Cluttered Country Store Style, Et Cetera

While many are able to define the decorating style of their kitchens — Tuscan, Country, Primitive, French Provincial — I've never quite been able to come up with a definitive name for mine. Well I have, but would be reluctant to share it for decency's sake. I spend a lot of time disguising that kitchen in photos for Blogdom having promised for years that I would share painting details and still it is not done. Not happening any time soon either.

So when I saw this photo of Sam in the apron he requested a year ago — one "just his size" and only recently finished, I gasped.

Through the magic of the camera's eye, I can definitively state that my kitchen is Cluttered Country Store. Ai yi yi... nothing like displaying the recycling bins prominently beneath the old farm table loaded with the stuff we need and can't seem to find a home for. Sigh. It is what it is for now.

Well then, let us just focus on the happy boy who has an apron his size and a denim jean pocket, an idea gleaned from visiting Linda and her camper redo. If you haven't seen Linda with her new grandbabies (right—quads!), you must check— so cute.

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Remember when I mentioned that Site Meter was ticking down to zero? It happened. Slowly and methodically, it began ticking back up until, as of yesterday, it looks as if it might be back to normal.

I can smile again.

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Here's a photo that makes me grin. First, it's that iced coffee recipe from Pioneer Woman. Oh boy howdy — it's yummy good! Second, the roses are rising right out of my glass. Bad, bad positioning. ☺

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Lastly, we went bike riding in the cemetery over the weekend. I packed a little lunch knowing the boys would be thirsty and hungry after all the exercise. Their mom even had a blanket. Love this photo, though I'm feeling a little insecure about the snack. Look at those faces! =D

Must dash, as if you haven't figured that out already.

A lovely Monday to you.

Gathering Life

Not only the days, but life itself lengthens in summer. I would spread abroad my arms and gather more of it to me, could I do so.
~ Richard Jefferies

Monday morning began with breakfast out followed by an hour of bike riding in the cemetery then an idea for a picnic at a local animal farm. (More on that tomorrow.) It wasn't the most comfortable picnic hence Sam's car seat. John and I were wishing we had a portable car seat in no time.

We love the ability to be able to drop everything and gather in such summer moments.  I wish the same for you...

Pizza Picnic and Hole Digging

Like many of you north of the Mason-Dixon line, we enjoyed an unusual stretch of warm weather over the weekend. It was so unusually pleasant that we celebrated a birthday Pizza Picnic Style.

The fam is not so fond of my picture taking after all these years. The grands are hopping all over the place and so they're not so easy to catch either. It is what it is and I leave it at that. Perhaps by Thanksgiving...

Hole digging. Now that's a lot of fun. The driveway needed to be cut open and the blocks are waiting to be put back for the winter. Next year perhaps a new driveway...I hope!

Pavement Cutting

My Digging Accomplishments Before Quitting

John's As of Twenty Minutes Ago

I'm not going back to digging today for I have learned a valuable lesson: I am just in his way.

Gosh, my topics are truly uninspired. I really want to share something way more exciting to me, but I must wait until another October birthday has passed.

Enjoy your day...

One Thing I've Discovered

One thing I've discovered is that the longer one stays away from blogging the easier it becomes. That can't be a good thing! So in a purposeful effort to stay connected, even a little bit, I'm going to post weekly. Maybe.

So many of you have reminded me to take care of myself and John and to do something fun from time to time. I am not certain why I find this so difficult, especially when it's the very advice that I might give to someone in similar circumstances. Perhaps it is this: It feels as if it is a betrayal to those who are unable to do "something fun." But thinking that is a lie since both my mother and grandmother have continued to enjoy their lives even while in Rehab. So I attempt to nip that wrong thinking and focus on "something fun" for John and myself like an evening off to the lake to watch folks hit golf balls down the driving range and to partake of the best onion rings in the state.






Doesn't he look intent?! :D




After that, we are not ready to head home so soon. A stop at Giffords is definitely in order and John splurges, yet again, on one of their banana splits while I enjoy my favorite Caramel Caribou cone.

Still not ready to return home, we strike off for one of our favorite spots. Since the sunset is not cooperating quite as well as we'd hoped, I settle for taking a photo of Sebago Lake, stacks of wood being readied for next winter, and a Tufted Titmouse.









Wonder what the plural of titmouse is? Titmice? Titmouses?

Enjoy this beautiful day, Dear Ones!

Sunset Picnic

So there the four of us were enjoying a sunset picnic. My niece, home from Boston, had surprised us with a visit and came along, too. Our first picnic as marrieds was so romantic! Okay, not quite, but still wonderful and pleasant and everyone had a hearty appetite and we saw a lovely sunset.



And we used our "new" vintage picnic basket! Earlier in the summer, Suzanne from At Home With the Farmer's Wife mentioned in passing that she was selling one. We had been looking high and low in flea markets hither and yon for a picnic basket ever since our New Hampshire picnic in the White Mountains. Somehow a vintage basket via a friend seemed just right. (She tells me that it is something her sister-in-law [oops, sister] found in one of her travels.) Here the table is all decked out...



When it arrived, we were delighted because, not only was the picnic basket charming and fantastic, it was filled with wonderful things from Suzanne: a red checkered tablecloth, two embroidered napkins with our names on them, and two crocheted dishcloths. Bloggers are some of the nicest people I know. Suzanne, thank you so much! We were both overwhelmed by your thoughtful gifts. My niece also loved this basket and went over all its features very carefully plus she looked so cute carrying it that I took this picture.



(As a point of interest for you, Suzanne, my niece made her skirt out of a deconstructed man's shirt. It's pretty cute.)



Okay, where were we? Oh, yes, a sunset picnic is a lot of fun!



(I know that they look frozen, but the temps were really quite warm.)

Have a great Thursday!