Gardening by Moonlight

I could get lost in this picture. The lush, cottage garden and peaceful porch are a summer dream. Wouldn't some cool lemonade taste devoon on that porch? Yes, but this is but a daydream, as the temperature is already a lovely 100+ and the ground is drier than dry and we are under water restrictions. Gardening at night is the only comfortable time these days. So, I will enjoy this pic for now. True, it is a lot less work and for that I am grateful, but someday... I think I love this so much because it reminds me of my great-grandmother's house. She had a green thumb and the most incredible peonies and wisteria I have ever seen. I really miss her. She would serve homemade, fried pies with her lemonade. She also had an enormous backyard with a large garden that was filled with fireflies on summer evenings. That is one of my "Mayberry" childhood memories. How about you all? Fireflies in a jar? Homemade ice cream? Fresh watermelon on the back porch? Go out and make some memories and if you need to "get your garden on", do it by moonlight.

Toodles,

Krissy

picture: Cottage Living

French Market Totes - Oui

Okay, these absolutely fabulous French market totes are not new, but I love 'em. They just say "summer" to me. Do they say the same to you? They are perfect for lugging a load of beach paraphernalia, grabbing groceries or a super chic purse. They make excellent storage, too. I think I will take the totes and everything in this picture. I love the contrast of the rustic, natural totes with the uber-glam, mirrored table. What do you think? Oui or No?

Au revoir,

Krissy

Fun With Shells

Just in case you didn't get enough posts on shells last summer, I thought I would share yet another fun idea with you. I was in charge of Sweet Pea's class project for the school auction and decided that a shell mosaic cross would be a good project. I purchased the shells from Hobby Lobby, but this would be an excellent way to display your own treasures from the beach.

The kiddos came-up with the design, their creativity never ceases to amaze me. In most cases, the only thing that limited the design was gravity! I supervised the hot glue gun, but the kids did the rest! I did have to go and fill-in to make it look finished and I went over the entire cross with two coats of paint sealer to make it shine.

I finished the project by mounting the cross onto a cabinet door. I just happened to have one handy from the demo of our kitchen! I painted the door and glazed it. I mounted the cross with liquid nails. So far, so good. My friend that won the bidding hasn't called to say that it has fallen to pieces, so I'm calling it a success! Give this a try, it is fun. I am planning one for our home, as well.

Happy Shelling!

Krissy

We love you!

We just got home from a little vacay to San Antonio. Mr. P had some business, so we all got to enjoy some r-n-r and quality family time. I am a wee bit tardy, but I wanted to say to my Mr. P - I am so blessed that you are the father of my children. You are a wonderful father and we love you so! Thank you for taking such good care of us and making us all laugh and fell so loved!

All our love,

Krissy, Fisherman, Sweet Pea and Sport

Today I'm Dreaming of...

Do I need to say anything else? This picture says it all. Where in the world is this? This is in the Seychelles Islands off of the coast of Africa. Heaven.

Chillax,

Krissy

Chicks in the Nest

Fisherman in Biscayne Bay - that is Miami in the background

Fisherman arrived home today after a special thirteenth birthday trip to Fort Lauderdale with my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law (bless her heart) has spent the last week catering to my boy and his every whim. What are his whims, you ask? Let me back-up a bit and give you a little background info. The idea for this entire trip started in the spring when Fisherman did a report for school on the I.G.F.A. museum (International Game Fishing Association) and he might have said more than once how much he wanted to go there. (Yes, my eldest son even writes about fishing. It consumes him!) Anywho, his little comments about going to the museum are precisely the kind of comments that fall on a parent's deaf ears, but grandparents don't seem to miss. Yeah grandparents! So, off they went to Fort Lauderdale.

The eighty pound nurse shark that Fisherman caught.

Fisherman really put some thought into this trip. He scoped-out a hotel adjacent to the museum to stay in. The museum is right by a very large Bass Pro Shop. This is Fisherman's mothership. He lives to go to this place and can spend hours carefully combing through it. They went to Bass Pro everyday. They got to know the employees. This was not by accident. My boy is no dummy. Did I mention that they went to Bass Pro everyday? Fisherman got to meet Guy Harvey, one of his idols. (Who is Guy Harvey? He is a wildlife conservationist, fisherman and artist. You have probably seen his work and don't realize it.) They took an airboat through the Everglades and went fishing in Biscayne Bay. I don't know about my mother-in-law, but Fisherman had a ball. She has set the bar high for thirteenth birthday trips. (by-the-way: Sweet Pea is already talking of Paris - oh dear).

Guy Harvey artwork found here

All my chicks are in the nest, for now anyway. We celebrated by having a family dinner and Sweet Pea decorated a delicious cake with the mad-skills that she learned in cake decorating class at fine arts' camp last week. Sporty has been perfecting his dive. He learned how in lessons last week. We are together for a bit until camp and the rest of the summer madness hits again. Me? I am enjoying my chicks in the nest. Don't worry though, I will get over it and you can bet that I will be the first car in line for camp drop-off in a couple of weeks!

xoxo,

Krissy

The Art of Display

I am not a "less is more" kind of gal. Nope. I like stuff. Yes, I appreciate pared-down spaces and clean, uncluttered looks, but at the end of the day, I want my spaces filled with my collections and doodads - mementos of vacations, people and the stories that have made my life. I like to rearrange my collections and move them from room to room and I am constantly looking for new ways to display my stuff. These pics are ones that I pulled for just such an inspiration. I hope they inspire you, as well. Have a good one!

Krissy

photos via: Country Living

Ain't No Cure...

Summertime blues? Yes , I got them, but not the "sad" kind. I've got the "sun-drenched, smell of suntan lotion, white-puffy cloud, warm breeze" kind. Every summer, I yearn to add a touch of summertime blue to every room. There are so many shades to choose from! What is your fave? Are you a water or sky kind of person? Me? I really love them all. Nope. There ain't no cure.

Krissy

photos: Cottage Style, unknown, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens (last 2)

Porch Party

I'm a southern girl. I love the smell of a magnolia tree in bloom. I love to watch fireflies on a warm, summer evening. I love some tea with my sugar. I own more than one deviled egg platter and I can make the deviled eggs to fill them. I love stationery and hand-written letters and I love front porches. Our last home was in an historic neighborhood with sidewalks and font porches and I miss my porch! It was the perfect place to spy on the neighbors or read a good book or share a drink with a friend or have an impromptu party! Porches are additional living spaces in our homes, so don't forget to use them!

See you on the porch!

Krissy

photos from my archives: Cottage Style