Blossoms and berries.

The joys of summer have finally arrived. Every fall we think our yard is too big to care for. But when it looks like it does now, it makes me feel like I never want to leave. The hydrangea's have been blossoming. Every one of them is a different color.

My neighbor and friend Marty is a floral designer. When she uses hydrangeas in her arrangements it's magic. I couldn't resist taking pictures because they're so pretty. Even though I am not an experienced photographer the camera still captured how beautiful the colors are.

I always look forward to the goose-necks. 

Every year they spread out of control, but they're so fun. 

When the black-eyed-susan's start blooming I know summer is in full force. I just love the garden when it is back in bloom!

While I was taking pictures, Gracie came to visit with me for awhile. I'm surprised she wanted to be with me. I've been scolding her for chasing after the dragonflies and hummingbirds. (I rescued a giant dragonfly last week). She's still very much a kitten and won't be a year old until October.

Gracie always wants to be out doors and only comes in when she gets hungry enough. She even weathered 4th of July outside. She stayed out all night. I kept trying to get her to come in because I thought she would be terrified. The noise sounded like a war zone. But Gracie acted like it was nothing at all. Maybe my drum practice has helped her adjust to noises. 

Our other feline is Sammy.

 

We picked him up from the animal shelter. Sammy was SO sick when we first brought him home. But he's healthy now and oh so handsome! Because of Sammy, my tutorial pictures usually have kitty fur on the projects. I really try to de-fuzz, but Sammy loves to be in the work room with me. He's pretty fluffy. Yes, we adore our kitties!

I've also been busy in the kitchen. Every other year I make freezer jam. I've managed to get both the strawberry and the raspberry jam made. Fitting it in the freezer has been a challenge. We've been consuming as much food from the freezer as we can to make room. This is just the raspberry. Three double batches!

Hopefully the jam will last this time. I end up giving it away to the point of running out before the next berry season.

Speaking of berries, I made a fun "thank you" gift for a dear family friend. A cozy for a berry box filled with strawberries. She liked it!

  Oh how I wish the summer blossoms, and the berry season lasted all throughout the year.

A very good day.

   We are finally experiencing summer. Oregon is famous for getting a slow start into summer. It also means that our summer lasts a little longer though too. I took advantage of the perfect temperature this morning and worked on the little trailer for awhile before it got too hot. I wanted to get more done, but everything takes much longer than you think it will. Good news is we are at least halfway finished. DH has been working every chance he gets. He is a Bishop in our church besides working full time. That means he doesn't get much time to himself.

   It was such a beautiful day today that I couldn't resist taking some pictures of the back yard. We put this yard in about 15 years ago. I made a drawing of how I wanted the shed to look and DH made it exactly like the picture. I don't know how he did it but he did.

 I also took a picture of the quilt I made for the little trailer. (I have a name for the little trailer, I just haven't mentioned it because it's pretty cheesy). My quilt was quilted by "Becky Bee's Quilting". She did it in record time. I barely dropped it off and I practically met myself coming back.

   The main fabric I used is Sweetwater's "Hometown" by Moda Fabrics. I also found many other wonderful and fun fabrics to add for variety. I know my pictures are not the best, but for now they will have to do. My daughter Melanie is a Photographer and she would be appalled at the pictures of my quilt. I am hoping to learn more as I go. It's going to take me awhile to get the hang of everything.
   All in all it was a good day. I got a lot done, including exercising! I even cooked something for dinner. Now I think I will do some cleaning in my work room, (after dishes of course). Tomorrow I want to get some curtains made for the little trailer, do some more painting, and start a new pattern.
  Oh wait, I'll have the grand kids tomorrow. That will make it a fantastic day! Very busy, but fantastic!

Welcome!

Wow, I have a blog! I am finally making a post on it too! This has been a long time coming because the last several years have been crazy with this, that, and the other thing. I never count on life slowing down anymore. Instead I am trying to learn to work around the "stuff"  and manage my time a little better. Hopefully someday MUCH better. I know I still have some learning to do because just today I noticed that every room in the house seemed to be in disarray. I asked my DH if he noticed it too and of course he did. But bless his heart for not saying anything before I brought it up. The thing is, if you expect to add anything more to your life other then the norm, you are going to pay a price. I am trying to launch a pattern business, in spite of the odds against it ever taking off in this saturated world. I find myself sitting at the computer, until three, four in the morning!!  Where did the time go?
 Chuck, and I are also trying to restore a vintage trailer. The fun little project it was suppose to be has basically taken over. I think it will be cute when it's done, but for now, the work! Today we decided we should check a camping spot to see if it would be a place we would like to stay for a night or two. We are not campers so this will be an adventure for us. There was an unfortunate accident on the way so we ended up taking a very curvy road to Wheeler Oregon. There I visited a nice little quilt shop that is next door to a pastry shop. That makes it nice for the husbands who are waiting on their wives who would love to spend way too much time and way too much money. I tried to restrain myself, (a little). But I did end up with these lovely goodies. Wouldn't they be cute doll clothes?

 I couldn't resist these pretty fabrics. I already have a cut of one of them, but when you find something you LOVE, it's best to have even a small stash don't you think?

The last thing I brought home was this! Hopefully we will find a place to camp this summer. I was informed today that the parks are usually booked very quickly. Sometimes even a year in advance for the summer. If we can't get a spot for the summer, then we are hoping for the early fall. Maybe the tiny trailer will be actually be ready. (More about that to come).

By the way, I went downstairs for a moment and DH Chuck had cleaned the kitchen, watered the back yard, (extra hot today), put clothes in the dryer, and was in the trailer painting when I found him. I am sooooo in love.