Neighbors Who Share

I've become acquainted with a couple who lives on my walking route. They lost a big tree to the snow this year and I absconded (with permission and with help) with some fire wood as a result. They have a great display of flowers in their front yard, and if you are nosey like me and peer over their side gate, you can see that their backyard is positively an oasis. Ray and Judy. They are the nicest people!

I was walking by a few weeks ago and Judy was out tending her flowers. I took the opportunity to ask her what some orange flowers were in her yard. (Orange flowers are hard to come by!) They look like wildflowers -- airy, random, and about 3-4 feet tall. Just beautiful! She didn't know the name, but she immediately produced a kleenex from her pocket and stooped over and picked up some seeds for me. Ray appeared from the sideyard and enthusiastically told me just to scatter them and keep them wet for a few days. I did, and the seeds sprouted immediately!

I told the story to a friend with whom I walk, and have already promised her seeds from my plants when they produce! (Nevermind that metal plant label in the photo; it's for another nearby plant...)

Hungry Caterpillars

I thought that the time for caterpillars this summer was passed and that we were full on butterflies now. I am wrong! I give you Exhibits A and B who are happily munching on my parsley plant:




The day before that I saw one on my fennel and one on the parsley, but I guess either there is a third one roaming around somewhere, or one of them determined that the munching was greener over with his buddy.

I've been searching for a book or poster that contains color photos of caterpillars, and the corresponding butterflies that they become, but alas -- does not seem to exist. So how does one know what become what?

Mojito, anyone?

Red remarked the other day that the mint and thyme in my driveway is filling in nicely. Naturally I felt compelled to share it with you...

Here's how it looked when it was new:




And here's what it looked like last evening, after a trim:



I have peppermint (the largest plants;) pennyroyal (the flat plants with little purple blossoms;) spearmint (with the variegated leaves;) thyme (whispy looking, about halfway down the drive) and in the very back where you can't really see, I have lemon balm. The lemon balm isn't really thriving... it may get replaced at some point. (No, Ms. Lemon Balm, I am not threatening you, it's just an observation!)

One little 4 year old neighbor girl and I take turns picking mint leaves for the other and eating them. She agrees, it tastes like toothpaste!

Whenever I pull into or back out of my driveway, the mint brushes the under carriage of my car and the most delicious mint aroma comes in through my air vents. It's my own personal aromatherapy sending me on my way or welcoming me home!

Sweet Dreams

I'm not really a pink and ruffle-y type of girl, but I did want my bedroom to be really feminine. And at the age of 43 I hadn't ever had night stands that match! You'll recall (maybe) from prior posts that I finally got the big IKEA closet in my room ... and that I had 2 throw pillows that I bought at Bishop Arts District that were to be my jumping off point for my room.

The room is finally done, with the exception of possible paint on 2 more walls in a beach sand color. Ta daaaa!



The stories the photos don't tell... it took me 90 minutes to hang crystals on the first chandelier .. right, did you know, chandeliers do not arrive assembled? And that they come with the one tiny black and white photo and 8 point font instructions printed on tissue paper? I'm here to tell you, that's true.



Growing up I always had clothes on the floor of my bedroom ... my mother constantly rode me about it. Some things never change (although I do usually my bed now, mom!) A row of hooks was just the thing I needed -- and I found some mis-matched glass crystal-y hooks at Antropologie! Sanded and stained a board, stuck the hooks on it, hung it up -- voila! And I still sometimes have clothes on the floor! Hmmmm...







I had the hardest time finding those rugs! I knew I didn't want square or rectangular rugs, and I wanted something fuzzy/cozy... but I wasn't terribly picky about the color. Took f o r e v e r to find those! Anthropologie. I am not much for their clothes, but I do love the home furnishing side of their store. Love.

The little sign by the door says, "New Shoes Can Cure the Blues." Whenever Red and I are out, and we see a woman with a little extra looking overly enthusiastic, I usually shrug and say, "She's probably wearing new shoes."

Coming Soon

More details to follow, but here are the plans for my new back steps! It's not a deck, but a wide first step and then the steps going down. Materials will be steel frame, with wood steps. Short story is, I have a neighbor who is an architect who is helping me with the plans, and we have a client who does steel work and he's doing the fabrication! Considering that the wooden steps I have now are from the old existing deck and that on rainy days my dress shoe heels actually push through the wood, I'm excited to get new set up.







Many of us have enjoyed a laugh about the people in the rendering .. who are they? My neighbors proclaim that it cannot be them, because none of them are carrying a gimlet!