Items found and created

I rescued this from the dumpster, any creative ideas for its use? It's sitting on the floor in my pantry presently, holding extra bags and some food. It doesn't really fit in there so I'm trying to think of something else.
Last week I was just delighted to find this book at the Fergus Goodwill. I even paid $1.99 for it, which is high for a thrift store book. It's about a woman who reads to a bear in the woods and even though he doesn't understand the words, he loves being read to and she loves reading aloud. The message is the joy reading aloud and being read to brings to anyone. I will be reading this one to my 5th and 6th graders and will join the other picture books I leave out just for fun.
Look at the beautiful illustrations. When I was paging through it on the way home in the car, Dan even commented on how nice it was.

Here's my most recent mini clipboard re-do. I was lucky to find a pack of Amy Butler paper at the dollar store, it was more than a dollar but very worth it as I just love her style.

Approaching storm

Another big storm came through on Sunday night and this is what it looked like about 30 mn before it hit us. Just a little rain this time and short period of strong winds, no damage and very few sticks to pick up.

Bad Blogger

Sorry I have been neglecting my blog lately. I probably have no followers anymore! I snapped this photo on the way to Shirley's Bday party as I loved the patterns in the countryside. This says summer to me. It smelled really good out there too! If you are reading this that means you are still checking in with me, thank you for your patience!

A new niece on the 4th of July!

July 3rd, 2011

July 5th, 2011

Kenzley Reagan Heath was born on July 4th at 7am.

Chicken Shot

I posted a bunch of chicken pictures from Kris's flock and thought I would share just my favorite here. Kris I'm down to my last dozen eggs so if your hens are still laying in the oppressive heat let me know and I'd love to pick again. Does the heat slow them up? I would think so. This hen is so striking, does she have a name, Kris?

Shirley's Birthday

It was Shirley's 81st birthday a few weeks ago and she posed for me under her beautiful rose arbor. It's been a few years since I have attended her birthday lunch and it was a very nice afternoon.

Three generations

Here's the birthday tag I made for Shirley's gift.

Fourth of July Humor

Our cabin neighbors two doors down have a funny sense of humor. They cleaned out the top of their hill lot to create more parking and tenting space for all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nobody actually slept up on the hill because of the storm on the 4th but hope to in the future. One of the daughters explained that in their family they call Sandy Point, "old money" the golf course area is "new money"so this hilltop was named "no money hill."

Red!!!

A bit of red caught my eye this morning....

He stayed long enough for me to snap a few pictures.

We had a few cardinals for a few years but it's been a couple years since we have had regular visitors. I hope this one has a mate with a nest somewhere. I could hear him singing all afternoon in the woods behind our house but only saw him for a couple of minutes.

June Blooms

Peony season just does not last long enough....

I don't have enough sun to grow zinnias so I cheated and bought these already blooming zinnias. I'll do my best to keep them in sunshine and keep them blooming as long as possible. I just love zinnias, found these in Battle Lake a couple weeks ago for just $1 per round pot.

A Visitor

Hmmm, who's that in the front yard?

He strolled into the back and knows he's being watched.

Luckily, he didn't seem interested in the hostas.

In this picture you can see all the hostas are doing well in their new home under the pine. I'm going to add some impatiens (for the rabbits to eat) a little more mulch and it will be done.

Sunday

Well, I'm trying to! I've been working on the new hosta bed under the big pine. The first step was to pull over 100 little buckthorn seedlings, evil things. It's best to pull them from the roots while you can otherwise you will battle them forever cutting and spraying. Then I dug up and split a variety of hostas and dug new holes under the pine. It was a cool sunny day for working and the evening was just beautiful. Today I'm moving bark from our mulch pile and spreading that around. Some of the hostas are rather droopy looking but they'll pop back soon and very soon I will have an after picture for you.

Dan is a very good painter so when he's in the mood to paint it's a good thing. I kept busy digging new hosta holes, that's what I'm good at. :) I haven't killed one anyway.

Isn't this a nifty idea??

Leaving you with a lovely scene found online.

Corgi Love

Here's a picture of Shari with her new baby, Daphne. This picture captures how much they love each other. Isn't it sweet?

Speaking of sweet, Carly enjoy her new puppy too!

Here she comes!

There they go! Isn't that cute little Corgi butt?!

Sorry, Ellen, the pictures I took of you with Daphne are on my phone and I haven't downloaded them yet. I'm sure I will post the one of you with her in the back seat!

Chickadee sketch

Years ago, 10 maybe, I found this unframed chickadee sketch at a rummage sale for a dollar or so and I finally found the perfect frame for it. Dan and I were cleaning out his Fergus office early this spring and there was a framed document that he didn't want so I took it. It was the perfect size for this little chickadee. Shari noticed it this week and thought the matting complemented it nicely too. Whoever drew this captured the delightful spirit of the chickadee and that's why I love it. It sits just under the fireplace mantel.

Before Shot

This is kind of a before picture as it's just after Dan trimmed the lower branches that have been dying for some unknown reason in the last few years. They used to be full and healthy. Dan suspects the spraying in the ditches every year, but who knows. The top broke off in a storm a few years ago and that may have stressed the tree too. Anyway, I'm going to do a little gardening under this tree and when it's finished I'll post a new picture. I already hung up a cute birdhouse that Shari found for me at the Pengilly rummage sales with the help of her friend Carol.

Random pictures

Daphne coming & going!

(The Clusiau's new Corgi)

Carly in one of Ellen's hand-me-down dresses.

Isn't it pretty on her?

It's a miracle-the sink is empty!! Actually it's a picture to show how the old schoolhouse light works in this area. It's fun when purchases like that work out and it took less than a year to get it in place-not bad.

I think the white lilacs are my favorite.