Making new dolls and a paper hat.....

It's a beautiful day, this last day of June. My garden doesn't need me quite as much so I am making some new dolls to take to Town Peddler. I can never remember how to make a paper hat so I usually have to google it every time, thank you dear internet. It's a double rectangle, fold down two top corners to meet in the middle and fold up a brim, back and front, and it's done. Make one for yourself from newspaper and have a good Wednesday.

Centaurea macrocephala

I have a problem remembering the name of this plant, which is so cool. Before it opens I think it looks like a brain. The common name is American Basket flower .

It is native to Europe and the Middle East, and has been grown since ancient times. It may have been used in medicine, and legend has it that it healed a wound in the foot of Chiron, the wisest of all centaurs and mentor of Hercules. It is a perennial, the stems grow about 5 feet tall and they don't flop over, which is why I grow it. The flowers in my yard know not to flop over, they will get whacked off.

Happy Monday, everyone. I finished a witch yesterday and two Uncle Sams just in time for the Fourth.

A Perennial Pair

Happy Anniversary, Jeff and PJ!

What's in your garden?

Almost two weeks early, the rains and hot days make them larger but don't last as long. Also the canes grew so long and so heavy with the fruit that some are breaking. But they are so good John Michael ate his with both hands.

I like them like this, with a little milk and sugar but Neen makes a great cake. She crushes a layer of raspberries and tops with dry cake mix dotted with real butter and bakes it. My grandmother always made any kind of fruit into a cobbler and sometimes we had ice cream, no cool whip though, it wasn't dreamed up yet.

Have a nice Saturday everyone!

A Book from Debbie at Goat Creek...

I have a new book to read in my break time. It was a gift from Debbie at Goat Creek Bakery. She has a blog that I enjoy so much, she has recipes and crafts and book reviews and best of all, her Italian phrase of the day.

Right now, she is away at Girl Scout Camp, but keep her in mind for when she gets back. It's www.goatcreekbakery.blogspot.com. Check out her older posts in the meantime.

Thank you Debbie, and everyone have a good Friday.

Family time today.....

Today is Tyler's birthday, he is SIXTEEN and how can he be sixteen..but he is and he is a super kid, a good driver and a Marching Band member...Happy Birthday Tyler....


Two weeks ago, Jacob and Lauren visited... and Jake brought his new guitar and sang a song for me.
John and his uncle Jeff on father's day, just swinging.....

John with Mom, Rachel and Great Grandmother, Mary..... Rachel had a birthday too...
Kynda, and John with me...you can see we were happy...but it was too short. I got lots of cards and Facebook happy birthdays and TWO birthday cakes...

Happy Wednesday everyone. Picking out some good news for today, I hope everyone saw Kevin Costner on Larry King last night. Of course, he has always been my favorite movie star, but he will be one of my favorite persons now for his machine to clean up the oil spill.

Paper or Plastic?

This is just the coolest thing...a shopping bag made of shopping bags!!!! From my friend Barb, who comes up with the latest of things. Thank you Barb! Now I don't have to make that dreaded decision at the check-out counter anymore.

I'm adding a funny excerpt from an email from Barb L... for those of us who are in a permanent befuddled state from all the new stuff we are bombarded with.... read on

"The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every
time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on
something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I
check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth
reusable bags to avoid looking confused
but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just
say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to
stare at me with a blank look".

I'm having a special guest this weekend, my canadagarden daughter. She gets here today on the Amtrak. I hope you will have a happy Wednesday too.

Sunday Spiderwort

Folks like my grandmother didn't have a Lowes or Home Depot or English Gardens so any flowers they had came from sharing with each other. Even if they had had the garden centers they would not have had the money to buy a zinnia for $4.99.

Yesterday we weeded at PJ's and lots of this plant had to be taken out. I feel like a traitor doing this because I brought this plant with me from Kentucky when I moved here. It was taken from my grandmother's place and when I walk by, I think I hear her say I love you all. However, right now she would be saying, get yourself ready and go to church.

So that's what I'll do, just wanted to say good morning to you all.

Sunday on Fleming Street

This is one of the ducks that hangs out here on Fleming Street. Sunday morning, she was so pleased because our street had become a lake. Also basements had become lakes as well.

My neighbor Gail said "it is what it is" as she waded down the street to get her Bible she had forgotten.

I agreed as we have this happen ever so often but after reading about the deaths and destruction from the tornado in Ohio, it's not anything. My clean-up crew, Jeff and PJ, were paid in strawberries from my patch. Happy Monday to ya!

Ray and Lisa's Front Porch

A big ol' porch is a great place to take family pictures. These are my four youngest grandchildren. (I have five more besides these guys).
Mike and the boys, Dylan doesn't like to have his picture taken but he was a good sport for me. I think Tyler really gets into the spirit of it.
You can just sit in the swing and look out at the field, maybe see some deer walk across...
or best of all, take a nice long nap. Jenny, Angel, Carly, Goddard and Max the big dog, whom no one has told that he isn't a beagle.

Say Strawberry, John.....

"Why should I waste words."

This morning I picked enough for lunch from my little plot. The Free Press says that Michigan strawberries are ready and excellent this year. I have seldom missed a year going out to pick , and thinking back, I was out picking the day that John Michael's mother was born. And I took all my children when they were little and some of the grandchildren too. I have also dragged along reluctant friends from time to time.

Who knows ..maybe John Michael and I will pick in a couple of years.

Polish Spirit

Just to say hello today, I am just working in my garden. Feeling sad for the loss of a family friend, feeling thankful for family, friends and the love that is given us. I hope your day is beautiful.