.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

I Love a Parade.....


Our Little Firecracker.


 We were invited to join our daughter,
son-by-love and the Dumplin'
for the Towson, MD
Fourth of July Parade yesterday.
A tradition in Erik's family,
started by his grandfather, the family always
 attends this 4th of July Parade.
This is the first time his Poppy was not
in attendance.
The family lost him earlier this year.

But he was certainly there in spirit
as his children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren were still at the parade,
carrying on the tradition and
remembering this man who meant
so much to them..


 It was wonderful to see Americans 
of all ages celebrating America's Birthday.



I sometimes worry that with every generation,
 perhaps there is less and less history being taught.  
That it is considered corny to be patriotic. 
That what has gone before, that has given 
each generation, the freedoms they have
today is forgotten.  


That when our National Anthem is played,
 it will never bring tears to their eyes
because the history of this country
sometimes is just not known or remembered.
Have I been so blinded by the news,
that all I see is people believing that
America is a horrible place to live,
but not knowing or acknowledging
the sacrifices of  those who came before?








 However, this Independence Day Tradition
gives me hope.  All ages waving American Flags
and cheering as our military, firemen,
police and local boy scouts passed by.
And folks standing up, with hands over their hearts,
 as one of the bands marched passed us playing
 God Bless America.


I pray for this country.
I have hope for this country.



And it wouldn't be a Maryland parade 
without Mr Boh and
the Ravens Marching Band.





America...One Nation Under God





Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Tiny Bubbles...


Had the Littles here earlier this week
and as the Dumplin's
newest word is "bubbles"
I asked Lou to pick up a
bottle of bubbles while he was out.








He came home with so much more... 
A bubble machine and a 
bubble wand that makes huge, 
beautiful bubbles.  
Gramps is much more fun 
than Mom Mom.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Country Workshop's Weekend Steals and Deals



Because several of our
spring shows were canceled
due to weather, we are clearing off 
our very full shelves a bit. 
Thinning the inventory.
 
You may just find something
you might like, need
or must have.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Happy Summer...


A bit of the first morning of summer from my garden...



Hydrangea blues...


A small visitor...


A sweet daisy.







Friday, June 16, 2017

Bug Free Porch Sitting...



A few minutes on the porch with coffee and
the June issue of Southern Living which
I'm finally able to take a bit of time to page through.
Then I'll be heading to the Workshop
to package orders that need to be shipped.
My dear husband sprayed the yard
last night to get rid of the mosquitoes
so I am actually able to sit on the porch
or walk to the shop without being swarmed.

They have been particularly bad this year
and it seems I must be the sweetest
because I have a black swarm around me
when they aren't bothering anyone
else who may be near me.

Seems this may have worked as
I have not one bite.


Wednesday, June 14, 2017

School's Out...Let the Fun Begin!


 When Lou and I saw the pool at BJ's
I thought it would be the perfect replacement
for the little round blowup one
we've set up for the grandlittles
the last two years.

I asked Lou to fill it with air.
He has it in the Workshop and
uses the compressor to blow it up.
I get a phone call a little bit later and
when I answer it, all I hear is laughing.
"You need to come up here."
"Why?" I ask.
Lou says, "You remember the Dick Van Dyke show
where Laura opens the package
with the  inflatable raft?"
(some of you may be too young to remember
this but a funny, funny episode from that show)
When I walk into the shop,
the pool was fully inflated and way too
big to get out the shop door.
So we, pull the plugs and squeeze the air out.
An old folks lesson learned.
Blow up the pool in the yard...




 Although the Dumplin' was happier 

playing in the soup pot rather than
the new blow up pool...



The other two Littles are having a good time...


Best $25.00 I've ever spent!




Saturday, June 3, 2017

Pulling Weeds.....



I'll be gardening this afternoon...
yes folks, I'll be pulling weeds.

Is it because of our crazy warmer winter
that I have weeds in the garden that
I have never seen before. Big ugly ones.

Several of our garden signs
are on sale this weekend including this one.

Check out our sale section on the website

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Waiting...

on the porch this morning for some sunshine.
The weather report says the sun
will be making an appearance
today after days of clouds, rain and drizzle.
Fingers crossed.  

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

There's a reason...

why God gives you babies when you're young.


Lou and I had the Dumplin' with us from
Friday through Sunday
while his parents were away.
He is a sweet, loving child and at 18 months
so very busy all the time.
We took him to visit my mother,
 his great-grandmother on Friday.
That afternoon he and I spent time reading,
drawing, watching Elmo
and running around the backyard..
Saturday though he was a bit out of sorts.
All he wanted was me.
He also had a rough night and was up most of it.
No fever or other symptoms, just clingy and whiny.
Maybe teething...
Sunday he was his sweet self again.
Lots of hugs and kisses.
Smiles and giggles.

When his Mommy and Daddy came to pick him up,
the Dumplin' was thrilled to see them.
They had missed him too.

When they left for home,
this old Mom Mom needed a nap...

One forgets how much energy
it takes to raise little ones.

I love being a grandmother...


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Wicked Chickens....




With all the chicken coops popping up
in neighborhood backyards
we've added another new chicken sign to the website
.
Rules and regulations for having
backyard chickens
make it impossible for us to have a coop.
In Baltimore County one needs over
an acre to raise chickens.
Funny thing is however,
in Baltimore City any size yard
can have them.
Happy however to hang this
chicken saying in my kitchen...

www.countryworkshop.net

Monday, May 22, 2017

They're here...





They're everywhere!
4 years early.
Yuck!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Always playing catch up...



  and that's a good thing.  

Our lives are so full and a little bit crazy. 
But full of love and family.


Lou and I spent Mother's Day with my Mom
and three of her great grandlttles,
three of her grandchildren
(our daughter, niece and nephew)
and my sister and her husband.
Unfortunately our Dumplin' wasn't there.
He and our daughter and son-by-love
all had some kinda bug.


Weekends of grandlittle soccer games...


and Dumplin' Mondays...

We are blessed...






Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Maryland Moon...


It was a beauty...
Good Night Pink Moon

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Spring may finally be showing up...


We have had some crazy winter into spring
weather this year in Maryland.
Several warm days in a row and
then temps dropping into the 20's.

Makes a gardener a bit crazy.
Covering up the tenders like hydrangeas
so that there may just be
some flowers this summer.
The forsythia, a sure sign of spring,
had the flowers freeze
on one of those freezing temperature nights
as did the bridal veil bush.




Appears though, that spring is finally showing up.
Lou, Lucy and I took a stroll through 
Cromwell Valley Park yesterday
and the signs are there.



Tadpoles in several of the ponds
are there in the thousands.


A green glow is beginning to show.


And weed or wildflower?
Doesn't matter does it?
Spring is finally Springing.



Friday, March 17, 2017

Truly A Little Bit Irish...



Although on St Patrick's Day everyone is Irish,
I can claim my Irish DNA from my
Great Great Grandparents William and Maggie.
William Dorsey came to America from Ireland
with his parents and brother in 1845
when he was one year old.
Maggie Harper was born in 1850
and came America in 1860.
Both families settled in Baltimore, MD.
Maggie and William were married in 1869
 and had 7 children. 



 Photo is of their son, my great grandfather,
 William C Dorsey in 1906.


Wednesday, March 15, 2017

A Little Bit of Stella...



We were very lucky here in our little corner.
The predicted 8-14 inches of snow did not happen.
I am very grateful for that.  




 We did have about 4 inches 
that was squished into about 2 when the snow
turned to sleet.





Now that mess is solid ice...
Our Lucy Girl is walking (slipping)
on this skating rink that is our back yard.  



With the below freezing temps today
this isn't melting.
I can not get up the hill to the Workshop.
I have been begging for years for a set of stairs
with a railing between the lower yard
and the upper yard that would be easier
to clear the snow/ice off.

Okay...for those of you with so much
more accumulation from this
crazy woman Stella,
 I know I'm sounding like
a whining ninny.

But it really does makes me feel better.