fresh picked whimsy

Cabin fever

So, like 3/4 of the US, we were wallopped AGAIN by old man winter last week.  We are STILL slip sliding everywhere we go on a thick layer of ice.   I'm still playing catch up...trying to accomplish everything that was put on hold while our kids had 3 days off from school! 

I'm over it, Jack Frost. Enough, already. I mean it. Done. Quit it.  

 Mark and i were snuggling over the weekend and daydreaming about going somewhere like this...

 

{no clue where this little slice of heaven actually is, but we found the picture on pinterest and so now this is the happy place i go to in my mind as i hug my mailbox to keep myself from falling down when retrieving my mail each day...on the ice at the end of my driveway}

Alas...this is my reality... {our pool...now covered in snow and ice and a little pic of what it will look like in summer!}

 
 her coat is always so white until she lays in the white snow and then she looks yellowish...and very cute with snow on the tip of her nose... 

 
who put this laundry basket on top of my bed?  Don't you know i was just laying in the snow and need my warm bed?

 
 I looked out my window and saw this guy taking a stroll across my front lawn tundra...

 
 

catching up on my work reading at Riley's rescheduled orthodontist appointment...

 
homebaked cookies are a good way to stay warm...

 

i love the shade of blue that you see out the windows in the evenings right before it gets totally dark.  i am thankful for our warm house on cold wintry nights...

 
and my cozy yellow prayer shawl that my friend Anne knitted for me.  One of the most thoughtful and heartfelt gifts i have ever received...

 

thank you for all of the sweet messages of thanks for the printable valentines i posted last week!  Enjoy!
  

Who's been using my camera?

whenever i upload the pictures off of my camera, i never know what i will find.  Griffin was here...

 
and this lovely shot was from one of Riley & Katie's photoshoots while torturing playing with the dogs...hello, Sunny...

 

evidently we were examining his teeth, too... {he's so laid back!}

 
do you see how all of his canines are filed down flat?  That's from chewing sticks and stones in the backyard.  Oh, and this {which he finished in about 3 days}...

 
can't a dog get some sleep around here?...

 
 
i think they were trying to get a picture of him jumping in the air after a ball was tossed.  They got this, which makes him look like he is standing, which makes me laugh because he already reminds us all of Scooby Doo.  

Ruh-roh.

 

Scooby in disguise?...

 
Poor Kismet can't escape them, either...

 
but, she's just a little less tolerant of the camera.  ok, maybe just one more if you snuggle me...

 
 

Summer lovin'

FINALLY!!!!  Summer banner is up...late...story of my life.  Better late than never.  To go along with it, here are some snapshots of summer life around here...

we are not big campers...the backyard is the farthest we've ever pitched this tent.  We usually just set it up in the playroom when we're looking for a camping adventure.  But, last week was nice and cool...perfect for sleeping under the stars (5 feet from the back door)...

 
We put a lot of time and sweat and $ into our landscaping this summer.  I am giving it all i've got.  My thumb is far from green, but we have been enjoying the basil from our own garden this summer.  I'm so proud of my little basil plant...

 
 
BEST PESTO EVER:

Combine in a food processor into a thick smooth paste:  2 cups fresh basil leaves, 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese, 1/2 cup olive oil, 3 T pine nuts, 3 minced garlic cloves

For crostinis:  Thinly slice crusty bagutte and brush pieces with olive oil.  Lightly toast under broiler and top with a smear of cream cheese and then a dollop of pesto.  YUM!  This dish gets rave reviews everywhere i take it.  So easy!

Amazing Indiana sunset after a summer storm...

 
We found these AWESOME lights at Big Lots, of all places.  I've always wanted lights like these over the pool, but everywhere i looked, they were big bucks. 

 
BL had them for $10 for a string of 40 {40 ft!}.  We just LOVE them.  When they're all lit up at night, it feels like you're on a cruise ship!

 
happy, itchy dog...

 
k taught her brothers and cousins how to make bracelets.  Now, i find string taped to every table in the house!

 
mmmmmm...

 
Toy Story 3....i could cry again right now just thinking about it.  sniff sniff

 
have you read this yet?  I'm 3/4 of the way through and i cannot put it down!!!!!

 
how i see it...

 
I am happy to report that I made a $105 donation to the National Wildlife Federation from sales of my Save the Gulf with Love print.  It's still available in the shop.  Thanks so much to all who have purchase one already.  I will keep you updated on our total!!!!

good stuff

Some random shots of life around here this week...beginning with the "after" shot of my new picket fence!  Remember i posted the before?  We were trying to camouflage the air conditioner that is in the front of our house right outside the alcove door...and, botta bing...it's gone!  My hubby is so handy.  Once he had it all built, I channeled my inner Tom Sawyer and started painting the fence.  Then, my awesome neighbor came over and painted the rest of it with his paint gun. {where's an easy button when you need one?} Now, it's screaming for a little art and some bright flowers!  I'm working on it!  Stay tuned...

Our beloved peonies have bloomed.  Read more about the story behind our family peonies here.  They are simply the most gorgeous flowers i have ever seen.  And the color!  It's the most perfect, delicate shade of blush pink...don't you think?

 
Layers of velvety lovliness {is that a word?  Well, it should be, if it isn't}

 
Last night, our sweet old gal fell asleep with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.  She heard my footsteps approaching to take this picture and opened her eyes just before i snapped.  She is love.

 
Our house is overflowing with flowers...pitchers full of the peonies and these sweet roses that Mark brought home for K on her 16th, and the flowers in the background that i got for Mom's Day.  Poor Mark is a sneezing mess with all this flora in the house.  Such a trooper...taking one for the team!

 
Leftovers from the big bday celebration...

 
 
Lots of orders coming through lately...

 
Shipping them out as fast as i can...with a little sunshine...

 

I decided my Summer Open Studio will be on Friday, June 18th.  So, if you're local and you want to come by, there will be lots of new art and goodies to see!  Email me if you need directions and mark your calendars now! xo