(dog tail cactus & diy-old deep fryer basket/hanging planter)
I can't believe that winter is finally over! Bring on the blossoms and sunshine. These cold weather months weren't so bad..I vegged out with hulu and Netflix, made way too many treats, tried to keep plants alive, a little antiquing, my 28th birthday, and some big home projects.
Working on building my own butcher block countertops!
homemade marshmallows
snow cat
It snowed so much here in the Midwest..if ever I complained about the lack of fluffy stuff it more than made up for it this year.
Like mountains of it.
That meant plenty of time inside to catch up on old books.
This spring and summer has seriously flown by, and produced some of the prettiest flowers I've seen in a long time! I'm thinking it's the milder heat, last summer was such a scorcher they even canceled fireworks because all of the grass was so dry.
Here is a collection of some favorites this season, most are from my yard!
Luke's grandfather recently left him this old butcher block table that he made himself, along with some pretty gnarly antique butcher knives. The cleaver is horror movie material.
Ferdinand, my vintage bull cookie jar, made his home amongst the flowers for a while.
We have rows of red orange tulips(pecan/maple syrup scented) in the front of our house, one of my favorite flowers. They always remind me of my grandpa O'Malley's old stone farm cottage. The smell is the most memorable part. I love things that can take me back to a moment in time. I think photographs and sensory memory are the closest to time travel I can get.
I can't believe how old Z's getting, we think she's around 10!
Another favorite, peonies!
The first time I saw a real life peony was in Portland, Oregon a few years ago. We visited the Chinese gardens at the very best time, peony fest! I was surrounded by so many different varieties and perfect specimens, heavenly. I took a million photos to remember but I knew I had to grow some for myself.
(I'll never forget the pale purple roses at the international rose test garden either)
After being re rooted for a move and spending a few years reestablishing itself this is the very first year my plant's had more than one bloom.
They were amazing!
Lumen is the most curious cat!
Pretty purslane, it's edible too!
The multiple never ending blooms of irises and gladiolus amaze me.
I've been concentrating on the kitchen reno mostly, doing the things I've been putting off. There were a few days that I stayed up all night knocking four inches of unsalvageable masonry off one of the walls, exposing some pretty perfect old brick! These walls are triple brick, it's pretty interesting to see the inner workings..how does all of this stay together?!
It's a collection over 10 years in the making, finally getting a proper display! These are progress photos, I'm working out what I want where. I still need to finish and seal the exposed brick. And a million other little things, but it's coming together!
I always slow down a bit when it gets really hot and it puts me a little behind in general. I can't complain though because my favorite season is just around the corner. I love when the weather cools down. We live in a 150+ yr old historic home with no central heat or air! In the Midwest. Only a few window units to get us through while we're renovating. It actually hasn't been unbearably hot this year, no 100 degree days lasting all week this time around! Yet. I'm working in the studio now trying to fix my broken fan..this old house.
"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy." Lucille Ball
This tree in our neighborhood..hundreds of huge blooms!
I saw an adorable photo today and thought of the movie, The Long, Long Trailer. It's a laugh out loud one that totally reminded me of our relationship, and how we never ever fight..only on road trips when we're arguing about directions! I don't know why it's so fun but it is. Because we're snapping at each other and as soon as we get to where we're going we start laughing about the fight and making fun of ourselves. That's the secret.
In the best scene he tells her she can't bring the rock specimens she's just collected onto the rv..she does it anyway. And she attempts to cook in the moving swinging trailer, it's the best.
We haven't been on vacation in a while, staying home and working on the house renovation instead. It's our five year wedding anniversary at the end of August and It's been just enough time since we last visited Chicago, we used to go a few times a year and even got engaged at the top of the Ferris wheel on Navy Pier.
I was 21, he was 23. Now it seems so young to me! But we fell in love over road trips and little adventures.
Pear blossoms are my very favorite, we had a giant pear tree in the front yard of the old farmhouse growing up..I still miss all of that open space.
If I have to be surrounded I prefer lovely old things, and bright fresh greenery.
It's been one of the prettiest spring seasons, so much beauty everywhere!
Sometimes you just have to look with different eyes. We've been enjoying the milder weather and taking walks around the neighborhood with Copper.
I've been trying to absorb it all, because just like that it's here and gone.
Mammoth acorn. The mature trees in our historic neighborhood are massive! You wouldn't believe how active and loud the birds are around here, they love them too.
Bringing a bit of nature inside, my spring mantle.
Did some rearranging and spring cleaning,
Lu loves to lounge.
I can't believe what a hulking beast this guy has turned into..it's like holding a small fat dog. Lumen's getting his special surgery this weekend. He has no idea what's in store for him haha
We planted lots of flowers inside and out..
Blooming is the best part.
Trying to eat a lot more vegetarian meals, avocado is always on hand.
But sometimes you just gotta make confetti cupcakes..
My vase and vessel collection has been getting a lot of use!
I've finally broken a lifelong habit of nail biting by taking the advice of my 1940's ad..
keep 'em pretty!
A few months ago I mentioned my health struggles and I've been trying out a new thyroid medicine..that made me gain all of the weight back that I worked so hard to take off last spring! That's 25 lbs! I'm a petite person. And I didn't feel any positive effects, ugh.(and my hair started falling out) More depressing than depression. Nothing like when your body betrays you. I'm a bit of a control freak too, and feeling out of control of my body is getting to me. I'm working on finding a natural way to manage my Hashimoto's symptoms, I just want to feel like my normal happy self..it's tough.
I love having a real cut tree, that forest fresh smell!
My grandma Betty's ornaments have always been in this beat up vintage luggage, every time I crack it open..it's like the 60's in here haha
Lots of the mercury glass ones were so delicate..and broken.
The house was such a mess last year that we didn't even put up a tree..ah the joys of restoring a 150+ historic house. I'm making up for it this time around! I really missed Christmas..
Lumen does a lot of supervising around here haha
what I've been up to lately..
and watch out for fingers!
took a nice chunk out but I'm healing..the human body is an amazing thing.
this band aid is the most stylish thing I've been wearing.
but..
I rediscovered my favorite blazer..
thought I wore it to death in high school,
let's just say I had a blazer phase..
that never ended.
I'll let you guys in on a little secret.
I have crazy curly unruly hair, all I want to do is throw a beanie on that mess..so I do.
Almost every day. It was time for some new ones!
Slouchy styles like this are the best.
I have a headware obsession, it started way back..
I'll save the embarrassing hat tales for another day haha
and..
I made this yummy new concoction
roasted mini sweet peppers+creamy greek yogurt/avocado filling
most of my recipes spring from-I'm hungry and these things are about to expire haha
New Year's Eve snack?
We used to have awesome little parties at home growing up.
Grandma Betty would have dug em, this was her season.
I was so excited when I peeped this trench at salvation army..1960's,rust,a hood! As a shortie(5'3!)5'2.5)I usually shy away from floor sweeping hems,but with a little platform and a shorter dress I think it works. Also, I don't care because I really love this coat haha
cobblestone!
pumpkin spice and everything nice..
this outfit has a lot of favorites, old and new.
I'm a sucker for pretty lace dresses..
and I've never really been able to resist this perfect peach/rose/pink!
or a handsome matching silky lining.
lace in the light
My newest little vintage creature. A score from this weekend, and my eyeliner inspiration..
homemade marshmallows
