Preparing for a show!

Good morning this last day of June!

I wish I could say summer was here but again the weather just doesn't cooperate - 

hot then cold and 'repeat'.  

Summer decorating here has been sparse - didn't put out as many geraniums this year as 

I usually do. I lost my mojo for some reason but that's not a bad thing...

less to take to the basement in the Fall.

We didn't do much for outside potted plants either and the few we did buy are getting pelted with downpours - I like rain for the flowers but it really beats them down.

I may change out some of my 'placement'of geraniums each Spring/Summer season but this one will always be in our long wood trencher on the dining room table - 

it is my favorite grouping.

Normally I would put real geraniums on this bench along with the birdhouses but couldn't find a potted one that looked nice - may have to assemble one myself.

I love this arrangement of flowers that we bought at the Mukwonago flea market a few weeks back.  When the sun is out it is gorgeous but the rain pushes it right down!!

Last week a very dear friend and I had a wonderful lunch and visit in our screen room -

I love this lady with all my heart.  We worked together for 20+ years and she's part of our 'former' co-workers  'luncheon' but this time I wanted it to be a

one on one with her and so did she.

She lost her 16 year old grandson on Memorial weekend in a horrible car crash that claimed his life and 2 of his friends.  The car hit a tree and exploded and they literally burned to beyond recognition.  Her heart is so broken and she needed to talk, so we did.

This community was so awesome - it pulled together for these 3 families - the high school held the visitation and funerals and the local food market donated the meals.....you have no idea what this community did for these families...it was beyond amazing.

I love you sweet Darlene Lemmon!!

Last month we went to the huge flea market near us and for some reason I was taken in by this beautiful pine box....it is actually a fruit crate

and I loved the patina on it and will use it at the show we are doing

in September as a display prop....isn't it great!!

For now I have it sitting in the dining room next to a cupboard and I'm putting my 'finished' penny rugs and other smalls in it for safe keeping for the show.

It does have one crazy screw in the handle that Doug will most likely take out and try and replace with something not so ugly....but I still love it anyway even if he doesn't get it fixed.

And this past Sunday we went to the same flea market and FINALLY bought a weather vane for our now, 10 year old screen room cupola - it's a weathered copper...

isn't she a beauty and just in time for the 4th...she flies high!!!

It was worth the wait.

All of this month I have been making canvas board prints for the September show.

These are two of them that we tried over our fireplace...a tad small for the space (16" x 20") so I am in the process of making two larger ones with an older looking couple (20" x 30").

So far I have made 14 different people.

Here are some of the ones that I have finished

These are the two I am making for us for over the fireplace as a 20 x 30 -

plus there is a pair in the 16 x 20 size for the show.

Even though their backgrounds aren't the same I still like them together.

Last week we celebrated our grandson Aidan's 9th birthday and tomorrow we will be celebrating our granddaughter  (his sister) Miranda's 4th birthday.

(Darren and MaryAnn's children) 

Here's the show we will be vending at.
I will post updates every now and then and when it gets closer
I'll hopefully have a list of vendors.

I can't think of anything else to chat about today so I'll say good bye for now and hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!!!

KEEPING BUSY

I just can't seem to sit still - I was supposed to go away this weekend but plans didn't materialize so I tore into some much needed work around here.

See these pictures of the family room beams/baskets??

Here's where they all ended up!

This year I took pictures of the placement before taking them down so the chore of putting it all up again would be a tad easier (on Doug!).  We can switch around a bit but the arrangement works well the way we have it so don't want to mess it up.  I know, some of you probably do this more often - but it really isn't the most fun tasks to do so they get washed once a year come Spring/Summer!

Then inside to get other things done...it is 89 degrees right now and I have had enough of out doors heat - last week I started making more 'eggs' - this time they are a Robin's Egg Blue - aged a bit and then sprinkled with Cinnamon and Cloves - Oh they smell soooo good!  I had a hard time finding the exact color that was in my 'minds eye' so I had to make my own.  Blue plus a bit of Brown and lots of Green and it worked!!

I have ours tucked in with my redware eggs

I will have them for sale on my website later today.

Yesterday we went to Dan DiPaolo's barn sale and found this sweet Bakery sign - found the perfect spot next to the pantry

If you are in the area - here are his open hours

That's all for me this week.

Hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday last weekend.

Blessings

Karen