Up early to get some work done...

Even the Hummingbirds were up early this morning, I had just filled all their feeders and they were fighting over who was going to get there first....It was still really foggy as the sun was just about arise. I sat on the front porch watching all the birds up on the power lines just cheeping away. While the Hummers were swooping around my head trying to get a little food.

The sun was trying to come up and burn away a little of the fog but now working very fast this morning...

Finally I was it coming from behind the tree, making it's presents known...

Still the dogwoods weren't seeing any of it yet!!!

Even the squirrel was scampering up the tree in a hurry to get one of his favorite pine cones, he has been scattering all over my lawn, As if he had a big bag or pistachio's hulling them and throwing all the hulls on the ground...They are everywhere and not fun to step on in bare feet...

The back beds got edged in the morning fog, because the temps were almost in the 90's again today...

It was taking it's time burning off that fog in the back yard...
But it was a beautiful day to STAY INSIDE AND WORK AND THAT IS JUST WHAT i DID!!!

HAVE A GOOD ONE,

LYNN

Sunflowers... Sunflowers...Sunflowers...

Yesterday my next door neighbors grand daughter and I took a walk to the neighbor right behind us to look at the beautiful Sunflowers. They are in full bloom and magnificent, towering way over our heads. Hanging so heavy with plenty of seeds for all the birds to enjoy...
I have known this neighbor since my family moved to this neighborhood almost 50 years ago. Needless to say I didn't move far from home when I got married, just across the street three doors down... And as I have probable told you before I married the boy across the street!!! So my in-laws live right behind me too... Which has been wonderful to have had all the grandparents so close so the kids have really enjoy them!
Look how tall they are towering over Kyra's head, with stalks so heavy and strong to hold the huge flowers...

He planted all different kinds, that is what makes them so grand to look at! There were bees and birds everywhere enjoying them...

These were as big around as my head, maybe even bigger, just standing there glowing in the bright noon day sun... I think I am going to use this one as my new screen saver...

There are tiny ones and orange and yellow ones, and so many more yet to bloom...

As you can see the birds have already started eating them like crazy...

The birds are fun to watch because they pick the seeds out then stand on the backs of the flower eating, leaving all the hulls on the backs of the flower as if it were their plate...

Tall Burgundy ones... with dozens of blooms...

He gave Kyra two big ones to take home and put in her yard so she could watch the birds eat, she could hardly hold them up, I carried one and she carried one back across the yards...

I took this picture the other day of the Fuzzy Face Sunflowers she planted from seed this spring and gave to me for my garden.. What a contrast to the giant ones next door. They only grow about 18-24 inches high but the flower is amazing, looking almost like a mum when it is fully opened... I just love them, they are so cute... I will be picking seeds to start more next year...

This is what it looks like half way opened, I had never seen one before and I thought this was it. But look how full they get! I guess this is why they call it Fuzzy Face...

Lots of blooms on each plant and they are still going strong...

Besides all the sunflowers their yard is full of beautiful flowers, and this butterfly bush was just full of butterflies...

The Glads were in full bloom too... Along with so much more... We stayed for a good while just looking at everything...

`

If you look closely in this picture, on the left you can see the corner of my house and on the right you can see the corner of Kyra's Grandmothers house... So we aren't too far away from all the beautiful flowers...

Bees...Bees... and more Bees... just working each and every flower!

So it was a wonderful trip we took across the yard to visit a very special couple, they truly love working in their yard and making it beautiful, and they are a Beautiful Couple!

Have a good one,

Lynn

Floor is Finished...

The floor is finished...Yea
All the furniture went back in last night now I have to unload the closet so we can do the floor in there. If your closets are like my walk in !!! LOL You know I have a job to do today!!!
This room was all dark wood before with carpet, we still have to replace the window moldings and chair rail and a couple of doors, but that will be a winter job. We just wanted to get the floor down this summer... The floral walls are done with Waverly Fabric put on with Liquid Starch... I will never put up wallpaper again. When you take the fabric off you just pull and it all comes off in one piece. Wipe the excess Starch off walls and you are done. It has been up for at least 5 years now and not one piece has pulled away from the wall. I just run the sweeper over it!!! I removed some from the Master Bathroom and reused it to make a curtain, how cool is that!!! You can't reuse wallpaper...

I made the cornice boards to match...

This mirror belonged to my grandmother, I've had it for years and just never knew where to put it. So I refinished it and in the bedroom it went...

This is the dress I Graduated Kindergarten in, many years ago... "1960"

My husbands uncle's mother made this piece that hangs across the top...

This was done by using a Cake Decorating Bag filled with Texture Paste. I made the vines with a tiny round tip, and the leaves with a leaf tip. Just like you would on a cake. Let it dry prime it , paint and antique it... I have two nightstands and an antique closet done this way too...

Ok I guess I have to go back to work unloading that closet, break time is over... Have a great day!!! ttyl

Lynn

Finishing things up today!!!

Multi Tasking that is what women do!!! I ran from the bedroom helping the husband put down hardwood floor, to the dinning room helping my youngest reupholster a headboard and bench this weekend. The bed and bench are "FINISHED". The bedroom floor is finished just a few more pieces of molding, then on to the walk-in closet. We can move all the furniture back in the bedroom and quit sleeping on the floor in the family room...
My daughter and I had so much fun working on this project this week, we went to pick out fabric at our favorite fabric store Fabric On A Roll 2 weeks ago. The three fabrics she picked out worked really well together. We both like the look of mixing fabrics and three seems to be the magic number. After we had picked fabric we went to another Yard Sale last weekend and found a Bed In A Bag set that just matched.(the pillow is sitting on top bench in first picture) We just couldn't believe it, Unused and still in the bag for $20.00. The bed skirt,comforter, six decorative pillows and shams. What a buy!!! The bed & bench came from a Yard Sale a few weeks ago for $15.00 and we put about $50.00 worth of fabric on it!!! Not bad !!

She got the job of removing all the staples and cutting all the new pieces of fabric on Wednesday while I helped with the floor. You don't realize how long it take to do this. It seems like there are a million staples... But it finally got done. On Thursday we worked on the headboard and finished it, lugging that big thing around to get all that fabric on. Deciding not to put those 80-some buttons back on... Thank Goodness!!!

Then on to the bench last night, adding batting and making cording,choosing what fabrics would go where. We laughed and had a great time working together. Some Mother-Daughter time... I love it!!!
Finally we are finished, it feels so good when you finish a project!

Now back to the bedroom I have a closet to clean out, What Fun!!!

Have A Good One,

Lynn

PS don't you love how the dogs had to get in on the picture...

Busy Busy Week

This was a shot I took the other day while I was looking at the squirrel up in the tree in the back yard. It was dropping pine cones on me while I was working in the flower bed under the tree...

My front door sign I painted years ago, while my kids were still in high school. Their mascot is the Bee. East Fairmont Bees... The bands majorettes are even called the Honey Bees! We live on the main road going to the High School so it works... It has been a really busy week, trying to take care of the flowerbeds, putting down hardwood floors in our bedroom and walk in closet. Washing walls, curtains and cleaning out drawers and the closet. We are sleeping on the bed laying on the floor in the family room. In the middle of all that mess my daughter had a few days off work and we recovered a King size headboard with new fabric. We got it at a yard sale for $15.00 with a bench to match. I can't wait to show you the pictures when we are finished. It was 70's gold velvet... that's a flash from the past!!! But the headboard is done and beautiful now. I also did a book on Shutterfly this week all about our vacation, Shutterfly was having a special 25% off and free shipping, so of course I had to finish fast to get it in on the deadline, I worked form 10 am until 11 pm on Wed. to get it finished. Why does everything always seem to come at once? I am trying to get things done enough today to attend a concert in the park tonight, good old Fiddle music. Just sit and relax for a little bit this evening...

Got to go lots to do, have a great weekend!!!

Lynn

My Wonderful Neighbor!

This is my watering buddy Chloe...
She follows me around the yard, like she is helping me out, by the time we had made our rounds she was warn out!!! LOL

Last week I took care of the cat and the flowers for the next door neighbor while they were away for a few days...

We have lived next door to each other for about 15 years, she is the one who inspired me to plant more flowers. I have always loved looking at all her flowers and herbs she has planted since she moved in...

We have become great friends and love sharing flowers with each other over the years...
Sitting on the porch in the evenings, talking and laughing....
My little Secret Garden is even Named after her Grand Daughter....
Summer is definitely our time of the year....

But I started planting and I haven't stopped...

Her containers are beautiful...


She just has that eye for planting in so many unique containers, and they always look fabulous!

Look how cute this looks!!!

This one she named after a dear friend... Her Linda Lily...

She shared this one with me but it still hasn't bloomed yet...

A beautiful back yard, with this wonderful garden and a beautiful antique bird bath I just love...

Lots of Black eyed Susan's in full bloom...

This was a great find last summer at the beach, my husband would have never let me bring something this big home from the beach!!! LOL Besides it would never fit in the car with everything else!!!

Another great planter of Galardia and Lobilia...

This one is Clarie,one I planted from seed this spring, Why do hers look better then mine???

Naked Ladies, they are just now blooming and beautiful!!!

See they are beautiful...

And Naked no leaves...

So you can see why I love living next to this wonderful neighbor, I hope we grow "YOUNG" together. RIGHT NEXT DOOR!!!

Have A Good One,

Lynn

Spaghetti Squash and 200th Post Giveaway...

It is Foodie Friday, I can't wait to see all the goodies there will be today at Designs by Gollum
so go check it out!!!

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK TUESDAYS BLOG FOR INFO ON THE GIVEAWAY FOR MY 200TH BLOG...

Nothing better than a summer meal out of the garden...

This was my first attempt at spaghetti squash. I had never even seen one, but it was amazing. It won't be the last time I fix it that's for sure! One of my neighbors grew it and dropped one off for me to try. I have fixed a lot of squash in my day but never this one... I called a good friend to ask what I was to do with it!!! So here we go...

Here is the recipe I used:

Spaghetti Squash

1- spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded

2 Tbs. veg. oil

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (or a little more I like garlic)

1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

crumbled feta cheese (to taste)

2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil

1 Sm. yellow squash diced

1 Sm zucchini diced

salt and pepper to taste

Opt. 4-5 links hot Italian sausage

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

2. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30-45 minutes in preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.

3. While waiting for squash to cook, Cook and brown sausage.

4. While squash is cooking, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and diced squash until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes,sausage and fresh basil and cook until desired thickness.

Squash after it has baked... It is beautifully golden brown !!!

Scrape out stringy pulp from the squash,with a fork or large spoon and place on your plate...

It really does look like spaghetti!!! How funny...

Add your sauteed vegetables, feta cheese and a little basil. Parmesan is good on it also. Serve warm... ENJOY...

Zucchini Cake

This was desert, since I had an abundance of zucchini I just made Zucchini Cake...

Ingredients

3 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 2/3 cups packed brown sugar

2 cups grated zucchini

2 Tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 Tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 Tsp. baking powder

1 Tsp. baking soda

1 Tsp. salt

1/2 cup Craisins (sweetened dried cranberries)

1/2 cup walnuts

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Add oil,brown sugar,zucchini, and vanilla; stir well. Blend in flour, cinnamon, baking powder,soda, and salt. Stir in Craisins and nuts. Pour into a greased bundt pan.

2. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Cool.

You can frost this with your favorite frosting but I just prefer it plain, warm right out of the oven...

Have a good one,

Lynn