Summer Berry Swap package arrived!!!

Missy was my Summer Berry Swap partner and her package arrived yesterday. This sight makes me smile each and every time. There's the excitement of what it contains, how did my partner view me, interpret my likes and dislikes, did I reveal enough about myself... Here's what my box contained: a layer of yummy raspberry pink shred with light pink and green tissue peeking out. That tissue cuddled these items. A jar of raspberries that will sit on my kitchen shelf, some jello for my favorite pineapple-cottage cheese-cool whip jello salad, an apron to wear while mixing that salad, some labels and stickers and itty bitty envelopes. Thank you, Missy. Hope you enjoyed your visit with your sister!!!

Flea Market happiness

Several times a year the fair grounds in Walworth County, Wisconsin turn into one of the best flea market in the area. Just about 75 miles north of Chicago. The people are friendly, the merchandise is great and you won't find any tube socks. I call it paradise.

It was very early Sunday morning when we started our drive up. First stop had to be for coffee. There is a fear that a late start imparts - a fear that the really good stuff will be gone. Fortunately, the temperature was a bit cooler there with a wonderful breeze.

I scored immediately with some vintage ornaments and these wonderful bits of ephemera. A tablet of old, hand written recipes and a legal document.

A few days earlier I saw something here and knew I had to have a similar piece. Found this for only $30.00! After that find I was ready to go home, but we continued... glad we did as this was the next find for a mere $10. It is a filing cabinet with 2 drawers. It will get a coat of paint and new drawer pulls and be filled in an orderly fashion with paper and prints and goodies and all the other treasures that are currently so very disorganized.

a beautiful presentation

A while back I happened upon this blog and love visiting it. What inspiration for a beautifully wrapped gift! Wrapping paper and ribbon has always been a passion of mine and Sande has the ability to combine the two like no one else. Just look at the lush bows and the fabulous papers!
If I never step foot into another Hallmark store, that will be fine with me. I have seen some of these papers at Paper Source and splurged a few times. Now I will feel lax if I settle for anything less.

At the end of June I posted a few pictures of my garden. At the time, I was happy with the size of my plants. 5 weeks later and look at it now! My pumpkin vine is producing 3 pumpkins and I will have tomatoes for the entire neighborhood. Problem with that is everyone's tomatoes will be ready at the same time - feast or famine. Nothing tastes like a fresh, homegrown tomato!

Sunday is the flea market in Walworth County and it is one of the best in this area. The weather is predicted to be hot, hot, hot, but dry. Can't think of anything more fun than a flea market with my girlfriends. We'll get a very early start and be home in time for dinner.

A surprise on my doorstep

Monday was a crazy, hectic day filled to the brim with errands, appointments, phone calls and all the things that I hate to do. I came home to find a mail box full of (more) bills, statements, postcards (not the good kind), and junk mail. Something was on the front step that caught my eye. I ripped open that baby faster than you could bat an eyelash! Inside was an envelope with this card inside. All of these items were so very carefully wrapped.

Cookie cutters, one in the shape of my daughter's greatest fear, a SHARK!!! Enough summer reading material to take me thru August, thank you very much! THE cutest notepad covered in a map with a matching pen, lots of darling tags, and (don"t let my family know) a box of Milk Duds. Yummy. Wait, there's more...
a little bottle holding a treasure map, shells, a bracelet , goldfish crackers. Everything make me yell "look at this!!!" Angie , you are the sweetest and I will be your partner anytime. And I do not say that to everyone. Thank you, thank you. I love you!

Blog addiction

I have to admit - I am a blog addict. I can spend hours going from site to site, reading about people I don't know. A recent stop was at Pioneer Woman. She had a giveaway of a Kitchenaid stand mixer!!! Now that is one fabulous win!!! She also has a tutorial on blogging that gave some good advise. Check it out for a fun read. Lots of yummy recipes, too.

My latest swap, and I do love swaps, is the Desert Island Swap organized by Lori at Morning Glories and Moonflowers . Now that I am snap happy, I've included a picture of a portion of what is in the mail to my partner. The picture is before wrapping - I love to get wrapped goodies in my swap packages so try to do it with what I am sending.

Desert Island Swap

Monday was hectic and tiring. After running errands all day, I came home and checked the mail box.. A pile of bills, statements and junk mail. But something on the porch caught my eye. This:

Summertime pleasures

A previous post showed a view of my yard and fountain taken from inside. Today I am posting a photo of the same area in all its summertime splendor. The weather here is perfect, low humidity, sunny, warm. My windows are open and a pleasant breeze is blowing.My vegetable garden is exploding after a very cold June. I was afraid I wouldn't get any tomatoes this summer! The hydrangas are in bloom and the daisies are beautiful. I love to walk around the yard to see what has happened overnight.