Puttery Day

Whew-ie...those were some kind of impressive thunderstorms last night! Since I would be challenged to properly describe a storm, I'll urge you to read *Vicki's post* for its vibrant description. Mercifully, our storms did not have quite the intensity of hers.



Who would ever dream that September 11 would be the warmest day of the summer?  It was 92°F in the shade with only the slightest of breezes and terrifically humid. Weird, weird weather. I certainly was not planning any time out of doors.  

Instead, I did what any normal gal would do. I cleaned my kitchen cupboards. 

~my favorite cleaner~

If you read here, you know that I've been planning to paint my kitchen cupboards for approximately six years. Right. I do so hate painting; I'll do almost anything to avoid it. I scrubbed instead and then I decided that since I'd not be painting, I'd cover up a mess with Susan Branch calendar pages.

As you can tell, it really does need some paint, but for now these sweet graphics are going to work. That they are both recipes rather pleases me. And I adore that vintage mixer!

I really wanted to go with the current calendar page...

That wouldn't have been too smart, however.  It is the first time I noticed Susan's message to us for September 11, which I found sweet and dear. No other calendar in my home marks the date with any sort of notation. This was Susan's:

Did you see the turkey plate? Do you think it's too soon? Probably, but as you can tell, a gal must work within her limits and with what she has.

Then I moved on to other puttery things before landing on the sofa reading another new book. I nearly finished it, too. I didn't want to like it, but I loved it. Tell you about that tomorrow perhaps.

This area gets featured a lot since it is my home's "mantel." Funny story: My sister was visiting recently when she saw that vintage photo. Sis wondered who in the family the photo might be. I explained that she was a flea market ancestor. My sister was completely exasperated by that. She now wants me to label all such "ancestors" with this notation: no relation. ☺

~cutest cousins~

Next time she comes, I hope that she recognizes our cousins here. I put them out especially for her.

Better put a bow on it and call it "the end." Thanks for reading!

Gather Some Ferns

~Calming Green~

I was walking through Blogdom this morning and every footstep echoed after me. We are all thinking of Oklahoma and so many other things besides blogging. Some are finishing up homeschooling; some are gardening; some are dealing with the constant frustration that this particularly challenging spring has brought. Some are in the process of moving; some are dealing with loss, anxiety, the stuff of 

life. So many of us are away.

When I mentioned to one dear blogger that I was thinking of graves this morning, she got in touch with me right away. I was perplexed and couldn't imagine why she was worried, but then she had been sharing about BBQs and I wasn't. Talk about being on different pages. So funny! 

Well, yes, I am thinking about graves. In fact, I'd not been at my sister's more than a few minutes when that became the topic of discussion and we planned a trip for tomorrow to visit a few family graves. It will be an all-day event taking us up-country. Has Memorial Day taken on a larger meaning than only recognizing fallen war heroes there? It has here. It's become a day of recognizing all those who've gone before us. Hence graves are tended and flowers are purchased and most of us visit family graves before or on Memorial Day.

~Grounded Forsythia~

~Neighbors' Red Wheelbarrow~

~Rusty Basket and Dirty Deck~

~White Lilac~

~Lilac~

~A New Arrangement~

~Gather a Fern~

One of the most popular posts on my blog was *this Puttery Treat* that I did to join Brocante Home's Puttery Treat Challenge. (Alison also has a wonderful Pinterest board of Puttery Treats you may be interested in). By my definition, puttery treats must be easy-peasy, done quick as a wink, which is why I'm offering you a suggestion for a kind of puttery thing that you can do to instantly spring up the house and bring some green inside: Gather some ferns! Besides, green is so calming.

Projects Big and Small

He worked through the rain. Up and down the ladder. Got soaked. 

I checked on him often, though I tried to stay out of his way.

My task was to putter about the house. Funny how the simplest things bring back the sweetest memories like this little screen door that always reminds me of the last Thanksgiving when our family was all together. That won't be repeated until Glory.

It was so gloomy that I declared it not too early to put out the harvest lights.

This was only a test... You can see the difference in the wood color from where the windows once sat and where the new window will set.

I finished my utilitarian runner made from mattress ticking on one side, painter's cloth on the back and some gingham edging. I had some fun with creating an easy quilting pattern. Prior to this, I had used lots of linens none of which fit the space. Now my mind is filling with all those sorts of places that could use a tailor made piece — the top of the fridge is next!

Still checking on him... No pressure, Honey! In fact, he is taking the weekend off and perhaps Monday, too. 

Have a lovely weekend... any projects you'd like to discuss?