Interesting reads

I have been on a reading kick lately. I finally read "To Kill A Mockingbird" (loved it) and recently read "The Summer Kitchen" which I couldn't put down, read it in just a couple of days. I have also read The Necklace which was fascinating and Julie & Julia. The J & J book was good, one I could read and put down and come back to later. However, "The Time Travelers Wife" is one I am just finishing up-oh my word, I highly recommend this book. Wonderful, spellbinding, cannot put it down, emotional and a keeper! Check out these books and enjoy some summer reading!

More bits and pieces

A "sampling" of the goodies Ashton has collected for her dorm room. The theme is dots. She even found wall stick-ons for her room that coordinate with the pillow. The walls will be bright for sure. The living room seems to be the collection spot for now. The photo below shows good ole Eric putting together the pink chair....

Look what I found this afternoon when I got in. Ashton must have had a premonition that I could use a re-stocking of my chocolate hoard!

I found this thistle plant next door today on the Zak Preserve. Its amazing. The plant itself is taller than I am!

And how hokey is this drain stopper? I laughed so hard when I saw it at my mom's. Our dear Texans had to have given it to her.

Here's an update on the afghan for Ashton's college room. My mom has done most of the work, and I cannot thank her enough! Ashton originally wanted her Grammy to make an afghan but Mom's hands bother her so I was the second choice! Luckily for me the "pull of the yarn" got to my mom and she asked if she could help out! Gee, what could I say!! This afghan is made all the more special due to the fact that her Grammy and mom both worked on it and that the pattern was Ashton's great-great grandmother's. This is truly a labor of love. I have a few more panels I want to add to it and it should be good to go to college in another month.

I love this Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf salt and pepper set that were my mom's.

This little gal Tiz showed me something new (well new to me anyways) the other day. She said its easier eating pizza like this, and proceeded to fold her pizza slice in half. Maybe I am just at the point that little things really do excite me! Note the charm bracelet, Auntie and Uncle Mark gave it to her for Christmas and she has not taken it off since Christmas Day! There was an unfortunate incident on the playground during a race where the charm was lost so what could I do but order her a new bracelet.

Sunny day hike

I am not quite sure what kind of ducks these are, first time I have ever seen one with this type of bill. Perhaps a sea duck.

Tidal saltwater marsh.

We hiked Ovens Mouth West trail today, about three miles. It was a gorgeous day.

Such a pretty path to follow.

This small waterfall was beside the trail. It was running fast, after all of the rain we had (again) the past couple of days.

Just playing with the camera but liked the outcome. Almost a misty look.
And of course, I found a heart-shaped rock!

Enjoy!

I have walked through the field where I shot this photo of milkweed almost daily for five years. I can't imagine why I never really noticed the blooms on the plants and upon closer view, how intricate the blossoms were. It made me think how easily I can overlook little things that really aren't so little! It also made me realize how much I need to slow down and just enjoy whats around me. Beginnings....

progress...

getting to its goal...

of brightening my day!

The tandem team....

Two pileated woodpeckers have been in our yard off and on since November. The first time I ever saw pileateds was when the pair arrived in November. They showed up every so often all winter and yesterday they visited again.

Checking the menu perhaps, before indulging?

I met my Aunt Jean and Uncle Ken at a flea market on Sunday. I browsed happily amongst all the many tables and found a treasure. This apron is beautiful, embrodiered so neatly and of course, reflects my love for the Caribbean! For the mere price of $6.00 it was mine to bring home. I won't use it for its intended purpose but think I will frame it to hang with a couple of prints we brought home from our last visit in Jamaica.

I've arrived-for the second time! My photo of BuddyTheElf and Mark gazing off into space/day dreaming/whatever was published in the newsletter of the Land Trust. http://bbrlt.org/.

Saturday

Good morning sunshine!

Welcome sight this morning after MORE rain!

Such a pretty pink. This summer I have enjoyed seeing the lilies bloom as they weren't destroyed by bugs like last summer.

It was neat to hike this afternoon even though the fog lay heavy all around us. I think the fog makes things look "softer".

The sea lavender is doing great, will be bursting into pretty little flowers soon. We are so very fortunate as it grows in our back yard, along side the tidal brook. Nature has been very good to us!

Webs spotted on our usual Saturday hike, today at the Porter Preserve.

Backyard visitor. Maybe the little fella that followed his mom around last summer in the yard? They visited us alot last summer, during daylight hours even. I guess they knew we enjoyed their company and would never harm them.

Gulp-its off to college shopping!

Ever since she could write, Ashton has always loved filling out forms, she always asked if she could fill forms out for me. She has been thrilled with all the forms required for college. Last Friday she had an appointment with an oral surgeon and practically pounced on the clipboard to fill out all the paperwork!

Ashton always loved looking through this magazine whenever she was in a waiting room, so for old times sakes we looked through this one together at the oral surgeon's office while waiting.

By the way, the wisdom teeth are staying put for now, at least until she sees her orthodontist for her yearly check-up. After the appointment we headed home, somehow managing to stop at Target....First we had to stop for a coffee coolatta and Ashton suggested we toast to a fun afternoon. We had a nice day together, lots of talking about serious stuff and the future. Sometimes we have the best talks when we are in the car together!

The girl can shop and shop and shop....
The Jeep was packed full with necessary supplies to furnish her dorm room. In shades of pink of course. It was a very bittersweet shopping trip for me, we didn't look at the aisles of pencils, pens, rulers, notebooks, binders that she has always needed for school. No looking at back to school clothes or shoes, but instead storage units for her new home-a college dorm- in about six weeks. Ashton couldn't wait for the back to school supply list to be published in our weekly paper for each grade's needed student supplies. Once it appeared off we would go for a big shopping adventure. Each year she had to have a different theme or Disney character or whatever the craze was at that time. And of course picking out a new LLBean backpack. Now its picking out new sheets and a comforter for her dorm bed, towels and shower totes, reading lamps and clothes hangers. How am I going to survive when she goes off into the big wide world?? I am so happy and proud that she is going to school to become a nurse but the image of my little girl with the big eyes waiting for the school bus on her very first day of school, hanging on to her brother Benjamin's hand when the bus stopped to pick them up, her little face pressed against the window as the bus pulled away. Me walking down the driveway crying.