We're Still Bloomin'!

One of the most difficult times for a gardener in Southern Mississippi is the July and August months. The heat here can be unbearable, even for the flowers. My mixed baskets are heat exhausted, so is My John so it's pretty low maintenance for now. When we grew our seeds this year we focused on things that would be natural bloomers in the heat to fill the gaps of blooms during these months. Wanna see?

Peach Hibiscus

Moonflowers, these are night only bloomers. Love to walk out in the moonlight and see these beauties. A moonflower is a vine, started out small, and now is covering the front gate. Looks a little aggressive will have to keep the cutting shears near by on this one. This is the starter for what will someday be my "moon garden."


Pink mandevilla. This one is not scared of the 100+ temperatures here. Just start it on a trellis and let it go.


Yellow Hibiscus. The yellow flowers are my favorites. Even with roses, I want the yellow dozen that no one ever buys at Valentine's Day.


Cajun Hibiscus, a return investment year after year. These babies get it when it comes to bloomin'!


We have enough to share with co-workers, fellow chefs and neighbors. As a matter of fact, I have enough to share with you too, because everyone else is sick of me dumping on them. The peppers have gotten out of hand. This is one morning's pick.


This is Tibouchina, also known as a princess flower. This is John's favorite plant, and he really knows plants. Rare to say the least. I had one a couple of years ago, that was stolen. It took me forever to find another.

Here is my Plumeria. I am really proud of this one. Plumeria is very hard to grow. I really had to work at this one. You know how some flavored things don't smell like it originator at all? Like, grape flavored things do not smell like grapes. Well this smells exactly like the Bath and Body Lotion. Amazed me at first, and one little flower can fill my garden with this scent for days.

Thanks, for stopping by the garden, take some blooms home if you like!
Love,
The Bumpkin

Living On The Gulf Of Mexico

I love the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is a short walk from the swing. Cool, or at least cooler, tropical breezes have been a regular around these parts lately. $3 a pound for jumbo shrimp at the docks. Casinos are having awesome entertainment for each of their "summer series." Tropical plants in full bloom (watch for my upcoming post on this). Right now, other than the horrible heat, I'm lovin it here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Now here's a geography lesson for you.

Be patient, I don't have photo shop so I can't put a little mark for you. If you look right up there almost center where it says Baton Rouge, you'll see The Bumpkin waving at you right in between the n (in Baton) and the R (in Rouge)right on the very tip of the Mississippi Coast line. Hey everyone it's me The Bumpkin! I've got my thinnest cotton shorts, thin strapped tank top, and my Guy Harvey flip flops on. See me right there, toes dug into the sand?
This little geography lesson may come in handy in the next few weeks, I want you all to know exactly where I am.
Welcome to my nightmare once a year every year of my life.


Meet Ana.........

Alot can change in the next five days, especially the strength once it enters the Gulf. The water is mighty hot out there. Not good. It helps them to strengthen.
Now meet Bill.

Two days ago, Ana was on this same path, and now you see where she is going right. My brother-in-law is Bill, please don't let this one be the one. He's quite an a** to say the least, he's also very unpredictable. He is also a terrible drinker and wobbles around a lot.
Now meet Tropical Depression #4 which will later today be Tropical Storm Claudette.

She formed in the Gulf last night at the last minute. Great!
And finally meet Investigation #91----looks like this fellow will be Danny!

So, today will be spent taking pictures of all my stuff also known as a contents inventory for insurance claims, washing all the clothes, shopping for a few necessities, and drawing water for the boys. You must have 2 gallons a day for each pet and person. You do the math on us and our five dogs. My John says he will start to pick up stray things out of the yard, and secure them in the barn. You guys don't have to worry to much about The Bumpkin and our 2O paws. If there is one man who will be ready, it will be mine. The neighbors call our house "Fort Bumpkin", substituting our last name for the Bumpkin portion. After Katrina, we made the necessary changes to our little part of the world. It's the live and learn approach to hurricanes. He built a barn, so we would have somewhere high to go. The winds we have learned aren't necessarily the worst part of a hurricane.
Meet Mr. Storm Surge.

Now you think about the picture above, and laugh with me. Whoever was lucky enough to snap the pic, had to immediately run like hell. Lots of rain here lately which means the water level is rather high. Not good again.
Again, alot can change in the next few days, and now that you know exactly where I am, you will know when it's time for you to wear your knees out for The Bumpkin.
Keep us in your prayers,
Love,
The Bumpkin
Note to my regular readers.
I have not seen any banana spiders lately, we are going to search the garden today, and I'll keep you updated.

I'm Lovin It!

Photo via

ffffound!

My Kinda Day!

I'm Lovin It!

Do you have a beachy kinda love?

Found over at ETSY!



Same phrase different background, and my favorite of the two, even though, the above matches more of my decor.



Heck of deal for $20, and great for your inspiration boards!

Love,
The Bumpkin

Dear Hailey Glassman,

Hi, how are you feeling these days? A little nauseous, a little used, a little crapped on?
Oh, what has happened to your fairytale romance with someone else's husband?
What made you think that he would stay true to you? Perhapes his loyalty to his family should have been your first clue. We real women want you to now learn our tried and true motto. Once a cheater, ALWAYS a cheater.
Do you remember the days not so long ago, when he claimed that you were just his friend? Now he's just friends with Kate Major? How does that go down. Try a spoonful of sugar next time, I hear tell, it makes it much easier to swallow. You wonder what this odd reference to medicine that I write is? It's the truth darling 22 year old Hailey Homewrecker, it's your medicine, now open wide!

The Wikepedia, your new stopping grounds where actually you do hit if searched, defines karma as:
The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny.
Since your only 22, and obviously not the brightest crayon in the box, let me break it down for you...
What you do to other people comes right back at ya girlfriend! I hate that you have to learn this the hard way, actually I could give a shit less how hurt you are, but no hard feelings okay.
You didn't actually think you would be the new wife. You were just starter booty. It is a known fact when a man leaves his spouse, there is always some little tramp, that he uses for awhile, to get it all back in tune, if you know what I mean
Your unknown; and a huge slide down the spiral of shame (name that movie) for such a renowned reality show star. He must have somewhat of a "buzz" on his arm, in order to stay in the spotlight.
Now don't you worry. Lifetime will contact you to script a movie on your poor little skanky life. They might wait until you boil the bunnies at Easter, or shoot the original Kate in the face, but trust me they will call. You'll make us proud, we will see you on VH-1 in twenty, desperately wondering what came of your life. Desperately reaching for the remote, because no Honey Homewrecker, we won't really care about you then either. Will just remember you for the dose of karma that life slung your way.
Take care, and don't worry, Daddy has other friends who will soon have a mid-life crisis, and maybe you can be the go to girl for them too!
Take care.

Love,
The Bumpkin

I'm Lovin It!

The Bumpkin has the blues. I'm sure it will pass, and I'll wake up tomorrow all organized and inspiring, but for today I just have the blues. So here's a little pick me up for both you and me today.

Check out

this

etsy shop it's an inspiring kind of place!
Love,
The Bumpkin

**UPDATE***
Minutes after the down and out Bumpkin posted the above post, I was notified that I am the winner of the Summer Giveaway over at The Landlocked Mermaid's. I go to the Mermaid for inspiration daily, she is one of those bloggers that just spreads the sunshine, and reminds us to do all the those things that keep us lovely. I just love this lady! Thanks Mermaid, I'm feeling better already! Now I have the blues, with a touch of pink and green.
Aren't ya'll jealous, look what I'm getting!

Dear Jon Gosselin,

So how are you feeling these days ole buddy Jon? How is it to be relieved of the wife of your 8 children? Pending divorce papers, separation of assets, all these new little terms for you to be private about. A starter wife or your demise? I know........... SHE'S A BITCH.
No decency to show for her birthday uh? Must be such a shining example to your new love, a virtual show of LOYALTY. I see that you simply hover in the background now when you are around Kate, but not within close enough range for her to smack you in your damn head. She wishes to speak to you on the topic of LOYALTY. Perhaps The Bitch would have liked to have gone on a skiing trip with her friends, for her milestone birthday? No, I believe dear John she would have rather been with those 8 children that she oh and YOU created together, baking a cake and making money, since you have left that up to her apparently. You still however, let her fix your plate? I know.......... SHE'S A BITCH!

Right now Jon, she still is feeling LOYAL, and hasn't really had anything negative to say about you personally. SHE HAS A LOT OF ANGER (which will eventually form in a ball of pissed off fury that we fellow womanfolk will feed off of, when she tells all your dirty little quirks)! She feels betrayed, and will not stand for it, you are out, finished, you broke the rule. She can not move pass your infidelity. Your marriage is over, and yes I know Jon,............ SHE'S A BITCH!

Speaking of your indiscriminate activities. I have heard that this young lady whom has captured your sincere heart, is the daughter of Kate's plastic surgeon. Now that would provide for some sticky conversation between her Mother and Kate, who became fast friends. How embarassing, but yes I know Jon.....SHE'S A BITCH! I'm sure she's a lovely young lady 12 years your junior. I can't wait till I hear the love story in full on Lifetime in a few years. Sweet pitiful Jon, cruising the upstairs bedrooms during a dinner party, and finds the love of his life, is struck with affection seeing her face illuminated by the computer screen upstairs, finds out her MySpace name, and begins the saga of love via the same forum. Creepy, maybe we will see you on To Catch A Predator next. By the way, they aren't real private about your life either, so careful Jonny Boy.

How do you think Kate is looking these days? Nothing like a good ole cheater to make you drop those last 10 pounds, get your boobs all hiked up high, tone it up, slap on a tan and put it out there for the jerk to drool over. Not bad, LOYAL husband dontcha think? Can't have your cake and it too, no,no,no poor little pitiful Mr. Gosselin. No, because your cake is nowing letting herself go.....GO ON WITHOUT YOU! You know there are men in her future, right you have figured that out right? Good men, notable men, men with culture, money, and fame. Men who do more than well, cut the pancakes. She's even risen in the polls of "Whose side are you on Jon or Kate's?" Up to about 72%, now that you confessed you lied about the bodyguard to get some of the limelight off you and Hannah Montana, or whatever her name is. Was she the babysitter? If she was the babysitter, I'm going to have to write you another letter, ole buddy Jonny Boy. I think Kate will be choosy, and probably not slap a skull ring on the first hoochie, um I mean prospect that comes along. I think she has already learned from her mistakes, and yes I remember......SHE'S A BITCH!
I'm not going to keep you from you counseling sessions, Prozac, and Viagara, I just wanted to take a few minutes of your time, to let you know I was thinking of you. Can't wait to see those new hair plugs, since the first one's didn't take, and you look your age now. If I don't see you soon, you take care now you here. Seems every day I see less and less of you. Hope that trends continues. Hope the new booty is worth all this fame.
Till Then, we know............SHE'S A BITCH!
Love,
The Bumpkin