Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness, has never danced in the rain.

.... and I am ready to dance in the rain.

So do we have rain? No, I am still watering. 

  As is most of the country, Kansas is having a bad drought.*** My mom is beginning to talk about the drought of the 1930's in comparison. Eek! We have no water restrictions......yet.

I have given up trying to keep the lawn going, letting it go dormant, however I am keeping the plants alive as best I can. The garden hose has become my nemesis. 

Don't forget to keep the bird baths filled. I put pans of water on the ground to keep the squirrels and opossums from climbing the bird bath and toppling it! 

Except for this bird bath, which leaks, so I planted it. 

View from the screened porch. See how dried up the lawn has become? Boo Hoo. 

I notice the birds are visiting the feeders much more too. I guess many plants dried up before they were able to produce seeds.

*** An added note: Today Kansas is the hottest place in the country. Nice.....

I am joining

A Southern Daydreamer for

and

Note Card Party

I just discovered Vee's Note Card Party. It has some wonderful, beautifully crafted photos that many talented folks have chose to share at a party. What a great idea! SO, here is my humble contribution.

Final Touch Daylily with bad bug!

Doesn't this look good right now?

Or this? Lookout Mountain, Colorado. 

A perfect END, scratch it, if it itches!

I am joining 

Queen Anne's Table

Time for a cool, neutral table, with crisp white napkins, white ironstone and Queen Anne's Lace for a bouquet.

A little secret... I actually like starching and ironing napkins and tablecloths. They look so nice all starchy!

Place mats from Kohl's.

Dinner plates are Gibson, salad plates are Pfaltzgraff  Weave. 

I set my table and then went out to pick the Queen Anne's Lace. It grows along the roads and in the fields.

 I live in the suburbs, encroaching on farm land.

Isn't that sky beautiful?

I am joining Kim at

and
Susan at

Office Redo

The thing I like best about summer vacation ( besides not getting up at 5:30 am) is the time for tearing into projects. Here's some before and afters of my home office:

After:

Before:

Pretty bland, huh? 

I darkened up the walls a little with Valspar Frappe.

I lived with sub flooring( yes, I ripped up the carpet) for a few months until I could get Pergo type flooring put in. I should have gotten a photo of that.   NOT

I didn't realize what a difference the curtains would make. So much warmer!

Country Curtains made these, as I couldn't find any black  buffalo check fabric anywhere.                             ( I didn't look too hard)

This  shelf is a leftover of Daughter #1 bedroom. We put it up when we moved in. Plant hanger brackets painted white and a narrow shelf. It is really good for knick knacks without taking up any room space. She had it filled with little china figurines and stuffed animals.

I have little china dogs, photos, and some of MY toys. (they are antiques now, boo hoo!)

My globe is a thrift store find, all metal, one dollar!

I love Raggedy Ann dolls, but have really pared down my collection and only kept a few.

My constant companions in the office are  Oscar the wiennie dog 

 and Oliver, my little Parrot. Oliver is blogging friends with Kiwi and Pearl Angel over at
 2 Birdies and a B.

Plastic sheeting is a necessary evil behind Oliver's cage, as the more he likes his food, the more he slings it.           ( Think fresh strawberries or blueberries on the walls)

A new table for his cage was a Walmart put together. I did it too! Took me two hours ( A to B, B to Q?)

Underneath the table is a little slotted box I picked up at a garage sale. I added playing cards, poker chips, the old viewmaster and discs for it.

I still need something for this area above the chair, I have some ideas.

I tore into the closet too. It is 

 full of tablescape stuff. Tablecloths, napkins in the plastic boxes, and extra table top stuff that won't fit in the hutch or pantry.

I am joining Susan at

for Metamorphosis Monday,

 Kim at Savvy Southern Style for

 and 

at No Minimalist Here

Rich, Luscious RED

I am in love with red geraniums this year for some reason. When I found this tablecloth thrifting, I thought "add geraniums". 

I did this tablescape at 6:30 in the morning, cause it is so stinkin hot any other time of day.  I wonder if any neighbors are watching saying " craaaaazy lady". Who sets the table at 6:30 am and takes it down at 7:00 am, and no food and no guests? If anyone watching were bloggers, then they would understand. 

I am joining Kim at  Savvy Southern Style for 

and Susan at

for Tablescape Thursday.