Yesterday was the first day without excess heat and humidity in a long time, so we took advantage of it by mowing the front lawn and the secret garden. Short-lived, since the heat and humidity will be back all too soon. But boy, was it a beautiful day!
That umbrella is new. Don purchased the umbrella/stand to protect him from the sun when he works at the Farmer’s Market. The market is in a parking lot and there is no shelter or shade. It took us a while to realize we could use it at home, too!
It’s on the funky patio.
Don loves to sit out there and play his guitar, so the addition of the umbrella is perfect for him. I love the way it looks from the street.
We sat on the porch after mowing and felt gratitude for our house and our beautiful property. The bones were there, but the gardens and the patio are all us. Basically, everything that is blooming, filling the borders, defining spaces – that’s our work over 16 years of actively gardening here. It’s very satisfying.
Then we took a nap. Of course.
We’re going to start in on emptying our storage space. We’ll put on our ‘ruthless’ hats and start to take anything we don’t want to the recycling center/dump. They’ve raised our rental by $40/month again – what a rip off! Anyway, that’s it. Time to get rid of everything. It will begin today.
I received my other bjd doll – a companion for Wren – and I’ll share her with you tomorrow. I try to refrain from overwhelming you with dolls, as I know this is a relatively new addition to the blog and not everyone gets it.
Edited to add: Mere also tested positive for Covid.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
I love the red umbrella . It would be great to have you for neighbors and get to hear Don playing his guitar outside. I also love the color of your home. We have five more days of heat. I have been up since 3am opening up the house to help it cool down. We don’t have AC, but we do have one AC stand alone, in the kitchen. So we spend our days in the kitchen. That’s ok. It is where our TV and Computer are. But I do hate to think this is how our summers will be playing out in the future. You two have a good day.
Yes, stay in the a/c! I worry about the same thing. Is this the new normal?
Stay safe, Tana.
Those are lovely shots of your home and gardens and it is good for you to feel a sense of pride in all you have done to make this place your own. Glad that you are so happy there!
Thank you, Ellen.
Stay safe.
all beautiful … your home, slightly wild-looking yet lovingly tended gardens and lawn, shade under a cheerful red umbrella, music, easier weather (at least for a while), another blythe now home, gratitude … enjoy!
i am at the car dealership, getting a headlight replaced. woo hoo! will then clean my car, take care of a couple quick tasks and a shower, spend time with members of my family and, if they want, make them two salads (potato and pasta sound good).
hope you all have a good easy day. stay safe!
kathy
Your porch! I love a big porch. The house I grew up in had a wrap around porch. I spent alot of time playing on that porch in the summer. I used to sit on the porch with my dad often in the evening…good memories.
I need a “ruthless hat” to clean out my basement. Actually, it’s my husband who needs one. I’m not so much a keeper of stuff. I have to get rid of stuff behind his back, lol.
Take care
Porches are one of the best things in life, Marilyn.
Stay safe.
Thank you, Kathy.
Stay safe!
Please include a source for and picture of the ruthless hats, we need some as we tackle the attic.
ceci
Ha! I should market them.
Stay safe, Ceci.
Beautiful photos as always. I love your home and garden. Mine is just a little bigger than the front section on your porch😀
Hope Little Z is feeling okay, it was too late to comment by the time I had read about his Covid and I did think then it would be likely that your Sister will also catch it. Hope they only have mild symptoms.
Take care
Meredith feels pretty awful. Z has recovered and rather quickly!
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
I love the pop of color the red umbrella adds. Your yard is lovely. I’m really enjoying the sweet Blyth girls myself, just so you know. So sorry Mere has Covid. Hope she feels better quickly.
Thanks so much, Linda.
As of yesterday, Mere was feeling pretty awful. Z has quickly recovered.
Stay safe.
The red umbrella looks great. It’s an added bonus that you can use it at home.
And you should be proud of your gardens…you’ve created an idyllic setting.
We had a 70’s day earlier this week…it was heavenly. Glad you got to enjoy it by mowing…lol.
Sorry to hear about Meredith…hope she recovers quickly.
Thank you for your kind words, Donnamae.
We’re back to humidity today. Sigh.
Stay safe.
Prayers your family
Your home is gorgeous
Thank you, Brenda!
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — thanks for the beautiful pixs of your home/gardens — very pretty — you have improved the area and should be very happy about it/and proud of yourselves!!! sorry about your sister’s diagnosis — covid is not over — probably will never be. hope she and her son recover soon and completely. stay healthy/safe
Mere is feeling pretty awful at the moment. Z recovered very quickly.
Stay safe, Linda.
You & Don have such a lovely & peaceful sanctuary! So glad to hear you’ve had a break in the heat & humidity. Hope that temperature/humidity break holds as you don your “ruthless hats” and empty your storage unit.
Hoping your nephew & sister have mild cases of covid and recover quickly and without lingering issues.
Stay safe & well.
Thanks so much, Amy.
Stay safe.
Always love seeing pictures of your home and yard, because I would love to have your house! That porch is so welcoming. We are under 100 degrees all week. That is unheard of for July. My sister just let me know she has Covid.
She lives in San Diego so I have not been near her. Not feeling great myself though so I am not sure what I have. Love the red umbrella! Take care!
Mere is feeling pretty awful. Z is much better.
Hope your sister is hanging in there.
Stay safe, Deb.
I hope both Mere and Little Z soon recover from their bouts with Covid.
I love the red umbrella.
Thank you so much, Linda.
Stay safe.
Beautiful home and property.
And you know I love the Blythe girls!
I do!
Thank you, Lily.
Stay safe.
It looks like a lovely haven, Claudia. Smart idea about the umbrella, both for Don at the show and in the yard. I’d sit under it a lot in the nice weather! It’s pretty cool up here at the lake right now. I miss the heat — or some heat (sunny and 85 would be perfect for me). But it was warm enough and not so windy that I couldn’t paint on the porch today, which was good. Finished my book about the Plaza. Now time to catch up with Ruth Galloway and the gang!
I’d take cool right about now. The humidity is back.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Aargh, so sorry to hear about your sister and little one. Wishing them speedy healing.
Thank you, Naomi.
Stay safe!