Deck Staging.

With the completion of our deck,

it was time to dig out the furniture.

In time we'll get a new set but this

one is working just fine for now. 

We bought it at a local big box store. 

Originally listed for $600, we paid

a lovely $188 for the set, which

included the loveseat, 2 chairs, a

glass top coffee table and all the

cushions. It's sturdy and comfortable.

We've included a couple of our green

wicker chairs to add color to the set.

I did a bit of "staging" and added this

artwork to compliment the sage and candle.

As dusk fell, we lit the tiny candles on the

table and sat in the quiet, content with our

new deck and our peaceful spot in the big

woods. No where else I'd want to be ....

Streetcar.

Right outside the Farmer's Market

is the vintage Streetcar that takes

passengers from the south side of

the river over to the north side. We

went a couple of years ago and it

was great fun, until the wind picked

up. Then it was just a bit scary! I

would go on again ~ maybe this year.

Buddies.

I'm taking some time this Summer to sort

all our photos and I came across this shot

of our puppy Celti and our daughter's dog

Lola. Celti at this time was bigger ~ she

was about 12 years old here, making tiny

Lola about 2. In time, Lola was almost as

big as Celti and definitely more energetic

than Celti, who was always so laid back.

She rarely even barked but she didn't need

to. She could get anything she wanted to

without barking. Celti just had her own way.

We still miss her and wish she was still here.

Amazing Art.

When we were at the Farmer's Market

the other day, we stopped to view this ....

Isn't is amazing? It's done by an artist

who only worked on it for 2 whole

days. This would take me a year to

put together. But he did it and it's an

amazing work of art. We were so

very impressed with all the colors.

The Market.

We have a couple of Farmer's Markets 

during the week in our small hamlet.

But sometimes we like to venture in the

big City to visit the market off Whyte Ave.

Fruit, veggies, baking, art of all kinds, and

music in the background, creating atmosphere.

I love all all the vibrant colors and the freshness.

We bought the orange cauliflower on the left.

Our last stop was visiting the artisan who felts

wool into hats, socks, art and even some toys.

She is so talented and fun to talk to. I'd love to

learn how to felt one day. Intriguing and colorful.

Do you have a Farmer's Market close by?

If you do, do you visit yours often?

My Mom.

She's feisty, smiling and cracking

jokes ~ and not good ones! Her

pelvis is broken and her pain is

great but she is inspiring in her

attitude and her beautiful, sweet

smile. Even in a hospital bed!

Tiny Explorer.

L wanted to see our veggie patch

and we were happy to do a tour.

She was very interested in the vines

growing in the pumpkin raised box.

And had fun watering the beets.

She wants to come back to see

how big everything gets. I'm

hoping we can send her home

with a pumpkin or two in the Fall.

Wouldn't that be so sweet?

"It's Daddy!"

 

L found the little scrapbook we have

all about her daddy. She said "it looks

just like him!" He is a bit taller, sports

a thick beard and his hair is darker now.

But yes, it does still look like him and

it was fun to see her look through it.

Inspiration.

After a very busy weekend, we decided

to treat ourselves with a greenhouse tour.

The pond is not looking healthy but

the rest of the landscape was amazing.

Many colors and inspiration ~ lots of

ideas to take home to our garden plans.

I hope one day to have beautiful and

colorful perennials filling our space.

My favorite of the day ~ a hosta that

is the opposite of the one we have.

White with green edges instead of

green with white edges. Sweet!

We finished off our tour looking at

various kinds of rose bushes to add

to the plan. I love the soft greens of

this one. It has light pink rose petals.

Girly Room.

Our granddaughter had her first sleepover

at our house on Friday night. Tons of fun!

For the last couple of years, our little guy has been

sleeping in this room when the mama works nights.

But on Friday night, this room became a special

spot  for a tiny girl to play and dream. I'm so excited

we had the chance to have her sleep over, in the 

room we had always dreamed she'd sleep in one day.

Lacey Gloves.

We visited one our favorite greenhouses

on the weekend and look what I found!

Yup, lacey gloves. Every gardener should

have a little lace ~ don't you think?

Progress.

It's fun to walk over to our little veggie patch

each day to see the progress of our plants.

We've got flowers like crazy for the pumpkins

and zucchini's. Lots of pods for the peas and

leaves growing taller for the carrots. The

beets are bigger every day and the onions are

tall but thin. Our cabbage and lettuce are not

doing the best but they're still coming along.

Progress in our "experimental garden" is

exciting each day and we're so happy!

No Tornado.

On our last day of our grief daycamp,

a Tornado Warning was issued. It was

the perfect conditions that had been

brewing for days and days. Scary!

I informed my staff and volunteers but

we kept the warning under wraps so

the kids wouldn't be worried and panic.

We put our Emergency Plan in to

place but never had to actually put

it in to action. And by the time daycamp

was over for the week, the warning

had ended. The clouds were scary all

day but eventually turned to blue sky.

I hope this was the only warning!

Fruit Salad.

My famous fruit salad. Okay, it's not

"famous" but anytime I make it ....

.... it's a hit and everyone asks for more.

Perfect on hot, Summer afternoons.

Curly Q's.

When it gets hot and humid, I can make

my hair curly just by scrunching it up ....

.... and adding a little spray. So much easier

than getting out the hot curling iron!

New Bridge.

We were in the big City on Saturday

and drove over the brand new bridge.

This bridge replaced the vintage

one that was about 100 years old.

It's quite the sight and hard to

with a phone camera ....

.... but I did a pretty good job. We

don't go in to the big City often ....

.... but when we do, I'm sure we'll

be taking a trip over the new bridge.