Ok, who said you were allowed in my yard!!!!!

Mollie was a little ticked off this evening after supper when the usual crowd of little birds that hang around the birdfeeder by the window, suddenly changed to the "arch" enemy of our yard.
She hates the chipmunks and squirrels in the back yard, who sit on branches way up high, and make fun of her. She actually stomps her feet (all 4 of them) and tries to make herself much tougher than she really is.

Well, imagine when this little beggar shows up and starts packing in all the little birdies special treats (ok, sunflower seeds). Not impressed!!!!!

Are ya sick of Gardening stuff yet? Sorry....but I am not

This weekend has been 100% gardens, plants, greenhouses, dirt and lunch at Wheatons. My sister in law, Kim, and her friend, Sandy came up to the Valley for the day, and we drove from Greenhouse to Greenhouse, looking at plants. Kim bought a few plants to pot up into planters and Sandy bought some sweet waxed Begonia's and two little containers. They both bought Spirea from Wheatons and we stopped for lunch. Kim and I split the Coconut Cream Cake.... my second time... yum.

I bought tons, and planted lots last night, and finished it off today, after a family trip to Den' Hanns. I didn't take many pictures of my pots, cause they look thin and spindly right now. They need about 2 weeks to fill out, and then I will take pictures. My gardens are at their absolute prime right now, before the maga heat, and sun. I even have a pond visitor as well. He is at the bottom of the picture of my little waterfall, with a larger shot to the right.

Iris.... they are so regal.... without foliage, but stunning when they bloom.
On Friday morning, I arrived at work... with the usually hustle and bustle going all around the office. But sitting quietly and sweetly on my desk was a set of handmade note cards, with my initials on them (the way I like them tooooooo "dp"). they were adore with sweet ribbon, with two bows and a tastefully stamped little PeaPod..... One of my favorite little novelties.... peas...

Its a funny thing really..... I hate peas. Absolutely... repulsed.... but I love the look of a sweet peapod, and seem to be surrounded by discreet little peapod items around my house. A candle in the kitchen, dishcloths embroidered with them, a soap dish... earrings... two necklaces.... My cards were left "anonymously" but I think I can figure it out....can you?

Cake anyone?
Michelle and Scott have been dying to try a new "cake" recipe since our Kraft "Whats' Cooking" Magazine showed up in the mail. So, Saturday evening while Terry and I put together some flower pots, Michelle and Scott created....

This cake is made with pudding, cool whip, oreo cookies and Ice Cream Sandwiches.

We Celebrated our yummy dessert by having Corey over for supper tonight, since it is his birthday tomorrow. If you are at Superstore on June 11, please stop by Customer Service Desk and say "Happy Birthday" to Corey Barton. Even better, why not sing it to him. hee hee.

The finished product photo is actually off the "Whats Cooking" website, since we forgot to take a picture of the finished product. Our Cake looked exactly like this one, and we did some chocolate sauce swirl on the plates first and then laid a nice slice of the cake on top. Corey's had candles added.

Fun.......... a trick you can wow your friends with

http://unclutterer.com/archives/2007/06/the_end_of_the_chipclip.php

Just Pictures... too nice to not post

Cottage living..... nothing like it. This time of the year, the Canada Geese are plentiful. They walk the beaches each morning, but because we were too close (while gardening), they took their little families on a "swim past" instead. How adorable is this little family.

the Hummingbird situation at the cottage is busy, and sometimes violent. It is a RARE moment, that I could get a pic of these little rascals. Have you ever tried to take a pic of a hummingbird in action. They know....they just know... that you are waiting to take a picture. They only show up when your not ready. And even when you are ready, the digital camera is just not as quick as a hummingbird. In all my attempts over the past couple of years....this is my first pic of the little darlins'. But it doesn't even begin to capture the awe of how amazing they really are. There isn't a minute....while your on the deck, that you don't have a hummer...buzzzing past you.

Cottage Dreamin'

Our trip to Grand Lake was hugely successful in that the weather was perfect, and we got all our gardening done in one day.

the Kitchen Window Garden (named because you see it beautifully, while doing the dishes) has been extended by 6 feet and a nice sized rhubarb has been added. We pulled out a huge patch of Creeping Thyme and transplanted it to a shady spot for the time being so we can use it down by the newly constructed beach wall. We pruned, trimmed, weeded and mulched all the gardens. This the view of the newly added to Kitchen Window Garden. The rhubarb that was transplanted from my garden.

We even spotted a little visitor in the garden the next morning. Can you spot him!!

The front of the cottage is all shade so we added a few shade plants that will, over time, grow amongst the rocks and give the front some softness and color.

Gail is there this weekend, to build a sunny flower box, and fill it with Scarlett Runners, Morning Glories and Sunflowers. It will change the look of the Red Barn

Raspberries, anyone?

Tonight, Terry and I dug up about 3 dozen raspberry plants to bring to my sisters. Gail and Mert have a cottage on Grand Lake, NB. Over the past 4 years, the lake has been claiming a good size portion of their property each year after the "flooding. The lawn is being pulled away, and the beach is getting bigger. To solve this little dilemma, they had a retaining wall built on the beach, and about 20 feet of their property was reclaimed. To celebrate this victory over nature, we thought it was a good time to spruce up the flora and fauna around the cottage.

This is a side view of my sister's cottage. Please note the small cottage that Mert and his buddies built for his 5 grandchildren. Can you see the late off in the background.

Well have a look at this next picture and you will see what I mean by the floods. Grant it, this was the worst flood in 20 years...but still shocking to see. There is quite a slope to the land, so the main cottage was never in danger, but the Guest cottage had a few "leakage issues".

Our plan is to put in some flower beds with lots of perennials that I have dug up from my garden. I also helped by dear friends Bob and Kay Amos with a little raspberry "thinning" and I do have a line on a good size chunk of periwinkle. The problem is that the top soil that Gail is expecting may not arrive on time for the big planting, and that will be tough. But we have already cancelled this trip due to wet weather, so we are going anyway tomorrow, and do what we can.

A few of the cottage pics......Imagine how lucky my sister is to have 5 grandchildren, all within 2 hours of her house, and they are all within 4 years of each other. This is a picnic at the cottage last summer. And a beautiful summer sunset.

throw out your wafflemaker...now... people.....

Ok
I am living in a house with 6 people. Ok, Really. 5 live here but I hold the 6th person's junk. Every room and every flat surface in each of those rooms is piled high with junk. We are all collectors of crap. Be it sentimental crap, or too lazy to decide what to do with it crap. My fantasy house is more like a art gallery style environment. Nice walls, with tasteful artwork on them, a few chairs to sit and admire the artwork, and quiet chat with others.. Nothing else.

On that note..... my darling daughter introduced me to a "blog" called Unclutterer. I read it often, and it is full of ideas for uncluttering your space. Recently, the owners of the blog have started a new website called Paperclippy. It is a cool website with tons of neat products for working women. Please book mark this and enjoy. I love it. If you recommend it to your friends, you could win a iPod shuffle. So do that toooooo.
On my "day off" on Monday, I had the pleasure of a yummy lunch in the new "green" room at Wheatons Restaurant. It is a room added on, recently, painted a yummy color of moss green. When we first sat down, Paula pointed out two pieces of artwork on the wall, and how lovely they looked together and how nice they went with the green walls. Thats why I love Paula, because I just don't notice those things. Anyway, as I looked at them, I began to see them on my dining room wall. I currently have a large framed picture featuring apples. Out dated in my new living room/dining room. I have looked for the last year or so, for new artwork, but nothing really caught my eye. But these tranquil scenery's, featuring a Tuscany sort of backyard setting were fast becoming a "have ta have" item. I admired them all through lunch and cake..and when we left the restaurant, I went immediately to the clerk and asked about them.. She said that the frames that were brought in for the restaurant are typically not for sale, but why didn't I go into the store part and ask there. Slightly discouraged, but not totally, I waited around for Paula while she leisurely browsed. The clerk, surprisingly, called over to the store and had a clerk come to where I was (gotta love Wheatons'....really, really) and the clerk named Susan came. She also said they don't usual sell the frames in the restaurant but she would look to see if I could order them. Off she dashed, and now the sweat began to collect on my brow.... how much were the pair of these pictures going to set me back. In my mind, I figured $200 a piece and I would have to "creatively" come up with funds. When she bounced back down with the news that they could be ordered, I was thrilled and terrified at the same time. Impulse shopping at its best. But, we have all done it, right. We have all walked away from something that we totally loved... to later, freak out, rush back to buy, and its gone. Poor Paula is still looking for my green chair from Home Sense that was perfect, and still is perfect, except its gone.!!!!!! Anyway, I softly asked "how much"...... $79 each. WHAT.... Sold... I asked to order them. Then........ she added.... would you like these, and I will order them in for the restaurant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yipeee....
so here they are in my dining room.

This is the before picture. This picture was the same thing, about 15 years ago. I saw it, watched it, for months at the old gift shop in the mall. Then, all of a sudden, one day...gone!!!!

I was so upset, that I went in and ordered it right away. I have since learned that sometimes you just shouldn't wait!!! Like Lynn and her damn red purse. Except, she had a nice Xmas surprise, with that damn red purse. I am still waiting for my Green chair from Home Sense to show up!!!!



Terry, my handyman, hung them up tonight, and I love them. I can't wait to eat breakfast in my Tuscany dining room!!


It was difficult to take a picture of the pictures, but below you will get a sort of idea what they look like. And really, if you want to see them in person, I am taking appts for personal viewings. "Tea is extra".