Down Came the Rain and Washed the Spider Out

We have seen some beautifully woven webs in the garden over the years, but the one discovered this morning was particularly lovely.  The anchor threads suspened from a branch to stable sites we could not see.  The web was the size of a vinyl record and was tilted like rings around Saturn.

This spider is a masterful weaver, but its work was no match for the long waited, and too brief, down pour that hydrated the wilting flora. 

Garden Stakes

 This is a close-up of the painting technique.

This is on of my newest and favorite trophies that include a man and woman bowling.  I found it in a junk shop in Toledo.

The poles I use to stake my flowers got a new look this year.  The grandkids spray painted the poles and then Mekayla and I dipped string into paint and dragged it around the poles to create the pattern.  Afterwards I gave them a clear coat to preserve the painting a little longer.

Fairy Garden

A few weeks back my gal pals got together for a dinner party.  The theme was fairy gardens.  I have to say I've been out of the "fairy phase" for ten or more years.  However, I accepted the challenge determined to not buy a thing new and to keep with the idea of "reuse and repurpose.'  I dug around in my materials, went to work with the paint, scrounged up some plants from the garden, added some Lake Michigan sand, a few rocks and shells . . . and there you are.  I really like the grandkids' painted pine cone and my little trophy lady painted white to imitate marble.

Lavender Wands

These are all the lavender wands I wove this year.  I was determined to not buy any new ribbon.  I have one awkward (not pictured) wand that has two different colored ribbons that I will tuck away for myself.  I love the variety of shapes and colors and I love the way they scented up the dinning room - which is where I had them stacked up.

We're Peas in a Pod

So, the grandkids helped me snap the peas . . . shuck the peas???  It was new for us all.  We had a great time seeing how many would be in the pod, if we had discovered the littlest or biggest pea.  There was a dare to eat a "raw" pea.

Fresh from the Farm

 I love that the beets look like hearts.

 I love using grandma's grater.

Beets smell really good when they are cooking.

I have been working at the Goetz farm on Fridays.  I work in the fields mostly.  Before I go they load me up with produce.  I am so grateful because the veggies are so fresh and tasty (the best I've ever had) and it is truly helping me to keep my grocery costs down.

Last week I came home with: beets, peas, chard, broccoli, lettuce, and garlic scape (also two flats of flowers).
I still had green beans left over from the week before so on Monday I made potato, beans, and cavatapi pasta tossed with pesto.  I love how the pasta potatoes and beans cook together.  I use a Knorr pesto mix.  Dinner cost me $2.50.

Today I made borscht.  We will have it cold.  I will serve it two ways to see how we like it best. 1. With grated onion and sour cream.  2. With grated orange peel, fresh orange juice, and sour cream.  We are going to have a salad with the cold soup. 

I also made roasted pea puree for pizza, and broccoli salad as a side for burgers. 

The week before I had baby yellow and zuchinin squash veggie quesadillas.  This is a family favorite.

The King of the Gingerbread Men

I have been wanting this gingerbread man cookie cutter for a long time.  Jacob won him for me on ebay.  He cracks me up because he has x's for eyes. 

"I like it when it's you and me day."

 Arianna came over to spend the day with me.  No one else was home.  "This place is empty," said Arianna.  Then she added, "I like it when it is you and me day."
This was our first big art day.  She came wearing her paint clothes.  We worked on two projects as the paint from one projects dries as we work on the other project.  We didn't finish our little door, but we finished the new hearts for the flower boxes.  A few years back I made some glass mosaic hearts (see Aug 1, 2007) that crumbled after the first year.  These new hearts are made from odd bits of junk and will hopefully hold up better.
She painted with a spray can, roller, and brush.  Went to the basement and carried stuff up, dug around in the garage for materials, and she used a hammer and nails.
I didn't have plan for the hearts so we talked and shared ideas about what would look good.  I asked her later in the day . . .

 "Making art is hard isn't it?"  Without hesitation she agreed.  However, no complaints from Arianna because the activity was rewarding.

In addition to art we made blueberry pancakes, which she loved.  Went for a short walk and saw a dead squirrel (gross and fascinating).  Fetched the cat out of the neighbor's inflatable pool (she was drinking from a puddle of water in the bottom) and then took a long walk to the Frosty Boy for an ice cream.  It was a long day, but I think she wanted to do more (library and park). 

She found a big roly poly bug which she played with for a long time.  She informed, "I like nature."

It looks like she'll be over again soon so I am getting the microscope ready.