The Kindness Of Our Friends...

Today we are grateful for kind, generous neighbors and big green tractors....
because beneath all of this.....

the dream is still alive!!!! Thanks for helping us get through the storm!!

Merry Christmas!

From the middle of an old-fashioned Nebraska blizzard....We wish you the season's greatest joys and the New Year's greatest Blessings!! Stay safe and warm in the storm!!

A Picture Says A Thousand Words....

Grandma J preparing to deliver the quilt to Emily, Mommy Erin and Daddy Joe....

With thanks to all who helped with "A Quilt For Emily"!! A special thank you to Terry Scigo for creating the quilt and to Steve, Carrie and Collin for your gift of this beautiful quilt to the Koesters Family!!

Irresistable!!

Thank you to Steve, Carrie and Collin Graeves on their winning bid of $225.00 on Emily's quilt!! Steve is Joe's cousin. Carrie follows Emily's journey via email and facebook. The quilt will be a gift to Joe and Erin from Steve, Carrie and Collin and yes....Emily may wake up on Christmas morning wrapped in the magic of this beautiful quilt!! Thanks to so many people for your support of our fundraiser!! Terry, your work on this quilt is amazing!! Thank you to everyone who forwarded the emails... and...to Peter's mom and dad...thanks for the updates on www.helpemily.com! Please continue to keep Emily and her family in your prayers...it has been my honor to assist in this silent auction for little Miss Emily!! With Christmas Blessings to you and those you love...Sue

Bid Update...

At 3:35...the new bid on Emily's quilt is $225.00!! Thank you!!

A New Bid Received...

A new bid just received!!!! $210.00!!!! Thank you!! Just about two more hours left....

It's The Last Day!!

New high bid for Emily's quilt is $200.00!! Keep watching the blog for updates as bidding is open until 4:00!

Less Than 24 Hours....

Bidding ends tomorrow at 4:00. Many new bids received in the last hour...we are now at $185.00!!

This Morning's High Bid...

This morning's high bid for Emily's quilt is $160.00! Bidding ends tomorrow at 4:00. We will continuously post the high bids as they are received now! Hopefully...several times a day!!!! Thanks for your support for our fundraiser!!!!

A New High and Great News!!

The new high bid for Emily's quilt is $150.00!!!! Thank you everyone and Blessings to a little girl who gets to sleep in her own bed tonight!!!!!!

Today's Highest Bid...

Today's high bid is $135.00!! All for Emily!! Thank you!!

An Update On Emily's Quilt

Sharing with you a special moment spent with Emily during a visit by her, Grandma J, Grandma Shari and Auntie Chris in the summer of 2008. This photo was sent to me tonight by Grandma Shari. A very simple and special moment in the potting shed...just counting seashells. It's amazing how one little girl can touch your life....Very special memories held so close to my heart! The high bid on Em's quilt is $125.00!! Thanks for your help with our fundraiser.

Generous Hearts-A Quilt For Emily

Wow!! From your generous hearts!! The high bid on Emily's Quilt is now $100.00. Bidding is open until Friday, December 18 at 4:00.

Emily's Silent Auction Update

The high bid so far for Emily's quilt is $50.00. Thanks so much for your support! Bidding is open until December 18 and we will keep you updated!!

A Quilt For Emily

Please help us with a silent auction for this beautiful quilt to benefit an amazing little girl....
So many of you know of our little friend Emily Koesters. Emily is only one of 4 people in the United States...and among only 45 in the world to suffer from Schimke Immuno-Osseous Displaysia (SIOD), a form of dwarfism. Emily has undergone multiple surgeries, a kidney transplant from her Daddy Joe, battles post transplant lymphoma and faces daily challenges such as hip dysplaysia. Emily is only 6 years old. In her 6 years Emily and her family have taught all of us lessons of faith, strength and most of all love.
In the spirit of that love, our dear friend and neighbor Terry Scigo has donated this quilt to be offered by silent auction to benefit Emily. Squares of cotton, lusious velour and ornate tapestry are surrounded by a beautiful velour holly print. The quilt is backed by a beautiful holly print that sparkles with holiday magic. Bidding on Emily's quilt will end on Friday, December 18 at 4:00 PM. You can leave your bid in the comments sections of our blog or email us at tlccountryfloral@gmail.com. Please leave your name, address, phone number and email address. The amount from the winning bid will be deposited in the Emily Koesters Fund, American National Bank, 20635 Hwy. 370, Gretna, NE 68028. Keep watching the blog for bid updates!! To learn more about Emily please visit http://www.helpemily.com/ or http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilykoesters. We will ship the quilt to you or....if the owner of the winning bid should choose to have a certain little girl wake up on Christmas morning wrapped in the magic of this quilt....we will make that happen, too!

Daydreaming

Closing my eyes and pretending this is the scene outside my window today.....
and taking comfort in wonderful new designs and delights in the shop!

Time to Mulch!!

Looks like a mess, doesn't it?? Not really!! This freshly mulched rose garden is "winter insurance" at our house!! We will be richly rewarded with beautiful blooms next spring from these well protected plants!!
....and Mama Kitty agrees that we are ready for the projected snowfall this upcoming week!!

From the "Cleaning Lady"!

Hey! It's the "cleaning lady" here!! Taking advantage of some quiet time to catch up on cleaning, painting...and of course redecorating!! Hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours! Treasured time with family, friends and those we love! More pictures and new things to be added soon! We are going to start working on the website and will keep you posted!

Our Very Special Project...

Now to announce our special project....for the second year we have designed a holiday tree to benefit the Crisis Center for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Festival of Hope.....
The light of the Christmas star and bright hope of a sunflower remind us of the help offered to those who pass through the doors of the Crisis Center and provide the inspiration for this year's tree. All items on our tree were grown in our gardens, created in our kitchen and professionally preserved in our shop.
Last year the 24 hour Crisis line responded to 3,245 call for help.
There are many beautiful trees on display at Abe Krasne Home Furnishings, 450 N. Main and 447 N. Main in Fremont. Stop by and place a bid by silent auction or join the celebration during Main Street's Christmas Walk, Friday, November 27 from 5 to 9 pm.
For more information on the Crisis Center go to www.knowanddowhatsright.com

One More Peek...

One more peek before the unveiling....

Why I Live In Nebraska...

I now know why I live in the Midwest. If it wasn't for winter... I would STILL be in the garden! This weekend has been spent adding some beautiful color to the kitchen soffit accenting wildflower prints taken from a vintage garden book.
A jar filled with freeze dried lemons and limes, gorgeous preserved goodies from the garden and..

this beautiful "gifted" pitcher that we filled with fragrant cinnamon sticks that simply adorn the kitchen countertops.....I guess winter isn't quite so bad after all!!

A Preview

A preview to a very special project...stay tuned!!

Diggin' In The Dirt

This beautiful warm November weekend....
had us busy preparing for next year's growing season!
Start dreaming!!

We are!!

Happy Halloween!

Our tiniest pumpkin waits....
For very spooky (but, oh so cute!) visitors!
Happy Halloween!!

A Fresh Start!

A fresh, new look after four days of remodeling and renovating in the shop! Here's your first peek at what's new!!

Halloween Hysterical!

Every once in awhile a girl just has to ride her broom....

(From left) Charlene, Cindy and me having fun at Park Avenue Antiques during Halloween Hysteria on Thursday night.

Keeping Watch

Our Garden Angel....

keeping watch over the fall harvest!

Winter Wonderland In October

There was more than frost on our pumpkins this morning!
Five inches of snow fell softly in the night....

and gave us an early winter wonderland!

Getting Ready For A Freeze

The weather forecast spells doom for our tender annuals. Now is the time to bring in the plants that we want to save. Inspect plants carefully for signs of pests and disease. Some plants are not going to be happy in an indoor environment. Plants such as Mandovillia are going to defoliate. There is NOTHING you can do to stop it....it's just going to happen. They just need a bit of a winter break....like me!! Soon tender new leaves will begin to appear.

It's easy to save that favorite geranium plant. Remove it from the pot, shake off the dirt, remove the leaves, place upside down in a box and place in a cool, dark environment. Check occasionally for signs of mold and mildew and remove infected branches. Pot the plant in February or March and place in a sunny window. Your geranium will be ready to enjoy for another growing season!

Just because we are going to have a freeze doesn't mean we have to stop gardening! Beautiful fall mums, flowering kale and pansies are resilient and add lots of late fall color! You will notice that some other plants like snapdragons will withstand those first few freezing mornings!

If you are not sure how to over winter a special plant just send me an email or leave a comment and I will try to find an answer for you!

Now it's time to start bringing that wonderful summer feeling into our homes! Start watching the blog for more decorating ideas for the inside of your home! There will be lots of new ideas coming your way!

Thanks for all the prayers for Emily!!

Blessings and Prayers

I know it's been a little quiet on the blog this week but get ready because I will make up for it right now!!

We have enjoyed lots of visitors to the shop and gardens this week. The growing season is coming to an end and that makes our time in the gardens even more precious, but many beautiful blooms were harvested this week and will appear in beautiful designs in the shop! As we left for grocery shopping early this morning (yes Ken, I know- a guys gotta eat) the temperature was at 32 degrees and the yard was blanketed in white. I just knew I would come home to a black, wilted mess in the gardens. Thankfully I was wrong and even had to water some container gardens on this crisp October day. A local meteorologist actually used the four-letter "s" word in his forecast for next weekend so our groups scheduled for this week are in luck for some late season treats!!

We have also taken time to remember our little friend Emily Koesters and her family in thought and prayer. Emily is only 6 years old and suffers from a genetic disorder called Schimkes. The number of people diagnosed with Schimkes in the WORLD numbers only in the 40's. Emily and her family are the most courageous and inspirational people we have the honor of knowing. Emily has had a really, really rough week. If you could take a minute and say a prayer for her and her family we know it would be appreciated. You can leave a message for Emily and her family at her Caring Bridge website. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilykoesters

Angels In The Garden

A peaceful, misty morning on the prairie...

and as the fog begins to lift, the tiniest piece of fluffy white down dances gently through the air - evidence that the angels were once again playing in the gardens!

The Prettiest Flower

The prettiest flower in the garden today....
is ready for her close up!
My beautiful little Ava Sue!!

Good Bugs

No - this is not an alien!! At six to eight inches long we are seeing more Praying Mantis in the yard. As winter approaches the females are in search of somewhere to lay their egg sacks. These are the good guys and we want them in the gardens! Praying Mantis can become so large that they can even eat a small hummingbird. Think of all the Aphids and Asian Beetles they will eat!

Thank you!!

New friends..old friends...
and families...

are what our Open Houses are all about!

Thanks for coming!!

Celebrate, Celebrate!

Today's photographs......
We're ready to celebrate the Fall 2009 Open House!
Friday and Saturday 9 to 5 - Sunday 10 to 4

Fall Open House Weekend

It's here!!

Our Fall Open House!!

September 11, 12 and 13

Friday and Saturday 9 to 5 - Sunday 10 to 4

We're looking forward to seeing you this weekend!

Temptation

Just thought we would tempt you with a little peek inside the shop as we put the finishing touches on our Fall Open House preparations!

We're looking forward to seeing you September 11, 12 and 13!!

Glorious Gardening Days

The last two glorious days have been spent in the gardens. The pergola is especially beautiful at this time of year. The Silver Lace Vine and Sweet Autumn Clematis have helped to create a secret, peaceful and serene garden room.

We have celebrated many successes in the gardens during this growing season. As it goes in gardening.....we have also faced our struggles this year. Abnormal temperatures and ample rainfall have created a perfect environment for the growth of fungus and disease. The rose garden in particular has required a lot of extra work and still is not as pretty as usual. Other gardens and plants are thriving and are even more beautiful thanks to our weather conditions. It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned gardener or a first-timer....just remember that Mother Nature brings us the winter season for a reason! She wipes our slate clean and gives us a chance to improve upon our mistakes and to do something fantastic on her canvas once again!

Apple Pie

The apple trees are loaded...yum!! We received this recipe from our friend Barb. It is called "Swedish Apple Pie" but it is so easy I think it should be called "Busy Gardener Apple Pie"! Enjoy!!

Apple Slices

Sugar

Cinnamon

Oleo

Salt

1 Egg

Flour

Nuts

Fill a pie pan two-thirds full of apple slices. Sprinkle with 3 TBL. sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Cover with batter. To make batter mix 2/3 cup melted oleo, 1 cup sugar and a dash of salt. Add egg, 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup nuts. (I use walnuts) Spread evenly over apples and bake one hour at 350 degrees or until browned. Yummy with homemade vanilla ice cream!!!!

A Fall Day In August

If feels like fall is visiting us on this summer day! This weather puts me in the mood to create some more wonderful fall designs including this one! Freeze dried mini pumpkins, gourds and pumpkin peppers accented with indian corn and bittersweet.....a true celebration of the upcoming fall season!

We are glad everyone is enjoying the salsa recipe! Yes, it does make a large batch but it only lasts a few days in this house! Don't be afraid to halve the recipe if necessary. We love to grow unusual varieties of vegetables and flowers in our greenhouse and offer them for sale to our customers in the spring. Right now our beautiful fall mums are ready for your gardens and are affordably priced at only $5.00.

It's Tomato Time!!

Finally....at long last the tomatoes are ripening! The red Celebrity tomatoes are large and gorgeous! Two other plants were gifts from our friends Terry and Sheila- a Tomatillo and an Heirloom Variety called Cherokee Purple. Yum! Now it's time for fresh Salsa. Enjoy the recipe - it's our favorite!

Fresh Salsa

32 Medium Tomatoes

1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Fresh Cilantro

1 TBL Granulated Garlic

2 TBL Lime Juice

1 Cup Chopped Onion

1 Cup Chopped Peppers (I love to use "Fooled You" because they are mild)

1 1/2 TBL Salt

1 tsp Dried Oregano

Chop tomatoes and drain in a colander for a few minutes. (I chop everything in the food processor) Combine all ingredients and let marinate overnight. Serve with baked chips for a lowfat and healthy treat!