Sugar, All in a Day's Play

My sister Mel has been making gum paste (sugar) flowers. When I saw them, I thought, that doesn't look so hard, so I paid her a visit this morning to give it a try. She showed me her creations of sweet peas, irises, a trillium, mums and calla lilies. They were beautiful, dainty, just lovely. She gave me a dab of the gum paste and challenged me to make something. Well, let me tell you, it was no easy task. I only managed a few leaves before the sugar started to dry in my hands. I quickly lost patience and it's driving me crazy. Surely I can do this, I'm thinking. With Mel still on my mind, I decided to come home and make one of her dessert bars instead. This I knew how to do. These are her Chocolate Oatmeal Bars with a gooey chocolate center. Oh my, I should not have done this. They are a piece of the devil, for sure. Why am I so tempted by the sweets lately? Wait, I made them for Bill, just in case he needs a quick pick-me-up. Of course, I forgot he has a fasting lab in the morning so he wouldn't even try one. I cut a third of it for neighbor Gene and another third for my brother to take home. At least it won't be staring me in the face in the morning. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Hooray for that. ( Mercy, they are good tho. )
Backtrack. Bars are done and cooling, a quick salad and out the door I go. I still had to make 'Project 3'. On my way to the barn for tools, I thought, How Cute! A little fawn laying in front of the rockbed hiding behind the grass.

Another 'tom foolery'? yes. It's only a painted fawn on a rock. I painted him 5-6 years ago and each spring he moves around the yard several times until he's big enough to run and play in the field. His mother is always near by grazing somewhere at the woods edge or in the back of the field, just so she can see her little one is still safe. That part of the short story is true. A pair of fawns are born near our barn every spring. We have seen their mom hide them here and there nearby. Hopefully I will be able to share proof in another month or so.
This is my 'Project 3' of this spring. I had some red dogwood and grapevine left from the wattle projects. The old rose arbor was in need of replacing so this is the new one. I love the way it turned out! The robin was sitting on the top shortly after I finished, checking out the mailbox birdhouse on the woodshed. How exciting if she uses it.
As long as my transplant shovel was handy, I planted a yellow climbing rose at the feet of the arbor. My luck with roses has not been shining, so keep your fingers crossed for me. They sure would dress up the bare twigs.
Look what Bill brought home for me. He says it's a two-seater. He's kidding, of course. Looks like 'break time' to me., but I'm going to use it as a planter for ivy and petunias, I think. Or maybe, Corsican mint and blue lobelia. It needs to be moved to the front yard.

I still had plants to continue to transplant. I found Autumn Joy Sedum in the ditch that transplanted into the rock bed, Dolly Madison Lilies are by the bird feeders, Red Bee Balm found a new home, as well as Woodland violets.

After a cup of Chili, I was too exhausted to putter, but did anyway. I had to beat the pants off my dear hubby and brother at another evening at cards. It was my pleasure boys. Ya see, they always gang up on me but tonight the cards were with me. Hahahahaha. They are so lucky that I am such a good sport.

That's it folks!

For now...

BlessYa'll from Dar