Dry! Dry! My Darlings!

 With our most recent landscaping project came several new hydrangeas.

Most of them are still alive, but the drought took it's toll on them in the form of sunburned leaves and no flowers.  The pink variety, however, put on a rather nice show.  This morning I decided to cut a bunch with the intention of drying them.  I find them to be beautiful in all of their stages... growing on the shrub, fresh cut in a bouquet and even dried to be enjoyed throughout the fall and winter months.

 About this time of year I like to cut some of the older, more faded blossoms.  The flower should feel somewhat leathery to the touch.

I strip off all of the leaves and set the stems in a small amount of water (1-2 inches).  There they stay until the water is totally evaporated.  At that point they should be completely dried and ready to be used as decoration.  I have a bunch of blue ones on my dresser that I cut last year.  They are still doing great and even have shades of blue and purple on them.

I also like the look of them tucked into an antique or vintage basket.  Years ago my mom had a friend who dried enough to tuck in amongst the branches of her Christmas tree.  I would imagine that looked very pretty with the white lights illuminating them.

 This pink bouquet will reside on the little table next to my reading chair.  The sun won't touch them here, which is another key to successfully drying them.  Keep them out of direct sunlight.

I decided that this cup and saucer would pair nicely with them.

The pink, blue and yellow flowers coordinate pretty well with the room and I like the brown foliage as it looks "fallish" to me.

My reading time will be an even more pleasant experience with these little signs of the season close at hand.

I usually do my reading after I've finished my office or housework at which point I like to make it a well anticipated event.  In other words, I tend to get comfy in my chair with a beverage and maybe even a cookie at hand. ;).

 A while ago I received a lovely surprise in my mailbox.

This charming tea cup mat handmade by Vee.  So darn cute!!

I have been using it to rest my beverage on being very careful not to spill a drop.

It has a special place on my little reading table where it serves a dual purpose... a darling spot to rest my cup and a gentle reminder of the many kind people I've come to know through this blogging community.

Many of you know Vee and know that she's just returned to her blog after taking a brief and well-earned break.

Vee, if you're reading, welcome back.  You have been missed.

****

A note about my title today...  as I was cutting the hydrangeas and thinking about drying them, that popped into my head.  Don't ask me why, it just did and I know it comes from an old movie I remember seeing as a teenager.  Not really remembering much about it other than that it was kind of creepy, I did a search to refresh my memory.  Oh my, no wonder my brother told me recently that the movies my sister and I used to watch scared him.    Back in those days we were fans of movies like The Birds, Madame X and Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

Perhaps I should have chosen a tamer title like, maybe, As The Hydrangeas Dry.  That would conjure up memories of soap operas to me.  Not sure which is worse, old horror movies or soap operas. 

Ha!

Softly Comes September

 

 Last night, while watering my wee vegetable garden, I looked around me and noticed subtle changes confirming the fact that the fall season was on it's way.  You see, it's at this time of year that I've had it with the heat and really had it with the humidity!  I'm just ready for the cooler air of autumn to blow on in.

We've had a very dry summer and it has led to drought conditions.

A recent local newscast informed that for now the farmers are reporting that their crops are okay.  However if the drought goes on much longer it could cause problems for them.  

In my own garden I'm still trying to keep it going with a nightly watering despite the sorry appearance of the yellowing foliage on the tomato plants and the nibbled on leaves of the pepper plants.

We're still enjoying the fresh tomatoes no matter how small the harvest and I want to make a few more batches of pesto before the frost hits.

 

 The limelight hydrangeas are still putting on an impressive show.

I rather liked how the dogwood leaves in the background are showing signs of the coming season.

These little signs of autumn had me wondering whether it would be a good year for acorns.

Looking up into the oak tree I was shocked to see branches of leaves completely decimated.  Most likely the work of some type of caterpillar.  Ugh!  Not what I was hoping to see and I didn't see many acorns either :(.

 The acorns may be in short supply here this year, but the beautyberries are looking plentiful and beautiful too.

I'm thinking a bouquet of limelights with a few of these mixed in might be nice for the table.

 I couldn't resist bringing a touch of autumn inside in the form of my coffee mug and yes that is a land line you're seeing in the background.  We still use them, do you?  My kids find it hard to believe.  Personally I prefer them when I'm at home.  It seems like the connection is usually more clear than when I talk on my cell phone.

A new month is upon us.

The older I get the less I want to rush through the seasons, however I wouldn't mind a bit if the sweltering heat of summer would zip on out of here.

Happy September Friends!

 

Happier Pantry

 

The other day I was sorting through my magazines and came across this photo.  The entire pantry was decorated like this.  Mixing bowls held collections of cookie cutters, Mason jars held flour, cereal and grains.  Cookbooks were stacked and lined up on shelves.  I was struck by the overall cozy look.

I began to think of the old mixing bowls in my attic and a few rolling pins tucked in drawers.

When I see pantries like that I can't help but wonder where the canned goods are hiding.

Looking at my own pantry, I knew it wouldn't be practical to have all my shelves look that way.  On the other hand, I might be able to devote one tiny shelf for the cause.

 Now when I open the door this is the first thing I see...

or maybe this is the first thing I see:

 

I guess it doesn't really matter which one I see first.

I'm just happy to have that little burst of cozy pantry going on.

It kind of makes the time I stand in there wondering what to make for dinner a bit more pleasant. 

Speaking of that, what's for dinner at your house tonight?

I'm on my own tonight.

Sometimes that can be fun.  Like last night I had one hamburger bun and a dab of pesto left in the jar.  I sliced a chicken breast thinly, laid it on the bun and sprinkled some shredded mozzarella on top.  In the toaster oven it went until the cheese was melted and the bun was crisp.  At that point I spread the pesto on the bun and sliced a few heirloom tomatoes from the garden to put on top.

Delicious!!

Tonight, however, is a different matter.  Here it is almost 6:00 and I have no clue what I'll eat.  Guess I'd better hop into the pantry for some inspiration.

Late Summer Yellows

 

Scrolling through my photos on this late August morning, a subtle theme became apparent.  Little bits of yellow popping up here and there.  Like, for instance, this volunteer sunflower.  It volunteered at the base of one of my camellia bushes and soon soared past it.  Since the camellia was only recently planted I didn't want the sunflower to take away the nutrients from the root ball so I let it bloom, took it's picture and then cut off the seed head to feed the birds.  Not a bad deal for a free flower.

 The butterflies have been keeping me company during my morning flower watering sessions.  I never ever tire of the beauty and movement they add to the garden.

 The container gardens are still hanging in there.

While they aren't quite as lush as they once were, the bees and butterflies don't seem to mind a bit. 

 

 The American Goldfinches are daily visitors to the feeder, coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans.  

Like the butterflies they add movement and beauty to the garden.

Yellow spaghetti squash made a recent appearance in my kitchen.

In the past I've always roasted it in the oven.

Did you know you can poke some holes in them, plop them in the crock pot along with 1-1/2 cups of water, set the timer for 6 hours on low and have it ready when you return from a day on the lake (or wherever your day may take you)?  Well, you can and we did and it worked very well. 

 The tomatoes are ripening up fast in my little veggie garden.

We bought four different heirloom varieties this year.  The long skinny ones above look orange, but they are really yellow and quite tasty.

 Yours Truly floating around the lake with her yellow noodle.

While my brother and sister-in-law were here last week we spent a wonderful day together on the lake.  I'm always a bit hesitant to feature other people on my blog without their consent so you'll have to imagine them floating around with me.

Hard to believe school started here today and summer will soon give way to fall.  Personally I'm ready for the heat and humidity to hit the road.  Until then, I'm content to enjoy the many good things summer has to offer.  Birds, butterflies, flowers, garden produce and dips in the lake to name a few.

 

Finishing Touches

 

1.  That guest room will be filled with guests tomorrow so it was high time we got that sign hung up.  My brother & sister-in-law are traveling cross country to settle their youngest son into college here in NC.  It's been a few years since we've seen each other so I'm super excited for their arrival.  For old times sake I couldn't resist putting a photo of all of our children standing at the shore of Lake Huron many years ago.

2.  The guest bathroom has been cleaned.

Dixie cup dispenser filled.

Soap dispenser filled.

3.  I was pleased to discover that some of the hotel lotions I had stashed away fit in quite well with the decor.  There was a time when Brett traveled fairly often on business trips.  He had a habit of bringing home the little samples until I had to tell him to stop.  They were piling up faster than we could possibly use them.

Once in a while, however, the samples are from places like Bath & Body Works or Aveda... those I still allow in the door ;D.

4.  Tidying up the toilet paper.

5.  Brand new bar of soap.

Glad I remembered to clear out the half used bar along with various bottles of shampoo and conditioner.

I remember an Oprah episode centered around getting your home ready for guests.  Oprah made a point of recommending a fresh bar of soap.  I guess I hadn't thought much about it at the time, but once I did I had to agree that it would be a good idea.

6.  A candle for some evening ambiance and I think we are ready now.

  Except for one final touch.

Just in case a sweet treat is in order.

Happy Pantry

 

 Picking and choosing from the drawers and baskets, I selected a collection of favorite vintage linens.  I was leaning towards a cheerful combination of colors to greet me each time I opened the pantry door.

 Through the years I have collected vintage aprons and potholders, although they are rarely used for their intended purposes.

Once in a while I will don an apron, but for the most part they have been behind closed doors.  From time to time I bring them out to appreciate their simple beauty.  

It was high time to bring some of them out of hiding.

At one time somebody spent a lot of time stitching them together.

 This one is child-size.

I could just imagine a little girl wearing this one in my blue and yellow kitchen :).  Maybe someday there will be a granddaughter.

Although, the apron does feature a Dutch boy and girl.  Wonder if Jaxson's parents would allow him to help me bake?... nah, probably not.

 Oh well, at any rate I'm happy to have a new home for a few of these treasures.  

 The rolling pin seemed like an appropriate hanger for a collection of kitchen linens.  A blue and yellow rolling pin seemed destined for my blue and yellow kitchen.

 

Harmonious Harvest

 

 Sometimes the morning's garden harvest seems to mingle together in delightful harmony.

Those are the mornings that are best suited for a little photo shoot.

 Before half of the harvest disappears.

Looks like it will be salad for lunch today.

Are you harvesting anything good from your garden this week?