~Big Stuff~

Along with my addiction for benches of all kinds,
I also have a thing for over-sized stuff.
It was an addiction I didn't even realize that I had.
I guess I was in the denial stage....
Then, one day as I was looking through a few catalogs
I realized that almost every thing I liked was really big!

Hmmm....

So I found my self looking around the house and
sure enough I had more large things than I realized!

~Here are just a few~

Doesn't everyone need a 3 ft. tall garden gnome
named Ned?


Or how about two 2ft. tall fleur de lis?


Don't ya just love these really big clothes pins?
I still love them after all these years!


Really big scissors!
I guess I am getting ready for a ribbon cutting ceremony!!!

I've had this over-sized "R" for years and years!


I know what your thinking...
I thought she liked French country decor.
But we had a place in Tucson for awhile and
I bought some over sized stuff for that place.
Now this beautiful, really big and really heavy
cowboy boot
has found a new home in the man cave of our new house!

And finally~I couldn't resist this
really Big Headed dog
named Lulu!

She kinda looks like a gorilla in this photo!
LOL

I have a busy week coming up
but I will try and get a few posts in!

Have a fabulous week ya all!!!

I know there has probably been a bazillion posts
about Farmers Markets
and.....
this is going to be another one!!

Because, again I feel as if I have been out of the loop.
I just discovered my first farmers market last summer.
I had heard of them but had never actually been to one.

And now I am hooked.
In the new town where I live you can find a farmers market
almost any day of the week between
the months of May and October.

But Wednesdays are my day of choice right now!

Most times I meet Mike's Aunts there or
my daughter if she gets a chance.

~this week I met my eldest son~
( I told him to pose nice.....but does he listen?)

~and his girlfriend~

Who had a little trouble with her new sunglasses!

They were celebrating, because it was
the beginning of summer vacation for them.

They are both middle school teachers
and had finished up earlier that day.
Woo hoo!

My daughter even showed up for lunch!

This is her, showing off her new bag
she uses to put her market goodies in.
Silly Girl!!


We bought veggies.

A few plants and flowers.

Some homemade jam and even some Wisconsin cheese!


Then we sat outdoors and enjoyed lunch!


Wow!
I love summer days like this.

I wish I had figured out this Farmers Market thing sooner!

Hope you get a chance to enjoy yourself today!

WOMEN FOOD AND GOD

I just wanted to take a minute
to tell you about a book I just read!

Now I guess I am a little behind on what's in right now.
Because before we left for vacation
I stopped in to one of my favorite places~
The Book Store.
I needed a new book for the trip.
And...this little beauty caught my eye.

"WOMEN FOOD AND GOD"
Interesting title don't you think?

Then a quick look at the inside cover....
"No matter how sophisticated or wealthy or broke
or enlighten you are, how you eat tells all."

That's all it took and the book was on it's way home with me.
After I returned home I did a little internet research
and found out it was one of Oprah's picks.
She did a whole show on it!
And...since I don't watch a lot of Oprah anymore
I hadn't realize that this was the book to read.

I guess I have been out of the loop!

So I read it and it took me a very long time.
It's not an easy read
(definitely not a relax by the pool kinda book).
No.. it was work, thought provoking and...I really kind of liked it.
~i think~
I am still trying to process all that Geneen Roth had to say.
I may even read it again. So I can try and absorb more of it.

If you have already read it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

But I guess the real question is...am I recommending this book?

The answer is ~ I really just don't know yet!

It sure made me think. I am still thinking about it!

Until next time,

Have ya missed me?

First of all I have been crazy busy
and then Blogger had a few issues.
I wrote this post last night only to find out the photos
wouldn't load and my my entire post did a disappearing act.
I kept checking back and finally things are
up and running so here we go!!

~Summertime with the Nieces~

Almost every summer I have my
nieces come to stay for several days.
And since my kids are all grown up
I look so forward to these visits!

We started out with a little swim in the pool.

Nothing like a little sun bathing and floating in the pool.

Even my daughter couldn't resist
a little pool lounging(in her work clothes).

You see she is a grown up now with a real job.
So she could only stop by for a minute.
Deep down I think sometimes she misses being a kid!:-)


Next it was off to a chick flick!

And since the movie started at 11:40 am, it was time for lunch!

So Aunt Cindy had the great idea to have a Movie Picnic!

That's when you break the rules
and sneak a little lunch in to the movie.

This will be our little secret.....shhhh.....

The movie was cute and the girls thought
Ashton Kutcher was even cute-r!!

And let me tell you it was hard on this mature women
to sit through a movie with Ashton Kutcher in it. ;-)
But anything for the nieces!!

Then we decided to use an idea from
Tracey at French Larkspur and make a little sugar scrub.
The recipe is on her blog and it was so easy and tons of fun.



The girls made some for there friends and
of course one jar for themselves.

Great job girls.
Your friends will love them!

Girls just gotta have Fun!!


And.....
the night before they left Uncle Mike sprung for a
wonderful dinner at a new organic restaurant.
And surprisingly, the meat and potatoes guy really enjoyed it too!

Thank you Emma & Elyse, I love to have you come!
It gives me an excuse to relax and have fun!

Now... I have to think up some fun stuff
for when the nephews come to visit!

Hugs,

Containers...Containers...Containers...

Before we left on vacation I was in a gardening frenzy!
I had this plan to plant every container I had.
I figured that by the time I returned there would
be slim pickin's when it came to finding the plants I like.
So...like a maniac I went to all my favorite nurseries,
filled up the car again and again.
Then I planted and Mike{my husband} watered and lugged
my heavy pots around until I found the perfect spot.
{Thank you honey!}

As I left to go on vacation I thought to myself....
"Why do you do this to yourself, Cindy?"
Why make your self crazy!
And then as we came down our lane to our house after vacation,
I thought this is why....

While we were gone it rained quite a bit and
the temperatures were in the 90's.
And... my new plants loved it!

Hmmm....
I guess that's why we do the crazy things that we do.

Ya gotta love summertime in the Midwest!

Happy planting everyone....

How about these babies!

I love them.

This wonderful assortment of crowns for your garden
are from Wisteria.

I am a big Wisteria fan!!

But....do you buy just one or two....
Oh what the heck, there on sale, I might need all three!!

Click
HERE
to check them out.


Speaking of Crowns...
It's time to crown the winners of
Giveaway #2!

And.....

The runner up is.....{drum roll}...
#25
~ Aunt Barb~

The winner is...{drum roll}....
#2
~Karen~

So, Barb and Karen please email me your addresses
and the funky spoon necklaces will be on their way to you!!

Thank you to everyone who played along!
I will be on the hunt for my next Giveaway!

Hugs...