We did a heck of a lot of work outside last week; mowing the entire property, pruning, weeding, weed trimming, mowing the trails in the woods. After all of the rain, followed by the dangerous heat, we had a lot of catching up to do. We don’t like the fact that doing all of that work is not as easy as it used to be. But it is what it is.

Anyway, we worked outside again on Saturday. I pruned several bushes, yanked weeds and vines, cleaned up the garden beds. Don mowed the trails. So we rested yesterday. We sat on the porch for an hour or so, all the while expressing gratitude for our house and our property. We are blessed. It was so beautiful out there! Don played and wrote some music. And I played with the girls/dolls.

I have this loft dollhouse that was available at Target years ago. A couple of years ago, I removed the loft and the stairs, with the idea of using it for the girls for another photo opportunity. But, I haven’t purchased any furniture in this scale (1:6) and my initial idea of wallpapering the box isn’t something I want to do now.

So I grabbed a vintage glove box out of the cabinet in the studio to use as a sofa, made a makeshift table from a yogurt container I got in Paris and arranged the girls. That’s a fabric-covered board behind the window as I didn’t want a view of Don’s desk.

I like the way it looks.

Afterward, I brought the girls and animals back down to the den and I ended up removing the dolls from their cubbies, while I dusted and readjusted the wallpaper, which is temporarily attached and tends to slip downward a bit over time.

And Katie got a new outfit.

I can’t tell you how calming it all was! These girls bring peace.

Down by the street, our annual burst of orange beauty is takin place.

Ditch lilies are all blooming everywhere in our little town.

Later, I’m going to snip off the now dead blooms on the lilac bush (the ones I can reach) which will promote more flowers next year. And clean the bathroom and vacuum.

Or not.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.