Start of the Summer Garden

My spring perennials have faded and now begins the beauty of the summer garden.  New perennials blooming and annuals are starting to fill out.

Garage Sale Find

Had to show off my garage sale find.  Just $2!  There's a thing to hold a candle that goes on top of it, too but it didn't really look like it belonged with the base.  I just thought it was beautiful!  I was supposed to be selling stuff at my own garage sale today, but visited a neighbors and spent some of my earnings down at her house.  How fun!

I'm linking this post to Cielo's Show Off Your Cottage Monday blog!

Birds in the garden

Finally got some food in the feeders and have attracted back my goldfinches and a few cardinals:

I hear the morning doves but they're not in my yard this year.  Lots of robins flitting about, though.

Edible Teacups

Received info on these cute edible teacups courtesy of Grandma Rae:

Edible Teacups

By Cindy Littlefield

Made from ice cream cones and cookies, these edible cup-and-saucer treat holders are a cinch to assemble and will ensure that each guest at your child's tea party gets his or her fill.

For each teacup, you'll need:

• Cup-style wafer ice cream cone

• Round sugar or shortbread cookie

• Decorator's icing

• 2 gummy rings candies

• Assorted candies, popcorn, or trail mix to fill the teacup

Instructions:

1. Use a serrated knife to carefully cut the cup portion of the ice cream cone from the handle (an adult's job). Discard the handle and set the cup aside for now.

2. Place a gummy ring candy on the center of the cookie, using decorator's icing to "glue" it in place.

3. Set the ice cream cone cup on top of the gummy ring. Again, use a thin line of decorator's icing to hold the cone in place, if needed.

4. For a teacup handle, slice the second gummy ring in half. Gently press the cut ends of one of the candy halves against the cone to stick the handle in place.

5. Fill the cup with a few candies or other snacks, and it's teatime!

Courtesy of Grandma Rae

Show and Tell Friday

I just joined Cindy at My Romantic Home for her Show and Tell Friday!  Visit her site.  It's beautiful.

For The Love of Dogs

Somebody sent this to me by email.  I love dogs and there's a sweet but kinda sad story at the end. . .

Okay - now get out your kleenex. . .

A Dog's Purpose?

(from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me.  I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''

The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air

and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day,

be silent,

sit close by,

and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Peony Sorbet

Hope everyone had an absolutely relaxing weekend.  It was a greatly needed break for me, although I spent an entire day in my basement cleaning, sorting out for an upcoming garage sale and re-organizing.  Good day to do it though - it was humid and in the high 80's outside.  I preferred the nice, cool basement!

Here's some pictures of my beautiful peony bush which I took yesterday morning.

Here I am, Lynn's happy upright peony "sorbet" plant.

One of my beautiful blooms!

And another!

Yesterday afternoon, we got a deluge of rain and the poor thing is all flopped over now. I'll go home after work tonight and see if I can't stake it up. It looked incredibly unhappy!  But it will soon be fixed.

Have an exquisite Tuesday!