Butterflies and Flowers

The butterflies have had a nice summer. The Zinnias are in bloom and they like them as much as they do the Butterflybush.

Amaryllis Belladonna - Naked Ladies

These beautiful flowers come back each year.  They spring up quickly, the blooms open and then they last several days.  This photo is taken about day three after the blooms opened.

Vintage Photo Sunday - Girls With Doll

I have a lot of old snapshots in photo albums from the 1920s.  As near as I can tell, the albums depict the Carroll, Iowa area.

I enjoy looking at how women dressed in those days.  Aren't these dresses cute?  It would be fun to know about the doll too.

Herb Garden in Progress

This is the small herb garden I planted recently.  It is a work in progress.  I probably won't add any more plants, but I want to add rocks etc.  Planted here from back to front are, Grapefruit Mint, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Greek Oregano, Sage, Parsley and Thyme.  It will be interesting to see what comes up next year on its own, and what I need to replant.  The herbs are handily accessible because the porch is right off the kitchen.



Below is a picture of the back porch.  I planted Zinnias along the length of the porch, and there are many flower buds so I am hopeful.

Tom Tonyan - July 3, 1951 - July 7, 2010

Thomas Douglas Tonyan

My brother-in-law tragically passed away from injuries he suffered in an automobile accident on Wednesday, July 7th.  It is impossible to believe he is isn't with us any longer.  Tom was a brilliant jazz musician who played the piano, organ and keyboard.  He had a witty sense of humor, and had an infectious laugh that I can hear now.  He was a loving man who is deeply missed by his family.

We love you Tom

Recently, on April 16th of this year, he played with Red Holloway for the opening of the Friday Night Series of Jazz at LACMA (the Los Angeles County Museum of Art).

Here is a review of the evening.

Although you can just see the top of his head in the videos, that is Tom on the organ.  I have embedded the You Tube videos for you to enjoy.

Here is a photo of Tom that evening playing the organ.

Winner of My Blog Giveaway

My husband drew the name for my blog giveway.  The lucky winner is Recycled Rita.  I have contacted her by email, and I'm looking for her to send her postal address.  Thank you to everyone who left comments, and also to everyone who became a follower.

Congratulations Rita!  I hope you will enjoy the goodies.

Giveaway Drawing - Three Year Blog Anniversary

POST UPDATE 7/7/10:  I have a family emergency and need to put this giveaway on hold, but I will draw a name when I return.

The three year anniversary of my blog is fast approaching, and I thought I'd like to have a giveaway to honor the occasion, and thank you for visiting my blog.

I am giving away this small quiltie (4" x 6") that depicts an Art Nouveau image of a woman that is printed on cotton. It is collaged with vintage bits of hankie, trim and a button.

Also, I'm giving away this assortment of antique and vintage bits of lace.

 To be eligible for the drawing,  leave a comment on this post, if you are already a follower or become a follower of my blog I will enter your name twice.  Be sure to include an e-mail for me to contact you so that I can get your snail mail address where to send your package.  You have until July 14th to enter.  I will draw a name on the morning of the 15th, contact you by e-mail, and then post the winner.

An Afternoon at Stream Cliff Herb Farm

Happy 4th of July to you all.

During a break in the hot weather a couple of days ago, we spent a girls' day out at Stream Cliff Herb Farm in Indiana.  We had a lovely lunch, and enjoyed the beautiful grounds.  I was inspired to plant a small herb garden of my own, and purchased a few plants.  My herb garden is a work in progress, but has come a long way from the weed patch from which it started.  Nearby the farm we saw a beautiful old covered bridge where we stopped to snap a few pictures.

Vintage Photo Sunday - Found Photos

I found these two photos at an antique store on our trip to Kentucky.  The condition of both of them is quite poor.  But, I will be able to use them in a project without the worry of ruining pristine antique photos.

Catching Up On Zzzzzs

Is this the biggest yawn you have every seen?  My kitties made the trip from California to Kentucky fine, and have been catching up on their sleep.  Here they are enjoying the wide window sill, and the comfort of Laundry Miss.  I caught Lily just as she was was yawning - Licorice wasn't quite ready to get up.

We had a beautiful drive through Utah and Colorado, and then, we headed up to Nebraska.  From there we drove south to Kansas, and then Missouri and part of Illinois.  I hadn't been to Nebraska for many years, and we enjoyed our drive along the Platte River Valley as well as the small towns and farms in the more rural sections off the interstate in both Nebraska and Kansas.  I am an amateur genealogist, and we visited two old cemeteries to see ancestor's graves - one in Nebraska and one in Kansas.

Liberty Cemetery, Liberty Nebraska

1919 Liberty Bank

Bucks Grove Cemetery - Soldier, Kansas

Soldier, Kansas

I will share more photos in another post.