Vacation

 We have not had a vacation in many years.  We've traveled to see our kids and took day trips but we haven't be away, alone for too long.  This is the sunset over Green Bay Wisconsin.

 The Door County Peninsula is a bucolic retreat.  You can actually feel the tension leave your body once you cross the bridge in Sturgeon Bay.

 We've stayed at the same place for years. The kids used to love the pool and all the shops in the quaint towns up and down the peninsula.  I texted them when we arrived because I missed them and those happy days when we'd be all together, We'd be playing Uno and ordering Chinese one night and pizza the next.  They would be pruney from the pool and smelling of summer.

After we got settled in I appreciated the quiet and our time together alone.

We drove and explored...got lost...

 Everywhere you look cherry trees.

 Roads leading to more cherry trees...

or the beautiful bay on one side and Lake Michigan on the other.

We ate gelato in a sweet pizza place with the most beautiful garden.
I took these photos before we walked in.  We were met at the door by the owner of the restaurant who said, "I caught you peeking at my bloomers."  It took me a second to realize what he meant. He explained that the pink flower above is a tree peony.  They bloom on wood and grow bigger each year and more beautiful.  It was the most beautiful peony I have ever seen, and so fragrant.

The lupines were gorgeous too.

 The gardens were amazing in front of a shop selling Lavender products that are grown on Washington Island.  They distill their own lavender essential oil and had so many beautiful things.

 I asked to take some photos in the shop, but the owner said no.  There might be a little lavender competition in Door County.  We noticed another store advertising Lavender products in the brochures.

 I can't imagine a more beautiful store, or a prettier setting...

or a more handsome guy out front.

We had such a great time.  Shopped at all the familiar places, bought candles and dried cherries for Door County cherry chocolate chip cookies. Took our time, relaxed, napped and watched the sunset and the International Space Station fly by. Grateful for our many gifts in life, especially each other.

We came home to our own Lavender Festival.  My little patch grows happily on the south side of our home.  Not the prettiest place, but the micro climate there is perfect for my little piece of heaven.

SIL Elizabeth, future DIL Amanda and of course the Lavender Princess Penny all helped.

We cut back the plants...

and had two bountiful baskets of lavender.

Here's the Lavender Princess and her court.

A quickly made crown for the princess to wear for the parade.  Cousin Jim pulled Penny all around the yard in her coach...a wagon filled with the harvest and the sweetest Lavender Princess ever.  We had so much fun harvesting and playing together.

The real reason we were together was to celebrate Grandpa's birthday.  We had a pizza party and strawberry topped cheesecake birthday cake.   It was a relaxing party, full of love for my sweetheart.  He is the most deserving person to be showered with love and affection.

Serendipity I should find this on our vacation.

To top off our week of fun and frolic we waited in the rain at Ravinia last night.  The rain came down in a torrent until the parking lot started to flood.  We've spent enough time at Ravinia to know that even if the rain subsided, we'd be ankle deep in water and mud on the lawn.  We headed for home and had our picnic dinner inside.  Mike and Amanda were going to meet us there, but instead met us at home.  They took their dinner home too...  Another time guys.  Such is the way with Ravinia, if it rains, you lose.  Seeing all the damage in the area from last night's storms assured me we made the right decision.  A footnote to last night.  As the rain came down in buckets, my husband fell fast asleep in the car.  He said it was very soothing.  What a guy!

No need to water today, but so much to do inside.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your friendship.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny