http://catholicism.org/saint-k... Saint Kelly from Catholism.org :)

Zuzu - your family has some of the awesomest names! Honestly.. I'd LOVE to have a name like that...

We just have the most average Russian names imaginable, Toni. My mother was Natalie, my sisters are Lana (Svetlana) and Tanya (Tatiana), and I'm Elena. And to make matters even more average, my last name translates to Williams.

By golly there is a Saint Kelly!

Zuzu - .. uh.. why on earth did I think that you were part Korean? Didn't you spend some time in Korea or something like that? Still, I absolutely *LOVE* Russian names.. soooo exotic!!

I was born in Korea, but I'm Russian.

I wintersow seeds in containers outside. I haven't started, yet. It snowed this weekend, but it 44'F and raining now. I am afraid that my seeds would think it is spring and then get shocked when winter finally sets in - if it does this year. I also start some things inside.

Winter protection for my roses has been a dilemma this year. We don't get constant snow cover in the winters. It snows, melts, snows again, etc. This year it has been much warmer and rainier than usual. I have just started winter protection for my roses - I cover the bases with peat moss and top that with cedar mulch. You are supposed to start once the ground freezes solid, but it just did that earlier this month. Usually, I have my winter protection done by Christmas. This year one rose - Carefree Celebration- was still trying to bloom Thanksgiving weekend.

I am thankful to have well water here. I complain about how far the hose connection is from my garden, but at least I don't have to pay for water by the gallon.

I had meetings with attorneys today and am exhausted. I miss being able to relax in the garden on days like today. Mud, rain and melting snow aren't relaxing at all!

We had a fantastic warm day here today. So warm, I painted doors outside.
I'm kind of late getting here but I wanted to add that years ago we had a student named "LaTrina". I don't think any of the teachers could say her name without giggling. Sunday I went to a 1-yr birthday party for a relative named "Alayna". (Mom is hispanic, and "Elena" looked too hispanic for her) My family is German-Russian, and every one of us ended up with bland American names. Fitting in was pretty important,

LaTrina?

It is warm outside today, almost feels like spring. Since it is still January, much too early yet. But maybe the warm winter means there will be an early spring this year. At least I hope so.

We're having a warm winter too - hope it continues!

Today I went out front and looked at the garden I have out there facing the street which I haven't looked at in a while. That were floribundaville is way off to the right. Down the other side and in between some I have daffs planted. 200 mixed varieties and 100 seperate of an very early varierty. Those early daffs are all up and showing bloom buds. Wow, I sure was not expecting that.

That's so exciting, Rita. I love the first flowers of the year.

Flowers? This time of the year? What's that? LOLLLL don't get flowers here for another... 2 more months minimum!!! My lilacs are in good shape... but my forsythias are definitely not swelling. Probably it's not even close to spring.

See, you should have planted tulips and daffodils, they would probably be up by now too!

Most of my blooms right now are Hellebores and Narcissus.

Rita,

Would you believe our crocuses were already showing shoots before Christmas! This winter has been so mild! They don't normally do that till late February, and then bloom in mid March here in lower NY.

Gosh, that sure is early. My crocus have not even shown up yet. I really need to get some more as I only have a few.

Everybody, meet Sprite - the newest addition to our family! She's nine weeks old, and we just got her three days ago. She's our second Siberian Husky, and is already a handful!

Oh she is just beautiful! I love the blue eyes. My first two dogs when I was in my early twenties were Siberian Huskeys , one blue eyed the second brown eyed. They were a handfull, very stuborn but on so pretty. Congrats on the new family member.

Thanks Rita! She's very playful, and is stealing all of our other dog's toys!