Blue Blooms at The Old Parsonage

As spring turns to summer and summer slows and begins heats up, I find that I am constantly choosing flowers from the gardens to fill the vase on the kitchen table. I love to walk in the backdoor and see flowers. They just brighten my day after being at work all day.



This week it's hydrangeas. Our bush by the pool is just overflowing with blossoms. Although I can't seem do get them to dry and still look beautiful. It must be the type of bush? Any thoughts would be much appreciated. We are busy making plans for the holiday weekend. I have a list of flea markets that I want to visit and then there are my much overdue visits to all of you.

Wishing you all blue skies and sunny days!

Catching - Up at The Old Parsonage

Well, Father's Day weekend is a total happy blur. My parents, my brother, Marie and their kids stopped by on their way out to dinner on Sunday, it was so great being all together! Adam and Jade had to be out of their apartment, by Saturday, but couldn't turn their key in until that Monday. So they stayed here that weekend. I loved having them here. They slept on a blow-up mattress in the living room and the house looked like a war-zone (or when you're on vacation), but I loved every minute of it. I stayed up with all the kids until 1am each night, but they were up until at least 4am! They were carrying-on and having a great time. I didn't think about my camera too much, but managed to snap a few photos. The boys are really going to miss each other, they are very close.


They left for TX at 4am Tuesday and got there around 9pm (TX time on Wednesday), totally exhausted. But I praise God that he got them there safe and sound. I have so many things that I want to share with you this week (a few giveaways that I won, along with some recent flea market finds), so please come back again.

Rushing at The Old Parsonage

Yes, I was literally rushing to make something with this image at 11pm last night. I joined Karen's (Some Days are Diamonds) Bloggerette Sorority. I didn't want to alter it too much as the image is lovely "as is." So I added a little washed out color here and there, a little glitter too, and some small embellishments for a 3-d effect.



This morning I rushed out of bed to snap a few photos for my post (notice the extended arm of a professional self-portrait taker) . There was no way I was going to show what I looked like immediately after making this... I don't have air conditioning in my studio and at 11pm - look out!


I bought a vintage corsage a few weeks ago and thought that it would be perfect for "Rushing." All the sisters in the photo seem to love their flowers too!



And, just so I'm not rushing tomorrow am, I'm also linking this post to Beverly's Pink Saturday. Be sure to pop on by for some delicious pink fun!

Don't forget one last thing, today is Rudolph Day - it's only 6 months 'til Christmas Girls! Time to plan ahead for the holiday season. I'm going to work on my Christmas notebook.

What are you doing to prepare for Christmas?

Fresh Laundered Roses

Beverly asked me to be one of her featured bloggers for this week's Pink Saturday. At first I was excited, then a little nervous. Why? I don't know. I've been playing along with Beverly for over a year and have loved every minute of finding and making new friends. Thanks Beverly!!


I found this wonderful queen sized Waverly quilt and pillow shams for $15 at a tag sale last weekend. My Mum and I were out looking for things for Bryan's apartment. And although this isn't his style, we couldn't pass it up. I washed it yesterday and hung it on the line to dry - mmm the smell of fresh laundered roses...


If you are interested in doing a Pink Saturday Post, then you must visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and send her an e-mail. There's a link on the right hand side of her blog. That's all there is to it, except having your post ready for that Saturday. Be sure to visit the others on the list, you'll love what they are sharing too.

Sisterhood

Karen from Some Days are Diamonds had a great idea.

There will be parties and giveaways, tours and workshops, sharing creations and ideas. From home decor to crafting, our days will be full of fun in the months ahead. I joined, will you?

A Big Thank You

I just wanted to send out a big thank you to all of my followers and to those of you who stop by The Old Parsonage and leave such encouraging comments. You'll never, ever know how much you all mean to me.

I snapped a few photos of Bryan before he left for the wedding on Saturday. Chelsea got dressed at the Bride's house, so I don't have any photos of them together.


They said the wedding was perfect, outside by a lake and just slight breeze - no rain thank goodness. See his new "do?" He calls it a "faux-hawk" - ahhh fashion...

Some of you may have noticed my blog rolls on the right-hand side. I have a Keepers of Christmas list and a Visit These Friends list. If you would like me to include you in either of these lists, just leave a comment with your link included and I'll gladly add your blog. And, if you're not a follower already maybe you'll become one, we'd love to have you.

I'm home today with bacterial pink -eye. No contacts/make-up for a week. I'll be able to go back to work tomorrow - that'll be attractive. I'm off to get somethings done around here that need doing.

The men in my Life

With Father's Day looming this Sunday, I pulled out some of my "manly" looking papers and went to town. I'm not sure what's going to happen this weekend with Adam and Jade moving, but I want to have all my ducks in a row. This card is for my wonderful DH. I also got him a gift certificate to Cabela's - sometimes it's easier to buy a GC and he always loves Cabela's.



And this one is for my Dad. He has always believed in me, protected me and loved me, know matter what. But, isn't that what all Daddy's do? Unfortunately it's not, I've seen proof. I'm thankful that the Lord picked him to be mine.


This last card is for my great-uncle "Uncle Chub." He was married to my Gram's baby sister. He's as ornery as they get. His daughter actually called my Mum after her last visit with Uncle Chub, to thank her for looking past his behavior. And we can't blame it on his age - 85 (I think), because he's been that way as long as I can remember. He had a really rough demeanor, but deep down loves his family.

Another June Birthday

I found this cute pillow for Chelsea's birthday - 21 yrs tomorrow - at Target. Don't you just love Target? The pillow is such a bright pink, perfect for her vibrant personality. We're also giving her a gift card too. I call she and My Jade our "daughter's in love," they are two truly wonderful young women. She and Bryan are in a wedding today, so I'll share pics later.



I think I've shown this, one of my favorite finds before - my Shultz pretzel tin. I screamed for joy when I found it - our name spelled correctly!!! That's a rarity.

Please pop on over to Beverly's for more Pink Saturday fun! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Well the pecan tree finally stopped dropping those nasty tree squiggles (or to use the correct term catkins - as Debbie so graciously told me). So, last weekend we opened the pool. Opened it to find that our winter cover had pin holes all through it making the water a nice shade of YUCK!

This has never happened before. We use baquacil, a non-chlorine system and the water is always crystal clear. However within one day after adjusting the chemicals the water is perfect! Now the weather? Well temps dropped into the mid-70's during the day and into the 50's at night. Don't get me wrong, I love theses temps, but they are too conducive for heating the water and actually swimming. Today the temps are supposed to get into the 80's again so things will be heating up around here for the weekend.


Adam and Jade are moving to TX next weekend. Most of their things are packed and what they aren't taking, they're giving to Bryan for his apartment. They are sooo excited and I'm so happy for them, but you are going to have to bear with me as I adjust.

I snapped these two photos from the front porch last weekend while it was nice and sunny. This week although nice and cool, had a ton of clouds and we all know that bright sunlight makes for the best photos.

The Bear

Remember when Bryan and Chelsea went to The Bahama's and brought back my mask? Well they didn't leave DH out. It's just taken me some time to snap a few shots of his treasure - The Bear.


It's carved from one piece of wood and then dipped to produce the two-toned effect. DH loves it! It's so totally him - a fisherman and hunter who loves nature, and he loves to work with wood too. And those roses? They're from my favorite rosebush. They don't last long once they're cut, but I love how romantic they look in my vase.



Bryan and Chelsea took two truck loads of furniture to his apartment in MD - so I guess there's no thinking that he'll decided to go to a school around here. I'm so happy for him, but I'm gonna miss him so much! I stay up late at night talking as long as he wants knowing that he'll be off to school in August.

A giveaway

Remember my friend Cathi from Shakerwood Quilts? Well she's having one heck of a giveaway. Be sure to stop on by.

• Hand-dyed wool. Eight pieces of fat 16s for a total of 1/2 yard. If you work with wool applique you know this is a lot.

• A collection of Thimbleberries fabric. The faux applique panel is on the back of the chair. There are 15 faux applique panels. Along with the panel is 4-1/2 yards of coordinating fabric. Several yard and half-yard pieces.

• A kit from Benartex and a large spool of piecing thread

• A handmade tote bags that is so versatile, it's ridiculous. The perfect size for carrying a book, a hand work project or even lunch!

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Good luck and enjoy your day!

Treasure

Can you believe my luck? Look at my latest treasure! This is my first vintage hat. I'm not sure what a great deal is, but I paid $16.

It's in perfect shape. They had a blue one too, and I'm kicking myself for not buying them both.
The millinery flowers and leaves are just beautiful. And can you see the velvet ribbon? Yum!

I'm playing along with all my other Pink Friends at How Sweet the Sound on the fabulous Pink Saturday.

Waiting at The Old Parsonage

Every summer we have to wait until our huge Pecan Tree drops these brown "things" until we can open our pool. We tried not waiting one year and had a huge mess - the filter clogged immediately - lesson learned.



And, although this weekend the temps were in the 90's we waited. Waited for the yard to look like a brown carpet. It actually looks like it's raining these little suckers when they start to fall.



They'll continue to fall this week or maybe two, then we'll be able to open the pool. Normally the temps aren't warm enough at this time of year to make me want to swim, but this week it's supposed to be hazy, hot and humid - yuck!

Wishing you all a wonderful day!