Porch Project

I have been working on lots of home projects this summer. 

One project in need of some serious love was my outdoor patio. 

I have neglected it for far too long. This wasn't the worst of it. I wish I had remembered to take a better 'before picture' before I started cleaning it up. The whole porch was covered in a big pile of dead leaves and my succulents were so unruly, one of them came up to my knees.

 'haunted' birdhouse

With the help of a friend who is succulent savvy, I replanted and spruced up my husband's mini succulent garden.   

After cleaning up the gigantic pile of leaves, countless cobwebs,

and giving my bistro set a wash-down, I bought a bright bougainvillea plant, which reminds me of my favorite place, Southern California. 

I hope it survives! I don't exactly have a green thumb, and my porch doesn't get lots of direct sun.

I ordered these custom cushions on Etsy from the U.K. to brighten up the brown space and add a Frenchy feel. 

And now I can relax and enjoy my clean and restored outdoor area. 

~Jess

Purple Flowers And The Bee

 

A little of this and that

on these last days

of July.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was in grade school, I got stung by a bee.  I was sitting on a bench with my leg dangling under a bush, and it got me.   The area around it started to swell, and my mom packed mud on it, and the swelling eventually started to lessen.  I think I had an allergic reaction to the bee, but my mom always knew what to do when trouble surfaced.  Ever since then, I will look and appreciate  the bee  from a distance, but I won't hover or get too close, as I don't want this flying critter to ever use his stinger on me again.  ; )
 

~Sheri

Family Time

We have many family birthdays

the month of July,

and this last weekend we

celebrated my son's and my son-in-law's.

We went out for coffee

on Saturday,

and we all met for lunch on Sunday

at a nice Mexican restaurant.

Later, me and Jess did some shopping.

Jess saw this decorative box

and wanted it for the baby.

I bought it for her -

she can put hair clips and bows in it.

 

 

Jess' mother-in-law is really an

artsy and crafty person.

 

She sews, makes canned goods,

 

 

and she gave me 2 jars of homemade jam,

blueberry and plum.

I bought some sourdough bread

to go with it.

There's nothing like it.

 

 

The carrot cake she made

was amazing.

She used to be a professional baker

and made wedding cakes,

so her desserts are always so moist

and delicious.

She puts real carrots in her carrot cake.

 

 

 

The girls brought this home  

from their trip.

They thought it was "so me."

It is a music box playing the tune

Beauty and the Beast.

 

 

It was such a fun weekend.

Spending time with my family
is my favorite thing to do.

 

~Sheri

 

There Are Just Some Things

I was thinking about Jess being a new mom soon, and I was going through some stuff and came across some baby items I still have from when my kids were born, and a few when they were in school.  I always filled their rooms with color and imagination.   

This was Nel's music box

when she was a baby,
 

 

and when you open the drawer,

the clown dances.

She used to love listening

to the music.
 

 

My son's first baby football
 

 

Jess' clay hand print

she made in kindergarten

 

This was a card I gave to my son.

He used to always say this silly phrase
to his sisters.

 

 

 

Isn't this creative?

Jess made this frame out of

jig saw puzzles

and put her mom's picture in it.
 

 

Your world is made of your memories, and your memories are given to you by your world.  The whispering voice of happenstance is always in our ears.  "This is the world.  This is the way things are.  Look.  Pay attention.  Remember."
~Real Live Preacher

There are just some things,
reminding us of our babies, that are
too precious to ever part with.

Nel, only two weeks old
 

~Sheri

A San Francisco Gem

Summertime in the City...

I explored Golden Gate Park over the weekend. 

It was my first time visiting,

and it was gorgeous.

Golden Gate Park is a giant park nestled within the bustling city of San Francisco with plenty of nature trails, museums, monuments, and even a man-made lake. 

Paddle boating around Stow Lake was so much fun!  

We are lucky this vibrant city is ours. I can see why many 'left their heart' here.

~Jess