Update on my flower bed and a shopping spree

Now that my ICADs are complete, I have a few hours between Sunday and T Time.  My internet friend CJ has a weekly post asking How does your garden grow?  I think it's time to once again show my front flower bed.

My surprise lilies/naked ladies are on their last legs (or one leg, if you will).

Most have seen better days

as is evident once I zoom out to take in most of the front flower bed.

For those of you who may have wondered in the past what the blue in my flower garden is, at one time in the not too distant past (like last year), I removed the water feature I had in my garden. 

The long brown gutter was used to take the place of the splash guard and directed excess water into the water feature.  Unfortunately, the water feature didn't move water fast enough, so it became a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The blue plastic liner was under the bottom of the metal pan that held the water feature.  It extended to the sides of the pan, and was hidden with rocks.  When the water feature went, so did most of the liner.  However, I was never able to get it all.  That's on my agenda for when it's cooler outside.

The only other flowers of interest are my Rose of Sharon.  These, like bamboo, spread exponentially.  I keep trying to cut them down, but their roots spread laterally.

This one will eventually have to go, because it's encroaching on my pine tree.  Did you notice that the grass in front isn't growing as fast as that in the back?  I don't believe I'll ever bag my grass again.

This Rose of Sharon is on the north side of my yard.  It's great in summer because it helps shade the porch.  It also acts as a natural barrier so I don't have to see the house where the "mole hills" live.

This is the house to the north, which I don't have to look at when I want to sit on the front porch.

On Friday, my friend Sally and I went shopping.  I desperately needed 100% cotton if I was going to effectively dye cabbage as promised for my second attempt during my next Second Thursday Tutorial.

First, I am having trouble keeping my rechargeable batteries charged.  I think they have a rechargeable life, too. 

Consequently when I got not one, but TWO gift certificates for 24 AA or AAA batteries from one of the local charities I support, I gave one of the gift certificates to Sally who drove us everywhere that day. 

I got AAs and Sally got AAAs.  Even if my rechargeable batteries for my camera (and the extra set I'll take) don't hold up for Smithsonian Day, I'll have these I can fall back on.

Next it was off to lunch, which is in an indoor strip mall.  Next to the restaurant was this cake place.  As we walked by, I started telling Sally about CJ's plaster cake the venue she hired supplied for her wedding.

When I saw these cakes, I thought they also looked like the plaster cake she had at her wedding. 

Although most of these don't look like wedding cakes, they remind me of how cake decorating has become such a big business.  I apologize for the photos, but there are inside glasses reflecting on the outside glasses.

I was SO lucky.  My muslin was 50% off (as was most of their cottons), but these were 30% off.  

I also used my 20% off total purchases, so these were cheaper than if I'd had a 40% off coupon.  Even my cotton was included as part of the total.  I've never bought this many fluid acrylics at one time before, but I spent less than $20.00 (USD) for the paint and the fabric (and that included tax!).  I was giddy.  I know Erika said she got a good deal on clearance items at Hobby Lobby, but that didn't change the giddy feel I have for buying these.  And since I'd only spent $6.00 this year on art supplies (the variegated thread I purchased at the sewing store), I still have nearly $35.00 left in my $60.00 (USD) annual budget for supplies this year.  BTW, I did NOT count the cabbage, ammonia, or salt I had to buy to dye fabric. 

Thanks for stopping by today and seeing my pathetic flower bed and how I spent my day out on Friday with my foodie friend Sally.