Summer in Snapshots (week 6)

Linky Party at The Stafish Blog, Amber hosts the weekly summer in snapshots party. 

She also has beautiful custom jewelry you can buy on Etsy.

Week 6:

My book this week is the audio of The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry.

Every gift has a price . . . every piece of lace has a secret.

Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. Now the disappearance of two women is bringing Towner back home to Salem—and is bringing to light the shocking truth about the death of her twin sister.

Wednesday: The hot spell continues, the heat is taking its toll on my hosta's and hydrangeas. This bird bath is from my Nana's yard, it has a crack on the side so I applied a mosaic to it a few years ago. Some of my edge pieces have popped off, but overall it is holding up.

Thursday: Went to Woofies for a wiener run at lunch. I've never seen so many police and U.S. Marshall's frequenting an eating establishment; they were driving through, carrying out and dining in. The owner has a sense of humor too, note the "we serve a rightous wiener" below the  picture of Congressman Wiener. Ha!

Friday: It's continues to be hot and Bessie agrees. You can friend Bessie, The Mid Rivers Mall Drive cow on Facebook. The owners of Bessie change her outfit and props for the seasons and holidays, kind of like the yard geese people had in the 90s, on a much larger scale. Mooove over yard geese, Bessie is in the house (yard).

Saturday: On the hunt for a summer fresh tomato I visited Wiese Nursery for the first time, you pay by the honor system here. Isn't that nice? No hidden camera's, no one to check your receipt at the door...why these people TRUST you. I'll be back.

Sunday: A visit to the dog park and Gidget. The dogs had such cabin fever from being stuck inside in the airconditioning, so I took them to a nearby dog park that has a pond. Our Malamute discovered he likes to swim! 

After I brought the smelly happy dogs home, gave them a shampoo and dried them, I was ready for some down time. I don't remember the movie--though I'm sure I watched it as a kid. Sandra Dee plays the ever wholesome Gidget, it is worth watching just to see how times have changed since its 1959 debut. Don't judge me, but now I realize that Sandra Dee was an actual person Rizzo was singing about:

Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity
Won't go to bed till I'm legally wed, I can't, I'm Sandra Dee
Watch it, hey, I'm Doris Day, I was not brought up that way
Won't come across, even Rock
Hudson lost his heart to Doris Day
I don't drink or swear, I won't rat my hair,
I get ill from one cigarette
Keep your filthy paws off my silky drawers.
Would you pull that crap with Annette?
As for you, Troy Donahue, I know what you wanna do
You got your crust, I'm no object of lust,
I'm just plain Sandra Dee Elvis,
Elvis, let me be, keep that pelvis far from me
Just keep your cool, now you're starting to drool
Hey, fungu, I'm Sandra Dee

I watched Gidget (1959)

Monday: Cooked up some risotto, broiled flounder and a salad--using some of the produce from the farm stand. I've been cooking more seafood lately. The dish looked better than it photographed, I need some food photographic tips. ;)

Tuesday: My guys did the cooking, here they are chatting it up while they watch over the brats and burgers. Did you notice how healthy my meal was compared to theirs.

Week 6. Check.

Come visit me at http://subjectschosenatrandom.blogspot.com/

Linking up with http://www.tootsietime.com/ 

A quiet week in the garden, the heat wave has taken its toll on my plants. the hosta's are sun  scorched--but give the oak trees a few more years and they will have relief from the summer sun. The hydrangeas are drooping today, and our grass is brown from the unrelenting heat. I don't know what I hate worst, the economy or this drawn out heat. I think it's the economy for the most part, but this heat is a close second.

Hot Cow?

Holy Cow Batman, it's HOT!

The "weather cow" sits atop a hill alongside Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters, Missouri.

The road curves here, and you just might miss her if you're not looking.

You would have to be driving pretty darn fast though.

You can friend Bessie on Facebook, just look for:

The Cow on Mid Rivers Mall Drive!:).

Summer in Snapshots (week 5)

I'm linking up again for Amber's 

http://www.starfishblog.com/

What a fun way to catch summer before it slips by. 

Here is my week 5:

Wednesday: While my crock-pot was busy cooking dinner I took the spare time to do some reading; my current read is Elin Hildebrand's book, Silver Girl. The story revolves around the wife of a  Madoff inspired ponzi scheme crook. It's a story about endings, midlife, misunderstandings, reconnecting, friendship, relationships, family and discovery of one's true self...growth. A great chic book!  I settled under our blue patio umbrella, with a cool drink, and....wished this dock from Lake Champlain, Vermont was my view. Sigh. 

My Great-Nephew Dylan's a Brain Cancer Survivor!

Thursday: Is my day off during the summer, well at least for two more weeks, then I go back to 5 days a week. I took this picture of Dylan, he's the sweetest boy. Dylan is my great-nephew and he is a brain cancer survivor! His hair is finally growing back, and just in time for kindergarten this August. Dylan, his folks and baby brother just returned from Disney World in Orlando, the Make a Wish Foundation made it possible, a stretch limo transported the family to the airport and back home after the trip, they were given spending money, the hotel and Disney World-- all inclusive! They so needed and deserved this holiday. Thank you Make a Wish!

Love, love, love you dear Dylan! 

Our son and his cigar

Friday: Recently a humidor was shipped to the house and as my husband was pulling it from the box I asked him, “what do you need a humidor for, you don’t smoke cigars?!” and his reply, “yes I do.” I looked at this man, who I've known since Labor day 1977 -- that's when I was hired at the Clark Gas Oil Station and we worked our first shift together, I just knew immediately that "he was the one."  I digress. We have been together ever since, high school sweethearts, married in 1982. It just took me by surprise... this new cigar thing of his.

After their father passed-away last August, dear hubby and our son, along with my hubby’s brothers have been meeting every Saturday’s at their father’s home. They eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel, work on the house, eat a late lunch along with a beer or two, and -- apparently -- smoke cigars. I'm not sure if I care for this cigar thing, but I love that they have drawn out this "closing life chapter," sharing childhood memories and reconnecting. 

Moscow Mills, Missouri

Saturday I took a drive.  This first mosaic is the town of Moscow Mill's, Missouri. I've seen the exit sign, viewed the town's location the weatherman's radar map during bad weather, but I've never been there. The business district consist of a lumber store (not shown), a funeral parlor (left), and this bar (bottom right). There is a church down the street. I think the funeral home is statement in itself; I've never seen an old storefront turned into a funeral parlor. Is it me, or does this seem more fitting for a little cafe or ice cream shop?

And some scenic shots further down the rural hwy.

Sunday: I made a floral arrangement with the day-lily’s from my garden. I bought the yellow Coca-Cola crate at the antique shop in Moscow Mills on Saturday.

Flickr group the Monthly Scavenger Hunt

Monday I was busy adding photo’s to the Monthly Scavenger Hunt group in Flickr, in this group we are allowed to use current and our archival photo’s to match the listed items. Each month has a new list, here are the ones I added on Monday.

(1) Technicolour Chicken: This mural is painted on a garage door of an antique store I visited in Burlington Vermont. It was the best I could do for the “technicolour chicken” category.

(6) Unfinished: My front porch rocker project, this is rocker number 4. I am waiting for hubby to drill out the broken spindle and then reattach it. Might be better just to buy another one at a garage sale or Craigslist. 

(17) Redhead: You saw this picture last week and Nathan fits this category for “redhead” perfectly.

(7) Chaotic: This is a picture I took several years ago in my glass blowing class. There is a lot of action in the shot and it does appear somewhat chaotic with the photographer in the background, someone assisting the glassblower with a paddle (to shape and stabilize the foot of the piece while the glassblower works the pedestal with the jack. The jack gets piping hot, as you would expect and is the only time a burned myself during the class when I tried to pick it up before it had cooled). 

(12) Opposites: Two opposing political views, I took this shot during the Vice Presidential debate that was held at our campus, Washington University in St. Louis. Love that “Lincoln” was in the Obama camp.

(13) Faucet: I took this picture a few years ago on a tour of Old North St. Louis. I’m amazed that you could have such privacy in the city that you would not need curtains in your bathroom! The adjacent house is a 3-story brick and the facing wall has no windows.

(18) It’s a…what?: My daughter and I stopped at Alba's Ice Cream and Subs in Westfield, Ohio on our way to Cleveland. Being from St. Louis, we had no clue if a Musky was a made up thing or a fish of some sort. We asked the owner,  Angelo Alba, exactly what is a Musky? His reply, a fish of course, and in fact there was a current fish tournament that weekend. Don't you love his take on a service bell? 

Anyone can join, here is the link http://www.flickr.com/groups/monthlyhunt/ and my flickr ID is DiPics. Watch out though, the monthly scavenger hunt is known to be addicting!

The Lincoln Lawyer

Tuesday:  We watched The Lincoln Lawyer. Josh Lucas…remember him from Sweet Home Alabama? He is looking better than ever! Marisa Tomei – does this woman ever age? ;) And of course Matthew McConaughey in any movie is worth watching, in The Lincoln Lawyer you get to watch this boy ACT.

Week 5, check. This summer is going by way to fast.

:)

P.S. While you're here, take a look around...follow me. 

Another weekend drive

I had plenty of "to do's" that I should have been busy doing today, 

but the pull of a country drive got the best of me and off I went. 

I've always wanted to stop in at Old Tyme Antique's, we've passed by it so many times as we've zipped along on hwy 61, so this time I made it my destination. The owner was gracious to let me take her photo, even though she was dressed for 100 degree heat, we had a nice chat and she was willing to barter with the prices...that's always a plus. This yellow Coca Cola crate came home with me and it's going to look great with my Burlington, Vermont Pepsi-Cola crate. The antique Jenny bed is priced at 120.00, I think that's reasonable. The stuffed hillybilly fella is even for sale...kind of creepy looking, but could be fun. And if I was in the market for a blue quilt, this $50.00 antique quilt would be coming home too. Times have been hard for their business and they do not have a web site, so I'm posting their information here, just in case something caught your eye. :)

• Early Tymes Antiques

• (636) 356-4322
• 1800 E Outer Highway 61
• Moscow Mills, MO 63362

 A U-turn was in order to get some pictures of this sunflower field. 

Isn't this home a beauty? The front lawn is perfect for a game of croquet.

Some country folk can be a bit standoffish.  

Thanks for exploring with me!

Follow me. :)

Linky Parties:

Summer in Snaphots

On the urging of my Savannah friend Cherry--she knows how I love to snap pictures--I'm joining Amber and friends at The Starfish Blog on Wednesday's for Summer in snapshots 2011 ~ Come join the fun and capture summer with us.

Wednesday

Wednesday we caught this little guy while doing yard work. Love his camouflage.

Thursday 

Thursday I spent time with my niece Leigh and her twin's, Lexie and Nate. Are they not adorable?

Friday 

Friday, hubby and I met friends at Wine Country Gardens.

Saturday

Saturday, Completed my "haint" blue porch ceiling project.

Sunday

Sunday was a day at the ballpark with my childhood friend Tina, her daughter Caitlin and her niece Mandy. I loved this "Cardinal" feathered hat one of the fans had on, and of course I just love Pujol's and then there was Mandy's zebra pedicure. 

The Card's won, but most importantly I had a great visit with my girlfriend who is a breast cancer survivor. I am so thankful that she is a survivor, love you so much Tina!

Monday

Monday captured my hubby playing with James Dean. I rescued James Dean through a local stray rescue group, he was posted on petfinder.com and gave him to my hubby for his birthday last November. The best present ever--can't you tell? 

Tuesday

Tuesday, I completed my Ugly Green Concrete project. I found the pineapple at an antique store and just had to have it since I kind of have a pineapple thing going. Now I have a set of three, my address plaque, a welcome flag and a much improved concrete pineapple by the front door. 

Well, this week has been fun. Hopefully I completed my posting

in time to add to the Summer in Snapshots!


I made it! But accidentally titled my post week 3 and it should be 4. :)

My Ugly Green Concrete Pineapple Find

Pineapple's in architecture or decoration symbolize friendship and hospitality. You will find the pineapple the centerpiece of Christmas greenery in Colonial Williamsburg.

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Decoration

Or this over-the-top bit of architecture in Scotland.

 IV Earl of Dunmore just had to have one. In 1761, he built this home addition as a garden retreat and hothouse and today it is one of the most famous buildings in Scotland.

Photographer: John Watson

I recently scored a large concrete pineapple at an antique shop,

it was priced at $25.00 and I got it down to $20.00. It wasn't very pretty,

but all it needed was a makeover.

A trip to the Habitat for Humanity Restore for some paint was in order. I picked up some Valspar paint samples for $1.00 each. One in a pale creamy yellow and another in tan. 

For the top of the pineapple I used some green we had on hand, I then painted the body

of the pineapple with the light yellow, painted the pedestal with Annie Sloan's graphite

and finally cross-hatched the body and painted the base with the tan paint. Some of the

original green paint is still showing...that's okay. 

Hmm, not too bad, but not a very good match for the real deal on the left.

My final step will bring me closer, by "antiquing" the piece with Annie Sloan's Dark Wax  

Here is the final result, the dark wax works magic and the bits of the original green that

show add additional depth to the piece. If you look real close you will that my address

sign has a pineapple as does my garden flag. I like this set of three

The total cost for this project $22.00 dollars, I purchased the pineapple for $20.00 and 

2 Valspar samples for $1.00 each. The Annie Sloan Dark Wax, green paint and

paint brushes I already had and didn't use that much. 

I love the end result, what do you think?

Linky Parties:
Today's Thrifty Treasures Every Monday @ Southern Hospitality
Second Time Around Tuesday @ A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words










Making the World Cuter
My entry into Inspire Me Monday, sponsored by Appliances Online and their best Washer Dryers.