The Summer Scene at the Hearth Room

 

 

 

 

Birds and blooms, playtime and puzzles, swimming and summer food eaten outdoors are some of my favorite things. 

 

Just add some evening patio crochet and I'm all set. 

 

Since I did not take the time to plant seeds this spring, I'm thrilled that the birds helped out with the sunflowers and zinnias that are popping up all over!

 

The kids are really enjoying some reading and puzzle time outside, too.  There is something special about the warm, summer nights.  I think we feel like we're getting away with something by staying up past our bedtimes while it's still light outside!

 

Woody is getting loads of exercise and is showing off his handsome lack of aging.

 

Everyone gets to have their favorite pancakes on slow weekend mornings.  Peach and strawberry pancakes topped with confectioners sugar and chocolate filled crepes (ok, they're only once in a GREAT while...). 

 

Grilled chicken atop healthy greens and roasted sweet potato fries.  Yum.

 

Seriously, peel and cut up those sweet potatoes.  Toss them with olive oil and garlic, sea salt, or whatever grabs you.  Roast them for 30 or 40 minutes.  Instant happiness.

 

Summery, beachy colored yarn taking on the shape of a triangle for a new blanket. 

I'm hooked.

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 



Landscape Changes

 

The Hearth Room was surrounded by severely overgrown vegetation, which was mostly removed during the first year here.

Time was spent putting in a 1st year garden, (ugh)... and planting some little pots of color here and there. 

 



But actual landscaping took a little longer than I had planned.  If you know me, you know  I'm kind of an all or nothin' kind of girl.  I like to do things BIG and do them well.  So as Sweet P. was small and her primary goal in life was to be attached to me, I didn't worry so much about my barren landscape.  I complained about it.  I groaned about it.  I sighed a lot and found that sitting on any patio around this house was a great source of agony for my normally engaging, eager-to-achieve brain. 

 

So this summer I am learning to be patient and much kinder to myself and decided to take some baby steps and get in there and do it, (hopefully well...), even if it's not BIG.  Since Sweet P. is no longer permanently attached, but instead runs ahead most of the time, I figured here's my chance.  And hey, with Young Man being almost the same size as me I realized I may just have a Planting Partner, too.  And I did. 

 

A couple before and afters:

 



 

 

Still waiting on fairies to move in. 

 



 

 

 



 

 

Even the blue milk crate looks so much better with all the landscaping!  I'm telling you, deep down, anything functional that stands out like that milk crate does makes me crazy like a cat with a clothespin on it's tail.  But unless I want to have to remember to move it every week in time for the milk man's visit, it will remain outstanding in it's own way. 

 

This pretty phlox is a nice splash of color, but it's located in another area that I haven't taken pictures of yet, so maybe more to come.  I certainly don't have lush, mature, colorful flower beds yet, but I am enjoying the freshness of the new, cleaner look.  I especially like the softness provided by those left over pavers I repurposed.  

 



All in a day's work, with a little elbow grease, some good mud boots, and a bit of help. 

 

Thanks, kids.

 



 

 Now let's get back to some serious play while I ponder what's next.



Mums the Word... and Little Pumpkins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Friends.  How are things with you this weekend?

 

I am enjoying the crispness of a new fall and the change in light.  I'm taking in the new colors of the season that are slowly creeping in.  And I'm pulling together the old fall decorations that we diligently pack away each year and then drag back out and spruce up enough to use again.  Sometimes something new gets tossed into the mix, but we do tend to get stuck in our ways here at the Hearth Room.  Or should I say, we are just plain comfortable with how we do things so we just keep doing them over and over year after year!  Actually, we find that at times like this, what has repeated itself over the years has become something of a tradition that we all look forward to.  Young Man has asked if we can make a scarecrow this year and that just tickled me right down to my toes!  Yes!  Of course we will make a scarecrow!  And we will place our pumpkins around the house and we will even have our little family Jack O'Lantern carving contest!  I should start planning ahead for that, because these guys are getting Really good at that in recent years...

 

So, I attempted to grow a few pumpkins this year.  I thought it would be fun for little people to have their own patch and then when fall came, our pumpkins would be ready to display or carve...  But I had some trouble with the whole pumpkin-growing thing.  Well, I either had trouble or too much help...

 

While the corn was still up, I squealed with excitement, "Look, Sweet P., the little pumpkins are growing!"  I continued to pick beans or weed until I heard, "Look, Mama!  A punt-in'!"

 

"Oh, Sweet P., you're not supposed to pick them yet.  You have to let them grow BIG!"

 

"Otay, Mama..."

 

That scenario replayed a few times.  And then Hubby, who loves the garden and can't seem to keep his hands off the most fascinating specimens out there, would often apologetically admit that he 'just touched' another pumpkin and ...   Ok, Honey, will you STOP 'touching' the pumpkins please!

 

So I finally had a couple pumpkins growing very nicely.  They were looking so great.  I thought, yay, we will have a few good pumpkins for carving after all!

 

Then, while I was watering the potatoes one evening I noticed a spot, no, more of a hole in one of my pretty, orange fellas...

 

Hubby says, "Hey, did your son tell you?  He shot your pumpkin."

 

?  He shot my pumpkin?!  Really? 

 

Apparently, my orange bounty was growing too close to his target.  Hmpf!  He usually hits his targets!  But apparently somehow he missed just this once.

 

  Ok.  So, Young Man, looks like your pumpkin is already morbidly dressed for our carving season. 

There.  You have a shot pumpkin.

 

So the few remaining pumpkins that survived and looked healthy I have set around the patio or in the mulch so that we can enjoy their fall beauty.  And we have now acquired a few other locally grown gourds that are blessing us with their beauty and varying textures.

 

In fact, Sweet P and I arranged them on the Hearth Room floor this morning to experience how they all feel and look a bit differently.  It's a true joy to me to have these lovelies around the house this time of year.  It may be silly to some, but I love it.  And we have fun with it here. 

 

So as Hubby and I have cleared most of the garden we gathered the last of the small melons that aren't good for eating and we made a pile -  right by Young Man's targets.

 

Now hopefully our scarecrow won't suffer the same fate.

 

I hope you're enjoying some fun fall things where you are!

 

xoxo

 

 



It's Summer

A single sunflower stands alone on our courtyard patio, deserted by the height of summer temperatures. We seem to have retreated indoors to delve into good books and be transported by old movies (I am always way behind everyone else).

The Thai Basil and Rosemary seem to be enjoying the warmth and solitude, as do the mints. No little hands have been present to experience their fragrances or flavors. The catnip has not returned. Too much presence by hefty felines have once again proven the need to have catnip grown in a top secret location, only to be witnessed by the fine felines in fresh snippets provided to them. As opposed to rolling, smashing and gnawing freely. 

As we support local farming, our CSA share of fruit has filled the Hearth Room with delightful aromas of apples and cinnamon.  Almost makes me long for fall.  When the rich colors and warm, spicy scents of the fruits and flavors are bubbling, waiting for family gatherings.  And the temperatures invite us back outdoors to play in crisper air and crunchier leaves. 

But it is definitely not time for that.  Not yet!  The garden is producing plenty of beautiful vegetables to share and prepare for winter meals. 

I offer squash and cukes to all who visit the Hearth Room. Soon I will be pushing tomatoes and onions, too.  Although, right now Hubby is still marveling at how well the onions have done, allowing them to continue to swell.  Well, except for a few....

Add to the mix these wonderful Romano Beans we were gifted by a fellow gardener.  I am learning to cook new things, as well as old favorites in different ways.  These meaty beans were prepared with a coating of EV olive oil and chopped garlic.  Dashed with sea salt and pepper and roasted on a baking sheet.  Summery goodness at it's finest!

Somehow we managed to skip planting zucchini here, but it seems to always be one of the first things folks share.  This year has been no exception! 

As soon as a zucchini comes through the door, it ends up here in a rich, sweet batter.

My young apprentice has found cooking to be a wonderful world of exploration lately.  From how sticky your hands and face can get to how exceptionally good things taste.

Oh, my little zucchini breads...  You didn't last long enough.  I do hope another large squash makes it through our door soon.

And absolutely worthy of mentioning is the very delicious and necessary corn fritters that are a tribute to everything good Granny taught me.  Every summer for as long as I live there will be corn, fresh from the cob, mixed with milk, flour, eggs, salt and pepper, with a little dash of sugar.  I wrote of them last year and I probably will again.  That Granny, she's  a good one.

Fresh, hot, corn fritters, cukes and red onions (don't tell Hubby), and beet greens from the garden.

I'm not sure I ever shared with you my unconventional corn and potato patch.  Yet another space in need of landscaping, that once the potato bags called it home I found the need to fill in around them with corn and sunflowers.  Just another moment of whimsey. 

Speaking of whimsy along with the joys of summer, I have to show you one of my most favorite-ist things ever.  In this very unexpected place, a little couple of bluebirds have decided to make a home.  This birdhouse was made by Young Man a few years ago and as you can see, it hangs and is not stationary.  No matter to the little bluebirds in love that desperately sought out this place as their home.  The place to raise their little family. 

One tiny orange mouth, ready to be fed, competing with two others.  I can see this box just outside the Hearth Room door.  I have had the most heart squeezing fun seeing these 3 blue eggs hatch into the tiny balls of fluff they are now.  Mama and Daddy are the best birdie parents, watching over them constantly and taking turns feeding those hungry mouths.  I'm waiting for the chance to get a really good picture of them, but Daddy Blue has been on to me lately...  I thought I'd give him a rest from worry for a bit.

As our retreat indoors continues, I am constantly reminded of my need to visit the great outdoors by happy, energetic children, immense plants climbing out of the garden, and by little feathered friends who are holding me to my promise of filling the feeders that I so lovingly hung for their benefit.  Yep, they just lie down and wait right in the dish until I come and provide.  We all seem to get a little stuck in our ways here at the Hearth Room.  Even the outdoors is spoiled .