~DAWN, baby of the family~

Dawn, my spiritual one..

My lucky number seven!

Dawn flirts with the world...she has since birth..

Dawn, my beautful hippy "lady" and free spirit.

Dawn and her daughter and my granddaughter, Wrenna.  Both adventurous, both lovely.

Here is to the waning days of summer..

Many hugs and lots of love,

Mona

~AIR CONDITIONING..WHAT AN INVENTION..~

I remember my mother telling me that one summer when they were visiting relatives in Kansas..they wrapped the children in wet sheets to keep them cool. 
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In Jacksonville Florida my children sprawled on sheets on our living room hardwood floors one summer so they could sleep.
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Have you ever seen seven little kids standing in front of a huge fan in Sears.  One with the streamers flowing from it...silent...just standing in the cool air not talking.  Just in bliss??  I have.  My own. 
Yep..our window air conditioner broke down and we drove to Sears for a new one...it was  miserable.
The year was summer of 1972, our last year of being a Marine Corp family.  Miserably hot and muggy.  Tons of bugs..BIG ones! 
*******

Our internet service has been down since Saturday..it just came on this afternoon. 

AT&T  said it was out all over the country?  Really?? 

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No summer vacation this year.  We stayed home..enjoyed the cool house, feetsies in the soft carpet and cool floors...drank ice tea, indulged in popcicles and pretzels and cleaned, read books and relaxed.  (for the most part)

Boring?..not a bit of it! 

Saturday outings, long chats with the kids, visits from neighbors..it's been nice...indeed it has.

Oh....and kept the plants alive.  :) 

I found these little moss covered one inch clay pots on ebay.  The tiny liners under each of them are so cute.

I could use them on the front porch of the doll house ...but I think a second Fairy Garden is coming soon.  Still...they really might look cute in the wheelbarrow garden...

If I sound ...a little confused, it's because I sorta am. 

The thing about getting..."older" is that it's your time of life to indulge in your favorite pastime.

I found this little quilted teapot tassel with beading in my favorite shop...I ALWAYS find something wonderful when I visit Lucy's shop Vintage Flair.  A second hand shop..or thrift shop...I call it the Beauty shop! :)

I also found this little velvet bird.  Sweet! 

Hmmmm..yes..ok...

A fresh Ivy in an old clay pot

Take away the book ends..

Add crocheted doily to cloche, a crystal pitcher and some faux silks

....an new/old crochet runner ...all starched and ironed.  EVERYTHING from garage sales!..ok..so not the ivy, but the pot it is in.

I like it...

but...

I AM SO READY FOR FALL!!!

Any questions?  Anyone?  Anyone???  :)

Lov'n hugs,

Mona



~....IS ANOTHER WOMAN'S TREASURE~

Our Saturdays are usually (if it isn't horribly hot) our day to treasure hunt.  This Saturday was party time at our home for Ireland's (my sweet Granddaughter) twenty second birthday..so Friday found us going to an  estate sale on a lovely street, just a few doors down from my son's home.

This is something I normally do not like to do as I dislike the "crush" of people.  I have gotten past the creepy feeling that I first experienced.  I hope when I die, that someone takes the things I love and treasure and cares about them.  Of course I know that won't always be true, but with so many children and Grands...I doubt there will be much left. 

So...here is what I found in a very, very short time..

 This is two pieces...and perfectly adorable.  On the back is says "Old Abbey"

Then "Limoges/France"  At the Estate sale I paid $8.00 for it.  NOT a single flea bite!

I love these AND they still have the corks in them after all these years!

NIPPON is on the bottom of them.  Sooo sweet.  Price?  I am not really sure but I think they were $4 or  $5 for the pair.  Somehow I lost my reciept.  :(  Most I remember though but for some reason these I do not..

A complete set of hand embroidered very large dish towels..the kind I love..$6.00.  Little fat puppies on each of them..with the day of the week.  The size?  36 X 36!  Yippee!!

I have just washed and treated these linens, so they have not been starched and pressed..

(I should have waited...I know..  :)

The hand work on the little roses is exquisite and I know took SO much time.

The size of this lovely linen cloth is 55 X 55.  Wonderful to layer onto a crocheted tablecloth.

I am not familiar with the stitch used on the roses and buds..but the thread looks wrapped.
Lovely!   I just finished pressing this cloth and it is gorgeous.
I paid $3.50 for it.   I would DO it again! :)
I will take good care of it!

Two nice sized cotton dishtowels.  Wonderful to line baskets for bread.  Starched and pressed they are wonderful.

This little yellow and white crocheted pot holder..all alone and crumpled at the bottom of the heaped up bed.  It now graces my kitchen..:)

We had fun.  Howard didn't find a thing he wanted.  He always looks for books..and guy stuff.
Nothing turned up.
The things I passed up...I could shoot myself for.  For example..a weather vane...wonderful but at $25 I thought it too..much..BIG mistake not taking it, and also a complete set of lovely old silverware for $50.  I went back later in the day..and of course they were both gone..however..I did find

I found this little concrete (heavy)chipped nosed baby bunny in the yard and Karen (the Estate sale lady) threw him in for free!  :)  I think he is sweet as heck!

I am so far behind in  posting..and the time is flying by..If I have not visited in awhile, believe me there are good reasons, but  things are beginning to calm at this time...

 

I am reading two books right now.  The biography of Vivian Leigh and Georgiana..another biography. 

I am very choosey about biographers..."just the facts ma'm.  JUST the facts!"  :)

Love and hugs,

Mona 

~SWEET, PRECIOUS, BEAUTIFUL...

Today was Roman Daniel's very first visit to Great Grandma's house..

and actually it all went very well...

I am SO in love with this tiny boy!!  I cannot get enough of holding and cuddling him..and I always have to pass him to  (usually his AUNT MARY!!  grrrrrr..)

So all was well for a bit..she was talking..gently josseling him a bit.

He was very tolerant, his usual easy going self..then suddenly...

...things were not quite so rosy!

Did I say he has the cutest cry??  He does!  He does!  He is just the perfect little boy!

PERFECT, I tell you! :)  He was one month old yesterday.

Just one month old...and for me it was love at first sight!!  I thought there was nothing more wonderful than being a Grandmother...WRONG...being a GREAT is fantastic!

Love and hugs,

Mona

~HAVE YOU ARGUED WITH A PIECE OF FURNITURE??~

I inherited this couch when I married Patient Husband.  It's a VERY GOOD couch.  I mean, well made and a ...rather...nice bland color of taupe (I think.)  PH is very into keeping something until it turns to sawdust.  Frugal is the word...and that's a good thing..because, after raising seven children..I just sort of feel it's my time to...you know..indulge. 

Not a lot.  Just a bit! :)

Ok..I HATE that couch.  The color?  Well, that, but it's just that it was not my choice...so when I moved in four years + ago..I moved it from the front room to the family room..and drowned it in pillows. 

 I kind of like it.  :)

I mean, it IS the family room after all. 

(THANK God this isn't "Rate My Space!  I would probably be kicked to the curb...but since it isn't...I really sort of like the look.  (and I did fix the little squares so they are straight across the back...)

I insist that Fall get here.  101 yesterday!

Hugs,

Mona :)

Tha..tha...tha's all folks!

I cannot seem to link up with Nicole's little Friday Meme...but she is on my sidebar under my followers.  Sweet little things to look at...so go see.  :)  It's just gotten started. 

(I'll figure this out...I hope!) 

~OH....nothing really...

In May 2009, we planted these little Coastal Redwoods...

 See them over on the other side of the yard? (Gosh, our house used to look so...blank!)

They are getting so big.. and the grass is getting browner and browner... :(  Shoot!!

And look!  Remember those tiny little roses I planted last year?  My daughter gave me this arbor and we attached it to the fence near them..just as they had reached a height that really needed something to climb on..and off they went!!  Soon I will be able to get them completely over the top.

The name of this climbing rose is "AMERICA" and I love it.  I bought it from Heirloom Roses on line.  I am going to try and not hide the lovely top on this arbor..but not sure how I can do that.

Awwww....this just arrived a few days ago..
I know this type of birdhouse has a name..but darned if I can remember what it is.  It's for a certain type of bird.  Do you know?
Sooo tiny...and soooo cute!

Ok...that's it!  No more for this little garden!  I mean it this time!!! 
(I need to cut it down a bit...perhaps an inch.  Of course it could be on a hill...which it is..:)  Let me add, since this was mentioned to me...I just wheel this little garden under the patio and it is safe and sound from the terrible heat we had.  NO trouble at all.  :)

Off to bed after a bit of visiting...only got to 90 today...and actually got cool outside tonight. 
God loves us!  LOL

Hugs,
Mona

p.s. Two more American rose bushes arrived yesterday... :):)  YES!! :)

~HOT, HOT, HOT...~

That's what I get for being so all fired puffed up because it wasn't as hot here as on the East Coast...

....and climbing!! 

This was in the shade...yes indeed!  ARRGGGGGGG! And this was NOT even the hottest part of the day!

Sooooo...this on the potting bench...

..and this on the little table by the lawn swing...

but I felt like I was in an oven with the fan on...so here I am at the computer in 75 degrees and...

..for some silly reason in the cool of the morning, we stopped by Home Depot for Ant spray and I bought this...

Why???  It's too blamed hot to plant anything.  It would just burn up...??

Scatter brained...yep.  DO NOT ask what I was thinking....I wasn't!!

And so Southern California summer has begun!!!  The sun is busy burning things to a crisp.  Damage has begun and the chance of wildfires is very high.  Not a cloud.. :(    Some call this "earthquake weather"...I've always wondered why that is..??

I wish you love.. and air conditioning!

Mona

~MY 20TH GRANDCHILD~

I could not be prouder or happier today!  Roman Daniel was born to my beautiful Granddaughter and her sweet husband on June 28th.  He is my 6th great grandchild.  8 pounds and 15 ounces!  20 inches long. :) 

My family is in 7th heaven!!

 

Sending you all love,

Mona

~Fairy Garden's visit~

Have a wonderful weekend...and happy garage sales!

The Fairy garden's first visitors..made it all worth while...

 My grandson, Kyle, and my little neighbor girl, Ashley, immediately begin to check things out.

Oh look!  (Kyle discovers the tiny sleeping kitty in a flower pot... 

Lots to look at and Kyle just discovered a tiny Fairy sitting on a large hidden rock. 

My new Hens and Chicks plant is doing great...

Now that was fun!  Even the adults had fun poking around and peering into and under flowers.

What a nice afternoon...

I'm beginning to think about making another little garden..but haven't found the container I would like to use. 

The wheelbarrow is so handy because it can be moved about so easily...

Two of the places I bought plants from are Wee Tree's and Two Green Thumbs.  Both were delightful to order from..and the plants arrived in wonderful condition..and fast! 

Love,

Mona  :) 

(cough, cough!)

~WRETCHED WEEKEND TO WONDERFUL WEEK~

What a wretched weekend it was!  (whine, whine!)  The flu put both PH and I down with the flu..I would call it colds except we hurt from head to toe...so from Thursday until today I have been in bed....IN BED! 
I never get colds but this one certainly  hit me hard.  Poor PH is still hacking however it didn't put him down but for one day last week. 
 I am up and about today..thank heavens.
 I hope all of you had a better week end than we did...

So...
Some of you probably know that I have been working on a little Fairy Garden on and off.  It's finished, of course, but I keep puttering around with it. 

 I had sent for this sweet little swan planter...and requested cuttings of tiny plants.  I had NO idea I would be doing most of it with the tips of sissors. :)  Making tiny holes and inserting the little plants.  This is the best I could do.  Now it has to be watered with just drops of water.  

I think....I have complicated things a wee (no pun intended) ... which is what I usually end up doing. :)

Anyway, isn't it cute??

Wow..but that morning sun was BRIGHT!

This little birdbath stands just three inches high, approximately, and is adorned with grapes and vines.

I didn't get a really good photo of it..

I placed it just here...at the edge of the arbor..

You can probably see how fast the baby tears are growing...

I also found this tiny lantern and even a hook that sticks in the ground to hang it on..

I think I need a my mini lawn mowed  and soon!!!  I put in a request to PH..but he looked at me as if I were mad as a hatter and told me to buy a tiny lawn mower!
What a GREAT idea!

According to PH,  he has enough lawns to mow...so...

:)  ..I found one..all of about 4 inches high..or so.   No..I didn't buy it.  :)  Well, not yet!  I am going to use some scissors and see how that works...
Work, work, work....I do think I have made more work for myself.

Isn't it great??

The wheelbarrow

So far everything is coming along nicely..what a lot of fun it's been and tomorrow...or rather by the time most of you see this post, my little 7 year old Great Grandson will be here for the day.  He is here on summer vacation all the way from Missouri!! 
I ADORE  my little Greats and I can't wait for him to see it.  Sunday my little Great Granddaughter will be here!  :)  She just turned four years old.   I can't wait I tell you!!  :) 

If I could do one thing all over again in this life,  it would be to have my seven children.

Love,

Mona