and weight loss goal in. You can even scan the food packaging (you have to download a bar code scanner) and it finds the nutritional info 8 out of 10 times. Then, if you are like me, you eat similar foods and you just check them off and they get added to the correct entry. You also say what kind of exercise you do (mine is mostly walking and gardening) and you ‘get’ credit and can have a snack that doesn’t go over your daily calorie intake. I’m really trying to get serious about weight loss since two of my brothers have Diabetes and I am being watched for it. I’m giving the guys whole wheat pasta and other fiber rich foods. My tummy was making lots of noises this morning-lol. I’m going to go out to eat once in a while. Yesterday was a ‘over the limit’ day, so I ate lighter today. I do like the credit for exercising-you just have to be honest!
Here’s a 4″ x 4″ collage I made over a week ago. Art has slowed down a lot, but I plan to get back to it soon. I had to wait so long for gardening, it’s my top priority. The lady was from a card making kit and I decided to do a collage:
The Hostest with the Mostest 4" x 4" Collage Card
I have an ‘Asian’ garden under the Japanese maple tree-why not! I try and paint the little pagodas, but missed the one last year. I have my Sweet William (Dianthus) under it. I believe it’s a biannual, but I add to it every year. My grandmom loved Zinnias and Sweet William as that was her dad and brother’s name. Princess Catherine had some white ones in her wedding bouquet.

I love them too for their colors. I added some white Impatiens and a few potted plants like Begonias and Zinnias in there too.
Asia garden with Sweet William
The heat here is southeastern Pennsylvania has been miserable the last few days. I am so glad I mulched when it was still in the 80s! A cold front is on it’s way!
Both Brian and I are off to the dentist tomorrow-him for 3 of 6 fillings he needs and me for a chip in a fix-ka-ching!

May30

Baby Nuthatches flew the coop!

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First of all, Happy Memorial Day to all the veteran’s and those who have served our country so well!

3 Baby NutHatches are inside, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

If you look close enough, you can see the ‘ghostly’ looking image of a baby Nuthatch. Yesterday there were three of them and today they were gone! I would talk to them during their short stay in my little birdhouse. I could tell yesterday they were getting antsy to fly and of course it was getting very crowded. Hope I see them around. : )

May29

Neat find

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Dress form made with florals, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Floral Dress farm at nursery for sale
Brian and I were garden center hopping yesterday. We got most of what we needed at Lowes (mulch, 75% off plants). We then stopped at a few more places (even a winery where we got snubbed-guess we looked too casual-I don’t know). These neat floral dress forms were at the last place. It sure looks like real flowers. I didn’t go and touch it, but will the next time. I noticed the price tag-$200! Makes me want to make my own!
Here’s the pond at the nursery. They have great supplies here for ponds:
Pond at Gateway Gardens
Today was mulching day-went through 3 bags and need a few more. Everything that was mulched looks so much nicer. I realized I haven’t edged gardens for a while. I may do that too, but I have to recover a bit from the mulching. And yesterday we put in a new round garden. I think it looks like a little pony corral-Brian isn’t sure he likes it, but the other garden isn’t doing anything and we had to move it if we wanted to get anything. It has 12 tomatoes and about 8 green peppers planted in it now. I want to add cucumbers and zucchini in the middle.
The DB Corral Veggie patch
Those are daffodils I need to tie up.

A part of the fairy garden after mulching. I stepped on some fairy wings and broke them. Is that bad luck? : )
Fairy garden freshy mulched
And to close…this was a birdbath, but it just got so dirty. I added some soil and made it a little fairy garden. That’s portulaca and a geranium. There’s a blue gravel ‘stream’ and some pebbles…and moss! I have some moss on top of the mulch-not sure if that will work.
Fairy planter