From The Yard

Mexican Evening Primrose

Blanket Flower

African Lillies

Vinca

Ganzia

Pink gardening tools. I found these in the dollar bins at Target.

Container Gardening

As part of our ongoing backyard makeover, I've decided to try my hand at gardening. I'm planting everything in containers because their portability allows me to move heat sensitive plants indoors when needed. Also, buying pottery is half the fun. So far, I haven't killed everything...knock on wood.

Petunias and Impatiens. I love these pots. The colors remind me of Fiesta.

Cosmos.

Gerbera Daisy. This bloom is the perfect shade of pink.

Elephant's Food. Note to self: buy more Talavera pottery.

Celosia

No Arizona landscape would be complete without some Mexican pottery and cacti.

Wildflowers

Thanks to abundant winter rains, the greater Phoenix area is now now being treated to the best wildflower season in years. Yesterday, we took a nature walk through Thunderbird Park in north Glendale. Here, we got to enjoy the acres of brightly colored flowers that covered the hillside like a carpet. This area of the park burned in a wildfire just three years ago so many areas were closed for revegetation.

Click on the photos to view them larger. They look better that way.

Double Fleeced!

Ever feel like the whole world is trying to swindle you out of your money? That's how I felt yesterday when I was overcharged not once, but twice...and at two consecutive points of sale.

In the morning, I went shopping at Wal-Mart. Not my favorite store, but they do have these cool flower pots that come in the same bright colors as Fiesta ware. While there, I also picked up some miscellaneous items we needed for the house.

After I left Walley World, I went to Q's office and picked him up for lunch. As we headed to the restaurant, he was checking my Wal-Mart receipt for any FSA eligible items.

"You bought three boxes of allergy medicine?" he asked.
"No, I bought two: one for day and one for nighttime use. Why?"
Q inspected the receipt further: "They double-charged you for the generic Benadryl."

I was going to just let it go. I really didn't feel like driving back to Wal-Mart, hassling with parking, standing in line, etc. Anyway, it was only $4.78. My time is certainly worth more than that. Anyway, it's time to eat.

We ate lunch at a place called Native New Yorker. Both of us ordered from the lunch menu, where every entree was $5.99. The service was slow and the food was mediocre. In fact, I've had better pizza in a hospital cafeteria.

When the bill arrived, I noticed that we had been charged $8.99 for the spinach and feta salad. Obviously, this was the dinner price. I was POSITIVE this item was on the lunch menu!!!! We made the waitress adjust the bill.

As we drove back to Q's office, I was miffed. I felt like everyone was trying to take us for more money than they were entitled to. After I dropped Q off, I decided to return to Wal-Mart and get my money back for the Benadryl I didn't buy.

The guy at the customer service desk (who looked like he could be Ashton Kutcher's little sister) was very nice about it. He gave me back the overage--$5.18 after tax--without problem. I have a feeling this happens all the time.

It had to be done. While we're not poor, that $5.18 means more to us than it does to the giant Wal-Mart corporate machine. I mean, with that money, I can buy a gallon and a half of gas!!!!! Or maybe a brightly colored flower pot.