Summer Saturdays.......

It's been a beautiful Saturday in the Ozarks.  Warm with a few gentle showers to help the tomatoes grow.  Now tonight I'm sitting on my backporch enjoying the sounds of crickets, frogs and kids next door playing in their pool.

 

My kids are on their way home from a week in Colorado.  They've had such a good time. 

 

They went with some of their really good friends and think they've had a really good time.  What wonderful memories!  Can't wait to see them!

 

This was the weekend for the Fordland antique sale.  Love being able to go and take pictures. 

 

 
 The guys have the most beautiful herbs in all kinds of wonderful containers......

This is a small portion of Judy's area.  She likes to do this show and does a little promoting for Leola's.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend and enjoying the same beautiful weather we are.  Have a wonderful Sunday.





Memorial week-end......

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday.  It's going to be a busy week in my world.  We're having a little party at Leola's on Thursday night so we're changing the shop and bringing in new merchandise that reflects our love of porch and garden.

My neighbor brought this chair over last night and I fell in love with it.  He hand-canes and does an amazing job.  He's going to do a ladderback chair next.  I'm hoping they'll work in my dining room.  Right now my chairs are reproduction windsors and they're really too big so I'd love to get something different.  I think the said he had 90 chairs that need to be recaned.  I'm taking this one to the shop to sell.  Hopefully, someone will appreciate such fine workmanship.

It's been a fun weekend around my house.  Sister-in-law, Susan & her husband, Mike, came for a visit and to do a few things for me around the house.  My swing had gotten so weathered that I didn't like to sit in it so now it's nice and clean.  He also powerwashed a bench that will go to the shop and did some work on my little potting shed. It just kept leaning forward.  It is now nice and straight again.

We went to Aunt Linda's house for a picnic on Saturday night.

 The kids love their little cousin Bella.  Bella and her parents bought my kids house when they moved so Bella now sleeps in the girl's former bedroom.  I love that!

 Brother Bud's & SIL Kay's girls surprised them and drove down for the day.  Julie and her family live in St. Louis and Tammy lives in Washington DC.

 Bud and his g'daughter, Madison......she just finished her first year in college and is home for the summer.

 My boy Sage.  His sister, Phoebe, took this picture and I love it.  The girls love to use my camera and they can take amazing photos.  How can you not love that face!  He has the biggest heart and the thought that anyone could ever hurt his feelings hurts my heart.

 The girls.....looking up at the sky.  So great to just be a kid.

 Bella's mom & sister Linda's g'daughter, Jessica......sister for Bella is expected in August.

 Susan and Judy enjoying the beautiful weather.  A nice breeze always blows at Linda's farm so even when it hits 90, it's pleasant.

 Sisters, Linda and Jean.....

 Kelli and Bayli.......

 Sage and Bella.....she loves her big cousin Sage.

We had such a nice evening but today, it's off to work.  We always open Memorial Day because there's lots of traffic.  Hope you have a great finish to this holiday weekend and stay safe.

And summer begins......

Well, kids are out of school, pools are opening and it's Memorial weekend.....hip, hip, hooray!!!  The word "summertime" still triggers something in the brain, even at my age, that makes me happy.  I love looking at my little brown-skinned kids after they've spent their days swimming and playing tennis and I love walking out in the morning into my backyard in my pj's, turn on the sprinkler, pour a cup of coffee and listen to the birds.  Aaaaahhhh, summertime!

I have such a big crop of lavender this year so decided to try something new.  Found out on another blog how to make these wands.  You can stick them in a drawer or linen closet and it says that they'll last for at least 5 years.  It's a joy to make them and smell that wonderful aroma.  Thought I might get a few made for Leola's porch and garden event next Thurs. evening from 5:00 to 8:00.  Hope you'll plan to come if you live close.  We'll be closed all day to bring in new merchandise.  We'll have food and drink so come see us if you can.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Summer pictures.....

Do these look like summer or what???  Allison used a special effect on the photos and I think they turned out amazing.  These 3 are all fish and spend almost every day at the pool.  Sage was on the swim team this year and did really well.  I love swimming because it's a sport that will stay with them.  One of my great regrets is that I never really learned to swim.

There's something so pure about this picture of beautiful Phoebe.



 Isn't this gorgeous of Stella?  She loves swimming on her back.

 Sage was playing around with one of the little one's tubes but Allison loved the colors.

This has been a summer full of sunny days.  Don't think there was one day they couldn't go swimming.  Maybe they didn't stay as long because it was so hot but we've had very little rain.  Can't believe that it's almost August.  How come summer goes so fast?

It's a heat wave......

It is HOT in Missouri and dry, dry, dry.  It's very important these days to jump out of bed early to get that watering done or it's sweat-city.  The garden is looking great but I planted several things in containers in case I moved so they dry out really fast.  I've never found a sprinkler that works the way I want it to and you're not supposed to get water on the tomato plants.  Thus far, it takes about 30 min. to get it all watered.

My basil is going crazy and some of the garlic is ready to harvest -- two of my favorite things.  So Saturday night I'm having some friends in for dinner & we're having pesto on pasta, bruschetta & a big ole green salad.  I've been making the bread that you store the dough in the frig & I love it.  It's an artisian bread so it's nice & crunchy on the outside but very soft on the inside.  Perfect toasted with a little Parmesan for bruschetta.
I feel like if I'm having to keep the house all shined & polished, I might enjoy it a little too.  By the way, the potential buyers are coming back on Sat. for a 3rd viewing -- that surely must mean they're serious.  We'll see!!!!

I bought this chair at a garage sale last weekend & thought that it would be a breeze to re-do.  It looked to be in perfect shape except for the ugly upholstery.

I even thought it was kind of cool when I took the old fabric off and there was old burlap until I touched it. 

And this was what I found.

The cushion had totally disintegrated.  It was just like sand.  So I had to completely strip it down.  I don't like to use old stuffing anyway unless it's in great condition.  The chair is a really good, tight chair so now it will be like new.  Not sure yet what I'll cover it in or rather to paint it.  Any suggestions?????

Summertime in the Ozarks

Freshly baled hay near the Finley River in Ozark. Everything is very lush and green right now since we've had several nice rains lately. It's been hot and muggy but somehow when everything is green it doesn't seem as bad.
The front of a friend's house in the country. It's such a gorgeous location and was planned to look like it's been there for years.

My hydrangeas in my side-yard. They're the most beautiful blue. They'll fade out some and then I can cut and dry them. Sorry about the bird poop. You know what they say -- s___ happens.

These are some of my tomatoes. Everytime one starts to ripen a rat eats it. That rat has eaten so much poison that it should be long gone but it continues to eat my green beans and tomatoes. You don't know how much I dislike that rat but nothing seems to faze it. He just sets there & watches me & eats that poison and then moves on to the garden.

This is some of the eggplant I planted in my front flower bed (with the hostas). It's got lots of blossoms on it and one even has a baby eggplant.

This is the zucchini I planted in a planter in the front yard. It really is beautiful greenery for a planter and the big golden flowers really show up with all the greenery.

My yard is so much work but when I finally get to start picking the veggies, it's all worth it. I've already had tons of peppers and I'm getting ready to freeze some for winter -- yea!!! Luckily, rats apparently don't like peppers and zucchini.