Pie on the 4th of July!

The 4th of July is the perfect holiday for a summer fruit pie. For Pie #2...

Cherry Rhubarb!

We were happy with the results!  Hope you had a tasty holiday too.

Real Homemade Pies

My mom and I have declared this the SUMMER OF PIES! We are determined to make a whole variety of pies, all with homemade crusts. We are trying out a variety of crust recipes and fillings. Our first pie of the summer was rhubarb!

Sweet Spring Findings

Found this growing naturally today...

Honeysuckle is always so cheerful to me.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

From fall to winter...

 

September

Summer is still trying to hang on. Fall is in the air...

That's how I'd summarize September.

I'm feeling ready for a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I've heard it's the 10th birthday of this deliciousness. I'll have to celebrate.

 

Be Still

Pretty beads, carefully picked out to make...

This:

For more information on Protestant prayer beads, visit here.

Springing Forth (in late summer)

The flowers I planted in a small cutting garden have slowly begun to make their appearance. I'm so happy to see them.

I'm going to bring them inside.

(Forgive me if my formatting is unusual for this post. I'm testing out the ability to do a blog post from my phone.)

Growing and Changing

I've been away for awhile! Like so many others, I got caught up in other things and out of the habit of blogging. I haven't given up on my blog, but am still deciding the direction I'd like it to take. I worried too much early on about how many followers I had. That gets discouraging quickly, doesn't it? 

For now, I think I'll focus on pictures of things that make me happy. Here are a couple of plants from around the house that brought cheer this summer.

That's all for now.

Early September Lazy Days

My mom's impatiens on the front porch are losing their petals...

I think they look pretty lying on the cement.

A little acorn has joined them. It's proclaiming that fall is on its way.

P.S. I'm blaming my blogging absence on this little one. Got her this summer. She's named after the wonderfully sassy Minnie Pearl...and believe me, she lives up to the name.

How have your first September days been? They've been lazy days around here as you can see.

 

Elvis Sings On

Wasn't he something?

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Elvis will always be my favorite entertainer. I'm amazed at how he continues to reach audiences 35 years later. My generation never got to experience his music live, but it still means so much to us.

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I had the great opportunity to visit Graceland a few years back. It feels as if his spirit is still present there.

I made sure to join in on the tradition of leaving a note on his front wall.

Rest in peace, Elvis! Sing and don't be silent, 35 years later and beyond. 

August 16, 1977-August 16, 2012

American Pickers: Amateur Edition

Last weekend, my mom and I made our way to the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market in Ohio. It turns out many of the vendors canceled because of the heat, but those who braved it had wonderful items for sale!

Here are a few things I found at the show:

I've been looking for a recipe box for awhile now! I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but knew I wanted it to have a 1960s feel. This was made by Ohio Art Co. (the same company that created Etch A Sketch!) I just love the brightness of the pink and red flowers combined with the aqua lid. It reminds me of my side borders! I can't wait to fill it up with yummy recipes. Got any good ones I should add in?

The next find was sheet music from one of my all time favorite musicals, State Fair. "It Might As Well Be Spring" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1945.

We found it among a large stack of music, each piece with Miss Betty Sellers's name on the front. We think she must have been a music teacher. If not, then definitely a lover of some great music! In the past I didn't like items with names written on them, but I now feel like it's making a connection with someone. I think she'd be thrilled to know that she is still able to share her love of music with others.

Rodgers and Hammerstein was the ultimate musical duo, don't you think?

The last thing I spied was this cupboard. I walked up to take a quick look at the tag thinking there's no way I'll have enough for this! I always need some more shelf space. As I turned the tag over to take a look, the dealer immediately said "I'll take $12 for it." $12!?!?!

Maybe I'm the crazy one, but I think that's a deal! It's very sturdy and the doors still close. All it needs is a new coat of paint! When I fix it up, I'll be sure to show you the after pictures.

We made it through the outdoor show with plenty of time left in the day, so we hit the two antique malls as well--Springfield Antique Center and Heart of Ohio Antique Center. Let me tell you, these are huge malls! Springfield, Ohio is considered the antiquing capital of the Midwest, and it's obvious to see why!

I love pink and black together. I've seen these dishes before, but hadn't yet bought a piece. This bowl was cheap. I love setting old bowls on tables, desks, and dressers to hold small items.

One last thing I grabbed was this red "S." My mom and sister both have a letter of their first initial, so I've always wanted one too. This one looks like it could have been used on an old marquee. I think it will go well with my aqua bedroom walls!

Summer is my favorite time of year for "picking." Have you found anything good this season?