an unexpected surprise

Taking a walk the other day, Rosie and I met some new neighbors. While the mom and I chatted, the little people sized each other up. With big smiles all around, they raced each other up the sidewalk and into our back yard.

 Rosie ushered the cute four year-old boy and his two year-old sister into the playhouse. Where they were quick to set the table, and serve us tea. Their mother mentioned they didn't have a play teaset of their own. Which reminded me of an extra one we had, wee china dishes housed in a wicker basket with a table cloth and four little patterned napkins. I dropped it off at their house a few days later, tied up in a pretty ribbon.

Imagine our surprise, when returning from the beach today, we spotted a wicker basket covered in a vintage hanky on the front porch. Inside, freshly baked, delicious oatmeal cookies with a sweet little thank you note.

I think we're going to like these neighbors.

sky blue

June is racing by at the speed of light, bringing beautiful days with lots of sunshine. Mornings at the beach, afternoons at the pool, early evening walks, mixed with lots of hopscotch. 

My oldest is busy with summer school, second's playing lots of tennis, third spent the week at a near-by college for a sleep-away basketball camp. Lovely, except for temperatures in the upper nineties. Old college, old dorms, no air conditioning.

No complaints, she had a ball. While, daughter number four and I spent lots of time keeping cool, swimming, swinging, and sneaking over to watch the basketball camp championship.

 Every day, brings something new into bloom. Today, I was staking the delphiniums, Magic Fountain Sky Blue, when a branch bent compromising the main stem. They're fairly fragile and they bend easily. I might've said a bad word. No worries, we'll enjoy them inside.

Have a wonderful sun-filled weekend, my friends.

privet house

The past few weeks can be summed up in one word, b u s y. The girls are out of school and going in all different directions. I wouldn't change a thing, though. I adore summertime. Time at the beach, on the boat, at the pool, at practice, at camp, baking cakes, barbecuing and having picnics. What more could you ask for?

Ran into Target for a few more things deemed absolutely necessary for camp, and noticed quite a bit of the Privet House line is already on clearance. Those red price tags on the endcap are my kind of catnip...

Did anyone else notice that the journals bear a striking resemblance to the book, 'I Married Adventure'?

The lanterns are pretty charming, especially with the etched laurel leaf monogram. I can't resist anything both galvanized and garden inspired. The green gingham candles are from Ikea's summer line 2011.

Have you found anything fun on sale lately? 

and the winner is...

Thank you so much for all of the fabulous ideas. I loved reading each and every sunshiney comment. While I would dearly love to send each of you a prize, we can only have one winner.

So, without further ado, using Violet Cottage's random number generator, the winner is...

Miss Heidi, at The Polka Dot Petticoat.

polkadotpeticoat said...

How sweet as was your daughters beautiful birthday celebration......I can't believe my baby turns 17 next month where does the time go.....they will always be my little darlings though!

Enjoy the summer weather I sat outside yesterday trying to get a touch of color on these Alaskan white legs of mine and received 8 mosquito bites.....argh....

take care!

win a little sunshine

 Summer has finally arrived. She took her sweet time, didn't she? In order to commemorate this important occasion, it occurred to me a 'give-away' might be in order.

As one of my favorite things to do in the summer is travel, I picked up some color saturated postcards and a set of cloth-bound journals from Designers Guild. Just for you.

Why text, when you can go old-school and send a postcard? No one is going to wrap your texts in ribbon and hide them in a little box under their bed. Send them a pretty postcard instead...

Jotting a few thoughts while traveling in a beautiful notebook is such a pleasure. Especially, when they include a clever little grosgrain ribbon bookmark.

And for your viewing pleasure, a few quick snaps of one of my rose beds. They're positively incandescent.

Pinker than pink, with a surfeit of blooms. Just the way I like it. 

 The tiny buds are my favorite part. So much promise.

The fine print...

For a chance to win, tell me one of your favorite things to do in the summertime. We're composing a master list of sunshiney fun, and we could use your help. Please make sure I have a way to contact you, especially if you don't have a blog or website. If you follow me, and/or feel like sharing the give-away with your readers, please let me know for additional chances. You have till Thursday, June 7th. International friends are always welcome.