Making Summer Last

Ravinia

Judy Collins, ethereal.

Long Grove, Vintage Festival, Nostalgic.

Scout and Forge.  Cool Vintage $$

Candy store, just as we remembered it.

Have to visit.

Chicago, sparkles!

Prada, nope!

Lake Michigan, I love you. Chicago I love you.

Navy Pier!

Air and Water Show, WOW! THUNDERBIRDS, knocked my socks of!

* I wrote a lovely post about an amazing weekend, then blogger went all weird and I lost all the text.
Gosh darn it!  Couldn't save, copy... When I get some time I'll edit and add some commentary.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Penny

Rained Out

 

 We had tickets to Ravinia for Friday, but were rained out.  We only buy the cheap seats on the lawn, and when it rains you are out of luck.  These are the flowers I picked for our table, in my tin Beekman 1802 cup.  (Good news, I did get a shout out from the Beekman Boys when I posted this photo to their facebook page...made me giddy!)

We were going to celebrate my dear SIL Elizabeth's birthday at Ravinia, but instead ate our picnic dinner dry, cool and comfortable at home.  Brother Greg is in a cast, which would make for a difficult time making a quick run to safety when the storms hit. The artist we were going to hear Chris Botti, put Greg to sleep as we played his tunes after dinner.  Still a very enjoyable and unusual evening.  We are rarely alone without family and kids.  Happy Birthday Elizabeth, love you so!

 Saturday was of course lovely.  We hit some local thrifts and were bitten many times by mosquitos on our evening walk.  They are awful this year.  We even applied the dreaded bug spray to watch the International Space Station go by later that night.

Then the babygrand came to spend the night.

 Penny woke up as Elsa...

 And later transformed into Anna, with the help of a dress that we found at the thrift.(Characters from the famous animated movie Frozen)  While Penny was playing with some other toys we bought, Grandma put the dress in the wash, and when Penny asked for it, the dress was ready for pretend time.  Of course we had to change hairstyles,  Anna always wears braids. Penny is growing so quickly, so much fun, great conversations.  She sang all the way home, and made both Granndpa and I cry with her beautiful voice.

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 After dropping of our girl, we took the long way home and enjoyed the Lake and Sheridan Road.

 It was a beautiful sunset, helped by the forest fires in the west sending smoke and ash into the atmosphere.

 Here are a couple things I thrifted for myself earlier in the week.

 This little afghan had 4 pink pompoms that I clipped off before washing.  It's wool, but I think it's perfect for a table topper for the cooler months.

 My attempt at rock art. One of those pinterest fails, Ha!

 A seasonal candle and this cool ceramic basket patterned plate.

 Grapes, cheese and crackers and you've got a party!

 It wouldn't be a summer weekend
without a visit to Lake Michigan.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kindness always.  Enjoy this beautiful day!

Summer Still Life

After a late evening walk, I came home to see the sunflowers, and was inspired to stage a photo. The sunflowers came from, my daughter, Kristen.  The bowl a gift from my husband, salt glazed and earthy looking.  The veggies from Charlotte's Aunt.  I pulled out the dishtowel and a still life was born.  Perfect for late summer.

Lovely flower pot at the fancy pants mall.

 We've been taking short trips, even went up to Door County for the day.  We decided that a long car trip is less fun as you age.  Getting out of the car after several hours takes some time.  The old bones are stiff and it takes a few steps before we straighten up.  Still we love seeing all the beauty our country holds.

 A walk at the mall and a visit, only my second to Anthropologie.  The displays are awesome, but the prices are shocking to this thrift shopping grandma..

 Not to say that I did not like the things I saw...but a $40 tea towel...not in this lifetime. 

 Seeing the displays, inspiring and creative, send me home wanting to spruce things up.

 That I did.  Moving a few things around, cleaning a bit and realizing that I have everything I need and love my home, just the way it is.  (That is today, tomorrow could bring changes.)

 More fancy pants flowers.  The color, so dreamy.  

 The clouds were spectacular yesterday.  The sky looked so big filled with giant puffy clouds.

 No rain ever fell.

 The shade was welcome after so many hot and scorching days.

 The garden has suffered.

Some of the garden looks brittle and dry.   The cool evenings of late summer will perk things up.  The mosquitoes have been awful, and have chased me inside, even in the middle of the day,  When watering the garden means a dozen bites, sorry garden.  I save my bug repellent for emergencies, like Ravinia.

Looking to finish a few projects for the shower for Charlotte and Jon.  Painting and stenciling are on the agenda too this week.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comments.  Having you stop by means so much to me.  Thank you dear friends.  Enjoy this beautiful day. 

Our 40th Anniversary

We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this weekend.

We were so very young when we were married, but luckily we got it right.

We choose from the heart and that made all the difference.

Through thick and thin we have managed to stay happily together, and very much in love. 

Together we built a family we are so very proud of.

 We hung the altar banner on our living room wall this weekend.  It is still beautiful and the sentiment still applies, LOVE IS AN ENDLESS SEASON.  I figure we are in the Autumn of our years, perfect for us since we both love Autumn so.

Our wedding invitation.  I still love it and would choose it again all these years later.

 We picked up Penny in the city and decided to visit the church we were married in.  Going there with our grand daughter was especially wonderful.  We found that the doors were open, so we went inside.

Penny took this photo...there were many where grandpa's head was missing ;-)

 It was very emotional for me and my dearest.  So many happy memories here.  Penny is always concerned when I cry.  (I cry often, for happy and sad, sentimental, commercials, you name it.) She asked what was wrong, and when she was sure all was well, she kissed my hand and ran off to explore the empty church.*

*Actually the church was not totally empty.  The music director was there, and later a woman and her child came in. I told the music director that we were married 40 years ago here at IHM.  When the woman came in we started talking and discovered that she was in the choir directed by my brother Larry in the 1980's.  Our family has a long history at IHM especially in the music of the liturgy.

Together we lit a candle and said a prayer of thanksgiving for so many wonderful years and for the beautiful family started by our love.

On Sunday all our kids were home for a anniversary brunch.  The boys were a little sluggish after Jon's bachelor party the night before, but I was so very happy to have them all home.  I never thought to take a photo, but I remember the hugs vividly!

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy this beautiful day.

 P.S.  Honey, In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble, they're only made of clay but.., Our love is here to stay.