Summer garden 2012

We've been working hard in the yard and I wanted to take some photos and share with you how nice it's looking this year. Of course, today it's 100 degrees and I'm sure everything will be fried in a few more weeks. Planting it all is time consuming, but keeping it alive, that's the hard part.

Here's the view of the patio from the end of the house. We installed the pergola last year, and it is a huge help with shade. There is a sail shade in the center that helps make our seating area pleasant to sit in. Otherwise, it's too hot.

 Just down from the patio is a huge spruce tree and our magnolia tree, now growing into the spruce. It's kind of a dead area. The last to be weeded. Usually by the time I get over there I just can't handle anymore. Need to come up with a better solution!

 A view of the pond from the walkway into the yard. All of these ponytail grasses and gaura were volunteers. I have moved 3 gaura out from there but don't have a good place for the others. This is a favorite place for Lola to get tangled in.

 Front side of the pond. I'm doing something right, because the plants are very happy! The cattails are 7' tall, and the lily has sent up 25+ lilypads.

 To the left of the pond

 My birdhouse collection. They used to be scattered all over the place, but Bart grouped them and I think they look awesome.

 A few of them have plants in them. So far, so good.  Between these two posts is where the hammock hangs when we have it up. I took it down for pix.

 Even more to the left, we have a silver lace vine that we finally got to grow up this trellis and onto the pergola.

 I love the leaf man face in here.

 On the other side of the walk is a recently planted honeysuckle vine. The hope is that it will grow up and make an arbor of sorts with the silver lace. This is a new planting area, and we're not quite sure what to do with it. The spruce is dying, so we had it trimmed up last year. I've added in some perennials

 and some hostas and the squirrels were kind enough to plant a few sunflowers. Eventually the tree will have to go. My planting bench. Most of my pots live here. I planted far fewer than in previous years.

 The back door, and an ever present furry creature. They follow me everywhere.

 Close up of the bench and plants.

 We are still deciding what to do about patio furniture. I want something more couch like and Bart doesn't. We ordered some new chairs because these ones are rusting and we are sick of dealing with the cushions, but haven't done anything about the table. We may not do anything this year. There is a rumor of mulch being ordered, but I'm hoping it's not true :) I hate laying mulch.

Thanks for looking! Hope you saw something you liked.

Project life: week 20

Welcome to week 20. I can't believe I had enough photos to fill a spread for this week, and the next several. It's not easy to take, edit and select photos when your vision is so crappy! This week I had the additional story of my diabetes diagnosis to add to the mix.

Full spread:

 Left side:  2 CZ templates, An AE template, washi tapes, & 7 Gypsies stickers (I'm determined to use all of these dang stickers!). 

 I used a Bananafish Studio tab and stitched it here.

 Right side: Nisa Finn journal card, Heidi Swapp label, and I don't remember for sure where the other stuff is from. It's really old.

 A photo from the last game of the season. Sadly, this will be the last time they will all play together. Sniff.

 Bart took Evan to see MIB3 in 3D, and then we went to the drive in. Love when they cooperate and let me take photos!

Week 21, up next!

Project life: week 19

Week 19. I still love this project. I'm still far behind.

This was the busiest week as far as extra curricular stuff going on. On top of it all, Evan was sick for 10 days and missed an entire week of school. And we had our garage sale.

Here's the spread:

 Left side: a stamp from Nicole, Heidi Swapp journal spot & sticker, Studio Calico spot, Jillibean Soup label, Bananafish Studios flair.

 Right side: Stickers from 7 Gypsoes, Jillibean, & fontwerks. Scenic Route chipboard circle.

 Great photo of my loves.

Thanks for looking! I'll post the next week later.

Solstice Run 2012

Emma ran in the10th annual Solstice run this morning. It was a beautiful, 70 degree morning, not too humid. Great weather for a 5K.

Here's the starting line, inside Northville Downs.

 Right before the race started she found her buddy Haley. It was a huge crowd, and we weren't sure she'd be able to connect with her. They are right in the middle here.

 Coming out of the Downs

 Ford Field and the finish line

 Almost at the end!

 Yea! They finished.

I don't know her exact time right now, but it was somewhere around 28:00.My dad heard them announce her name as she crossed the finish line, but I missed it. So proud of this girl!

Project life: week 18

Week 18, and despite my lack of vision, I still really love this project. I know looking back at this album that it's going to be a favorite.

Full spread:

 Left side: Emma scored a goal, plants, Evan practicing trombone, yummy libations from Florida, Mother's Day. Washi tapes, a Cameo die cut, Heidi Swapp journal spots, Nicole's stamp.

 A close-up of the van Bart brought home to haul garage sale junk to my dad's house. Emma calls it the 'pedo van'. And there are those tasty bevvies!

 I backed the die cut with washi tape and stitched it, to make it pop a little.

 Right side: my book club friends, Mom on Mother's Day, tadpoles, Maxie, Evan taking a shot on goal. I used an Ormulu tag & flair, banana fish studios tags, 7 Gypsies stickers, Jillibean Soup stickers, a Martha Stewart label.

 My Borders friends, Aimee & Julie. Haven't seen them in a long time, and we decided to start our own book club. We met at Buddy's in Dearborn, and had a terrific time. Can't wait for the next meeting.

 The 'Oh Lola' was from a magazine ad. The handwritten note from Evan is a sad little reminder that I have a difficult child at times.

 Another great photo from my soccer mom friend.

Another one in the books! Thanks for looking!

Project Life: week 17

Okay, so I am really behind on posting my layouts. I have still been working on them in a (mostly) timely manner, but the truth of the matter is, it's really hard to keep up with scrapping when you can hardly see! True. I can tell that my weeks started to have fewer and fewer photos, because I didn't take any. But I've been sketching out my weeks and taking notes and filling in when I can see.

Here's the spread:

 Left side. I used a CZ template, Martha Stewart label sticker, 7 gypsies sticker. a frappuchino bookmark, Smash journal card, & Bananafish studio milk cap.

 Close up of the template. This is a really cool set. I plan to use them lots! Works well with less than perfect instagram pics. Also, my Lola baby. She's been with us 2 years.

 Right side: 7 Gypsies stickers, Heidi Swapp journal spot, Ormulu number 5, Erica Hernandez journal card. At first, I was going to make an insert for Cinco de Mayo, but I didn't have enough good photos. So I just decided to dedicate one side of the page to it. The 5 is on top of the page protector to sort of tie it all together.

 One of the mom's on Evan's team has a great lens, and takes photos at most games. She gets the best action shots!

 close up of my friend Colleen working the hot dog machine at the NHS jv game, the first day of the market, and Evan in pt.

Thanks for looking! Tomorrow I'll post the next week.

Summer Manifesto 2012

My kids are out of school this Thursday, which got me to thinking...what should we do this summer? Evan will be going to a tournament & soccer camp. Emma will have driver's training, girl scout camp & cross country training. But what should we do together, as a family? I decided to follow Ali's lead and make a summer manifesto. Then I'm gonna put it all together in a scrapbook.

1. Go to the drive-in

2. pick strawberries

3. have a bonfire every week

4. go to the beach

5. walk. lots.

6. go to a Tigers game

7. make homemade pickles

8. go to the farmer's market every week

9. knit 5 pairs of socks

10. visit friends

11. water balloon fight

12. read 10 books

13. play with Evan

14. redecorate one room

15. do something unexpected

Some of the things I've already started (drive-in, bonfire, knitting, books) and others I haven't. But there is plenty of time. I've thought of a few other things too, but most are 'just me' things, so I didn't include them. Or I can choose to include them later.

Let summer begin!

Summer Dash

Emma ran her first 5K this morning. It was put on by her class to raise money for their prom in 2015. She signed up for it a week ago.

 Emma, Alyssa, Emma H., Nate

 stretching pre-race

 Addison & Emma

 Addison, Em, Kylie, & Emma

 The race staff

 I was stunned when Em was the third girl to round the bend. She didn't train for this, and started the morning off with nasty cramps. But there she was, pounding the pavement. In third place! She finished with a time of 25:54.

After the race with first place Megan, second place Addison, Nate, & Maddy.

So proud of our girl!