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To those of you who have graciously followed this little blog, I thank you.

The Headmaster is having serious health issues, in the forms of Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia (that's the really evil one).

This will be my final post.  Thank you again for following me and for your very sweet comments.  I must also say how very MUCH I have learned from all of you in so many, many areas.  Additionally, I have made friends whom I've never met in person, and I treasure those relationships.

If possible, when you pray, you would say a prayer for Dave and for all of those with this awful affliction.  While it is not Alzheimer's, it is truly, truly sad and horribly debilitating.  We do not know at this point what the future holds.  If there are any of you have have any experience with LBD and would like to share with me, I would be forever grateful.

Again, thank you for your thoughtfulness.

A Fall Door

I have been south for a couple of weeks doing 'parental maintenance' and will be back north early next week.  Then, in about six weeks, we will be south again for the winter!  (Yes...my head constantly spins).  

While I'm here, I've been doing some 'readying' of the house for fall, so that when we do get back, it's one less chore I'll have to tackle!

The door arrangement was simple!  Just yank the spring arrangement out of the door pocket and plop the HL flowers in!  Took all of about five minutes!  I had some stuff (e.g., the trailing vine and leaves) left over from my fall stash.  Couldn't have been easier.  

As I look around the house, I have now determined that 'less is more,' so much of the fall stuff will be put back up.  Too much of it is already making me nervous, and I just can't handle the 'cluttery' aspect!  Wonder if I'll have that same attitude come Christmas?  Hmmm....

Those of you in the midwest ENJOY the fall temps!  It's still broiling down here, and I just can't wait to get back!

Midnight, the Magical Cat   1996 - 2013

On a sadder note, we lost Midnight, one of my assistants, two weeks ago.  He had stopped eating and simply crawled into a hiding place to fade away.  We did, however, locate him, and he is now resting under the new lilac tree in the back of the property in Wisconsin.  We love you, Midnight, and miss you terribly.

Hello, Sunshine!

One of the things I look forward to every summer up here in Wisconsin is the arrival of sunflowers.  I believe I'm correct when I say that farmers rotate them around just as they do most all crops; so, you can't always depend upon the same field each summer for a glorious show.  I did happen to find one, though, about ten miles south of our home and couldn't wait to share them with you!  The pictures, of course, do NOT do the scene justice!  Acres and acres and acres of these things!

Enjoy!

This was just such a beautiful sight!  I have a few planted outside the chicken coop, which will be blooming soon (if I continue to keep them watered during this drought!).  Hopefully, I'll be able to share those as well.  I've missed blogging, but I am dealing with a painfully s...l...o...w computer here.  You have no idea how long this short post has taken!  That, plus, I have fallen prey to the Candy Crush addiction (I'm so ashamed).
Thanks for visiting!

Door County Garden Walk

For several years I have looked forward to this event in our area...for a multitude of reasons I wasn't able to go until this year.  

Each year, a local medical facility sponsors this House and Garden Walk as a fundraiser.  I didn't realize that there was 'heavy' emphasis on the House aspect, as I really wanted to see the gardens.  Though I was a tad disappointed at the whole affair, I did manage to get some photographs of lovely things.  Hope you enjoy!

Isn't this a beautiful driveway?

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And isn't this a beautiful 'summer home?'  Most every room faces the bay...a beautiful sunset every evening!

 Stunning walk down to the bay!

Gigantic ajuga...love it!

And isn't this a cute little garden shed?

 Dahlias at the last stop on the tour.  I don't grow them; these were HUGE and beautiful!

Hope you enjoyed the Garden Walk!

En Plein Air

One of the great things about where we live in Wisconsin is our close proximity to the beautiful Door County, on the northeast peninsula.  Year round, but during the summer especially, the place bursts with tons of cultural activities.  A major player in this is the Peninsula School of Art (the scene of my very first art class ever, Drawing for Dummies, this summer).  Each year, the school sponsors a Plein Air festival, attracting artists from around the country.  

On the final day of this week-long event, artists participate in a "paint out" in and around Fish Creek.  This was my first opportunity to see for myself these talented artists.  My dream is that one day I can be proficient enough to try my hand at watercolors, so I can sit in our backyard and produce an 'plein air' work of my own!

Enjoy some of the works created in a very short time today!

The stunningly beautiful hollyhocks, blooming all over the county, provided subject matter for many artists.

See this cute little wooden boat in the harbor?  It, too, was a very popular subject:

Other boats in the harbor were of interest as well:

Permanent residents were enjoying the sights; look how clear that water is!

And here is just a sampling of some of the other artists who were painting.  It was a beautiful, cool day.  What talent!!

I hope you enjoyed the art 'tour.'  Speaking of tours, tomorrow is the annual Door County House and Garden Walk.  It promises to be a gloriously beautiful day so, God willing, I'll be off up there again!

Tardy, Tardy, TARDY!

My, but it's been a long time since I offered a post!

Everything (including me) is late in northeast Wisconsin this year.  A late and cool spring has delayed a lot of blooming that is usually at it's peak about now.  But that's OK!!  A longer time to enjoy the weather and the growing season!

Here is just a snapshot of what's happening around our house!

On the chicken coop,an old stock pot hanging on a hay hook is filled with a potato vine and purple and white petunias.  Making a great show!

Deck boxes (pictures taken from the back) are filled with orange and purple superbells and white petunias; also creeping jenny, but you can't see it)

Last year's 'new' bed.  Knock out roses are looking great; phlox is about ready to bloom, and the artemesia is on a rampage!

Black-eyed susan vine; I love this thing!  Next year, one will also be in the above mentioned stock pot!

Trailing lobelia showing itself in this basket; also includes trailing verbena which is also kind of tardy!

A little finch (?) taking in all the action!

Hannah looking pitiful in her kennel behind the Annabelle hydrangea.  Not to worry; she was 'sprung' right after this was taken!

Hoping to have more later!  Enjoy the summer!