SUMMER HEAT ARRIVES THIS WEEKEND

 Yes, with this Friday (some say Saturday)

marking the arrival of summer, so will the

 temperatures to go with the occasion.  

The Hollyhocks are still blooming and

usually it is already too hot for the

hydrangeas to bloom but this year we 

have had more rain and there are some

 lovely blooms.  They don't like 90 degree

temps so I imagine they will be most

unhappy this weekend with our heat

arriving.

We are at the top of  zone 6B so we have 4

different seasons.  I have loved our spring

this year but that party is about to end.

Last week I bought several bags of chicken

manure for our flower garden.  My husband

was not real thrilled with this event and the

smell but I am hoping it will be wonderful

for the garden.

I hope your summer is going well.  We

recently finished watching the entire series

of "Road to Avonlea" and I recommend it

highly for you and children love it.

GARDEN AFTER LOTS OF RAIN

 

After rain for about 3 days....

the garden looks pretty

happy!

I looked out the window this morning and saw 

what I thought was a baby bunny trapped in some

 wire I had put around my tomato plants.  It

turned out to be a turtle so I sent him on his

way happily freed.

And one more collage:

EARLY JUNE HOLLYHOCKS

The Hollyhocks have been lovely

this June but maybe not quite as

tall as usual:

Have a great weekend - we are 

participating in a 2 day yard 

sale in our subdivision.  This is

not a favorite thing to do but

sometimes necessary!
 

CENTRALIA, MISSOURI ROSE GARDEN

 This lovely rose garden was a delight to visit last
 week.  We usually visit the garden later
in the summer when the roses have sadly been
visited by Japanese beatles.  We grew up

referring to them as "June" beatles because

they showed up in June.

I always admire the 1904 Edwardian period

home in Centralia, Missouri.  It is a Queen

Anne style home built by pharmacist

R. L. Hope and his wife and later purchased

by the Chance family.  It is maintained now by

the Historical Society of Centralia.

I was so happy that our visit

was earlier this year!

HONORING THOSE WHO GAVE ALL

 We drove over to the small town

of Centralia, Missouri today

just to see their incredible

flag display honoring

the military who gave

all:

May 24th QUEEN VICTORIA'S 206th Birthday Celebration

COLLAGES FROM THE GARDEN

 Gone are the lilacs,

daffodils, tulips,

spring bulbs and most of the

irises.  Now comes the yarrow,

the peonies, roses and then the

other summer flowers.

And one last collage:

Hope May is going well for you!

CLARK AMISH COUNTRY

 

We made a little trip about 40 miles away

on Saturday to check out the Amish

community. 

 I wanted some plants to make

my own hanging baskets for myself and

 to make one for our daughter in law for

 Mother's Day. I had already noticed that I

had a stack of those hanging pots in our

 garage.  I found some great plants even

though much of that season is over for the 

Amish green houses.  The prices were

really good for plants.

I also made 2 Strawberry Rhubarb pies

with some lovely strawberries and the 

vegetable "rhubarb".  We also

purchased other vegetables and we

want to go back and learn our way

around a little better.  We never

seem to find the same places

twice so we want to get a better

handle on that!

I am sure you realize that Amish do not want

their photos taken so these are just random

shots from inside our car.....

The signs are very modest marking

what might be for sale so one has

to keep their eyes peeled.  

No electricity, phones, etc so lots of

fire wood to keep warm in the

winter and to cook!

Although we never found an earlier place

I had gone to before, we did find one place

 that carried spices.

I was glad as mine were getting old:

dried parsley, basil, cinnamon, celery seed,

dill, etc.

I had collected 7 of those old former 

pots in our garage from hanging baskets and I

got enough small plants to make them up and

some to give away:

 

80 YEARS SINCE THE VE DAY CELEBRATION

 

Remembering.....

SUNDAY CELEBRATION

 

THE TINY TOWN OF BLACKWATER, MISSOURI

Over a year ago we started buying our meat

from a farm "lady" over in the

next county.  All the meat is so wonderful

and natural which we decided we valued.

Her shop is called "Morning Glory

Farms".

We were there a week ago and went early to

take a few photos of the tiny town of

Blackwater, Missouri where less

than 300 people live.

Here are some photos I took from

our car.

It was just about to sprinkle rain.

The train went buy while

we were there.

  

The old school house reminded me

so much of the school in "Anne of

Green Gables" and "Road to Avonlea"

which just happen to be watching

right now.

This old hotel near the railroad

tracks is now the Iron Horse

 Bed and Breakfast

and restaurant which caters

as a wedding venue.

 

Blackwater is 3 miles north of I-70

in Cooper County west of

Boonville, Missouri.

MAY IS HERE

 

Perfect tea cozies for your

garden tea:

END OF APRIL WITH A FIRST "TEA IN THE GARDEN"

 The last few days have welcomed the

opening of the first of the irises

 in our garden.

It was a lovely day to set up a little table

for tea.

The irises have been starting to

open and I remember how quickly

this takes place and then that

is over which always is a bit sad.

I have quite a few columbines blooming

too and I do love the little "hanging

bell" shaped ones.

  

Gone are the daffodils, jonquils and

tulips (except for a few).

I made a pie yesterday but it has since

been consumed by family.  Here

is the recipe!