Beauty

May I introduce you to the family that lives on my porch. Mom, Dad and three children. Three hungry children, I might add. Two VERY busy parents. Living in my decorative gourd from Amish Country.

Mom and Dad working together. Side by side. Feeding their family and protecting their nest. They comfort their children and love them. It's incredible.

The absolute beauty of mother nature. On my porch..... My eyes welled with tears as I was snapping photo after photo. I took a total of 54! I couldn't stop or move away . It was so beautiful. Every morning, every afternoon, every evening. Constant activity. Their daily life as they raise their family. I am riveted to my porch. I check on them constantly. They trust me enough to let me stand and photograph them. They know I love them and help provide food for them as well. I had to share this with you; it has been a gift from God to see them.

Tomorrow is the last day of school. We had a thunderstorm last night and sat on the porch listening to it.  Caitlin was pondering her last days in 4th grade. She's happy yet a little sad. She really loved her teacher. It was a good school year. We love thunderstorms!

In our garden the lavender is thick and healthy! I cut some off to dry. My Dad's favorite scent was lavender.

Beautiful zinnias on the front porch.

Our apple trees are filled with a total of 65 apples (my son counted).....

The strawberry bushes are working over time! I'll show you one day's pickings in a moment but first I l just love my primrose! The yellow is electric!!! So vibrant.

Dahlias on one of the rear porches....

Check this out! One day of strawberry picking! Strawberry heaven!

We planted a raspberry bush.

 And the vegetable garden. I have some things in pots too.  three kinds of peppers, four kinds of tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, basil, parsley, cilantro. Still want more! Maybe this weekend!

 

How does my milk can look? Leftover border from my son's old bedroom! I love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 Have a beautiful sunny day!

Welcome Summer!

I think this is my favorite last two weeks of school. I know some people enjoy the first weeks because everyone is fresh and ready to begin, books are new, pencils sharpened...I love the last two weeks. The anticipation of the end, the days leading up to the half days, and then POOF! It's over. I love the exam days because with each one taken, you are one day closer to FREEDOM! The day when Caitlin comes home and says "my teacher said we won't have any more homework for the rest of the days" or when she is busy with fun activities that they fill the last moments with like flag celebrations, bbqs, movie afternoons, etc.  fun stuff to fill those last remaining 180 New York State required school days. We had a lot of fun this year. I post so much about our Girl Scout activities but it really is all that fun! We do lots of community service projects and have fun doing them and then there are the days of just sheer glee. Such as the other night at Adventureland! Adventureland is a local amusement park that actually closes its doors for one evening to everyone EXCEPT Commack Girl Scouts! You can literally stay on the rides without getting off. Everywhere you turn, you see someone you know. It was terrific.

As you can see from the pictures, Caitlin had a great time! She even got to drive!

Water rides and roller coaters. This trip was a well deserved thank you to our troop and all the other local Girl Scout troops.

So on Saturday, I went to those sales. I did pretty well! I got a couple of things that I plan to repurpose:

I plan to add some color! It's a scene done on a bushel lid. I loved it but it was kinda old so I thought I would add a new bow, a few touches here and there!

Below is this Thanksgiving broom that I bought only for the little pilgrims. I thought they were so cute!

I'll be removing them and ditching the broom I think. It's kind dusty and smelly. :(   The pilgrims are fine!

I bought the fruit picture for $2. I think it looks good with my cherry picture!

Here is the full shot over the stove:

 

 

 

I got this pretty cookie dish too! This was steal for $3!

And I bought this fiber optic angel for fifty cents. I love angels and she was so sweet.

Two of these pillows for $3 each. they'll be taking a spin in the washer and dryer....

 

 

 

A few little odds and ends too. Not a bad day. Meatball hero for lunch...a good day!

My friend Mary also added to my shop collection. Remember these? They are musical and while the music plays, either a door opens and out comes a little person (as is the case for the soda fountain), for the pet shop and sport shop there is a revolving display in the window...The soda fountain plays "At the Hop", The pet shop plays "How much is that doggy in the window?" and the sport shop plays "Take me out to the ball game".

Now she gave me the last one!

It plays "King of the Road" and out pops the attendant! I love these houses. She had purchased them in the mid 1980's from various card & gift stores. My only problem is the shelf I had the other three on only fits three :(  I have to figure this out cause I'm not leaving one out!

On that last thought, I wish you a wonderful day! Summer is here!

Just Checking In!

Saturday, Saturday, I just love Saturday! As a little girl I would get up early to watch Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo! Now I get up early to watch my birds outside, read Pinterest and blogs on the computer and have my coffee! Okay and maybe still watch some Scooby if it's on the Boomerang cartoon channel.....

Anyway, :)..moving on from Scooby Doo....I'm hitting a few sales today! Can't wait! A couple going on  in Northport that I can't wait to visit. Hoping for some good stuff for me and my cousin Johanna :)   after that off to a little more shopping elsewhere and maybe lunch!

 We had a busy week!School isn't over yet but will be shortly. It's cramming for tests, regents review, Flag day celebrations, and more. Plus I care for my Mom so we had several days of appointments, visits, and all that.  It was nice to settle down outside last night in front of the fire pit with my husband and daughter and relax and enjoy the evening. My son was celebrating his "anniversary" with the lovely gal he has been dating for quite a while so he wasn't home. Caitlin was thrilled because her teacher gave each of them a  Barnes & Noble Gift card as an end of year gift. She had ten dollars to spend and she got two great books. I added a few bucks! Books are pricey but it's money well spent! Once again, she'll be joining our library's Summer Reading Club.  On the way home from the store my husband took us for Italian ices so it was books, ices and fire pit.... a good night! My kind of evening!

I've been working on a new tree in my family room...I have more to add but it's coming along.

Don't you just love the ad above? The Farmer's Wife...I love those vintage advertisements. I have a couple framed and inside the chicken coop for decoration. The artwork is glorious.

Wishing this was my cornfield....but it's not :)

But these are my two babies Carol & Frankie...

Whatever you're doing on this happy Saturday, I hope you enjoy it!

June is a Fun & Busy Month!

I'm sure June is busy for everyone; especially if you have kids in school as I do. My husband was in South Carolina for a few days and I didn't even have a chance to miss him! School officially ends for Billy on June 23rd and for Caitlin it is June 25th! I can't wait! I love the kids being home with me in the Summer and just enjoying our days though my son is usually busy working. He's 16 and works either with my husband or for a local landscape architect. We will still get to love our Summers together though! Making time with each other is a priority.

I was so happy receive a visit from someone who means the world to me. My cousin Johanna came up with her family from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The hours go by so fast and I feel like it's over so quickly. We NEVER run out of things to talk about and she is the little sister to me that I never had. We are kindred souls. her children are growing up fast and it was so nice to see them along with her Mom and husband. Jo always comes bearing incredible gifts and her generous heart knows EXACTLY what I love. Not only did she bring me a ton of back issues of Fall & Halloween themed magazines :)  but stacks of cooking magazines that I have been pouring over and enjoying! It's not the gifts though that makes me love her; she's one of those few people I know and love that "gets" me. She's a vintage style gal in many ways. We share a love for so many things--retro everything, collecting, antiques, thrift shops, Amish, baking, cooking, gardening, ...the list is endless. She's the only person I ever met who thinks 1950's Moms are the coolest Moms ever! Thank goodness we are cousins! And have I mentioned she makes THE best baked ziti in the entire world. And she is an incredible baker...but back to the GIFTS! :)   always love the gifts.....

Look at this amazing lamp! We believe it is from the 1970's, you know the Early American revival that occurred. I know my Mom loved Early American and we had that style in our home. That's where I get my love of country from! Perfect for my foyer! This lamp is such a beauty.

 

Since I began blogging in 2009 I have mentioned my LOVE for Holly Hobbie probably more times than most of you want to hear!  Johanna always keeps her eyes open for me and she said in Pennsylvania there is Holly Hobbie galore at all the thrift shops and sales! Not here on Long Island! I rarely find anything!

 

mug

ornament

Holly Hobbie HEAVEN! One of her gifts to me in the past was a beautiful Holly Hobbie cake mold!

My love for all things Amish also....She is so lucky to have relocated to Amish country almost ten years ago...I'm so jealous.

I hung the Amish picture HERE:   (look below)

So I had a great visit and hope to see her this Summer too.

Caitlin and I had a few last Girl Scout activities for the year...we wrapped 60 crocheted blankets into packages for delivery to hospitals. That was super fun. The incredible workmanship on these blankets knitted or crocheted by local senior organizations for donation to area hospitals for cancer patients, sick children, and nursing homes was amazing. One was prettier than the next. How comforting is a warm, fuzzy blanket? I know the recipients must treasure them.

We also celebrated our 4th grade year of Girl Scouts at a frozen yogurt café. Our troop did a lot of community service this year so now it was time to kick back and see them enjoying their treats. I have twelve girls and all of them renewed their membership for next year. I'm so pleased.

Field Day at Burr!

Caitlin is taking a break here. She participated in two relay races, and the Frisbee toss. She is great at frisbee!

What's up next before school ends? class party, 4th grade bbq, flag day, spirit day....I think that should wrap it up then! WOO we need a vacation!

My two cats, Jinxie & Miss Moo Moo are going crazy keeping track of all the birds nests around our house. These two house wrens have made their nest in a metal window box that is filled with dogwood flowers right outside my kitchen window....it is driving the cats INSANE!!!! You can see the two birds plotting and planning about the cats as they sit just outside the window box....

They are in and out of the window box adding things to their nest. Here he is clinging on my screen...

 

 My other friend is this handsome gentleman:

My big black crow who comes every morning for a snack. He is so smart and actually spies in my kitchen window to see if I have anything for him. I love him and he reminds me that Halloween is only a few months away!!!! PLUS, we still have our family in the hanging gourd on the front porch!

Before I go, here are a few other things I've added to my house this week:

This apple checkerboard set!

 

 

 

And this great wooden sign: 

 

Have a terrific Saturday doing whatever you are doing! I need to start planting! I haven't started yet! I've been enjoying my perennials! Hopefully by next weekend I'll have the garden done! All I can say is that my roses and peony plants are smelling delightful!