Happy, Happy, Birthday to You

We spent the weekend celebrating birthdays.  On Saturday evening we had the bi-monthly birthday get together at Lou's sister's house.  The family has grown so much that we do birthdays in bunches now.

 This weekend we sang happy birthday to our 3 year old great niece Cali, our own grandson Dylan who also turned 3, our son by love Chad and a welcome to the world to sweetie great nephew Braden, who was born in June. 

 

 I laughed at the photo my niece Jamie sent of Braden in the policeman's bib...he looks just like his Daddy, who is a Baltimore County Policeman.

 

 On Sunday, Lou and I attended Dylan's Pirate Birthday Party.  The photo above was part of the birthday invitation.

I can't believe he is 3.  And with the haircut his Daddy gave him, he looks even older.

The Disney Store

One thing I did learn this weekend after getting these sneakers as part of Dylan's gift, shoes are being sold without laces...I made the comment that all the character sneakers at the Disney Store didn't come with laces.  I was informed that this was the in thing...slip ons that look like these.  Guess I'm just not with it!

To The Wedding...

 My friend Shar came by this morning to pick up the hydrangeas for the wedding of her granddaughter.  I was in the garden early this morning to beat the heat while cutting blooms.  I did get the job done before the sun hit the garden...but wow was it humid.  We had another storm blow through last night with a lot of rain, thunder and lightning.
The flowers were wet but thankfully not pounded into the ground.

Shar stayed for a bit to share a cuppa coffee and is now on her way to Gettysburg to help setting up for the wedding.  These colors a just beautiful...don't you think?

I'm now heading to the studio to paint several sets of shelf sitter blocks
to finish filling an order.

Maryland Steamed Crabs and Beer

I can't believe that it is the end of July and we haven't had steamed crabs yet.  No putting newspaper on a table and beer on ice. 

 

captain dan's crabhouse

Neither Lou or I drink beer with this MD tradition but lots of people wouldn't

eat steamed crabs without a brew.

 

tideandthyme.com

 

 Crabs and Beer

And there is a step by step process to "pickin' steamed crabs. 
The link below shows you just how to do it!

How to pick Steamed Blue Crabs like a Maryland Native

 

 Maryland

Grandchildren Tuesday...

Had my GrandBabies here yesterday.  We had a good day.  My Mom came over to see the children and spend some time with us. I had planned on taking them to visit her...but bless her, she suggested she come here because I'm not as young as I use to be and it would be easier for me.   

 

 Can't believe Darlin' D will be 3 in a few days.

Sweetpea is changing so much week to week.

 And my Mom is right...I'm not as young as I use to be.
When Holly and the children left after dinner, I quickly changed into my pj's and passed out on the bed.

www.countryworkshop.net

Downy Mildew...Killer

 

 I have pots of flowers throughout my yard...many on the patio next to the side porch and some in front of the house.  Some areas of the patio are shaded so I usually fill several window boxes and large pots with impatiens.  I noticed however, several weeks after planting these that the plants were yellowing and dying.  I pulled out  all the plants, bagged them in plastic, put them in the trash and did an internet search.  There is a new disease spreading through the US affecting these plants called Downy Mildew.  Check the link for more information.  I had not heard mention of this until it happened in my garden. 
 

I dumped all the soil from the pots that had the affected plants behind the shop and now will have to wash the pots and window boxes with soapy water if I hope to use the same pots for impatiens next year.  I did purchase the already planted pot in the picture from Home Depot in hope that the spores would not affect a new pot...so far so good.

Country Workshop Website

If These Old Walls Could Talk...

Photo from www.merchantcircle.com

 While traveling the roads from Baltimore to Eastern shore of Maryland, old abandoned homes often catch my attention.  Once you cross the bridge over the Chesapeake Bay, you begin to see many buildings that were once loved homes sitting forlornly in a distant corn field or along a country road among large old trees. I wonder about the families who lived and raised their families there and the stories those walls must contain.  It makes me sad that this history is slowly crumbling into a pile of rubble. 

It's time to water the garden...again!

I've been trying to keep keep the hydrangea bushes watered to keep the flowers from turning brown. With temps in the high 90's to 103 this has proved to be quite a chore.

 I have a friend whose granddaughter is getting married in two weeks and she wants to use the hydrangeas for the wedding.  The flowers have already started turning their fall colors.  The blooms opened early this year and started to turn quickly due to the heat of the past few weeks. But they will still be beautiful as long as I keep them watered.  

Over the years several brides have had hydrangeas from my garden at their weddings.

 We used many at daughter Meagan's wedding to her darling husband.
The blooms were lovely shades of green and burgundy.

 Hopefully I can soak the bushes enough every day to keep them beautiful for the upcoming wedding of my friend Shar's granddaughter.  The heat is suppose to break tomorrow.

M is for...

Minnie Mariah Mouse
She is growing so fast.

Hope you all "Have a Magical Day"

Am Loving This Color...

I found this new color for beach and summer signs.  Funny thing is I've had several bottles of this seafoam sitting here in the shop for months and finally slapped it on a sign blank.

I'm so happy with the way these turned out.

Both can be found in the Just Beachy section of the Country Workshop website

Slipping into my flip flops and heading up to the shop.

Just Singing in the Rain....

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Singing in the Rain, a special one night showing will be available at select movie theaters across the country on July 12.  I'll be going with my daughters, Mom, Aunt and nieces to see this wonderful old movie in a theater.  The girls and I have watched it many times on tv, but are looking forward to seeing it on the big screen.

Here is the link to find a theater showing the wonderful old classic

We'll be singing and dancing in the raining!

JAWS

  Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water.  Can't you hear the Jaws movie theme when you look at this?  I think he's gonna need a bigger boat!

Cape Cod shark sighting.Walter Szulc Jr., in a kayak, looks back at the fin of an approaching shark at Nauset Beach in Orleans, Mass., in Cape Cod on Saturday. (Shelly Negrotti, Associated Press / July 7, 2012)

Goofy Dog

Goofy Lucy sleeping in the sun on this hot, hot Fourth of July morning. 
Slow roasted Cocker Spaniel

Weather forecast is calling for chance of thunderstorms 
this afternoon.  So many homes are still without power in this area
I'm hoping that the storms pass us by.

Happy Birthday America...

 

Fourth of July

Celebrating America's Birthday on the weekend this year
as not all the family can be here on Wednesday.

Red, White and Blue Sangria

Plan on trying this recipe with
strawberries, blueberries and pineapple

Frogmore Stew

Thanks Gloria for pinning this recipe...
I'm going to make this on Sunday when the family comes for dinner

Stars and Stripes Forever

Vintage Look  American Flag

Red, White, and Blue Berry Trifle

Wishing you all a wonderful Independence Day!

Beach Babies...

Last weekend I decided it was time to run away from home. Daughter Meagan and her Hubby Erik were spending the most of the week at the beach and invited Lou and I to join them.  So we filled orders and got them shipped and Monday night took off for Ocean City for a couple of days.

Holly, Chad and children had been on vacation the week before, but Holly and the grandbabies were still able to join us and rode with us to the beach.  With 2 car seats belted onto the back seat, a pack and play, a double stroller, upmteen suitcases and various bags filled with toys, food and several coolers in the back of the Suburban we headed east to the Atlantic Ocean. 

 

 Sweetpea on the beach in her Minnie Mouse bathing suit. Such a cutie she is.

 Dylan had a good time playing in the sand with his Gramps.

It was a nice couple of days being with the family.  However I must have blocked out how much work it is to have a 3 year old and a 3 month old at the beach.  It took 5 adults to to take care of 2 children.  Getting the children ready to go to the beach for a couple of hours or the boardwalk in the evening took lots of planning so we wouldn't forget what might be needed... just in case. 

I guess God knew what he was doing when he decided to give babies to us when we are young.  I love being with the grandchildren and wouldn't give up spending anytime time with them. But boy, is it harder when you are 30 years older than when you were raising your children, your grandbabies' parents.