SUMMER IN REVIEW

 

I am sad to see Summer passing, but I am

also looking forward to Fall.

I will not miss the heat and humidity!

During this season, I took many pictures,

but did not post much.

Too many things going on this year.

(It seems to be that way every year!!!!)

Anyway, I went through my pictures, and thought I will

share my favorites.

This is a VERY long post.

Still, I hope you will enjoy it!

Or your eyes will have glazed over!!!!!!

 

 

We gardeners get ready for watering, weeding,

planting, and just enjoying our gardens,

be they big or small.

 

 

 

Every time I look at this wisteria I chuckle.

It was supposed to be white.

Since it did not bloom for many years,

it came as a big surprise, when it turned out

to be purple.

Love it anyway, but boy, the roots go everywhere

if you let them!

 

 

Birdhouses were at the ready for

our feathered friends....

and they sure used them.....

 

 

 

 

 

Ballerina was magnificent this year.

 

 

We bought this new hydrangea (Incrediball), with very large heads.

Unfortunately some deer snuck into the garden and ate all

the flowers.

I cried!!!!!

While she was at it, she demolished many other things.

So, what is wrong with this picture....

with more than two acres, you would think there is enough food.

I guess, we had her desert!

 

 

 

 

 

Truly one of my favorite spots!

 

 

 

 

 

My yellow Foxglove is seeding itself

just about everywhere.....

and so is my Feverfew......

 

 

My name-sake....

since hubby's nickname for me is Bee.

I came across some interesting bugs.

God only knows what this is....

 

 

.....very colorful though.....

 

 

 

 

 

Birdies made nests in spots to their liking.

In our garden, there are more than enough

birdhouses to choose from.

The wrens were the most picky.

Some changed there mind many times.

 

 

 

 

I planted many pots......

 

 

......with many pretty flowers....

 

 

......and tons of herbs.

 

 

The Zephirine Drouhin rose bloomed with abandon, and so did the clematis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quiet spot in the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have many Columbines ....

and enjoyed them inside too.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a pool year and helped get us thru this hot summer.

 

 

 

New Dawn rose covered the big arbor.

 

 

 

 

 

The Robbin's had hatched, just leaving me a piece off shell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from the upper front deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wrens really barricaded themselves in.

 

 

 

Swan and "ugly" duckling....soon to be a swan....

 

 

 

This year herbs were in abundance.

My friend Laura@52 flea

gave me the beautiful pot of Rosemary as one of my birthday gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

As usual, we spent many relaxing hours in our porch,

newly furnished this year.

Yes, I miss the twig furniture too,

but there is something to be said about comfort!

Still have to make my linen slipcovers....

maybe over the Winter.

 

 

We ate here just about every day.

Perfect for two!

 

 

Fall is in the air after last weekend,

when we "roasted" at our show,

which turned out to be great,

despite some nasty storms.

 

The autumns clematis is blooming.

I seem to have two varieties.

One is more fluffy.

 

 

I love the little stars and the heavenly smell.

This one is right in front of the bedroom door.

Lovely!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Sunflowers always announce the height and

end of Summer.

 

 

The Mandevillas are blooming up a storm,

like they know that they will soon be moved indoors.

 

 

 

Poor hubby will be lugging them all back

to his office soon.

 

 

And Mr. rabbit will hide out in the house too.

 

 

The watering cans have done their duty.....

 

 

.....as leaves are starting to change their color soon.....

 

 

 

.....and it is time to move on to the next season....

one of my favorites,

FALL and HALLOWEEN.

 

 

Yes, it will soon be getting spooky around here!

Wonder how my German family will react to all this

"mayhem"!!!!!!

 

Next time I will show you, how I am decorating this year

for Halloween.

 

Meanwhile I wish you all a wonderful season.

Have fun decorating, raking leaves,

and just enjoying the crisp air and

maybe a freshly baked apple pie.

 

God bless you all,

Evi

 

GRAND-PETS

 

 

Recently we got to babysit our grand pets for a week.

We have a dog and a cat....

Louise and Ralph, or affectionately known as

Wheezy and Ralphie.

 

We got to walk Wheezy and play with them both.

(Ralphie is an indoor cat)

 

From the pictures that follow, you might think

that there is no love lost between these two.

NOT SO!

 

There is a ritual going on every day, which amused us to no end.

After we came home from dogie walking, this is what took place every day........

 

 

 

Ralphie..... "Oh, you are back"

hug, hug.....

 

 

"Where have you been?

You smell all funny....is it squirrel?..no,

I think it must be chipmunk....."

 

 

"Hold still, I need to clean you......"

 

 

"OK, that's better.......

Wait, wait, that ear is next"

 

 

"I have told you to hold still..... So don't let me have to tell you again!........

I am not done yet.

Move one more time, and I will bite."

 

 

"Okie-dokie, all done for now.

Now, that wasn't that bad!"

 

 

"People, do I look like I would bite?

Not little old me.

See how cute I am, sweet right, right?!"

 

"Now you can have your reward.

Is this big enough for you?

Don't know, why our folks don't

downsize this bone to fit this mutt!"

 

These are the musings of Ralphie.

As for Wheeze, she loves being taken care of

by her Ralphie.

 

And we had fun taking care of these two.

 

My posting will be "spotty" the next few month.

I have three shows coming up,

and my family will be arriving the end of September

from Germany for a visit.

We are really looking forward to it.

Our family will meet the youngest member,

little Lucas.

 

I will try to post when I have a chance.

Does anyone else out there feel like you missed a whole season?

 

I certainly do!!!!!

 

God bless you all,

Evi

 

DOMESTIC ART

For many years, I have been collecting antique

mending clothes - embroidery samplers.

I love the idea of saving things, and learning the how-to.

When I see these wonderful pieces of "domestic art",

I can envision a young girl, being taught either by her

mother or in school, how to mend and embroider.

A hundred -or so- years ago,

things were not thrown away, you took good care

of them, and passed them down to the next generation.

When I visit many of my favorite blogs,

I see, that luckily there are still many people out there,

that give new life to things of the past.

With this post, I would like to share one of  passions,

reminders of a time gone by,

where you did not just run to the next store to replace,

but to save something.

Enjoy!

Many of the pieces that I own, come either from Europe,

or from European settlers that came to America.

Unfortunately I could not separate these last two pictures,

oh well, you get the "picture".

This  sampler is either French or from Belgium.

Look at all this beautiful hand work.

Lovely, just lovely!!!!!

I wonder who Babetta Popp was.

Did she enjoy working on this sampler?

Did she get to use her skills in her life?

Where did she live?

Was she happy taking care of her family?

Every time I see these wonderful things,

I wonder who these people were,

and what their lives were like.

What I find special about this work, is that

this young woman was not about to just put her

sampler in a draw to be pulled out once in a while,

no, she was going to wear it!

How charming!!!!

This sampler and the 1901 Guensberg are one

of my recent discoveries.

I found them at the Elephants Trunk in CT.

They where in a box with many other

VERY "filthy" things, and went really CHEAP.

I was in heaven, and after washing them numerous

times, I could not be happier with my new finds!

I wish you happy days,

filled with new discoveries.

God bless,

Evi

GOODIES I BROUGHT HOME

As promised, I am doing a show and tell

of the goodies that made it home with me.

I have been wanting an old olive basket since I

first saw them awhile ago.

I even had my friend Laura@52 flea

looking for me, since she visits fleamarkets more than I do.

She had seen them while in Florida, but did not get to buy

one for me.

 I was soooo happy to see them at Lillian August,

the store we first visited.

The price, with their sale, was even better.

Hooray for me!!!!!

I have it in the entrance foyer-breakfast room

where it holds some of my favorite magazines.

Loved this chair at Lillian August, and it moves between the

outside and our family room.

I have wanted this book ever since it came out.

I love his clean decorating style,

and the wonderful teddies he makes.

If you gals own this book, you know what I mean.

His bears are absolutely charming......

....and so is his home.

I got both chair, book and all the other things I had to have on sale.

Woohoo,Yippee, hooray!!!!

The hanging "chandelier" came from Terrain.

I think it was meant to be just a wire cloche.

Since I also bought the glass jars....

(well, you know from my last post, the trouble I got into)....

the two things just went together.

The little glasses became the clappers.

I keep them filled with cut flowers and herbs.

Sometimes I put a candle in the top....

....or a fern.

It looks to me like it is supposed to hold a plant.

Anyway, I like the look over the little

round table where hubby and I eat most of our meals

in the mild seasons.

More goodies from Lillian August.

The ribbons will adorn my dolls......

love them.

And of course I have been playing with the jars.

The contents keep changing.

At Terrain I bought some unusual little ferns and plants.

In the fall I will make a terrarium.

That store inspired me so much!

My new doll is starting an Americana series,

(after all, we are in an election year)

and which I will post for sale soon.

So, my doll and I wish you all a happy and safe

Independence Day.

I am happy to be a citizen of this country,

proud of the freedom to live as we wish,

to express our thoughts freely.

 I want to thank everyone in the Armed Forces

for keeping us all safe.

My gratitude goes out to them.

 To everyone out there,

Happy 4 TH of July.

Happy Birthday America!

God bless,

Evi