More gifts from the garden...

 

All this dry weather has been good for drying hydrangeas,
right on the plant. 
Popped into a grapevine wreath an easy wreath
to celebrate summer's end.

 

Buscia made herself known in the garden...
Volunteer Balsam in the Polish national colors
red and white.

 

A flower I remember my dear Grandmother planting, and she showed me
how to save the seed from the springy pods.  I didn't plant any this year,
but I like to think Buscia did.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Feelin' a little fall...

 

I've been stitchin' a bunch of these leaves...coasters actually.
I found the cutest basket a while back,
and it's perfect to collect these falling leaves.

 

This is my faux mercury glass jug.  Snatched from my daughter's
trash pile many years ago.
Was once the lamp base with a crochet cozy...
now a vase?  A decorative shiny thingy.
I just sprayed the mirror glass spray paint inside,
swirled it around and let it dry in the sun.
It took a few coats.

 

After a visit from my favorite city folk, it's back to work.
I might add...though I'm feelin' a little fall, I am also a little warm.
Yesterday was 85, today more heat. 
Summer's way of saying, "I'm not done yet!"
Thank you for stopping by.  Enjoy this beautiful day!

It's a beautiful morning...

I think I'll go outside for a while, and just smile... We have had some great weather here in Chicagoland this weekend. Low humidity, warm days, cool nights, just lovely. We stayed close to home this weekend. Took care of the garden that is still growing strong, in spite of a rabbit that has taken up residence in our yard. My dearest prowled around saying, like Elmer Fudd, "I'm hunting rabbits!" Thank God for a husband that makes me laugh everyday.


My first bottle gourd...


We went to a rummage sale, and with my hubby's help, I got this amazing Laura Ashley quilt and pillow shams for $10!


It's so pretty... I'll use it in the spring and summer...you know me, I love seasonal decorating.


We walked the fancy pants mall on a perfect Saturday evening. I am so excited... A Paper Source is coming soon. Having one a few minutes away will be dangerous to our budget. ;-)


They were selling train rides for the kids... and of course I needed a photo of hubby by the train.


Then the "engineer" kindly took a photo of us together. Say goodbye to my favorite pink shirt. I was wearing it while trying to mercury glass a jug, just like I saw at the Pottery Barn. Cost for the jug zero...cost for my top...$20 plus postage! I hate when that happens...

Back to cleaning... Delivered all the books for the library book sale, all the magazines to the thrift. So much more to go through, but it feels great to lighten the load, so to speak.

A busy week ahead. What's up in your neck of the woods? I'd love to hear about it!
Thanks so very much for stopping by. I love reading your sweet comments and hearing from you, my friends. Have a great week and enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny


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Willoughby Today

On a purge...Getting to work on a rearrange of our upstairs. This will take a long while, but the first step is the purge. On the way, you find things. This is a magazine called Willoughby Today, from a trip we took years ago to Willoughby Ohio. It's very strange to go to a town with your name. Willoughby Library, Willoughby Christian Science Reading Room... It was also very cool since I love my hubby's name, and only became the person I am when I became Penny Willoughby. It just felt right!


Tons of books and magazines are making their way out... Books I have enjoyed but will never read again. Don't worry, there are still hundreds around the house that are staying...for now.



All neatly bundled, and ready for the library's used book sale...the thrift, anyone who will take them.

Today is my sweet SIL Elizabeth's birthday. She is the kindest, most generous woman I know. She has the biggest heart and I love her so much. Happy 29th AGAIN Betty!

Have a great weekend my friends, and thanks for stopping by. Enjoy this beautiful day

Love, Penny Willoughby!

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The Big Yarn Score

One day last week after a breakfast with my sweetheart, we stopped at the local Savers to check out the bargains. There were bags and bags of this yarn. I tired to call daughter Kris to see if she was interested.
I love yarn but this was wool/alpaca blend...it is this allergic girl's itchy nightmare.
We left the store without any...Later Kris called back and was very interested in this yarn. She immediately went online to see that the yarn was now discontinued, but retail price was $8.00 a skein!



Like the good parents we try to be, we went back later that day and bought all the bags we could find, 30 skeins in all. We paid $17.00! Some is on it's way in a box that also contains the kitty for Penny and these cool books we got in Door County.





The rest we hope to deliver in person...sometime soon! Have a great day my friends. Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

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