Dear Diary.....

2 years ago we found out that we were betrayed by the people closest to us... family. They robbed us of what they think is most important in someone's life. A house. Taking care of hubby's dad was the biggest privilege yet the biggest burden. Something siblings don't understand unless they live the life. It sickens me that they have disrespected dad's wishes & 6 days before his dead, severed the joint tenancy because they had a right as a POA. A right that my husband declined & gave to his brother to show good faith that we wanted things to be done fairly & accordingly to dad's wishes. The only thing they took from the 2 months we have given them to spend more time with their father after my husband revived his dad, was an opportunity. An opportunity to steal the roof over our children's heads & sealed their faith that our children will never know them! Actions speak louder then words ever could. The disgusting letters we have received pointing blame, finding some type of justifying grounds for what they have done, will never be forgiven nor forgotten. Their attempts to break up a family, husband & wife team will never be done, because they don't know that we have something they don't. Loyalty, kindness, a heart that beats to the harmony of God, a tender giving soul, commitment to each other & most importantly faith in the Lord himself & divine power. People like this will have to one day answer to him only! We have LOVE & we are family. We have memories of dad & that is something they will never steal. We are blessed by the little miracles that continue in our life & only more amazing things will come. This I believe. I hope they choke on the dollar bills & that this money will bring them the biggest misfortunes & burns their soul. Amen!

"O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen"


Disclaimer:  As this blog is my life's journey through my eyes as I live it...  these are my private feelings, views, beliefs and notes & not intended to tarnish or belittle anyone directly or indirectly!

Offerings....

Some of the most beautiful offerings are the ones that are right under our nose, large or small, sometimes we walk right by them hundreds of times. My back yard beautiful abundance has showed me another magnificence through my lens.  I am so grateful. 

Sweet Anthony.... and yes that is also the name of my husband.  

Looking to unwind those achy sore tired muscles & relax.  Add some lavender oil to your bath. 

PANSIES

Happy YELLOW pansies with the purples ones..... the mixture is so breathtaking. 

Yummy berries ♥

Picked a full basket of strawberries in our yard.  First picking... there is more.

Thanks so much for stopping by... please leave your footprints in the comments below.  

Love,

Janette ♥

Itsy bitsy spider...

I just made it out of bed, hair still a big matted mess, rubbing my sleepy eyes, no coffee yet & hubby noticed this lovely female spider as he lifted the hot tub cover & called me over to take a peek.  Well, what does a photographer that absolutely loves macro do?

There is nothing more to say.....  she was a beauty.

Happy Sunday,
Janette

Golden Tortoise Beetle

I found myself doing a little research today as I walked by my flower planters outside and noticed that my potato vines had whole bunch of little holes in them.  I regularly pick off the dried up flower buds and clean up my baskets every other day or so and I'm quite sure these holes were not there.

As I lifted the leaf all around and through out the entire planter I finally found the little critter.  To my surprise it was quite beautiful golden little beetle bug.  It just sat there like a gemstone on the stem of the leaf.  

I gently picked it off and placed it in a glass container with a lid so I could further inspect it. 

While searching on Google the bug began changing colour and became a tinge of reddish.   It tried to find an opening and flew upwards each time I rotated the glass jar and the colour became more dull red while few black spots appeared on the back.  It looked nearly identical to a common lady bird beetle. 

This is the exact same Golden Tortoise Beetle as in the above image after it changed it's colours.

Researching these bugs, they love to munch on potato vines, morning glory, will creep into your tomato plants and eat the young tender foliage.  I've also noticed my young lilies growing near by had been chewed to make the leaves' edges all zigzagged.  

I decided to search out a pesticide to have them removed, naturally or make them go away somehow.  Apparently they do not like to be near common lady bird beetles as they are more aggressive and will eat their larva.  I found this simply fascinating as these little critters mimic & morph into their own enemy.  

I found a way to make home made insecticidal soap through a great article in Green Living to get these beetles to stop spreading mainly due to the fact we have a garden at the back of the house and these beetles spread to the gardens like wild fire. 

All purpose pesticide is a soap based insecticidal.  It has been used for centuries as it disrupts the insects cell membranes while killing the pest by dehydration.  It is important to use the correct measurements and not too much soap or one takes the risk of killing the vegetation as well.  The below measurements have been proven to be safe.

• Purchase a liquid soap, not a detergent at a health food store.  Combine 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid soap to 1 quart of water.  Combined these two in a large container, mix thoroughly and transfer to a spray bottle.  Use as needed.  

Also, spices and roots that are very strong smelling such as onions, horseradish, garlic, cayenne, hot peppers, ginger, rhubarb leaves and few more have also been known to repel insects.

Note:  For an all purpose pesticide soap spray follow the additional remedies.  

• Take a handful of the above mentioned spices, add boiling water to cover soap spray (above) let cool and use as needed.  When using fresh roots, add boiling water to cover roots in a mason jar, let cool and sit overnight, strain and add to the soap spray (above), use as needed.  

As I prepare my midnight tincture, I hope these little pesky yet gorgeous bugs find their way somewhere else.  So much for planting morning glory. If this is what I have to look forward to, not thank you, even if I love the stunning flowers & rich foliage.  

While researching insecticidal spray I also discovered a solution to my other pesky problem.  Bunnies in my garden. Rabbits & deer hate the smell of garlic so create a garlic spray in similar method of pouring boiling water over crushed garlic, let sit over night to cool, strain and use as needed.  

Hope you've enjoyed this and learned something new.  

Much love,

Janette