{back in the saddle again}

 

Yep, that's how I'm starting to feel. Almost a month after Farm Chicks. 

I've taken this month to:

* pull weeds and do some serious lovin on my flower beds.

* take my kids to the park. a lot.

* sleep.

* reconnect with dear friends.

* work on my tan.

* read. for fun.

It's been good. 

You know when you totally immerse yourself in something you really love?

But then you get so burnt out and sick and tired of it that you 

wonder if your creative juices will ever flow again?

I'm starting to feel it again. 

I'm starting to think of projects to do - and it sounds enjoyable.

I'm wanting to list things in my shop again.

It's good to have a break. To spend some much needed time with family.

Aaahhh...it's good to have life back in balance again.

{sweet peonies}

 

Aaahhh, sweet peonies. 

Do you have any in your garden?

I'm rather fond of my p's. 

Being the newbie gardener that I am, I still get HUGE satisfaction out of 

seeing things come back to life every year.

And actually, I think that awe will only grow. I can imagine all of you seasoned gardeners out there only go back summer after summer to all the - let's face it - really hard work - only because there is such immense satisfaction in growing flowers. 

We bought our little cottage the same time my sister in law moved into her gorgeous hundred year old house just a short walk away from ours. 

While ours had been a rental for decades and hadn't been cared for much in the planting department, their yard was positively overgrown with flowery goodness. 

One day as she was moving plants around and ripping plants out, she gave me a call.

"Want some peony tubers?" she asked. 

So it started from there. 

A sad little spot in my backyard where I hopefully planted some peony tubers. 

Flowers are completely and amazingly miraculous, don't you think?

I challenge anyone that wonders if there is a loving God in our 

universe to take a stroll through a flower garden.

His work is evident in the simplest flower. 

But behold a peony! 

They are my favorite flower. And their time is so short. 

They should be enjoyed, don't you think?

And if only you could smell them....sweetness and summer all wrapped into one tissue paper perfect package!

{summer bucket list}

 

The summer bucket list. 

We've made one....have you?

If you are anything like me you daydream of idyllic summer days swinging on the hammock and drinking sweet tea, kids running through the sprinkler and picnics in the park.

Sounds nice right?

Or how about this....too many hours of cartoons, fighting, staying inside all day on sunny days.

Sometimes the magic just happens. 

Like a few nights ago - I decided to put the sprinkler on the lawn for the first time all summer. 

The kids decided it would be a fantastic idea to run through it fully clothed - this was after the sun went down. 

I lounged in the hammock with the babe who had more fear than anything about the sprinkler and we watched them run through over and over again. Total glee. 

I love those spontaneous summer moments. 

But that can't always happen. 

Besides having mucho fun brainstorming a summer bucket list with the kids, it helps us actually DO them. 

What a concept, huh?

I tend to let life happen instead of making life happen.

Not as much fun. No siree. 

So here is to making summer happen for you and yours. 

* Chase down that ice cream truck (yes, I know the prices are exorbitant...)

* Stare at the clouds with your kids in the backyard..or the stars...or the bugs!

* Have a water fight....done this...there is A LOT of fun to be had with spraying your little stinkers!

*Go on family walks...even when So you think you can dance is on....

*When they are begging for a picnic at the park...do it! 

So happy summer time friends! 

What's on your summer bucket list?

Andi Mae

 

 A couple of months ago my good friend Andi came over in the pouring rain to try and capture some shots of the cousins. 

 My sisters kids were visiting and we wanted to capture some moments of them together.....they live about five hours away and play time is few and far between.

 Andi is AMAZING! Even though it was raining, even though she was dealing with five children ranging from two to seven....throwing fit after meltdown after fit...she managed to capture these truly magical shots. 

 We didn't get any great ones of just my offspring but I am holding out for a family session soon!

She is doing her first wedding this weekend and I am so excited for her! 

She had the greatest eye and the sweetest most patient disposition.

Oh yeah, and she is a total perfectionist which means photos edited to well, perfection!

 Visit her please! Look at all the other goodness she has created!

And if you live around here, by all means, book her! 

 This is my favorite and probably the hardest to achieve. They are sitting on the stair that represents their ages! We had to bribe that little two year old with candy. It was getting so bad he had colored drool coming out of his mouth.

 This little girl was the only one in high spirits on this day. She danced, she smiled, she laughed. She was a photographer's dream!

 And my little niece, well, as you can see she is just very, very, very photogenic. 

Didn't get that from me....

 And her brother is too.

 Yep, we'll try real hard next time with these three....

Now go see her site! She is incredible!

 

farm chicks....finally

 

 Finally, ten days after the wonderful whirlwind of Farm Chicks I am back!

It took me a looong time to recover...I was so tired!

I didn't take many pictures. I quickly snapped a few of my booth right before the masses started pouring in on Saturday morning. And again after resetting on Sunday. 

My Mom and sis came in early in the week to help with food, kids, and farm chicks prep. 

I'm so thankful they did. It may have been me flying solo this year but I certainly could not have done this on my own! 

I had the same spot again this year and it was so fun to have customers from last year find me again! 

And so wonderful to meet new customers!

Farm Chicks shoppers are always great: eager, enthusiastic, encouraging...that's a lot of e's but it's all true!

The big difference between this year and last is that shoppers bought my big stuff! 

I still had to haul a few big pieces home (the awesome mail cubby and bright green cabinet :( ) but most of my large stuff sold right at the beginning of the show!

Do you see my freezer? Do you remember it from last year? And do you recall that it sold and it was my big Farm Chicks regret? I got it back!!!!

That's quite a story....

                  

The most fun sale was probably the church pew. That deal was done before the show even began and I was partly paid in chocolate! Yep, you read that right! The sweet and talented gal behind Cowgirl Chocolates bought the pew for their new storefront in Moscow, Idaho! If you are ever lucky enough to visit her shop, stock up on the white chocolate and lemonade bar and sit a spell on the pew. It is mighty pretty and I'm so glad that piece has such a fun new home!

This was Sunday's set up. We brought in two awesome tables for the front. A really nice gal bought the wooden farm table for her bed side table! 

It was a great show. One I am really blessed to participate in. There were about fifty new vendors this year and an entire new bay of wonderful booths to check out. Sadly, I barely snapped any photos of the rest of the show. Trust me, it was breath taking. Vendors up the ante every year with their displays and merchandise. If you have never been...start planning for next year!