A storm, flowers, and a love affair with enamelware

School officially ended last Wednesday---yay---happy kids!! Thursday morning I was lying in bed, happy to not have an alarm to wake me, the light filtering through the blind was dim--I assumed it was quite early, and rolled over to doze off again. You know when your body is done sleeping, but your mind has not yet been convinced that sleep is over for the night? It was like that.....in all likelihood I would have been able to ignore the start of the day for awhile longer. That was until I realized there was some grouchy weather beginning to happen outside. A quick look at the hated alarm clock told me it was 7:37. I stumbled to the window and looked out to a dark and swirling sky. The thunder grew louder, and the sky grew blacker. As expected the rain began to fall....by the buckets!!! The spouting was gushing over, the driveway became a river, the side yard became a pond. Those who know me well, know that I would be happier than a pig in you know what to live beside the water.....this is not what I meant. Thankfully the storm passed fairly quickly, leaving behind it a washed out driveway, a flattened garden, and the local weathermen excitedly spouting ominous warnings about the storms coming later in the day. I was glad the power only flickered off a few times, I was glad we did not get much wind with the rain, I was glad we had a good excuse to put off fixing the driveway until tomorrow...except that meant another dreaded show from a very testy mother nature. We anxiously kept our eyes to the unsettled sky through the day....the wind kicked up....the storm never came. Friday I woke up to a peaceful world outside and we were overjoyed to see a long time family friend coming up the drive with his tractor to help with the driveway. He is a landscaper, and thankfully after he was finished there was only about 30 minutes of raking to do. Happy day!!

Fiona by Katie

I never got to make that jam I had good intentions to make the other week. I made it this weekend--it is delicious. Austin cannot stay out of it. He is sitting across the room from me as I write this licking jam off his fingers after his millionth jam sandwich...I find this adorable. We are finally at the end of Strawberry season here on the farm, it's been wonderful, but our backs are ready to give up the last berries to the birds. There are strawberry popsicles in the freezer, we've had tons of shortcake, milkshakes, plain old berries to snack on, and now there will be jam to enjoy this winter.....I'm feeling thankful, and happy that Raspberry and Blueberry season are just around the corner...at least for those we can stand upright to pick them! Now let's see what is in bloom this week.

Coreopsis

Red-Hot Pokers

Painted Daisies--yes, they really are that vibrant!

Stella D'ora

Tiger Lily

Yucca

Sweet Pea

The sun showing the inside of the seed pods for the money flowers. Years ago my husband's grandmother, Freda gave us a start from her garden. They are the white and purple tall flowers in the spring photos.

Some of the herb garden--we moved this old birdbath from another spot where it was never really enjoyed. Someone we know was throwing it out a few years ago--I think it looks cute as can be:)

Yellow Yarrow

It's been a week for flowers here. Since we've got the vegetable garden in good order, it was time to visit the greenhouse and plant some posies. Everything looked so nice, but now our little farm is all dressed up and ready to dance! Maybe we should dance too! Maybe I can get Mom to show me some of those fancy square dance steps--hmmm.....on second thought, since walking in a straight line can be a challenge for me I better leave the dancing to mom! :) The posies................make sure you watch out for any skunks lurking!

Petunias are so pretty!

Just wait until later this summer--these Impatiens will take over the old trough

I think this is a chicken feeder from long ago--not totally sure, but it makes a nice planter

Uh-oh!!

An old funnel makes a pretty planter!

Beside the clothesline

There is a sampling....sorry some of the photos are a bit blurry, our camera was cranky. We of course are photo happy around here, and will post more in the coming weeks as things grow.

 I am generally not into fads, that said, I too can be swept away when one of them is just way too cute. This brings me to tipsy planters. I know I am a bit slow here, they've been hugely popular for the last few years. Honestly, I did not really like them all that much. I thought they were okay, but not for me. That was until I was sorting through some stuff to pack for our (fingers crossed, hopefully soon) big move someday. I came across an old enamelware coffee pot. Enamelware is dear to me...it's like a hug.....it's filled with memories of my mother and when I was little. She still uses the same enamelware strainer from forever ago, the same enamelware pan for potatoes, you get the idea. Anything that is enamelware or graniteware...I just love it! It may seem crazy, but to me, it's just everything that is right in a world that isn't. Simple, tough, pretty, useful, multi-purpose, and made to last, what else do you need in a dish....or anything else for that matter? I had this favorite cup when I was small. No big shocker..it was an enamelware mug. I can still see it.... slightly off white in color with a cobalt blue handle and rim, it even had flowers on one side. I wish I still had it, I hope it is hiding in a long forgotten box in the attic. Anyway, I remember my mom giving me hot tea in it, Ginger-ale, Birch-beer, soup, ice cream, yes--I am off on a sentimental ramble. I remember that I always felt special using that cup. So there you have it, and old coffee pot, a strange love of enamelware, throw in an old gas can for fun, and flowers to plant, all this equals....a unique tipsy pot. 

My mom's hairdresser was throwing out this old blue gas can...they hadn't used it in years, so the gas residue is long gone...thanks mom for thinking to grab it for me!

Autumn and Katie picked out the flowers! 

From top to bottom--a small enamelware coffee pot, old blue enamelware coffee pot, my grandmother's enamelware coffee pot (thanks again, Mom!) the old blue gas can, and a metal container we had sitting around. Super Cute!!

Big thanks to our lovely photographer this week--Katie!!