Spring is popping out all over......

My sage....

The garden is going crazy.  I don't remember such a beautiful spring....that might explain all the pollen.  I've never seen so much "stuff" falling from the trees and my head definitely feels it.

This is the first time for this peony to bloom since I transplanted this from the old cemetery where most of my family is buried.....

I'm still planning on putting my house on the market.  I just hope that whomever buys it appreciates the work I've put into the yard.

We had such a nice Mother's Day at my daughter and son-in-law's house.  We had a big rain earlier but it cleared long enough to get in a few pictures.

We had such a wonderful day.....I so love the time I spend with them.

It's been a busy spring so far.  It seems there are just so many weeks to get so much done.  This week we have cousins visiting from California and they're coming to my house tomorrow night for dinner..
My sisters will be here and hopefully, my brother, who's not doing very well right now, and sister-in-law and my two cousins who we've been so close to even though they live far away.  We'll all sit around the table that our great grandfather made many, many years ago and enjoy talking about old and new times.  I feel so blessed to have such a big, loving family.

Feel so bad for all of you in the midst of the bad storms.....my thoughts and prayers are certainly with you.

Have a wonderful week!

It's Friday.........

I know....I've been so negligent.  Everyday I think this is the day I'll post and then I think, no, I'll wait until I snap a few photos and then another day goes by.  Anyway, this may not be a long post but wanted to let you know I was still kickin'!!!

Yesterday I worked at Leola's adding a few new things and kind of rearranging.  Loved the spinning wheel......

 

 

 

I've been concentrating on my primitives but I've having a really difficult time finding them.  ...

 

The herbs are coming to life in the garden.....love that!  I picked chives, oregano and thyme and with the help of locally grown spinach, local eggs and organic zucchini, I made an amazing frittata. 

 

 

 

We also celebrated my grandgirls 11th birthday.....how can that be!!!!!

 

 

Can't believe these girls are 11years old.

 

Allison's azaleas.....

 

 

Seems everything is blooming at the same time in the Ozarks. This is out my back door....

 



 

Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend.....so much going on......

Where is Spring......

Can I just say that I'm done with winter.....no more please!  I really do feel bad because I know many have had it lots worse but today, I'm feeling really sorry for myself.  Not really....I know I have few reasons to feel sorry for myself.  My house is warm, plenty of food (although I did run out of butter) and plenty of good reading material and my sweet grandson and his friend came and shoveled my driveway.

After my daughter shoveled her way out and brought Sage and his friend over, they had it done in no time.  After they finished, I told them how grateful I was and how difficult it is for older women to shovel a complete driveway.  As we drove down the street we spotted another woman about my age shoveling.  Sage suggested we stop and see if she could use their help.  She was so pleased and shocked.  They did hers and she asked if they would mind  shoveling a path for the 84 year old woman one door down to walk down and get in her car later to go to a doctors appointment.  They also did that and put salt I had in the car on the path to melt the ice.  They did it with smiles on their face and felt so good about their accomplishments.

Then we went to Freddy's and they had triple cheeseburgers and large orders of French fries.....life is good!

Leolas Spring Open house is coming soon and I've been perusing Pinterest trying to find an idea for something I could be making.  I have some great merchandise but wish I had something to make during these long days....

 

I had purchased these chalkwear beauties from a friend and have managed to mark most of them.  I'm a primitive kind of girl but for some reason, I really love these little cuties.  Think maybe they remind me of kitchens when I was growing up.

 

I'm also marking a collection of ceramic chickens. 

Some are salt and pepper shakers while others are just singles and one is a tooth pick holder.  Took a lot of marking.

So grateful for a sunny, beautiful, 40-degree day.  Making myself trapse through the snow and fill the birdfeeders.  The poor birds must wonder what happened to me.  Kept thinking maybe they would eat some of that expensive food they dropped in the snow.  Don't think they want to stand in that snow.....spoiled birds!!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.....I'm off to Leola's!



It's a wonderful life.....

Can you believe another Christmas has come and gone!!!!  Seems like we were just decorating at Leola's and here it is just a few days until 2015 (I just got accustomed to writing 2014).  Time flies when you're having fun.....

We had such a nice relaxing Christmas this year.  The grands came in their pj's and stayed in them all day.  Lots of talking, laughing, and eating.

The kids and dogs took a little walk......

Allison and Sage.....

I love that the kids are encouraged to make things for Christmas presents.  They all have their specialties.  This year Stella made her sister Zoe a very special gift.....

 

Her Mom repurposed an old suitcase and made her a case to keep all of her sewing supplies together.  It's wonderful and makes it so convenient for her when she's ready to sew.  She does a fantastic job.

 

Phoebe does a beautiful job of painting pictures.  This is the one she did for me last year.....

 

 

 

Not sure about Sage.  He's a very talented writer.  Maybe someday he'll write me a story!!!!

 

I've been searching Pinterest to try and find a project.  Now that Christmas is over, I'm in the mood to settle in and do something creative.  Working with wool is one of my favorite things and I saw where Maggie Bonnanami (not sure about the spelling) has a book out so maybe I'll run to the quilt shop in Branson and see if they have it.  Nothing I like better then to have a needlework project when it's too cold to want to be outside.

 

Hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to settle in for a little bit of winter.....hope it's just a little bit!  Stay warm!

 

Nothing much better then summer sundays....

We have been blessed with the most amazing weather for the last week.  Open-window nights and enjoying- the -back- porch days.  I've managed to keep the garden weeded and the flowers dead-headed without too much complaining.  My tomatoes are just starting to ripen and finally, I'm beginning to get cucumbers and zucchini......life is good.

Yesterday, Phoebe was with me and we made peach jelly.  She loves helping me and there's never a task she won't tackle.  She's a delight!

Just read this quote on Susan Branch's wonderful blog and love it.....

  We made up some of my bread so she could take bread and jelly home with her.



I've been without a sewing machine for over 2 weeks now and I've felt a little lost.  Since the weather was nice enough to work in the garage, decided to paint this wicker table for Leola's....

 

I painted the bottom but left the top natural wood but put a finish on it so you actually use it.  Love the way it turned out even though this isn't the greatest picture.

 

I still have a garage and basement to clean out.  The garage sale got rid of a lot of "stuff" but didn't put out many clothes.  My goal at the first of the summer was to bag the things that I never wear and see if I missed them.  Well, I didn't so they're all going....someplace.  Love that I have drawer space and closet space again.  "Things" really do slow you down.

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

 



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.





Summer.....officially....

Yesterday was the official first day of summer and it feels like it in the Ozarks.....hot and humid.  Our gardens our flourishing and the farmer's markets are bursting with fresh produce.  I bought my first blueberries yesterday and already have a big bag of them in the freezer.....such a good feeling.  I find myself wandering out to the garden several times a day to check things out.

The green beans are finally coming on.  I had 2 bunnies that kept eating the leaves and was afraid I might not have any.  The neighbors must have been entertained by me chasing them out of my backyard, repeatedly, with a stick....sometimes in my p.j.s.  Hopefully, they've found a new home.

These flowers were part of a package of wildflower seeds I planted and they're so pretty. 

My kids took off this week and headed to Colorado and cooler temps.  Always feels strange when they're gone but thanks to cell phones and Facebook, I can keep up with their adventures.  They went with friends and will meet their cousins who live there.  The perfect summer vacation.

We've worked so hard the last month at Leola's trying to get everything changed around.  We've taken most of the doors down that separated the front of the shop.  It's now a large open area that seems more welcoming and is much easier to decorate.  We've combined our merchandise ( 5 of us) and makes staging so much more fun.  I took a piece from my living room to the shop and because I had no assistance, this was the method used....

And here it is in the shop....

I have loved this piece but my current challenge is to get rid of some things so when I make the decision to sell the house, there won't be so much to move.

The eldest sister in our family has just had surgery and is resting in the hospital.  Everything turned out great and we're just hoping she will recover quickly and return to her happy, funny ways.  Say a little prayer for Jean that she'll have no roadblocks in her trip to a complete recovery.  She's so important to so many people.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and peaceful Sunday, and first week of summer.