A DELICIOUS THURSDAY MORNING!

From garden to table. Yummmm!

WIN THIS CUTE DOLL!

Stop by and see Brenda at The Rusty Thimble and enter to win this cute witch doll. Ends July 14 so hurry! Just click the button on my sidebar and go directly to her blog.

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES...LITERALLY

I sat on my porch this morning with my cup of tea and a heady aroma washed over me. Never having any luck with growing roses I knew it could only mean one thing. My antique rose bush was blooming! I went outside of the fence to the front of the house and there it was, in full bloom. Our farmhouse is 235 years old and tucked all over the property are an assortment of antique roses. I do not know how old they are but I have around 4 varieties. White with a single petal, white with a cabbage rose petal and the same with soft pink. The aroma is like no rose you have ever had the pleasure of inhaling. They do not last long so I keep my eyes open to see when they bloom, which is at all different times of the summer. They are sometimes hidden under other bushes in the back but they manage to pop their heads through and give me a show. I have tried to dig a piece up but the roots are endless. I will just enjoy them where they are, after all they have probably been there over 100 years.

MY PERFECT DAY!

Yesterday was a perfect day! I told you all I was going to my nieces baby shower with my lovely daughter-in-law and gorgeous grandbaby. Before we went I had breakfast with my sweet husband. Delicious, dark roasted, organic Kicking Horse coffee and fresh picked strawberries on homebaked crusty bread...yum!

After we came home from the shower we sat around and enjoyed the baby, the dogs and the wonderful lushness of the day.

The day ended with the perfect piece of blueberry pie that I had made especially for my husband (he agreed to share).

GOOD SUNDAY MORNING!

It's a beautiful morning here. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I am the only one awake in the house. Even the dogs and cats are still asleep. I will be out today at my nieces baby shower. My lovely daughter-in-law and gorgeous grandbaby are going with me. I can't think of a nicer way to spend an afternoon.

I just wanted to share my old shutter headboard with you. I love using old architectual pieces in and around my house. These old shutters sat beside my grandmother's chicken coop for years. The grass had grown over them when I found them. They were the perfect size when I put them together. I don't usually like headboards ( I love antique beds) but I really adore this.

33 TO GO BEFORE THE 100 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY!

Only 33 more followers before I can do my GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is leave a comment and become a follower so when you visit just do that and hopefully I can do the GIVEAWAY by the end of July.

A NEW GIVEAWAY!

busymartha.blogspot.com

Stop by Busy Martha's Blog she is having her first giveaway for 100 posts!

WET, LOVELY, FRIDAY!

I was sitting on my lovely side porch this morning, the one with the skylight ( I highly recommend a skylighted porch), drinking my coffee and catching up on my British Country Living Magazine when a downpour hit. The air was warm and a little breezy, I had a cup of coffee and my dog Duffy at my feet. I looked up at the sky through the skylight and watched the rain pour down.

I sat there in the rain feeling very peaceful and connected to the earth. How wonderful to watch the rain feed my garden and wash the porch clean.

It did not last long but it left the greenest green and the freshest smell.

Afterwards I just sat there taking in the rest of the beautiful morning, just me, Duffy, and this little guy who came in out of the rain.

HAPPY MIDSOMMAR FEAST!

To all of my Scandinavian family, friends and fellow Norse bloggers I hope you have a wonderful Midsommar Feast!

EAT!

DRINK!

AND MAKE MERRY!

HAPPY THURSDAY.....FINALLY FINISHED!

It is another lovely day here, a little rain last night but good for the garden. I have been working like mad cleaning my studio and I am finally done. It is just the way it should be, organized! Here are some pics of my little supply room. I sometimes like to work in here because it is so cozy. This is the reason the rest of my studio always looks so neat, everything goes in here. I just have to make sure and keep it in order from now on.

The curtains around the bottom are made from this adorable monkey fabric ( I love monkeys in comical poses) I upholstered my chairs in the same pattern to tie the rooms together. It makes me smile every time I look at it.

My view from inside.

My big clock not that I keep track of time when I work.

By the way only 33 more FOLLOWERS to go before the GIVEAWAY! Hope we make it before the end of July.

SUMMER SOLSTICE!

Today is the beginning of SUMMER SOLSTICE! It is a time of rebirth and abundance for our earth. A time to appreciate the life nature has provided for us all.

BEING A LITTLE SELFISH

I do a lot for the people in my life, I like it that way. Every once in a while I need to do something a little selfish, just for me. I have been working hard lately and I can feel some me time coming on. It started tonight with some of my favourite relaxing music.

Later tonight or maybe tomorrow I will pull out some of my favourite old films, I could watch them all day. Basically anything with

I also have a favourite newer film that combines my love of jazz and that old fashioned comedy feel

If I am feeling like I really deserve something special I will have

Sometimes it's good to be a little selfish!

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER TOMORROW!

The weather here has been amazing. Cool, sunny mornings and breezy warm afternoons. If the rest of the summer is like this it will be pure bliss. Hope you all had a nice Father's Day. Our son loved his first one. I made him a little book from his new baby daughter and made it look like she had helped. I put cute captions beside the pictures documenting her life from the days before she was born until now.

Traffic has slowed a little on my blog so I am not yet at 100 Followers for the Giveaway. I am hoping to have that by the middle of July so please spread the word.

I have been cleaning like mad in my home and studio and discovered some things I forgot I had. This great primitive tool box was in my grandmother's antiques barn for years. I rescued it when my uncle was doing a clean out and finished it ( it has the original paint) it was in my studio under a table but I have moved it to the kitchen ontop of an old green blanket box. I think it looks great!

My peonies have finally bloomed. I planted these a few years ago. I also have some pink ones that are over 80 years old which I took from my grandparents farm before it was sold. I am having trouble getting them to bloom although the plants look healthy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Have a nice day everyone.

TOMORROW IS FATHER'S DAY

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I will have a house full of family and my favourite men ( my husband and son) will be here to celebrate not only Father's Day but our son's first Father's Day. To double the celebration my little grandbaby got her first tooth yesterday ( she is only 4 months old) I cannot believe it! My son was the same way and he walked at 10 months, heaven help us! Anyway, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you wonderful fathers out there a Happy Father's Day. If you are fortunate enough to have a father or father figure like I did give them a big hug tomorrow. The gentleman in the picture is my beloved grandfather Helmar Theodore Pederson (Pete). He was a big, strong, loving Norwegian man whom I adored. I was raised mostly by my grandparents and they taught me to be the person I am. He was an amazing artist, cook, gardener and he could knit and sew. He was the youngest of 12 sisters and a mother who ruled with an iron fist but lots of love. I was lucky enough to have him until 13 years ago and I miss him everyday. My husband and son both loved him very much too. He built the additions on our farmhouse with my husband. Oh, I forgot he also built 3 of their homes, with no formal training. He was an incredible, special person and made me feel loved and special everyday until the end. From him I learned I could do anything if I tried, and if not at least I tried. I miss you grandpa, Happy Father's Day. And a very special Happy Father's Day to my husband, who taught our son by example to be a wonderful father so he could have a Happy Father's Day too.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, EVERYDAY

A PERFECT THURSDAY

Another perfect morning here. The sun is peeking through the trees and the fresh smell of summer is in the air. A great day to sit back in the screened in room, read a book, and drink some tea. I love it when the sun shines into my front room, it is like time stands still for just a little while.

The followers are going up! Hopefully it will not be long before one of my lucky followers is a winner.