Summer days are here  

which means... 

summer vacations, swimming in the pool, 

relaxed schedules, longer daylight hours, 

patriotic holidays, and having meals alfresco.  

Fresh summer fruit is perfect for meals 

on a picnic, by the pool, or on the backyard deck. 

So many delicious summer fruit choices ~ 

It is hard for me to pick my absolute FAVORITE. 

Stars Fell On Alabama...

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on Texas,  

and on 

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Wild Maine Blueberry Pie 

on

This MEMORIAL Day

Antique Fair Bleu

"Too far and snaky" 

was a phrase used by my grandmother 

for not going to someplace a long way away. 

Or, even for places close by

that she did not travel to for some reason. 

The conversation could have gone like... 

"Are you going to ________ ?" fill in blank 

Grandmother, "No, too far and snaky."

Lucketts Spring Market 2015 was too far and snaky 

from Texas to Virginia for me to attend. 

Sprucing the Kitchen

Beyond the normal washing dishes, sweeping the floor, 

and cleaning the countertops, which are everyday sprucing up chores, 

what do you do for 

sprucing the kitchen 

when company is coming? 

Guests have always spurred me to do a little extra cleaning, 

to give the house a little extra spit and shine, and often provide 

the incentive to make a few changes that are on the to-do list. 

   

Tips on French Style Topiaries

You know the French are masters with sculpted gardens and plants, 

and topiaries appear throughout their personal gardens, 

in village parks, and along side their highways. 

Most anyone can identify a lonely stretch of a narrow straight highway 

flanked on either side with sculpted trees as a French roadway. 

There is usually a man on a bicycle carrying baguettes 

which probably helps identify the road as being in France.  

One of the easiest and fastest ways for me to add some French style

to my house is to add one or more fresh live topiaries. 

Buy it, bring it home, set in a pretty pot, and water. 

No sewing, no crafting, and not much money. 

Pretty much a somewhat laissez-faire approach to decorating. 

Another French way of doing things. 

Make it look easy even though there really is some effort required.

I've included a summary of

10 Tips for Growing a Topiary 

that will help growing topiaries much easier.