Colorful 4th of July

Aren't the colors of our nation's birthday just perfect? Rich, brilliant colors. Photos outside make it better too. 

Looks are deceiving....it looks cool and shady in that green, green grass. But it was 101 degrees when I did this!

Grouping  of red geraniums and  centerpiece of vase with flags, stars and sparklies. 

Directions to make this centerpiece here.

Poor Roxy, she would not go in the house, in this heat, while I was messing with  tablescape. 

I mean, she sees dishes, tablecloth, silver rattling, SURELY there will be food! Poor Roxy!

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Little Pot Garden

I love to have little nooks in the yard to discover as you walk around. This is my little pot garden in the shade. It has been my favorite area lately with 100 + temps. I have been working outside in the mornings or evenings only, and coming in every half hour or so, or I get wet in the sprinkler! 

It gets about 2-3 hours of sun a day. 

There is heuchera, lirope, green and gold sedum

...purple heuchera, creeping jenny,  fuzzy lambs ears and red petunias. 

Do you wet plant areas down before you take photos? I like the way it deepens all the colors and textures. The fence was wet when I started taking photos, and by the time I finished, it was dry already.

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Pretty In Pink

Just the blooming pink daylilies today.

CUPID'S COWBOY

Can you see the almost heart?

NEW TESTAMENT

Looks good wet too!

AWASH WITH COLOR

I love those ruffles!

BEST KEPT SECRET

is a dark pink hard worker. 

JANICE BROWN

is a cute little ruffly girl.

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Have a Seat and Some Cake

I have been away from the blogging world since March. Wasn't planned, nothing catastrophic, it just happened. Life just kept getting in the way, and every time I thought of blogging, it seemed like work instead of fun. So, I guess I just took a long break! Now that I am on summer vacation, I hope to get back to this again. I have missed reading all your blogs and seeing all the incredibly creative and pretty things you all do.

I made a lemon cake with lemon cream cheese frosting. And you know what? I like it best when it's frozen.

I put a big Martha Todd daylily on the top. It is a bright, lemon yellow. Daylilies are starting to bloom here, but mine had an early drought this spring, and by the time I realized it, and watered them, it was almost too late. They started going downhill before they even set scapes. 

These two daylilies are called Beautiful Edgings. A paler yellow with a little pink around it's ruffly edges. 

This beauty is called Coral Cay. It is more of a coral color, but I couldn't get the light right for it. 

It is good to be back blogging. Have some more cake!

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Dictionary Votives

With a dictionary from the thrift store, Walmart votives, and a little watered down Elmer's glue, these little votives came to life. 

I tired to find pictures for each votive, a lilac, a deer, mushrooms, etc. You can see how they look lit and not lit. The one in the front didn't want to flame very much.

When lit, you get a nice yellowed glow.

The wooden box they are sitting in is something I picked up at a garage sale. It looks like a little drawer, but both ends are finished and no hardware. 

It's so nice to have spring here early and have daffodils to give away.  I gave my daughter and Mom each a big bunch, and there is still lots in the yard. It's the only bulbs the chipmunks won't eat!

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