The Long Hot Summer

I for one, enjoy the heat here in Tennessee.  I'd rather be hot than cold!  I captured this image and thought it was representative of the way most people are feeling.

"I'm melting............melting.......

Here's one to cool you off.

I've never met a white flower I didn't like.  They are my favorites!

Happy Wednesday from The Ranch!

What's In A Name?

Growing up, the Living Room was for company and the Den was where the family hung out.  Here at the Ranch, we use every single room to live in and entertain.  When instructing my 5 year old where he would be able to find his often misplaced items,  Den and Living Room were lost in translation for him.  So dear ladies and gentlemen, I give you the "Front" Room at the Ranch.............

Well that's it.  You've seen the whole place now except for the boys' rooms.  I may work on J.D.'s a little but the 17 year old's domain shall remain a mystery...........you're welcome.

Tweaking

This Blog thing is great!  It forces me to finish projects which is HUGE for me.  Although my better half was happy with our homemade headboard, I always wanted a little tufting on it.  Well, that's what I did this morning a "little" tufting.

Not as dramatic as I would have liked but as I could not get on the other side of this wall to pull these buttons taut, this is as good as it gets.  Note to self: Next time you are spending way too much time and money on a house you don't own, tuft THEN hang.  Oh by the way, this installation is built right on to the wall.  Hopefully the landlord will love it, if he even notices it.  He's pretty carefree.

That's all for now.............

My Mad Man

Here is my father on his 37th birthday, August 11, 1963.  Draper family?  Hardly.....THANK GOD!

Here is his official CIBA photo.  He was a pharmaceutical rep but for some reason they were known as Detail Men back then.  Check out the Mad Men hairstyle!

I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.  If your dad is still around, please let him know how much you love him while you can.  Love you Daddy and miss you every day.

Moody Blues

A scene from the Blue Den.  Let me say that after a morning at the pool and a heat index of 102 today, the cool Blue Den is a lovely retreat.  Just need to get that couch slip covered!   I actually made drapes for the master bedroom this weekend so it COULD happen. Happy Blue Monday with Smiling Sally!

Here she comes.....Miss America!

First of all, to my boys, Mommy's going to blog about her lingerie now so just go back to what you were doing so you don't get grossed out.

I have a confession.  My favorite night gown used to be my Mom's.  Relax Honey, she never ever wore it. She had a thing against lovely lingerie (probably thought she didn't deserve it)  and as with everything else about my mother and me, I am the opposite.  Here is the lovely garment of which I speak......

Very Grace Kelly right?  Well, here's the best part and I just noticed it this morning as the above was hanging on the back of the bathroom door.......

When was the last time you saw Made In The USA on an article of clothing?  Cool, right?  Okay, maybe a little weird that I care so much but it took me back a few years and I got all misty.  Plus, I'm in a nostalgic mood (did I mention this gown is vintage 70's?). I have discovered the show Mad Men.  Yes, I've known for years it was out there and everyone told me I needed to watch it (I have little black dress/pearls/martini fantasies) but I felt the last thing I needed was to get hooked on a t.v. show.  We're in the lazy days of summer now and cheap entertainment is a must, so what the heck?   I broke down and I'm hooked.  They have nailed the 60's and I get so sentimental when I see the show.  Remember when the trash can was lined with a brown paper grocery bag, excuse me, SACK?!  Remember when Daddy came home from work and his suit smelled like cigarettes?  Dippity Doo anyone?  I know, I've got it bad........I was vacuuming in a dress yesterday!  Don't worry, I'll snap out of it eventually.  Maybe.

The Back "40"

That refers to acres in ranch country.  Folks, I apologize for even more exterior Ranch dressing, but it's summer and that's where the action is!  I give to you........patio vignettes.

The day's reward!

Blushing Bride, Blushing Blue?

This is my "Blushing Bride" hydrangea, which means it should be white with the slightest "blush" of pink.  However, this year it seems to be a little blue.

Tis ever so subtle........can you see it?

Well, maybe it WAS just another excuse to photograph a flower.    

Happy Blue Monday everyone!

A Completed Project!

Before................

After..................

So happy!

Night, night.

Please join Susan at BNOTP for Met Monday!

My Nemesis, My Friend

Meet the sewing machine.  My mother bought this the same year I was born so we have been through a lot together.  All my clothes, for about the first 13 years of my life where made on this.  My wedding dress was made on this.  Countless drapes for all the houses we hopped around to, pillows, slipcovers as well as many quilts were created here.  My mother was an amazing seamstress and apparently, it skips a generation.  Therefore, the machine and I did not get on so well when it was first given to me til we finally figured out each others quirks.  We have since made peace and I plan to keep it til it konks out completely.

I love you, I hate you, I love you!

Let's Dash Back Inside For a Moment

I could photograph flowers forever.  In fact, when my dad gave me my first camera, the inaugural roll was 36 exposures of flower close-ups.  SO.......I think it's time for a change of pace - back inside!

More Ranch personalities!

I'm never gonna let you go, fellas!  You are with me for the duration.  Looks dramatic and classy, right? Let's just pan back a bit and you will see my project for this weekend - I've put it off long enough.

Scaling back as we were forced to do, my sewing machine (a necessity) is my bedside table.  Everytime I needed to use it, I was without a table.  Soooooo.....I came up with this brilliant idea of a permanent table top which would allow me to slide the sewing machine under when not in use.  Now, I just need to make a lovely table cloth to camouflage my unorganized mess.  Hopefully, the final result will be Monday's post.

p.s. just noticed I still managed to get flowers in the pic!

The Ranch Exterior

I've been putting this off because of how much I absolutely despise this brick!  Hang on to your hats all you brick die hards but if this place where mine, those bricks would be painted a lovely warm gray or taupe with bright white trim and black shutters.

And here we have a little experiment going on.......can periwinkles grow in "soil" that's 5% dirt and 95% river rock?  I'm betting "yes!"  These are the toughest flowers I've ever come across and they have yet to disappoint me.

And here, my friend Missy, who often stops by bearing cut flowers from her AMAZING garden, brought over some Spiderwort she got from another friend's house.  She and I share a botanical motto, "If you can survive and thrive, you are welcome here!"

 As you can see, even after these beauties were yanked out of their happy home, divided and sub-divided, they were showing off their morning blooms the next day!  I shall endeavor to follow their example!

When Fire Pits Go Unused

There was a bit of a breeze (I'm not complaining about that on a 90 degree day) but I couldn't get those flowers to hold still -  pardon the blur.

Don't worry, when it comes time to re-light the fire, we will remove about half of that wood......I can only imagine what kind of creatures and their homes will be removed with it.

Meanwhile......back at you know where....

It has been brought to my attention that I have been neglecting the blog.  I am flattered that anyone has even missed it.  We re-upped for another year at the Ranch and inquired about lease purchasing the place but the answer was "No." I've just been reassessing and regrouping.

Today, I submit to you, the barn at the Ranch, otherwise known as the storage shed.

I've noticed some posts on creating an "escape" in the storage shed or creating a thing of beauty out of it.  Well, I won't go that far but I think some elephant ears would be lovely in the planters.

Here are a few other barns in my town.....

This is the favorite.  It's Cal Turner's farm (Owner of Dollar General)  It's just up the road a piece!

And just for fun, a snowy covered bridge shot from a swiftly moving vehicle.  Since not much more will be changing at the rental, expect more of these postcards.  Thanks for your continued indulgence.