News From The Nest

Plugging Along

Summer is plugging right along here. We've had extreme heat and humidity (for Ohio) like the rest of the country and lots and lots of rain.

The garden goods have grown by leaps and bounds with little effort from me. It's been so wet that I lost my cucumber plants after getting only one cucumber off of three vines. I just got two more plants and need to get them in the ground to try again. The tomatoes are starting to ripen and the spaghetti squash vines have traveled all over. I've harvested the cabbages and have gotten several yellow squash off the vines.  

I love not having to water the gardens! It would be nice, though, if the rain was a little more evenly spaced. I'm sure the ground will be bone-dry in August and September. I have really been enjoying the many coneflowers and daisies that are blooming. I love cutting them and having little arrangements placed around the house. Nothing fancy - just cut flowers stuck in a vase or bottle. 

I have a lot of soap that has cured and will be busy this weekend wrapping and labeling. It's time to start thinking of fall and winter soaps. Oh, the designs that run through my head! Love them!

Summer has also brought a Summer Blitz - knitting contest. I have knit a project in June (shawl for Mom) and am almost finished with the July project (shawl for me). Can hardly wait to find out what the project choices are for August. Then, there'll be a prize at the end for completing a project each of the three months. 

The big rug hooking event is approaching at Sauder Village in August. Our rug hooking guild is doing a sunflower challenge. Each of us was given two pieces of wool and choice of sunflower patterns. The challenge is to incorporate the two pieces of wool somewhere in our hooked piece. I need to get on the stick with this - am starting mine tonight and need to finish it as soon as possible!!! I've been too busy knitting to hook!

Brian, our older son, is in the area this week for training and we enjoyed seeing him Monday and Tuesday nights. Wish he could bring the rest of the family with him for a long visit! Miss them!

Stay tuned for show and tell!!!!

Beautiful!

Last weekend in one word - hard to find just one appropriate word - was BEAUTIFUL!

We flew to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on June 26th for a long weekend to attend the wedding of our younger son, Taylor, and Rachael. We've considered Rachael part of our family for a long time and it was wonderful to make it official.

These two have been together a long time and have produced two adorable children. They've weathered some storms and have come out on the sunny side. I'm so proud of them - of their attitudes and the priorities they are setting. 

The ceremony took place outside at The Cooper House near the Intracoastal Waterway. The weather was HOT HOT HOT! Thank goodness the rain held off. 

Rachael had gleaned ideas from different sources and put them together beautifully. Her color was the softest shade of pink and the decorations were elegantly simple. Lots of pink roses, Baby's Breath, and another flower that I can't recall the name of. 

The reception was inside an old structure on the property which was decorated with the same flowers and votive candles. Again, elegantly simple. We had a buffet dinner which was yummy and danced into the night.

Mom and Daddy went with us. It was great that they were able to go and share in this event. Our older son, Brian, and his family were there, as well as, two of my cousins and their wives. It was great seeing everyone for this special occasion. 

 

As favors for the wedding guests, I made soap in three fragrances - White Magnolia, Wasabi, and Summer Melon Spritzer. All three smelled delightfully light and fresh and I think everyone appreciated / liked them. The label said "We're bubbling over joy! Thank you for sharing our special day."

We had some time to eat a good seafood meal. It was so YUM to eat fresh shrimp and oysters! It's been a while! I even had time to find a wonderful knitting shop - Knit-N-Purl - less than 2 miles from hotel! The shop was GREAT and very very busy! There was a large variety of yarns and tons of samples everywhere.

One thing I hated is that we didn't have the opportunity to walk on the beach. I'll just have to plan another trip so I can dig my toes into the sand!

Now, to celebrate July 4th! Hope yours is save and fun!

Thanks for reading!