Hi Everyone!
It’s mid-July! Oh no! Summer is half over! It may feel like it is slipping away, but I know for sure there’s a lot more warm summer days left! Right? I sure hope so!
Family
We had another house full this week! I can say our Summer has been all about family. And that’s outstanding.
Our house was full, our boat got a workout, and we enjoyed plenty of meals together—both around our own table and at a few favorite spots. We even gathered to watch the World Cup Final. Spain won…and that made for a happy house! Here was my cocktail for watching the World Cup. We went to a local place to watch it on the big screen.
“Home feels happiest when family is under the same roof.” ~unknown
Summer Bucket List
I also got to check off another Summer Bucket List item. We all went to the Ice Cream place. I had a Hot Fudge Sundae! It was perfect!
Wildfires Smoke
The biggest surprise of the week was the Canadian wildfire smoke that drifted into Pennsylvania. The air quality soared above 500 AQI, the sun glowed a deep orange, and even the smell of smoke lingered outside. It was eerie, beautiful only because the sun takes on a new color, and unsettling all at the same time.
Bouquets
In between the excitement, the gardens quietly kept doing their thing, rewarding me with a few new blooms. I enjoyed making some bouquets.
After a week of a house full of family, it felt good to gather bouquets from the gardens. As Lady Bird Johnson said, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” I think cutting flowers for a bouquet helps us slow down.
Tomatoes!
We are enjoying the tomatoes from the local farm stands. They have been delicious! We are enjoying them with our home-grown basil. For me, tomatoes scream Summertime!
Slow Down
As wonderful as this busy summer has been, I’m hoping this week includes a little more “slow.” I’d love some quiet porch time, a few pages in my journal, a little rock painting, and the chance to simply enjoy these summer days instead of watching them race by. Because before we know it, we’ll all be saying, “Where did summer go?”
Thank You!
Until next week…I hope you find a little time to slow down and savor the season. Enjoy the summer gardens and the summer food. As always, I appreciate you so much. I’m looking forward to catching up with all of you very soon! I hope the rest of your week is peaceful and restful.
Linking up with Terri for The Flower Hour
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At the end of summer, you will be able to say that you summered well!! Your flowers are stunning and how lovely to make a bouquet to take inside to enjoy their beauty there. Small town ice cream places are the best… as are pecans on sundaes! How neat that you’ve been going to it since you were a child. I’m sorry to hear about your air quality. Man, those pictures are surreal. Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for the reminder to savor these days of summer :).
I am savoring every morsel of summer!
Thanks for all the love!
Happy Tuesday! 😊
So much to love in one post, Nancy Lou! I’m having a bout of nostalgia thinking of summer lake days in Ohio…the Dairy Supreme types of ice cream stands…tomatoes and produce galore (musk melons!) and a house full of people arguing and fussing about who was gonna drive the pontoon. I SO look forward to Tuesdays – hope you know it! Xo! ❤️😘❤️
Thank you Vicki Lou! You described Summer at the Lake so perfectly!
Love you Vicki Lou! 🤗♥️🤗
Love ya back!!! ❤️😘❤️
❤️😘❤️
Good morning, Nancy and Happy Tuesday! I am thrilled you have been enjoying a house full of family! There is not anything better than being with our loved ones. Yikes, the smoke looks terrible! It must be hard on those with asthma and lung conditions and is certainly unhealthy. Hopefully that will pass soon. Tomatoes and basil are definitely summer on a plate. How I love all of your flowers and bouquets. It is a pleasure to cut blooms from your garden and make arrangements for your home! The ice cream looks delicious! Happy Tuesday, my friend!
Thank you, Pam! Family Fun is everything! And we have had it! Yay for us!
I am enjoying every bit of Summer.
Happy Tuesday, sweet friend!
Nancy, yes, family time is the best! Your flowers and your bouquets are gorgeous! Happy Tuesday!
Thank you Beth! And same to you!
☺️
I think bouquets made from garden flowers are absolutely the best and yours are no exception! I’m glad you have had such a busy time with family and friends. It sounds like so much fun and also makes you appreciate the quiet in-between times. I’m glad to hear the smoke affecting your area is dying away some. I feel for the people whose homes are in or very close to the fires. Meanwhile, continue to enjoy your summer and save some fresh tomatoes and ice cream sundaes for the rest of us.😂 Both scream “SUMMER!”
I agree with you! Prayers for all of them!
And thank you so much my friend!
Happy Tuesday! ☺️
I always love reading your tidbits, and how well you tell the story with your fab photos, Nancy! The flowers look amazing as do the veggies. I chuckled at the loaded Bloody Mary (I call mine “salad”)! Crazy shots of the smoky sun. We have our own smoke these days, surrounded by smoke from Oregon, Northern Idaho and Western WA. And it’s hot! July is in full swing! Enjoy yours!
We love a good hot summer! Perfect for summer fun!
Take care in that smoke.
Enjoy your July Fun!
Happy Tuesday!☺️
What a wonderful week you have had Nancy…family IS Everything…so glad you are taking the time to enjoy them. I love the old businesses like the ice cream store…and when one goes out of business, I am so sad. It seems that is happening more and more. There WAS a wonderful famous fried chicken restaurant (my favorite) back in Kansas that had been there for over 150 years and it went out of business in May. Thankfully your ice cream store is still thriving. Your flowers are lovely and how nice to have an abundance of blooms for bouquets. Happy boating and enjoy sitting on your porch…for the rest of the Summer.🥰❤️🌸
Porch sitting is on the menu! Lol!
Our ice cream place has a lot of customers each day. It closes after mid-October and reopens in April. So they all get a good winter rest.
Thank you always for your visits and sweet comments!
Happy Tuesday! 🤗
Great to hear your week was excellent. I hope the air quality improves! Your tomatoes look so good! I had my heart set on trying out a new salad recipe but the regular grocery store was out of basil. ugh! I guess I need to find a farm stand and get all the good stuff there! Take care, Nancy.
I hope you find some basil!
Thanks for your sweet comments always!
Happy Tuesday!🤗
“another Summer Bucket List item. We all went to the Ice Cream place.”
That’s an item on Mary’s “every day bucket list”! 😉 Your Hot Fudge Sundae looks ever so delicious!
I hope the smoke didn’t affect you too much.
Thanks Pit. We stayed in on the very bad day. It got better after a few days.
The sundae was perfectly delicious. And good for Mary! Sundaes are heavenly!
Happy Tuesday and thank you for the visit!
That is some serious smoke in your area! It came down as far as our town too, but not nearly as dense. Smart cookie to eat your own lettuce! When the CDC interviewed me this week (confirmed case), they went through a litany of items from herbs to fruits, veggies purchased and consumed, as well as the restaurants we visited during my incubation period. They still haven’t narrowed it down. Your bouquets are gorgeous, Nancy, and that BM (your kind, not mine, lol!) looks wonderful! Have a great new week.
Oh Rita you made me giggle but I am so sorry you are going through this! I sure hope you are feeling better.
Thanks for all the love. Prayers for you my dear! 🙏
The smoke has been bad so many places. I’ve done nothing but sneeze for days.
Ugh! Stay inside. I hear air purifiers work. We have one on our central air.
Feel better! 🙏
Thanks! Yes, we have our air purifiers running. Thanks!
Now THAT is a fabulous drink garnish! It’s an hors d’ouvre plate in itself! Yum. And fantastic flowers and bouquets you have created. I adore tomatoes. Love them in just about every way one can make them. Your photos have my mouth watering! You’re right — it’s all about the family and I’m so glad you’re having that kind of summer!
That bloody Mary was delicious!
I too love tomatoes.They are summertime!
Thank you always for your visits and kind comments.
Your flowers are beautiful, and it sounds like you’ve had a fun family week. That ice cream looks delicious! Hope you have a lovely week with a little relaxation.
I shall. And thank you, Judy!
Happy Day to You!
Your salads looks delicious! I am so happy to read about family tie, it is the best!
The smoke fromt he wild fires are scary. Something I dreaded so much when I lived in California. Cheers to many more wonderful summer days (without smoke).
Thank you Maria. It’s always so good to hear from you!
Happy Day to You!
Your summertime is made to order, Nancy. Glory! All the wonderful blessings of family, health, joy, fun, flowers and ice cream!!
Amen, Mitzy! You said it so perfectly!
Thank you dear friend.
Oh Nancy, you’ve captured summer completely! And your flower bouquets…are devine!
Thanks so much, Sue! We are enjoying our summer!
Happy Day to You!
Farmer’s market bounty, picking vibrant blooms, the perfect ice cream treat and a hazy Canadian-filtered sky over the moon – yup it’s the little things that make life great!
Amen! You said it all so perfectly!
Thanks for all the love! Happy Weekend to you!
That sundae and the tomatoes both look delicious!
Thank you Joanne. 😊
Spending time with family is so important (thus the reason we moved to the Seattle area) and thanks for sharing that! The smoke pictures really look awful!! They are much worse than I realized!! Ugh!!
It was horrible. Doing much better now!
Thanks for the visit, Kirt.😊