Friday Smles 364: in the garden

I had planned to share more photos of the Eisenhower Museum, but have not had time to go through my photos.  I will show those next month.  For now, let's join Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the wonderful ladies at Friday Smiles and take a short trip through my front garden,

also known as my "Flower Bed."

My hyacinths are not just growing, they are multiplying.  Three years ago, I purchased three. 

Each year, I get one more.  Although they are multiplying slowly, by 2060 I should have a full garden (grin).

You might be able to see I originally purchased one pink, one blue, and one white.

Moving out a bit,

you can see my neighbor to the north who last year had large "mole holes," now has a leveled yard, a new driveway, and has included a bit of landscaping.

Last spring, none of my tulips bloomed.

I keep hoping a few buds will shoot up soon.  If not, it will be time to transplant these.

My Surprise Lilies/Naked Ladies that bloom in July, have provided some lovely greenery this spring.  Last year, the rose bush in the center of the "Flower Bed" was shorter than the Surprise Lilies/Naked Ladies leaves.  What a difference a year makes.

Last spring I spent a moderate fortune on three different types of bulbs that I planted in this space.

Even my lilies of the valley I brought with me when I moved here, aren't showing their faces this year.

And as promised last week, here are more signs that were lost in translation:

In a Hong Kong dress shop:
Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will execute customers in strict rotation.

From the Soviet weekly:
There will be a Moscow Exhibition of the Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years.

In an East African newspaper:
A new swimming pool is rapidly taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers.

In a Vienna hotel:
In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the porter.

In Germany’s Black Forest:
It is strictly forbidden on our Black Forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance, men & women, live together in one tent unless they are married for that purpose.

An ad by a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.

A Russian chess book:
A lot of water has been passed under the bridge since this variation has been played.

In the window of a Swedish furrier:
Fur coats made for the ladies from their own skin.

On a box of a clockwork toy in Hong Kong:
Guaranteed to work throughout its useful life.

Detour sign in Kyushu, Japan:
Stop—Drive sideways.

Swiss mountain inn:
Special today–no ice cream.

Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.

Moscow hotel room:
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.

Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.

Budapest zoo:
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

A notice in a Japanese hotel (ca. 1950):
Please not to steal towels. If you are not person to do such, please not to read notice.

Office of a Roman doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases.

Acapulco hotel:
The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

Tokyo shop:
Our nylons cost more than common, but you’ll find that they are best in the long run.

Japanese instructions on an air conditioner:
Cooles & Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control yourself.

Car rental brochure in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
English well talking. Here speeching American.

A sign on the lion cage at a zoo in the Czech Republic:
No smoothen the lion

A Finnish hotel’s instructions in case of fire:
If you are unable to leave your room, expose yourself in the window.

In a Japanese restaurant (ca. 1950):
We reserve the right to serve refuse to anyone.

I hope these will have you grinning for the next three weeks.  Even though I was just on hiatus at Friday Smiles, I must take another break during April.  I will be back April 24.  I couldn't reveal in February that I was hosting Art Journal Journey for a month (we aren't allowed to reveal we are hosting in advance), this hiatus is no secret.   I invite you to visit daily beginning April 1 when I (and a few of my friends) recycle something every day through April 22 which most people call Earth Day, but I call bEARTHday. 

Let's see what others are smiling about this Friday.  Please don't forget to start your weekend off right by visiting Annie for a few Friday Smiles. She will welcome you, too.