Little Lamb Hydrangea

Thought I'd cut one more bouquet of hydrangea to enjoy before cold weather sets in. We planted 7 bushes (4 Twist & Shout and 3 Little Lamb). The Little Lamb bushes have outdone themselves! Delightful!

Acorns, Acorns, Ancorns!

The acorns are falling...a sure sign of the change of seasons. A few weeks ago, in the middle of the night, I heard the first ones drop like hail against the roof of the house! Don't let them fool you...they may be small but they pack quite a punch!

Favorite Things

Delicious little cookies! Thank You Fig Newton! Only 120 calories for three cookies. Four different flavors. My favorite is, of course, chocolate raspberry, followed by blueberry. They're perfect with coffee in the morning, low in sugar, contain real fruit and...yes...fiber! They must be selling out as quickly as they're put on the shelf...I've had to virtually HUNT these cookies down! So buy several at a time! They're a good thing!

Treasures

I spent a few days up north visiting my best friend last week. We used to live in the same small Norwegian town. I have so many fond memories of that town and forged friendships that have lasted 25 years! Robbie gave me this small table and Laurel gave me the basket filled with produce fresh from her garden. The table will be painted and will sit on the screen porch....the vegetables were eaten for dinner! Thank you Robbie and Laurel!

New Neighbors

Looks like we have new neighbors! Let's see...cattle, geese, sheep, peacocks, and now horses! Totally loving life in the country!!

Peaches, Peaches, Peaches!

Peaches, peaches, peaches! I bought a crate of California peaches last week. We've eaten them with just about every meal and frozen some for a refreshing treat this winter. Today I made Martha Stewart's peach raspberry slab pie. It was a hit!

Summer Porch

OOOH....what I wouldn't give to have a bed just like this on our summer porch. Unfortunately, my porch is small so I'd have to choose between a bed and seating. Hmmmmm.....think I'd like the bed! Now to convince Mr. A!

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23! How Can It Be!

Mikey turned 23 today! Where has the time gone!!

Independence Day

Today is a day for barbeques, fireworks and celebrating our country's independence with friends and family.

It's also a time to thank all those who have served our country and remember those that lost their lives for the cause of freedom.

...When I'm 64

What a lovely birthday I had! To have my husband, children (Mikey, Carrie & Darren and their boys) and my dear, dear friends from Iola here to help me celebrate was the best present anyone could ask for. A PERFECT DAY!

From The Garden

We are NOT good gardeners. We are great planters...so, so weeders....even worse at harvesting. So I was pleasantly surprised to see we had a good crop of radish, onion and rhubarb. Froze the rhubard, ate the radish and onion. Delicious!

Laundry Room

Our laundry/mud room is small and definitely in need of storage. We found this antique upper cabinet at an antique shop a few months ago and it's working out well. Next Mr. A will build a narrow storage unit on the opposite wall.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

If you'll recall, when Mr. A asked me what my thoughts on a driveway were I told him I'd envisioned a gravel drive. He, in turn, explained the hazards of midwest winters called for cement or asphalt. I picked the lesser of the evils and went with cement. Lots and lots of cement. OK...I'll get over it. Maybe. The landscapers spent several long, hot weekends grading the land and distributing bark around the house and it looks fantastic. Last Saturday they seeded and shot hay on top. That night it rained, and rained and rained and then it rained the next day and the day after that! So much for Mr. A worrying about watering the lawn! Michael came Monday to help reseed but it was just too muddy. Instead we went strawberry picking!

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

The day we visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas they just happened to be having a ARTrageous Parade. It definitely lived up to it's name...even the local school band had white ghostly faces and played selections from Michael Jackson's Thriller! Above are just a few pictures of participants. Eureka Springs has welcomed visitors for hundreds of years as legends of several tribes spoke of a Great Healing Spring in the mountains of what later became known as "Arkansas." As the legend spread it drew the afflicted in such numbers that Eureka Springs transformed from an isolated wilderness to a flourishing city in a few short months. This delightful city is a MUST SEE if you are in Arkansas!

Mildred B. Cooper Chapel

Mr. A's brother played host and chauffeur last week. One of the highlights of his tour was the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel located in Bella Vista Village in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of northwest Arnaksas. The Chapel, with its glass walls and a ceiling measuring 48 feet, is positioned on a wooded hilltop overlooking Lake Norwood and seems to reach out to the towering pines and stately oaks surrounding it. It's patterned after cathedrals of the Middle Ages which were based on the pointed Gothic arch. The individuality of this Chapel lies not in its links with the past, but in its departure from the materials used in those ancient structures. Glass and steel are the building blocks which exemplify modern man. Thirty-one tons of steel join 4,460 square feet of glass to create its aura of strength, yet weightlessness. Upon entering the chapel you can't help but immediately feel a sense of peace and serenity.

Lisa Gets Married

Our niece, Lisa, and her fiance, Will, were married last Saturday at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Mr. Amazing, his sister and I drove down to be part of their special day. The Hotel is apparently haunted and has quite a history. But on that day, the only thing I saw was the love between two beautiful young people about to begin the rest of their lives!

Garage Sales

Found these treasures at garage sales this morning. A queen Pottery Barn duvet/shams for $6; black box for $2.50, basket for $3; pinecone wreath for $1 two old picture frames for $2; and this great wicker rocking chair for $10. Nothing better than a good deal!

Easter Greetings

These darling lambs belong to our neighbor. They won't let me get much closer than this!

Happy Easter!

Look What I Found!

Stopped at the local Goodwill store yesterday and found these wonderful treasures! A king size Pottery Barn duvet for $10 (to be resized to a twin and perhaps a cushion cover) an old photo of fruit for $5 (for the kitchen) and a sweater for $4 (soon to be a pillow for the sofa).

Such a good feeling leaving the store...I've found new treasures and supported a non-profit organization that provides job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.

Driveway envy

Flickr Photo by Chris B In Sea

FINALLY....Spring has arrived here in the Midwest! The Robins are back, Cardinals have visited the feeder, my neice has planted lots of cool weather garden goodies, and the fields are starting to green up. Because we moved into our cottage in November, we didn't have time to plant a lawn. So we're surrounded by mud.....lots and lots of mud! Conversations have now turned to planting a lawn and putting in a driveway. I've been pretty adamate about not wanting asphalt or cement. My vision for this cottage in the woods is more like the beautiful eco friendly driveway above.

Or this incredible gravel driveway belonging to Kelley at The Polished Pebble. If it's possible to have a new favorite blog......Kelleys is it! You can check out her blog at ppebble.blogspot.com.

Photo by Kelly at The Polished Pebble

Though Mr. Amazing agrees this driveway is indeed "lovely," he's quick to remind me that both of the above driveways are in warm climates and we live in the Midwest...where we deal with snow, lots and lots of snow. After a long winter of snowplowing, a good portion of that beautiful gravel would end up in our shrubs and grass. Way to spoil a girl's dream!

Not I just have to decide which is the lesser of two evils....cement or asphalt!