Good Grief Now it's July~

This year is flying by so fast!

We didn't do anything special for the 4th of July this year. I don't really care for fireworks as they upset the Vets and pets so much. And we were working on the house. The drive down was AWFUL! Traffic was so heavy and crazy. There were so many inconsiderate people on the road. Lots of speeding and cutting other people off. I was so glad to get down to the house and then we came back up on the 3rd as we knew traffic would be crazy again on the 4th. I don't think I will want to travel again on a Holiday weekend.

I am currently suffering with a bought of poison ivy that I got from the cottage kitties. I am thinking the sap was on their fur and when I loved on them I got it on my right leg and my neck. The leg is healing and doing well but the stuff on my neck is horrible. So painful and itchy. I have bought a topical Anti-Itch Lotion and it is helping but I have to keep reapplying it.

Fast Forward to July 30th.
I started this post some time ago but never got back to finish it and now August is just around the corner. August is "family birthday's" month with a birthday every week! First my sister, Hazel who sadly has chosen to cut us all out of her life. I miss her but understand the confusion in her life so much more than the others.

Then our nephew, Drake has a birthday and has just graduated Officers Training with the Navy. We are so proud of him and hope he knows it. Another we rarely get to see but in his case his life has taken him in a fabulous new direction. ANd we wish him well.

Then my Mom's birthday... then Greg's and I think there is one more after that. I have a birthday calendar but it is up at the cottage and we are down at the house this weekend.

Yesterday (July 29 th) Scott and Greg drove my car to Charlotte , NC so that Greg could use my car as a trade-in on a new car for himself. It was time to let my car go and he needed something with air conditioning. I hope he will be happy with the car he has chosen. I also hope that he stays safe in it as it is not a particularly safe car to drive. But he is happy with it  and I guess that is what matters most to him.

Sorry no photos in this post.

Garden and Cats

Just a few little beaded charms that I put together to swap with an online friend. I hope she liked them!

Howie and Tippy are the dynamic duo.... Howie sends Tippy into tight places that he can't fit when something gets away from him.

I LOVE the cheap and cheesy solar lights around the entrance at the cottage.

My little mixed garden is really showing out and I am so enjoying the happy little zinnias and the stunning glads.

NO crafting today Mom... It's all about HOWIE!

Last week I got  the front door painted and I really love how it turned out... only 3 more exterior doors to paint!

May Gone By....

For our Anniversary Scott and I decided to drive up into North Carolina for a day trip. We've passed this little Antique shop many times and this time we stopped in and had a look around. We saw a couple things that interested us but they only take cash or check and we had neither with us as I wanted to travel light in case we decided to add a hike to the day. We may go back with some cash another day. While in North Carolina we stopped in at Iannucci's for a mid-afternoon meal and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 On our way back to the cottage we stopped at Starbucks for a coffee and one of the gals was making these tiny samples and we each dranks one. Talk about sugar over load both of us had a  high sugar reading that night. The cup was so adorable... wish I had kept it.



 I had it with my hair and went and had it all cut off. I was just tired of looking like Medusa or an old Hag in the mornings. And for a bit of fun I painted some of it with a Burgundy dye that came out purple on my grey hair. It was not permanent and has been washing out a little more each time I shampoo.

 The Cottage kitties are more spoiled than ever before... but that is the way they are supposed to be.

Tippy

Callie

Tippy - you can really see how he got his name in this photo.

And of course there was more Art in May as well. I created these fun postcards and then mailed them out to folks around the Country. I have also received some fun postcards created by others. I will share them in my next post.

Mixed Media Art Postcards

I just love this method of creating pretty little projects.

A fun little card I made using different sized circles. I learned how by watching Koala T Crafts live show on You Tube. 

Here is the little bear with the addition of some paws.

Callie and Howie

Callie

Howie

A potted garden by the Cottage step.

Tippy

A very busy bee

Tippy watching Callie

A rainy day visitor. It looked like it was trying to dig a hole to lay eggs. This turtle visited last year as well.

 

I added some easy to install solar lights along the front of the cottage. Now we can see to get in if we arrive after dark and forget to turn the porch light onl

 

Howie and Tippy Approve!

WOW... May is nearly over

Here it is the 26th of May already... POOF and it will be gone. I guess I need to catch up on here again. So much for daily blogging like I used to... really need to get back on the stick.

Ok where to start? I find if I check my camera I will find the prompts I need to write about every time. So lets go...

May 7th we were wrapping things up and I took a few photos to remember the work we had gotten done and to share that Greg has taken an interest in gardening and has planted nearly the entire garden in vegetables. So far he has peanuts and watermelon growing out there. I really miss the garden so very much. Now that I am home full time once again I could be out there every morning. AH well life has taken us on another path for now. Hopefully one day we will have a new home and a new garden to work.

 Of course Bernadette was happy we had come down. Amelia and Bernadette always love a freshly mowed lawn.

Totally Random here... I found a punk wig for Greg's mannequin at a thrift store so she is no longer bald... for less than $2 .

On May 10th Scott and I took a walk along a portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest. It is a GORGEOUS walkway and could easily be our replacement for our beloved Cayce Riverwalk up here. I am really hoping we can find a new home in Travelers Rest as it is so beautiful up there and that is where Scott father grew up. It holds a lot of special memories for Scott. The Real Estate is quite expensive up there though so we will see if we can fins something that we can afford that fits our needs/wants.

 A ghost bike to remind people to watch for Cyclist.

 Scott noticed this carving in the rock from 1935. Most of it was unreadable from weather ware.

 Flowers from the wildflower garden along the walkway, Dianthus and daisy's both begin with "D".

May 11th - was our 32nd Wedding Anniversary and Scott surprised me with a dozen red roses.

Tippy just "chillin~" with Mom... he is quite the spoiled little wretch.

I guess I will close this post here as it is already quite photo heavy and I know that some folks have a hard time with lots of photos loading. I will write another post to finish out May next week. I hope everyone is having a lovely Spring on this side of the World and settling into Fall on the other. 

Take care and love each other always.