Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Around the House

 Hello!  Do you love glads?  One of our Australian house guests is sitting in the rocking chair.  They are extremely easy guests.
 I tried to grow glads last year, but they didn't come to anything.  I probably neglected to give them extra drinks.  I found these in the floral department at the grocery store. 
It's time for strawberries.  We can buy strawberries all year round now, but June is the best REAL time for them.  They are so photogenic.
 On Saturday one of Jeff's Hawaiian friends made us a lovely plate lunch.  You know, a meat curry, rice, and macaroni salad.  Now, I must confess that I tend to think of mac salad as an old fashioned side dish, but now I have new vision for it.  They say that the key is the mayonnaise.  It MUST be Best Foods brand.  I am going to make some myself for our cookout night.  I will put in tiny diced carrot, celery, red bell pepper, and green onion.  I'm inspired to mix it up and continue to tweak my own mac salad.  Come over for a plate lunch? 
 Our guest Heather's boots.  Made in America but much cooler on Australians!  Ha ha ha!  Just kidding. 
 All of my linens are old.  I lose track of time when it comes to cloth.  I gave some sheets to the Goodwill recently because I don't need more than two sets of sheets, but I used to think I did.  My tablecloths are practically antiques.  I still like using them.  
 I went shopping for bookends.  There are not enough bookends in this house.  I found that pretty bookends are quite expensive.  I bought another set of the chairs!  They were reasonably priced and they work!  Bookends are better than all the piles that accumulate around here. 
 After cleaning like a good housemaid (I really was surprised at myself - the basement is tidy and web free!) I feel lighter.  I meandered through a few (way too many) containers in my office (all tucked under the desk - messy!) I found a sweater that I began knitting for Kelli 32 years ago!  Gasp!  In the same basket were a couple of ugly black moths.  So scary.  I threw away some of the wool, but the sweater is made of acrylic yarn so it is soaking in the bathroom sink.  I just might finish it and see if I can talk Plum Cake into wearing it.  I fear it's not pink enough for her fairy/princess/pretty pony taste. 


 I've been watching lovely UK podcasts and who knew I would find them SO inspiring as well as entertaining?  I like Sew Sweet Violet, Little Bobbins Knits, Cherry Heart, and Amy at Love Made My Home. I am thinking about what to make with the golden yarn Debbie sent me in the stationary swap that Elizabethd initiated.  The podcasters are so inspiring! 

I've been a very busy granny and house mouse, but next week is pretty free.  I want to knit and watch this. 
 Ginny from Small Things and Yarn Along recommended this book.  It's nice and fat.
 I'm still clearing a place at my desk, but this is my new treat.
 Kelli gave me gift cards, a massage, and lunch to say thank you for keeping the girls while they vacationed.  Isn't the card pretty?  I do not need gifts for taking care of our grands, but she insists.  
 Jenny gave me this for Mother's Day.  Isn't it sweet?  It makes me think of Susan Branch.  She says dreams come true.  So cute.
Tomorrow the temps are supposed to be in the 70's so I might pull some weeds and plant red petunias.  Our cucumbers are coming up.  Hooray!
Oh, and I want to make our home look more like a Brambly Hedge home so I have an idea about using tension rods and making curtains in places other than windows.  I am on the lookout for places where tension rods could tuck in.  The green gingham above is going in the dining room and if I get the jazz to pick off wallpaper borders in the family room, I shall add two flouncy curtains to that room, too.  I also want to paint the shelf over the fireplace white and make a ruffle to go around (like the mice do!).  
I did not realize how haunted house-ish our basement was and now that it is clean, I feel bouncy.
Oh, I forgot to take a picture of the square of Tickleberry cake I ate but it was scrumptious!  Happy wedding month! On to the red, white, and blue month.
Thank you for stopping in and saying hello!  

27 comments:

elizabeth said...

what a lot of lovely things here! :)))) what a sweet gift you were given for watching the grands, and that card is so beautiful. I think giving back to people who love one's kids is a really good thing to do and if they can give, it's good to do! So nice about the basement being cleaned. I dream of having Mr Husband's office clean and better organized but we need help to do it (design/assembly) and time also, both being in limited supply at the moment (plus over-busy us). Those paints are lovely! how good it is to be creative!!! those bookends are so cute, also! love them!

Anonymous said...

Soon my basement dwellers will be moving to their new tiny apartment and I will take your lead and clean my basement. I think I'll feel bouncy after that, too. What fun bookends! My husband just bought a pair of Ariat boots when we were in Wyoming. Best Food Mayo is the only brand we buy. It has a different name on the East coast. I'm being so lazy about setting out my red, white and blue! Have a lovely rest of the week!

Melanie said...

You have been a very busy lady! The chair bookends are adorable. Best Food mayo here is Hellman's and, I agree, it's the best. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Kezzie said...

Everything is so pretty and bright in your post from Strawberries, water melons to amazing button cards!!x

Farm Girl said...

What a lovely card! I like your watercolor paints. I love that book Katherine. One of my favorites. I like the books by Anna Seton. If you can find them, she has lots of historical novels. She writes very interesting books.
How nice your cucumbers are coming up. I am glad it is only going to be 70 degrees tomorrow.
Enjoy Christy.
How funny you found a sweater like that, I hope you do finish it. Your wool is lovely, moths very scary. I love your little chair bookends. Your tablecloths are nice too. Have a lovely evening.

Lisa Richards said...

Thanks for reminding me about Jambusters! That led to a whole slew of good book recommendations over at Amazon! :)
You have so much good stuff to keep you busy. Enjoy those watercolors! Show us what you paint! :)

Granny Marigold said...

Of course I like Glads... they're flowers after all. I used to grow many but then didn't. Maybe next year I'll get some new bulbs again.
I remember reading, and enjoying, the book Christy many years a go.
Yay for you, getting the basement tidied up. You must be feeling very energetic!

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Pom Pom -- you have such a happy house and happy photos. I could just live in your blog!

Debi said...

Loved this post... so much fun! What you call Best Foods mayonnaise is called Hellmann's here. When I lived in Seattle, as a new wife, I searched high and low for Hellmann's for my hubby's sandwiches. A kind neighbor told me that Best Foods was the same brand.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Wow there is so much in this post! Wonderful. I totally agree about the mac salad. Just made some last night for dinner with the little "thimble" pasta. And yes, it must be Best Foods! Absolutely. I like to add black olives and frozen corn or peas too (they thaw out quickly) . . . what else? Oh yes, LOVE those chairs you are using for bookends! Sounds like you are enjoying your summer, and it is full of delights. Aren't you glad there's no school to get ready for come September! Yippee! Hooray for retirement.

Elderberry-Rob said...

Isn't it lovely to be in the homemaking mood?! I like the chairs, the curtains idea and the mouse house ambitions. Knitting that's thirty years old is funny - it means you're knitting a vintage item! I am in a puttering mood today....

Gigi said...

Everything is looking lovely & warm at chez Pom -- love your old linens (me too) and those little chair bookends are so cute! Looking forward to seeing your new knitting project -- hmmmm -- cardi, mittens? And "Christie" is one of my favorite series -- love Tyne Daly too. I read "Katherine" when is was a teenager (my mom's book) and loved it. Read it again recently (audible.com -- great for 'reading' as you knit, it's it?) and still liked it very much all these many years later. Hope you enjoy it too.
Blessings Sweet Lady 🙋🏻❤️✨

Henny Penny said...

You do have the sweetest posts! Always! Oh, I want a Brambly Hedge home too! But I live in a hunting lodge. :( I love those little chair bookends! Your post has made my day!

M.K. said...

What in the world is Tickleberry Cake, you darling Pom? :) I found this post so fun. I love Brambley Hedge too, keep a copy of one of her books on my coffee table so I can pull it out when needed for comfort :) I laughed out loud when you said you had an unfinished sweater from 32 years ago. That might be a record!! haha :) But you are getting back into it! That's great. Enjoy your cool temps. I'm sitting inside b/c the humidity is horrific out there. Adam just mowed grass for 4 hours and he is dripping.

I must say, you're a bit inspiring. I feel a need to go look at yarn, add both the Katherine book and the Jambusters book to my wish list, and peek at Brambley Hedge yet again. I wonder if we should someday have a Brambley Hedge Tour for bloggers?

M.K. said...

Oh, meant to say: I often use small stacks of books as my bookends. Good use of extra books, haha :) Also -- any more good book recommendations? I try to work up a list for my Christmas gift from Adam, and I did a bad job last year. Any late favorites?

Amy at love made my home said...

Thank you for your kind mention of the podcast! To be mentioned with those others is a great honour! I love your new little chairs, they are adorable and make wonderful bookends - or chair ends! I like old table linens too! Enjoy your homemaking and keeping! xx

happyone said...

What great things going on at your house. Always such a treat to stop by. I only wish I could pop in for a real visit. : )
Oh those strawberries look perfect.

Marcie said...

Hope to see that little sweater you rediscovered if/when you finish it. Love the color of the strawberries and of the red pepper. Ah! Just love that happy red! We had oOdles of strawberries this year, and they are nearly done producing, but it is still exciting to find another red berry peeking out from under a leaf. The flavor was incredible this year! You are right: the best strawberries are those you get fresh in summer.

GretchenJoanna said...

I don't see how you ever get to blogging, much less remember all those many things to tell us about and show pictures of. Your life is very rich and fun... and you made me laugh with the mention of the haunted house-ish basement. Too much of my house is like that, except that all the rooms are above ground so they aren't dark. I've been taking some time to clean drawers and cupboards here and there and it seems to be easier to accomplish if I don't plan ahead and put the task on a list, but just do it when it occurs to me.

Have a happy 4th!

NanaDiana said...

What a wonderful post. Our strawberries are not quite ready yet. WI is always a bit late in this northern part. You have lots going on and I bet you love every minute of it.

Sounds like you have a winner for a daughter-in-law. I have that, too. What a blessing after having one of the 'other kind' of dils. lol

Glad you have such good, easy company visiting. It makes it a joy to have people like that around.

Hmmm...pasta salad, huh? I have not had it in years. My mom used to make good pasta salad but I have not had any that is decent since then.

Have a wonderful 4th with your family- xo Diana

Between Me and You said...

I would like to sit in your rocking chair, all-the-down-day.xxx

Gumbo Lily said...

Isn't it a wonderful feeling to get neglected spaces cleaned up? Bouncy is a good adjective for it! I like your house guest's boots.

I'm glad you got some special gifts for keeping your grands. It'll be a nice treat to have a massage. So therapeutic and relaxing.

God bless you and God bless the USA! Happy July!

Danette Bartelmay said...

What a FUN post! You are always up to so many wonderful things Pom Pom :-)
I can't wait to see what you do with all of your curtain ideas around your brambly house.

Maggie said...

What a very full week you've have PP, my head is spinning just reading about what you've achieved.
Love the sound of your tweaked mac'n'cheese, I'll take a plate of that please.
Have a great 4th!
Maggie

Left-Handed Housewife said...

My attic feels haunted--probably because of the bats! There is a screened section for venting, and during the day sometimes bats hang out there. So far none have gotten inside, and I don't think that's their aim.

I love seeing pictures of your cheerful house!

xofrances

Debbie Harris said...

Another fun post as you share with us the happenings of your life.
That card with the buttons is adorable. My sister made me a framed heart with different shaped buttons for Valentine's day many years ago and I just love it. There are so many wonderful things you can do with buttons,
I am anxious to see what you make with the yard I gifted you with. You are so talented that I'm sure it will be something wonderful.

We are having rainy weather up here in the mountains over the weekend, much needed for sure.

Enjoy your weekend in all it's glory~~

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

A wonderful hodge-podge of events that make up the beauty of life! I love gladiolas too, and haven't tried to grow them myself. So happy to visit you today and share your lovely little details of life :) Happy 4th!

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