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 Pretty flowers cut from the yard.  Not as many this year. Nothing did very well.  Moles and voles were horrible.  I had to put a lot of plants in pots in ground so they would not eat the roots.  Japanese beetles are terrible.  I will spray my crepe myrtles this coming week as I would like to see a few little flowers.  I am not eating them, so no problem.  

As you can see in the background, we are still trying to put the room back together after laying the floor.

Still so much to do.

White Panicle Hydrangea loves the heat and a lot of sun.  Cutting back on this harder was the best thing I did.  It's blooming much better afterward.

 

I did get a cabbage head that was a pretty good size I grew in a pot.  I may try in pots again next year.  The larger the pot, the larger the head.  I kept mesh netting on the cabbage to deter bugs. 

 Golden coleus is my favorite along with the Fairy Lantern growing at the lamp post. 

Now back to my room and floor.

Before, ugly carpet but it was good while it lasted.

After and so much better

New furniture to purchase for here and I am not sure of the color as of yet.  I am not even sure if I want another sectional.   Decisions are many right now.  

Window treatments are needed.

The floor is by Trucor and is water and scratch resistant vinyl planks.  I like the bright color as this room needs brightening. 

We missed getting rain again.   Always threatens but just doesn't happen.  Maybe tomorrow

💖Betsy

Happy Sunday

 

Saturday before the rain 

Today is rainy for a little while anyway

I purchased seeds for the Fairy Lantern at Raindrops in Va. store in Gordonsville Va.  Lovely shop with so many handmade and unique items. 

The lanterns almost look like they are glowing, especially in the rain

after a rain late in evening

Raindrops in Va. store

Unique handmade garden art

This little mouse was made there.  It can be screwed into a fence post or anywhere else that suits your Fancy. 

An herb, and the first for me to grow is  Mexican Mint Marigold. It may be sold with tags saying Spanish or Mexican Tarragon.  In some places in American south it can be labeled as French Tarragon. I use it in my chicken salad as it does really take the place of tarragon after that herb has gone for the season and this one can take its place.  I saw blooming pictures of it and they are very pretty little flowers. 

 Clafoutis I made a few days ago.

A French dessert made with cherries. 

Bottom layer is like a custard.   I pitted my cherries; some recipes say not to as there is more flavor with them left in the cherry.  For me, I go pitless.

myparisiankitchen.com is where I found the recipe.

Onion and Mushroom with cheese quiche for breakfast this morning

Tomorrow, we get a new floor in Den, FINALLY!  The carpet served it's purpose for many years but now time for a change.  

Happy Independence Day!

"One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation forevermore."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Black eyed Susans starburst shape represents Justice.  A fitting flower for Independence Day.

"We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs, but to secure liberty for their souls."

-Rober J McCracken

🎌🎌🎌🎌

Beautiful Va. farmland

Heading out in Virginia countryside to Luray Va. on Fathers day. 

Yes, it's been a little hazy but still beautiful.

We lost haze after the rain came.

Strasburg Va. visit on our trip.   

Queen street diner in Strasburg.  Steve enjoyed a steak breakfast here for Father's day.

Patriotic decorations 

steak breakfast

Husbands' son Steven on Monday past week cooked sliders on our Blackstone griddle.   Seasoned hamburger pushed thin or you can roll out between parchment paper in the shape of the slider or dinner rolls before cutting.  the rolls were toasted on griddle first.  Sauteed onions under cheese placed on rolls then sliced into individual servings. 

Cooking on the green egg are chicken thighs that I marinated in little brown sugar, some Worcestershire sauce, garlic spices and I threw some Italian dressing in the bag also and marinated overnight.  They tasted really good and the hickory wood chips made them even better.  

sides of garden salad and chips were enough with this, it was a hot day, but it's summer, right? It's supposed to be.  

I have seen Pumpkin Displays and other Autumnal displays in the stores.  For heaven's sake, it hasn't been summer for a month yet.  I do not like rushing the seasons. 

below petunia came up from seed left in pot from last summer.  

I have these golden coleuses in several planters now.  They grow very fast.  I have rooted quite a few just by sticking a cutting in the dirt and watering it like this one from another planter.  

The coleus on the right is a cutting.

Happy Independence Day.  We will be heading out for the day tomorrow just to ride maybe to Gordonsville. 

Grab a barbecue at barbecue exchange restaurant maybe.  Would like to see fireworks, not sure where though.     🎆

Happy Sunday everyone

Hard to believe it's July already!  Half a year gone.  Last week in June, we took a day trip to Culpeper County Va.   On our way there we passed this sweet Church called Winston Family Chapel built by the Patriarch of the family in 1908 and it is on U.S. Route 522.   We took a quick turnaround to get a better look at the church.

There are no trespassing signs and cannot go in.  Just checking out the outside of this beauty. 

The church was built in honor of the Families son Malcolm Boddie Winston.  He died at age 22 in 1906.  One story says he died of scarlet fever; another says typhoid.

dangerously fast hi way in front and I was very careful of stepping back and making sure I didn't trip. 

Sure, would love to see this taken care of before it decays any more.  

We went shopping at the Minuteman Mall in Culpeper and need to go back as we could spend much more time there than we did as it was getting late.

I have seen quite a few of these type of pictures in shops lately.   3D maybe it's called.  I like how the objects pop out of the frame.  I think I can do this, I must try it. 

I purchased this basket with a wreath that I will add to.

We have a small kitchenette area downstairs and it needs some fixing up.  I would like something like this with metal or porcelain cabinets, kind of retro and not much to have to worry about.  Porcelain and metal is strong and takes a lot of hard use.  I mean look at this, been around how long?

Repurposed sewing machine.  This is a first I have seen like this.  Makes a nice end table

I have a divider like the white one shown below, mine is brown.  I may use it in a way such as this for my porch.   If I go back and that wrought iron set is there, I am buying.  It was about 300 dollars and the seat bottom is wrought iron also. I can just buy thicker cushions.  

The lantern holds a candle.

In a shop in the town of Culpeper Steve saw this sofa that he liked also.  I really like the color and it can be paired with anything.  Straight lines I love. Dress it up or down.  We didn't purchase. 

In the town we ate at the cafe.  We both enjoyed  veggie omelets for late lunch.  Very good and filling. 

Now onto my chive vinegar at home

I picked chive blossoms from my planter.

I rinsed them off and placed several in a small glass jar, poured over white vinegar.

I kept mine in fridge and when the pink color I wanted was right for me; I drained vinegar, tossed chive blossoms and now will use for dressings etc..

A pretty pink color it turned.  Very light oniony flavor. 

That's it for now 😃