Anniversary

My husband and I have known each other since grade school.  Rick is the 2nd one from the left in this photo and I'm on the far right.  We started dating our junior year in high school and have been together since.  We are truly blessed to have each other.  He's truly my very best friend and the love of my life.

I found this on my chalk board this week:

He's the best!

Enjoying the end of Summer

We have a family dinner at our house almost every Saturday.  This weekend we enjoyed tomatoes fresh from the garden, a yummy jello salad (and yes that's cheese on top), coconut cream pie,...

and pulled pork sandwiches.  That salad looks strange; but believe me, it's good!

Not only will it be the end of sweet juicy tomatoes, but the end of my flowers will be upon us too. 

I will miss opening my gate each time I come home and being welcomed by this cheery scene....

and this...

By the time August arrives I have to admit that I'm tired of watering all the plants that I put into pots each year.  I always tell myself that I'm cutting back.  I don't really see that happening anytime soon.

Enjoy what God has blessed us with for the remainder of the summer, because soon the cold and snow of winter will be upon us.

I have to admit, I love that too. 

Cupcake Paintings in Stock

Just a quick note to let you know that I have four original paintings still in stock in my Etsty Store.  Check them out here.

Crocheted Cupcake Booties and a New Cupcake Painting

Hot off the press!  I just finished, photographed, and listed this painting on eBay.  To view the auction, just click on the title:

"Cupcake Masterpiece"

A dark chocolate cupcake with blue buttercream frosting is painted on top of an old worn and wrinkled recipe decoupaged to the top of a canvas. Tiny orange confetti is sprinkled on top of the fluffy frosting and scatters below the cupcake. Globs of blue frosting leak from the piping bag tempting the taste buds. A decorative black and white cupcake liner adds even more appeal to this yummy cupcake. A wide black and white dotted ribbon wraps around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

Recently on facebook I mentioned to someone that I had crocheted some "cupcake booties" (of course) and she wanted to know where I got the pattern.  Needless to say I couldn't find that message again so that I could share that information with her.  Hopefully she will see this post.  I made these cute booties on craft night using the directions from one of my favorite Etsy stores.  If you like to crochet, this store is a dream and her instructions are easy to follow.  I've used many of her patterns to make slippers for myself too.  I'll try to remember to share those soon.  Check out Holland Designs for the best patterns ever!

Doesn't everyone know some charming little lady who's cute little pink toes would love these! 

A New Autumn Look and a New Cupcake Painting

I decided to cool down by adding a new Autumn header to my blog.  These 100 degree temperatures keep me inside where it's cool. There's lots of gardening that needs to be done like pulling out fried flowers, deadheading, and weeding.  All I've gotten done is watering though.

I've added a new cupcake painting to my Etsy store.

That's what I was doing instead of gardening.  If you're interested, you can check it out here.

A colorful sweet cupcake topped with a bright red cherry is painted on top of an old worn and wrinkled recipe decoupaged to the top of a canvas. Swirls of blue frosting coat the top of this vanilla treat in a red and white dotted wrapper.

What are you doing to keep cool?

New Porch Pillows

Remember those pillows I kept saying I was going to make with my "tea toweling by the yard" fabric?  Well they're done and they are just the touch I needed to finish off the deck and gazebo.  Click on the photos for a closer view.

The perfect spot to sip a glass of lemonade....

or read a good book.

Yes!  They're reversible....

Which side do you like best?