Something To Caw About

We have been so wet that the mushrooms/toadstools are everywhere.

These pictures are just from my walk.

I have no idea what is poison and what is not.

So I will leave that to the experts.

But some of them are sure pretty.

My neighbor called and wanted to know if I wanted to pick some raspberries. That would be yes I would! 

The big draw back was it was on a steep hill but we managed to get, I think about 5 1/2 to 6 quarts. The rain has molded so many right on the stems so sad but nothing you could do about it. 

She said she had all she wanted so we could pick until our hearts content. I swear I ate a pint while I was picking they were so sweet and soft. I put them on a cookie sheet to freeze individually so they are easier to measure when we want them.( I will transfer them to qt bags after they freeze)

while my tomatoes are still green the flowers look ok. 

Daylilies.

are tough they keep going in all weather.

And yes my sticks, formally a beautiful hosta. (Deer grrr) But as you can see it is getting ready to bloom anyway! Love that!

I taught 4 new hookers last weekend and everyone of then thinks they will continue. I do know that at least 2 of them will for sure. It was fun but the light was horrid. 

I have been going through cookbooks to decide if I really need 2 cupboards full of them. 

And I did get to bake my famous almond tea cake. I have never had anyone not like it. It is my BFF's favorite.

Last Friday I was walking to the end of our road (dead end) and all of a sudden I think about 5 crows swooped and and were yelling with all their voice.  

Then I see this hawk come out of the trees after one of the crows. Well the others were not having it and they harassed  him until he gave up. I then see him in the tree all the crows are in the trees all around him just making all the noise they could to warn the other birds he was there. He finally gave up and few away. They became so quiet. Those crows are something and so interesting to watch and hear.

I am reading another Louise Penny and really enjoying it.

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Today for once it didn't rain but it was so hazy from the forest fires out west. It makes my heart ache to think about it. I will try not to complain about the rain I know they need it so badly.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Looking For A Slightly Used Ark..

Another week has come and gone and it rained most of it.

in the 13 days of July we have had rain at least 11 of them. And if it wasn't raining it was overcast. We had the fireplace going at one point again!

Well, between the rain drops we went on a garden walk, a fund raiser for the local garden club. 

What A back drop for gardens!

This lily was as tall as me! Just beautiful. 

The gardens were very extensive this was just one hedge area.

But also geared to her grandchildren. This bear waits in a little clearing where zip lining kids come down.

this very bad picture was of the entrance to the fairy gardens. Grownups have to bend down to enter and then among the trees are lots and lots of fairy house!!

I didn't get a lot of good pictures but they took old tree stumps and pulled them from the ground and tipped them every which way so that the roots made little spaces for the fairies to live. Just darling I could of look around in there for hours.

When you got to the day lilies there was a maze that you followed that took you to a very special play house.

And all around this play house were magical trees! Trees that were taken roots and all and turned upside down and painted purple! 

There was also a pirates garden but there were so many people there I didn't get any really good pictures. It is always nice to see how the other half lives.... Pretty great I think

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I walked down the road to the farm for some eggs and saw "NO Eggs" sign on his door. Well the farmer was just coming out of the house and said "Can you wait a minute?" Why yes I can! He came back from the barn with a dozen of eggs still warm from the chicken's butt! I call that fresh. I thanked him profusely and headed back home.

To bake some cookies that was requested from a long time friend who is going through a rough patch right now. I boxed them up and sent them. I hope they bring a little joy in all his sadness.

I had time to pull some loops 

We also hosted drinks and appetizers on the porch with some friends. We waited patiently for the fireflies but of course it rained so only a few showed up. It was still a wonderful evening with some good laughs and conversation.

My daughter and family had to say good bye to Broguen this week.

He was an old kitty and he died his way, on his time.

I feel so bad for my Son-in-Law he had that cat before he started dating my daughter. We always joked about a bachelor living with a cat but when you love a pet that long it is a hard loss. 

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 We have more rain predicted for the rest of the week, while I don't like the extreme heat there has to be a happy medium some where.

Have a wonderful week!

Deer Deer

I know I am late with happy 4th of July but better late than never is my motto. These flags I got from a little store years ago they are 48 stars she found old stock from a 5 and 10. I bought 3 why in the name of all that is holy I didn't buy them all (maybe a dozen or so) for 2.00 each is beyond me.

And my little house that husband made me I decorate for the holidays. Very sweet in the evening when sitting on the porch. My favorite place in the world....

I have worked very hard at my gardens this year, well the past 2 years really. My fairy roses are glorious!!! 

And so was my hosta until the deer got it. We had to run after her, she was not afraid of us not one tiny bit. We would chase her from the front she would run to the back of the house and eat the hosta there grrr.

I chased her 4 times yesterday. This morning she is back with her kids!!! Someone suggested deer off so I spent the morning putting it out and now we wait. 

She also ate the buds off from most of my cone flowers!

My lavender is in full bloom and I have been picking daily. I made a lavender wand to put in my wool and just tied a bow on the other ones to have on a shelf. The green ribbon isn't the prettiest but it is the oldest so I am using it.

I know I show this a lot but my mother's African violet blooms year around always so pretty.

 

I really scrubbed our bathrooms top to bottom. Hands and knees scrubbing every little corner. I had this stick on little glass vase. A few flowers makes me smile each time I go in.

In the past 7 days we have had record high temps and record low temps. the 4th was very cold and rainy, really fireplace weather!

But oh that heat! I hate the heat, today we have high humidity and very hazy, not our usual weather. We headed north as the amount of traffic and people in this area is CRAZY! (We are in a lake town)Well up north was not much better. But we had lunch walked around town and shared an ice cream. 

During the cool time I hooked a bit but I dumped out my extra strips and was working on getting them into like piles. I do not have as many strips as some people, I try to cut as I go. 

I have also signed up for another rug hooking retreat in October if I get the teacher I want. I am just being a pain in the behind I know but there is only one teacher I saw I wanted to work with. The best part it is close to home and I can commute. 

My rhubarb is still doing pretty well so I picked a couple of stalks and made muffins. They came out pretty good. The recipe is from King Arthur Flour. 

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Have a great week everyone. I hope your 4th was a good one and safe. We are into the dog days of summer right now. 

COME ON FALL!!!!

Magic

Tonight as I write this post it is thundering and pouring much needed rain. As my mother use to say "It's hotter than the hinges to hell" 

We live in Northern New England, there is no central air in our house just one old wheezy air conditioner that we refuse to listen to so we haven't put it in the window yet. We did go for a quick swim before the storm to cool off at the local lake so that was something.

Some of you asked to see Sweet B's fairy houses,here are a couple.

Her grandfather also known as Pep helps her as you can see. This one had the cutest fence they made but something lugged it off! If I see a chipmunk with a fence around his hole I am going to lose it.

When she went for fairy nights each fairy she visited gave her things for her fairy houses so the mushrooms and little urns are some of the fairy gifts. 

Speaking of Fairies this is a fairy rose that is loaded with buds!

This rose bush will bloom now until a hard frost. 

My lavender is blooming time to make some lavender bottles/wands to put in my wool. Lavender is my favorite scent.

Since it has been so hot we have been camped out on the porch.

We have ceiling fans and usually some kind of breeze happens. this time of year instead of throwing out left over coffee I have a container in the frig for it. I make coffee ice cubes too so our coffee never waters down. A perfect afternoon pick me up.

We have been grilling and I wanted some bread for dinner, so I dug out my bread machine and put it on the porch to do its magic. No extra heat in the house. I made white bread but added a packet of garlic and herb dry soup mix . It came out perfect~

I have been feeling like we are in a rut for dinner so I dug out some of my cookbooks for some ideas. I have lots of bookmarks and some good ideas. I will let you know how they are. Grocery shopping tomorrow.

I was looking around and saw this on line. Should this be another craft for Sweet B and I???

I recently purchased a book of Poems by Athey 

She is from England, how I love this sweet little book. 

Her facebook page is Talesoftheoldforestfaeries

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Sweet B is going to take riding lessons, no surprise there after last weeks ride. A girl and horses there is just something sometimes.

When she went home she told her parents we were rich! Lol

While we are far from money rich, we are rich in so many other ways. And having her in our lives makes us Billionaires!

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Have a wonderful week!

 

Wow! So This Happened...

Last post you read about our 4 day vacation to my sweet rug hooking roomie AKA my husband's cousin and the beach.

I came home and our women's group met. There were 11 of us I think 5 were missing. We have not seen each other for 18 months! lots of hugs lots of catching up. These are some incredible women, I love them all. So blessed to be part of this group.

We gathered at our host's (she took the picture) home just a lovely view and sunset.

Then we were blessed with our grand Sweet B for a couple of days.

She has been wanting to ride so that is what we did!

She had no idea where we were going until we pulled into the ranch.

She has not stopped smiling and yes I think there is lots more riding in her future. That guy decided to stop and eat, got a little stubborn. 

Our guide verbally gave her some instructions, she fully handled it! The guide was really impressed. 

Well riding is hot work so off we went for a little hike to our favorite swimming spot.

Not a bad view there either. Squam Lake, it was chilly but of course it didn't stop her. 

(Not My Picture) It was summer solstice so we had to see if the faeries came to dance. (also known as fireflies) and yes they did! We had spent a little time fixing faerie houses from the winter damage Sunday night so they were all ready for them to move into. The best part of having a grand child is the magic, she has loved faerie houses for as long as I remember so our woods are scattered with them. And even though she is older in her heart she wants to believe, me too....

Today was over cast so we headed for the Science Center.

While we have been there thousands of times it is always a joy. Just as we were leaving it started raining. 

We met her Mom half way and sent her on her way. Can't wait for the next sleep over.

And in between all of this we went to a vintage market. 

We saw old friends and bought a white enamel tray and called it a day. I was very disappointed with this market while there were some really old merchandise there was a lot from China not really a vintage market to me.

Oh yes there was father's day in there too! I got him a wood burning tool, I can't wait to use it teeehee.  He also has a birthday this Friday.

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Wow, I am tired the house is a complete mess, and I could not be happier. Back to work tomorrow.

have a wonderful week!