To Connecticut and Back

I don't know if y'all will ever forgive me for being so nonchalant about blogging recently. I have been photographing, I promise. Just seems like a chore to blog with them. Ugh.

There was a recent trip back North for a GGC gathering--you know, with my besties. Pam had moved to Connecticut a couple of years back, built a beautiful home and invited us up, in a nutshell. 

Among other wonderful things that we did, we went to Whiteflower Farm.  How utterly exciting!!

And even though the season was about spent, there were still plenty of beautiful blooms.

And yes, I finally bought some Iris bulbs to plant and YES! they are in the ground. Astounding, indeed.

Riverside in Bloom

I've been doing this and doing that. Truly enjoying Riverside for the first time, appreciating the beauty like never before.

I've never had enough time to plant here. I'm normally only here for a mere week or two. It's been so wonderful. Kelly and Amy had saved some seed from a vine at Panini Pete's after I left several years' back.

I finally got the tiny seed planted. They popped up within a day!

Here is a couple of days' worth of sprouting. 

And then today, I transplanted them, only after a week or so. Fingers' crossed they survive!

Darlene found this little lady burying her eggs in her back yard. We had more spots, or so I thought, next to our house. Dar dug and dug, but nothing. I wanted baby turtles too!

 Dar's ducks.

My window box in the back yard seems to be doing better. Everything was in shock after I transplanted them.

Including the hibiscus. It really went down hill quick; but I'm happy to say, she looks good now.

 And here is a planting to remind me of Seymour, the snake Amy found in this spot several years back. Ew!

 My old ladder is filling out.

So, c'mon, walk this way. 

You're always welcome.

Hope this find you all well and enjoying the summertime.

Motivating Weather

You know how the cooler temps motivate me to be more productive.  It seems I haven't done a darn thing for over a year.  I truly need to get back into the swing of things.  The kid was off for two days (fall break, haha), so we went and gathered some punkins'.  I so LOVE this time of year!  Do you see Dave in the background?

It's also GGC time.  This is the bracelet the girls and I made last year at Riverside in October.  I have been wearing it almost every day.  I hope they are too!  Tiz' the season, girlz!  I don't even remember adding the angel charm.  Who would have known that it would have such meaning in such a short time?  We lost mom four days later.  Well, unfortunately, the GGC won't be able to have our annual meeting this year, scheduling conflicts, I'm afraid.  Sniffle. But, I'm workin' on a little sumpin' sumpin'.

I continue pulling together the girls' room, piece by piece.  I hung these mirrors this week after they sat on the beds for like a month or more.  (Beds, I say.  I dont' even have mattresses, yet!) I hung them close to the dresser so the girls can put their makeup there and be close to a reflection.  I'm starting to think more like a girl every day.  Go figure, at almost fifty, right?  Sad, but it's taken me that long--three older brothers and all . . .  (Do you barely spy the wool shag rug?  Squeeeeeeel!)

Natalie Sarabella, the true angel that she is, included this gorgeous Diva (click to her website) when I ordered some presents for friends and family.  Madam D, as I named her, is an absolute delight!  Nat has been so generous to me over the years, and I can never thank her enough.  I send big ol' bear hugs and kisses and prayers and everything good to her every time I eye one of her beautiful pieces.  I know she has angel wings hidden somewhere.  

Who else could come up with these teeny, tiny little precious babies but Nat?  These were made for Dar's (my riversorry friend) little grandbabies!

Going back to the girls' room, how could I resist a little nod to England after such a delightful trip this summer?  I sigh every time I see that Union Jack!

Tomorrow,  Beth and I are heading East to Knoxville to see JJ Grey & Mofro in a real theatre. We are going to have the best time!  Not only am I traveling with my dawlink friend, but I get to see my first born also.  And he's going to the show with us.  It doesn't get much better.

Life is good to me. (Except for the fact that the hub is in China, again.)

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

A Week in Review

It was a fast week, by golly.  I suppose since we all had Monday off for Labor Day, it seems it just whirled by.  The hub brought these gorgeous roses home one day.  The colors were so pretty.

Tuesday, I went out to Beth's for a visit.  This is right down the street from her house!  How gorgeous!

We made charms from silver clay.  I had taken a class last fall with my friends down in 'bama, which I probably never mentioned.  It was right when mom got sick and I rushed home.  Never did post about that GGC trip.  Anyhoo, I brought my old clay over to Beth's and we started working.  We always have the best time.  Of course, there was a mission when we decided we were going to find some "shot" for the tumbler to help shine the silver.   Haha, we first went to my favorite store Walmart, thinking they have to sell shot.  Nope, only shot gun shells.  Then we went to the local gun store.  We fit right in -- NOT!  It was too funny.  We were just cracking up during the entire escapade.  Never did find any.  So, we went back to finishing up our charms.  What you do is, roll out your clay (pure silver, by the by), cut out the shape you want and stamp it.  Then you put it on a little warmer to harden.  After it's dried a bit, you sand off the rough edges and then it's ready to fire.  

 

We used a blow torch to fire ours, we don't need to stinkin' kiln, do we Bethy?

Und, voila!  After a little polishing, they look great! Did I mention, this is pure silver?  I think I did.

 

Wednesday came, and I had a doctor's appointment.  Drove into town and found I went to the wrong doctor.  I would have blamed my allergies and my fog, but I've done this before.  At least once (grin).  You see, two of my doctors, in the same practice, have the SAME last name.  One is in Franklin and one is in Nashville.  Oy.  No worries.  I went up the street to Anthropologie.  Found a little something for the girls' room.  (I really was looking forward to seeing my doc though.  Whatever is causing this "fog" I've been in for a month has to GO!)

Think I must has slept through Thursday, because I don't remember just what I did.  Friday came and it was hair day.    I'm going to have to remember next time I need a color, I don't have to get  a cut too.  Look at how short!!!  Oh my.  It's a bob, I say!  The reason I'm  putting this pic up (indeed I am a little bleary eyed after happy hour with the hub) is because on Tuesday, I'm getting a Brazilian Blowout.  This is supposed to tame my unruly mane.  Here is my natural curl, dried with a diffuser on the blow dryer.  I cannot wait to see what it looks like just a tad straighter!  Oh yea, you're right, I have gained like 20 pounds since last fall!  UGH.

  

Saturday, I received a note from my friend Nadia that her father had passed that morning.  He passed in the same way mom did, and it broke my heart.  I lit a candle in his honor.  Sniffle.

Tonight, after dinner, the kid, hub and I took Frankie for a walk.  The weather was gorgeous.  I hope it stays cool.  I am so ready for Autumn.

K, all caught up.  Well, kinda.  I dont' think I'll ever finish my European trip posts!

Post Trip--Ellicott City, MD

So much to catch up on rewinding my trip back home to celebrate mom's wonderful life. So, here we go, back again. Here is my "tattoo." All the girls got one. Mine was just in a more conspicuous place than theirs. :-P

Before dropping the boys off at the airport to come back to Tennessee, I was craving Ledo's pizza. So that's just where we went. Oh, I miss good pizza. We can't get it down here. Probably a good thing. The kids were grabbing the camera and taking LOTS of photos. Enough!

After dropping the boys off at BWI, I headed to Amy's. Here's her back yard tree house and her twins swinging. Yep, that's my brother Jim on the side there. I had forgot to bring the Mangria, leftover from the celebration the day before. He was kind enough to bring us four bottles! Sweet. Now, that's the way to keep the celebration going. All the girls, the GGC, were staying at Amy's and I pulled in to do the same Sunday night.

Aim knew I hadn't yet celebrated my birthday and was sweet enough to have a cake made for me and Kelly (who's birthday is just after mine).

It's a lobster pot--an inside joke, sorry.

We all sang happy birthday and enjoyed the cake. It was all butter cream icing. Oh my. No wonder I've gained 10 pounds! Thank you Amy, so much.

We enjoyed ourselves, as you can see. The ol' gang was back together.

We stayed up 'til all hours. The best girls in the world here.

The next morning, we went into the old part of Ellicott City. I had never been. Being a Virginian girl, we didn't wonder over to Maryland much. Ha. Little rivalries, I suppose. Silly but true. Anyway, it is a charming town!

With wonderful shops.

And nooks and crannies.

We were late in getting out, as usual (after a long night), and we found a little place that was still open for lunch.

The Rumor Mill is an Asian Fusion tapas-type restaurant. Mmmmmm.

And tapas we did.

And desert too, of course. The pastry chef brought all the goodies out himself.

It all was fabulous, including all the homemade ice creams, including a Girl Scout Thin Mint flavor!

Then it was time for some speed shopping. It was coming up on 5 pm already! Woooosh!

Can you tell my heart was palpitating? It was.

We just made it into this shop before closing time.

Thank goodness!!! Oh my.

I loved the gas lamps on top of this building!

We stopped for some coffee before heading back home.

And Pam, Kelly and I packed up and headed to Arlington. We caravanned on the Beltway. to Kelly's house. This shot is bad, but I'm always mesmerized when you come around this bend and see the Mormon Temple. The hub calls it Oz. You just kinda come up on it, in all its glory.

We made it to Kell's where we toasted once more. (This was a very good champagne. I don't normally care for the stuff.) We stayed up later than we should have but talked and talked and missed our Amy but im'd her most of the night. Silly girls.

And then came Tuesday. Kelly went back to work, Pam had to work on her MIL's condo and get it ready to sell and I moved on to my next house, my SIL Mary Jane's.

More to come.

xo ro