Name That Tree...

Two years ago we moved in to our house. There were 2 very small trees planted along the drive way. When we moved in they looked like pitiful sticks and almost removed them to put something else in. Last year was tough on all plants and trees. We had a very late and heavy frost then an extreme drought so our trees never looked good last year. That being said this is the first year we have been able to appreciate them er... one anyway. Looks like last year killed one of them. The other is thriving and beautiful. I never asked the previous home owner what they are. Yesterday I noticed that some of the leaves turned reddish since these were taken (you can see it a little in the last picture). I said all that to ask this... What is it? (Files are huge so feel free to enlarge them just click on the picture, takes you to Webshots.com, then click on the magnifying glass below the picture to get the full size.)

Here are the blooms.



The tree.


The leaves.


This is what I found by googling...
"Kwanzan Cherry is the showiest of all Japanese trees. It's most awesome feature is its bundles of large double pink blossoms. The blossoms on this tree last longer than those of other flowering cherries.

Kwanzan cherry tree is in the United States, but are primarily found in Japan. This is one of the Washington basin cherry trees given to the United States by Japan years ago for planting at our nation?s capital.

This tree blooms in mid to late April. Unlike other ornamental cherry trees, the leaves of the Kwanzan cherry begin to grow while the tree is still in bloom. It is also the hardiest ornamental cherry tree and its bark is somewhat glossy."

Madder Than A Wet Hedge Hog

Normally we get to spend some time playing with our house cat, Saber. If we are not home much she lets us know she is upset. One time we were gone all day then got home late and she had knocked every thing she could move on our dresser to the floor.

Her favorite toy is actually a large squeaky dog toy. I think it is a hedge hog. See below. Her favorite game is cross between hide and seek and tag. We chase her through the house and she runs away like she is all scared. Then we run and hide and she comes after us then jumps up the wall we are hiding behind. Maybe she likes it because she is better at it than we are. Her tag is my favorite too, becuase it is more active and I laugh everytime she leaps up the wall. As my husband says "Simple things for simple minds". I will try to get a video of this sometime soon.





(I know it may look like she is declawed. She isn't. She just doesn't use them much.)

She will play with Mr. HedgeHog when we are not home, but it isn't the same. She likes us to throw him for her. When we got home last night she had him in her water dish. She had him sitting in it. Yep, sitting. His little stuffed bottom had soaked up at least half the water. I played with her and she looked at me like "It's about time!" Saber may not speak English, but she diffinatly gets her point across.

Em Is A Girl

I watched my youngest niece Makayla for a little while the other day. I was telling her that Sunny is a colt and that colts are baby boy horses and the conversation went like this...

Makayla - Mae and Lady are girls.

Jess - Yes they are and so is Em.

Makayla - Em is NOT a girl!



I couldn't help but chuckle. So I more or less told her that Em gave birth to Sunny and that made her a girl. I have to say that it went better than my last conversation with Lindsey (my niece that is about 6 months older than her). We were watching the horses and all the sudden she asked how Sunny got out of Em's belly... OH BOY! Let's see how quickly we can change the subject!

Here are more photos from that day.



Mae


Lady had a bath




Sunny and Em



Iris with a bee



Time to mow...

The Front Door

I found a quiz about the color of your front door and what it says about you. My front door is blue. Mountian Lake Blue actually. My husband and I picked it out at Lowe's.

What Your Front Door Says

You are intriguing and charming. People are naturally drawn to you, even if they don't know you. You are calm and wise. You are a true leader. You never feel isolated in a group. Somehow, you always belong.

The Front Door Test

What does your front door say about you?

Thank You Eklund and Julie! More of Game 4

For your public kind words. Nashville has a bad wrap because most people think southern states don't deserve a hockey team.

Julie and Eklund seemed to really enjoy the game. They have a blog on HockeyBuzz.

Here are more pictures...

Radulov surrounded by red.

One of the tense moments in game 4.

Suter

The 7th Man Banner, Inegreal game banner, and flags above the "Cell Block" (Section 303)

Saluting the 7th man

Gnash after the game

Game 6 here we come! I will be there with my husband.

Game 4 and Game 5 Preds vs Wings **Warning Pics Galore!**

This was supposed to be posted Friday, but my internet went down for the count. Thanks to AT&T for NOT coming out after I called it in. Even 4 days later. It is sheer luck that it came back up.

Game 4 3 - 2 Predators won. See pictures below. This is what the game was like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLWov3D00RQ

Game 5... It would have helped had the predators showed up for the game before the 3rd period. It is like they were just sitting back watching the Red Wings crush their team mates in to the boards. Thank you Ellis, Suter and Bonk for keeping us in the game.

This hillbilly (see "Some People's Children!") had so much fun Wednesday night at the hockey game. The Sommet was packed and loud! This the first play offs game that I've been to that we won and I hope it isn't the last for this year (missed Game 3 in person).

They had fun with Chelios saying we are Hillbillyish. This is what they did when he got a penalty.
Gnash even wrote me this late note for Thursday. Thank you Predators for a great night! (got the note from predators.nhl.com)
During warm up fans can hang out around the boards and watch and take pictures of their favorite players.


Ellis and Bonk doing their pre game ritual.
It is game time!Governor Phil Bredeson and his wife dropped the puck for the "face off". They are famous around here for holding the sign "Get your damn hands of my team" at a Predators Rally before they were bought by the local group. Needless to say we love our Governor! :D

I love our Jumbotron this year... Wow! Huge inprovement from the one that hung there for the first 9 years.

Is it our turn yet?Rally rags!

After a goal. I would love to know what Radulov said to Arnott. Ha ha ha!

I will post more pictures later.

Mary, I wish the Aves good luck for tonight. They only need one more game! :)

Some People's Children!

I hate sterotypes!

"Nashville's fans just go bonkers when the Red Wings come to town. It's like they are at a Toby Keith concert with free Milwaukee's Best."

See the full article at ESPN.

Puhlease! At least get it right! It is a Hank Williams Jr. concert with free Bud Light! Plus what they don't know is we are like that at nearly every game especially when it is the play offs.

One of the Red Wings players has already called us "Hillbillish" (LOL He must not have ever traveled too far from Detroit). What is next we don't wear shoes, have any teeth, marry our bothers and play the banjo on our front porch?

I'll be going bonkers tonight with all the 17,000 other hillbillish fans screaming my head off like I'm at a Hank Williams Jr. concert and theres free Bud Light.