Tuesday, July 21, 2009

7/22 Outdoor Wednesday # 28

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It’s time for “Outdoor Wednesday”. Learn more about “Outdoor Wednesday” HERE

1. POST your outdoor photos and the Outdoor Wednesday logo/button on your blog and link back to  http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ so that others will be able to find all the links to other Outdoor Wednesday posts.

Reminder: Do NOT link in until after your post is up.

2. Add your Name and the Permalink to your post (NOT your general blog address) in “Mr. Linky”. For help with permalink see HERE

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This summer has been especially hot and dry in my garden. While weather patterns vary a bit around the Lower South, we all have to deal with some brutal summer heat and some fairly common summer drought spells.

Take a drive around your area in the summer and notice how most landscapes become a sea of green, or in my case this summer a sea of tawny! While the summer heat and stress does shut down many of our spring bloomin' beauties there are many other flowers that can take the heat and in fact even thrive in it.

Here are a few of my favorites for summer color in the Lower South. These plants love the heat but most do need moderate soil moisture to keep them blooming and productive. A good watering once or twice a week will be enough to keep them blooming up a storm.

Hardy Hibiscus

Thryallis

Red Bird of Paradise

sonora106.jpg red bird of paradise image by munkeybee

Indigo Spires

Firecracker Plant

Don’t forget to visit other Outdoor Wednesday participants by clicking on their links. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Outdoor Wednesday participants.

HERE ARE THIS WEEK’S PARTICIPANTS: 

 

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92 comments:

  1. So Glad to see you back Susan! I love the firecracker plant.. that is beautiful as well as that Bird of Paradise! I bet the hummingbirds flock to em.
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  2. We have missed you, Susan. The colors of the flowers are just stunning. So lovely!!

    Sending good thoughts, prayers and hugs to you. Please know how much we appreciate your hosting this event!

    Barb

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  3. Susan, it is good to see you! Good thoughts coming your way, and thank you for hosting!
    We have been wet, wet, wet....no happy medium!
    Your hibiscus is beautiful..they bloom in August here..
    Hope all is well!
    Kathleen

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  4. Your flowers are lovely in spite of the weather. Most of them are things I don't have in my garden. I wonder if they will grow in my area. Glad to have you back. Hope your mother-in-law is doing better.

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  5. I really like that firecracker plant. I'll have to look into that for my landscape. Hope all is well with you! Take care!

    Christi

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  6. So glad to see you back Susan. Thanks for sharing these beautiful flowers. Our drought level has been upgraded to extreme, so we aren't seeing much bloom here. Although the crepe myrtles seem to be hanging in there. I love that firecracker plant. With our aquifer dropping a foot a day, I just don't feel right watering anything right now, so our yard looks lovely - NOT. But everyone for the most part is trying to conserve, so at least we don't have the only ugly yard lol. Thanks for sharing the pretty flowers! Kathy

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  7. We have red bird of paradise here in Las Vegas too and I think it is so exotic looking. I've tried growing it in my yard several times and it always dies. I just have to enjoy it as I see it around town.

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  8. Happy Outdoor Wednesday, Susan!

    cielo

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  9. The red bird of paradise is a fascinating plant. I doubt that it will grow well in PA or I think we would see it around as it is so pretty.

    Hope you and yours are doing well.

    Becky K.

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  10. I hope all is well with you and your family.
    Your flowers are beautiful!...I love the firecracker plant too and I need to add that to my garden. I think our ruby throated hummers would love it.
    Happy Outdoor Wednesday!!

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  11. hope you get some good rain soon....your flowers are gorgeous!
    chasity

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  12. Oh Susan, it's so nice to see you back. I hope this means that all is well with your family.

    Your flowers are lovely, but I can't see a pic under Indigo Spires. Not complaining mind you, just wanted to let you know.

    I have never seen a Red Bird of Paradise, it is so unusual and gorgeous. I always love to learn about new plants, especially those that grow in the South!

    Welcome back Susan, we've all missed you.

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  13. so many beautiful flowers! i'd love to have either one of those.

    my first outdoor wednesday entry, finally!

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  14. Hi Susan,
    Hope things are going well for you. I love southern flowers and these are some beauties! Cindy

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  15. Welcome back Susan, hope all is well in your corner of the world. Thank you so much for hosting Outdoor Wednesday, I know it has been rough lately.

    I love the vibrant color of your hibiscus...so lovely.

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  16. It's nice to see that your back. Beautiful flowers. We have been having lovely fall weather here in Wisconsin - Unfortunately it is supposed to be the middle of Summer!

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  17. Gorgeous flowers. I don't have anything blooming besides crepe myrtles right now. The herds of deer that visit us daily just eat them all up.
    So glad you're back!
    Rhonda

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  18. Beautiful flowers! I love the hardy hibiscus flowers, they are so big and elegant. Sadly, they mean summer is winding down.

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  19. Susan, I am so happy to see you back this week, and I hope things are going better. We've missed you SO much.

    You've got some beautiful plants there. We've had a pretty wet summer... or at least the first part was after a long spring of little rain. Hope you get some rain soon.

    Thanks for hosting. Much love and Happy Outdoor Wednesday to you...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  20. Welcome back and hope you are on top of your game again! Your flowers are amazing, they are plants we don't normally see in our neck of the woods. Thank-you for sharing, happy Outdoor Wednesday to you!

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  21. Hi Susan! I hope things are going better with your family! We miss you! I love your flowers...especially the firecracker plant! I'm going to have to look for them around here! Enjoy the rest of your week!...hugs...Debbie

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  22. Your flowers look so beautiful! Hope all is well.

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  23. Love your pictures. My plants are all so sad looking in the hot sun. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Oh that bird of paradise is gorgeous!
    I love hibiscus, I have them planted all around our back yard in every color I could find!
    Beautiful pictures : )

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  25. The flowers are beautiful! Hope you are well :)

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  26. Susan, thanks for hosting a fun day of beautiful exteriors... it's nice to have you back.. the hibiscus is beautiful.. This is the first year in many years I haven't bought one. continued prayers and thoughts sent your way..
    hugs ~lynne~

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  27. Thank you so much for being our host for this wonderful party. It is late and my first link is wrong, but I am having a giveaway and I did the right one under it. Sorrry!

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  28. It's nice to be surrounded by flowers. Makes you happy. The hibiscus looks like a petalled skirt.

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  29. Oh it does make me want to endure the heat to have flowers like these. But we are also conserving water. Live in the country with a water well and sure don't want to run out.

    Thanks for sharing yours, Candy

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  30. Wonderful blooms. In the North East, it's been raining a lot..., and I think my rosebushes are not getting enough sun -they're supposed to be blooming non-stop, but don't. Happy OW and thanks!

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  31. Hi Susan - Glad to see you back. Thank you so much for hosting this event, even tho you did not post every week. You are so kind to do so. I have a few outdoor photos on file, but did not take time to pick and choose for a post this week. To much other going on. Glad to see you back, and hope all is going well for you.
    Glenda

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  32. Beautiful flowers! Thanks for giving my a chance to link up and enjoy others summer enjoyment outdoors.

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  33. Hi Susan!! I hope things are going to better with you and yours family!
    wow! Just beautiful flowers!!!
    thanks for all!

    Marina

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  34. Such amazing beauty!!

    I also want to wish you a great day, this coming Saturday!!

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  35. Those Indigo spires are beautiful! Thanks for hosting again Susan... Hope all is well!
    Have a great week.
    ~Really Rainey~

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  36. Like many many others I am so happy to see you back. I certainly hope all is going better.

    Your colors you shared are yummy!

    TTFN~~Claudia ♥

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  37. I FINALLY made it! your photos are beautiful! Mine are filled with weeds...but the flowers are finally coming around.
    I do hope you will one day join in on my Fertilizer Friday meme...and Flaunt your Flowers!

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  38. Susan - Your flowers are just lovely. I hope all is well and it is good to have you back. We look forward to many more Wednesdays. My favorite is the hibiscus.

    Charla

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  39. Susan, despite the heat you seem to still have lots blooming. Your photos are terrific. I hope all is well with your Mom. Blessings...Mary

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  40. Hello Susan, long time no visit! Sorry about that... been hectic over here plus a surprise vacation stay at the in-laws. Hope things are getting better on your end.

    Your flower pictures are stunning! I love that hibiscus!

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  41. Your flowers make mine look so pitiful ... what awesome pictures

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  42. Hmmmmmm, around here and Arizona too, they're called Mexican Bird of Paradise. I love the fern like leaves on that bush.

    My Outdoor Wednesday is flowers with a 'passion'.

    Have a great day.

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  43. I love those summer flowers, Susan. I'll have to remember them for next summer.

    I hope this finds things going better for you. Thank you for continuing to host our "Outdoor Wednesdays."

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  44. Very inspirational photos - I joined in your meme today - I hope to see many others in the Great Outdoors! Happy Wednesday!

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  45. That was so very beautiful!We have the bird of paradise growing all over India.This is my 1st and i thank you for this opportunity.

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  46. Red Paradis flower, I saw it in India when I was working there, I wich it could grow in Sweden.
    MB

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  47. Dear Susan, Miss you, hope things are improving at your house and you will be back up and running.

    Your pictures are great.

    Happy Outdoor Wednesday

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  48. Susan-So glad you are back and hope your MIL is doing well. These are gorgeous, especially the firecracker plant. It is my DREAM to have a sprinkler system installed. Right now I am the sprinkler system. By August I am usually resigned to letting my annuals die a natural death :) Thanks for hosting!

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  49. You have so many gorgeous plants. What a wonderful outdoors you experience!

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  50. Susan, I have finally made it back to some kind of regular postings... Your pictures are otstanding and the flowers look so beautiful! Thanks for hosting Outdoor Wednesday!

    (((HUGS)))
    Donna

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  51. You're back! Everything must have been well again.

    The bird of paradise that I see on your picture is not what I had in mind. I haven't seen one like that where flowers open and there's that cluster of balls.

    Glad you're back!

    Li

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  52. Susan...Beautiful post! Continued hugs and prayers!

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  53. I just love these heat loving blossoms - the colors are so vibrant and beautiful. Hardy hibscus is a flower I envy, I planted them several times over the year and they always freeze out. The bird of paradise flower is gorgeous...does it have another name, I googled and came up with the tropical version that looks like a bird. I would love to see if it would grow in a northern garden!

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  54. Hi Susan,
    It is nice to see all your different color plants.I love the hibiscus plant.

    Thank you for hosting,
    Carolyn

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  55. boy, i know what you mean by tawny, poor plants. yours are gorgeous!!!

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  56. So nice to see you again, Susan. Your flowers are amazing especially the red bird of paradise...Christine

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  57. Oh the hardy hibiscus. I have one in my garden and every year when I bring a blossom with me some where to show people no one believes it is real. Of course it is about 10 inches across.

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  58. Hi Susan! It's good to see you here again -- and I am going to admit that while I don't envy some aspects of Southern living -- I DO envy the flowers. That hardy hibiscus is spectacular -- love them, but can only have hibiscus for a few months here in NJ.

    Gorgeous pictures -- as always! Cass

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  59. Susan,

    It is a true pleasure to join your Outdoor Wed. again! Your flowers are looking good! I know the weather has been a bit hot and dry... but they still look terrific!

    xoxoxoxo
    Donna Marie

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  60. This is my first Outdoor Wednesday. I love being outside and working in the yard.
    I don't have the linky on my blog..... not sure what I did wrong, but I do see my name on this blog....I'll re-read the directions.
    Your flowers look beautiful!
    Dolores

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  61. Glad thing are better for you and family. Your blooms are so pretty. I love hibiscus, but seem to have a hard time getting them to live. Thanks for sharing such beauty and letting me visit with you today.

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  62. Good morning Susan! The flowers are all so pretty! We are experiencing a very dry summer here in Seattle and my lawn is pretty tawny!!
    Blessings...

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  63. What pretty flowers. The hardy hibiscus are such beauties. I just planted five of them. :) I hope things are smoother now in your life. Please take care.
    Blessings,
    Sandra

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  64. Your flowers are beautiful! I wish it were a little hotter here!

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  65. The colors in your flowers are so vibrant and beautiful. Thank you, Susan for making this possible. My blog is new and I have gotten some very sweet comments from joining your blog party each week! Hugs, ~cindy s~

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  66. Hi Susan.....thanks sooo much for giving me the name of that firecracker plant. Junior and I have been wracking our brains trying to think of it since seeing them in Victoria!

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  67. Beautiful blooms. Thanks for sharing.
    Hello Susan.

    Regina

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  68. So glad you're back! I hope everything is settling down for you. All of the flowers are beautiful but that hibiscus is stunning! What a beautiful shade of red!

    Robin

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  69. Love the combination of colors and textures! Firecracker red with the Indigo Spires has to be one of my favorites...

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  70. Hope you are feeling better and I am glad you are back with us. The flowers are beautiful. It is so always fun to see the different varieties of plants which grow in different places. I enjoyed the Hibiscus as always, but had never seen the pretty Firecracker and the Red Bird of Paradise. Thanks for sharing and for hosting us!

    Beth~♥

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  71. Since I live in the Desert Southwest where it is way over 100 most days of the summer, I love seeing plants that will bloom in the heat! I particularly liked the Firecracker plant and I think I'll try that here. Thanks.:)

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  72. Susan, we have hibiscus and salvia. The others I haven't grown. But the colors are beautiful! Thanks for hosting Outdoor Wednesday! ~~Rhonda :)

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  73. Great blog and your photos are beautiful. ~Cindy

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  74. Are those your flowers or are ya cheating again? LOL Beautiful!

    Justine :o )

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  75. Lovely colors, Susan. Wonderful shots...thank you.

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  76. hello pretty woman.how are you.i know i haven't made my 50 this month,huh?i'll catch up later,ha.
    i guess you know whats happening,so i won't bore you with more.
    my goodness nearly 400 followers.you're famous.ha.your flowers and your yard are gorgeous.when do you have time?with hubby,children,house and yard.superwoman,......love ya ...ann

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  77. First off - 123 links! HOLY COW!!!!
    I've been gone too long! Congrats!!
    Well, those flowers can cheer anyone up even on a hot Southern Day. I love red and yellow together!

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  78. WOW, over 120 participants! Congratulations!

    Stop by my blog when you get a chance. I have something for you. :-)

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  79. Gorgeous! I love the indigo spires.

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  80. Susan, I've been praying for you and yours. Hope all are doing better. Beautiful flowers! laurie

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  81. A little bird told me it was your birthday, Susan, and I want to wish you a happy one!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  82. Just a note to wish you a very happy birthday, Susan. Have fun celebrating!

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  83. Love all the flowers, they are so pretty. It is so hot here not much is blooming, but come fall things will start to show their pretty colors. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Hope you have a great one. Hugs, Marty

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  84. Susan, I understand today is your birthday. I wish you a day and year filled with joy and love.

    My mother's birthday was yesterday, and mine is tomorrow.

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  85. Happy Birthday!!! I hope your day is filled with sunshine, lovely flowers, family and love. Have a great day!!

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  86. The Flowers are so very beautiful!! Heavenly!!

    I tagged you over at my blog...I hope you will "play"!

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  87. Hi Susan, I heard it was your birthday from Barbara at the Purple Goat Lady. Happy Birthday Susan. I hope you have a wonderful day on Saturday. Beverly's birthday is tomorrow. Her mom's has just passed.

    I do love the beautiful flowers you posted. I missed doing an outdoor post this week but I will be home from Kansas City tomorrow or Monday. It is a long drive and we may stop overnight. We have been gone so much this summer and I can't wait to get home for good.

    Until next time.

    Hugs...Jeanne

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  88. I thought I should add her Mom's birthday has just passed. It sounded like she passed or something weird. Jeanne, again.

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  89. Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday dear Susannnnnnnn!
    Happy birthday to you....and many moreeee!

    You should know that there are nooooo secrets in bloggerville! Hope you had a fabulous birthday and may all your birthday wishes come true!

    xoxo
    Tina

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  90. Susan, we had a great time at your party....Hope your MIL is better and you can come back to us.

    Come see the party and read the comments, they are for you.

    Barbara

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  91. Beautiful pictures Susan...I missed you ♥

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