It's been a while since I've posted about life at home. I find myself so behind in writing about our travels and have been playing catch up. I still have not finished posts about our trip in 2017 to England. I will try to finish those posts, but also write about life at home.
Though it may not seem to you we love being at home, we really do. I recently put a new valance in the kitchen. I use red and white in our kitchen so the red and white Buffalo checked curtains suit it well. Vermont Country Store recently acquired the Country Curtains line. If you are looking for them they are now there.
Summer has whizzed by this year as does every season seem to do now! I must say that by late August I'm ready to say goodbye to the hot and humid weather. The most glorious season will be here soon and I am so glad! My prayers go out to all that have been affected by Dorian. The news photos are just devastating.
Our youngest grand turned 15 in August. We all got together and celebrated at a seafood restaurant. Miles loves food and especially seafood!
The grands are now back in school. Our eldest began his junior year of college and the middle is a junior in high school, and the youngest is a freshman. Wow!
In the garden I've had to water more often than I'd like. Without additional water plants in our pots would perish.
Our miniature rose, Popcorn, finally treated us with a blossom.
Butterflies have been abundant in our garden as have the birds and bees.
We unfortunately have had a large yellow jacket nest take up residence in a birdhouse. Grayden had to get rid of it to our dismay. They are so aggressive and were really close to our patio.
We still have an abundance of bumblebees that love visiting the blossoms.
I have a fascination with dragonflies and enjoy seeing them flit about the garden. I've been unable to take a photo of them as they seem to be quite busy. This little fellow treated me with a long pose on the trellis.
I find I never have my camera in reach when needed, but sometimes I get lucky and remember to take my camera to the patio when we have afternoon tea.
A very large turtle visited us recently. Grayden almost stepped on him while making a trip to our compost area.
We are now having some days that tell us that Autumn is coming! The long shadows tell us the seasons are beginning their change. I love living where the seasons change.
Seeing the baled hay reminds me that soon we will be seeing more changes. Can you see changes where you live?
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your travel posts, but as a homebody, I so love spending time with you at home.
Your photos share a beautiful, cozy, love-filled home!
I am also looking forward fall as well!
Have a cozy evening, my friend.
Billie Jo, I'm trying to focus more on our life at home. It's important to me to also record our travels. There doesn't seem like I have the time to do both of them justice. Happy September!
DeleteYour garden is so lovely, you took some really great pictures! Lovely home and family :-) Hope you are having a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jill
Thank you, Jill. I hope your week is going well. Happy September!
DeleteBEAUTIFUL....Loving the pics of your critters and insects. Great job. I know what you mean about staying on top of blogging. My folder on my computer for putting pics for my blog is growing....and growing and it don't seem like I am getting much of it out of the way.
ReplyDeletePam, it's so fun to take photos of all that nature sends our way, isn't it? Hope you are doing well and looking forward to Autumn.
DeleteThe baled hay looks so reminiscent of here too. I love Buffalo check and am thinking along those lines here when I redo the décor. Superb photos of your wildlife, but you do not want a yellow jacket anywhere nearby. Now, we find we have even more to look forward to as you have yet to finish your 2017 tour!
ReplyDelete~~~Waving~~~From Across the Pond~~~Deb in Wales xoxo
Deb, the yellow jacket nest was quite scary. I'm happy that they are now gone! I'm looking forward to finishing our Norway trip and then on to finish our southern England tour. Happy September, my friend. xoxo ♥
DeleteWhat a beautiful garden and home you have. And such a nice turtle! I saw one of our Vine Maple trees was turning orange, soon more trees will begin to change. You got some really great photos!
ReplyDelete((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Autumn is knocking on our door, isn't it? I'm really happy that it won't be long now. Enjoy the changes, Teresa. ♥
DeleteLove your new curtains. That’s nice to know that Country Curtains are available through the Vermont Country Store. Great photos especially of the butterflies and dragonflies! We are definitely feeling the affects of fall up here. The mornings are very cool and the days are mild (70º to 75º).
ReplyDeleteLiz, your weather sounds perfect. Today is only going to be in the 70's for us after a high of 94 yesterday. It's a welcome relief for us.
DeleteLove your curtains! They'd fit very nicely in my kitchen, too. I've made my home and garden so comfortable that anymore I'd rather stay home than travel! The Autumn foliage, however, always entices me to go to the mountains to be immersed in the color.
ReplyDeleteCathy, our home is definitely our little sanctuary. We still love traveling and hope to continue it as long as we can. I hope this Autumn will allow you to take a trip to the mountains to enjoy the splendor of the changing leaves. ♥
DeleteI’m battling hornets, too! Ugh.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Miles! Gotta love a teen who likes seafood.
Your new valence is perfection for your kitchen. So cheerful!
Those pesky yellow jackets! We never use pesticides in our garden, but that's one place we had to draw the line. Happy September, my friend. ♥
DeleteHappy birthday Miles...cool name. Your photos are beautiful. I love watching the bees, butterfly’s and birds. You captured some lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I'll pass on the birthday wishes to Miles. There is nothing better than watching nature. Happy September!
DeleteYou were lucky with the turtle! Life at home looks beautiful and happy indeed. I understand -- we love to travel and share it and enjoy it. But home is -- well, it's home. With all its own beauty and love.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, this turtle is the largest one we've ever had in the garden. I agree with your thoughts, "home is-well, it's home. " Happy September, my friend.
DeleteWhat an adorable post!So happy and inspiring!Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate your visit. Happy September!
DeleteOh Martha Ellen, I love when you write about your home, as home is so special to me too. Your curtains are charming, and every time I see your kitchen with bits of red, I long to go back to red in my kitchen. Although blue works for me as well. Wow, that turtle is huge. What a sight that must have been! He kind of looks like he has a mad face on him. The butterflies and flowers in your garden are wonderful, and oh, that hummingbird, what a special little bird he is. Happy Birthday to Miles. So nice that you celebrated with sea food and a big birthday cake! That is the coolest picture of the yellow jacket in motion. I really appreciated all your photos today, Martha Ellen. Like Maya Angelou says, "Home can heal, there is healing in home." So true.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Sheri, we have been so fortunate to travel. It is important to me to write about it. But I really love our home. All the familiar, the memories, the love that fills my heart is all about home. Thank you for the Maya Angelou quote. I hadn't heard it before. The turtle was enjoying his breakfast of a cicada. The bumblebee is featured in the photo. I am way too afraid to photograph a yellow jacket! Happy September, my friend!
DeleteI'm talking about the one in motion on the pink flower. Is that a butterfly, dragonfly, or something else? Such a cool picture. : )
DeleteOh Sheri, that's a black swallowtail butterfly. You know how you snap away when taking photos--this was one of them. A lucky shot, thank you!
DeleteBeautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your red and white valance!! Gorgeous.
Thank you, Heather. I appreciate your kind words and especially your visit.
DeleteI sure do love home posts! (But I love your travel posts too and look forward to each one!)
ReplyDeleteYour new buffalo check curtain makes me swoon. I love red and I love buffalo check, so there you go. Love seeing the happy photos of your youngest grand who is not so young anymore. I continue to be amazed at how quickly the grands grow. He is a handsome young man! Happy birthday to Miles!
Lovely nature shots . . . all in your own yard! So nice of the dragonfly to stop and pose for you!
Thank you, Cheryl for your kind comments. I'm praying that as Dorian continues up the East Coast you and your family are safe. ♥
DeleteI like a pop of red in the kitchen. Your valence looks so good.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by dragonflies also. When I water the plants, they dance around the spray and have no fear of me and I no fear of them. The same with the butterflies. They know they are at no harm here and I have plenty of zinnias for them to lite on along with the butterfly weed, which has gone to see now.
How do you keep your miniature rose alive during the winter? Do you lay them down and cover? I have two and scared they will die from the freezing temperatures.
Happy Weekend to you
Betsy
Betsy, I don't do a thing to protect the miniature rose in winter. It is in a protected area next to a brick planter and not too far from the house, so that's probably enough protection.
DeleteI love the thought of you and dragonflies playing around as you water. So nice to hear. ♥
As much as I am enjoying your trip to Norway, I was glad to see a post from back at home. Your pictures are so good. My favorite just might be the dragon fly (Of course seeing your handsome birthday boy was number 1). Aren't the colors on this critter just so beautiful. We are growing weary of this late summer heat wave. I am watering plants as much as I can, but I am growing weary. I must not forget what a nice summer we had previously and that we were blessed with abundant rainfall for most of it.
ReplyDeleteMary, we are having respite of sorts as this storm passes the East Coast. It's quite a tease to have the windows open. I do hope the weariness of the summer breaks into a lovely fall for you. ♥
DeleteHappy belated birthday to Miles! I'm finally at the computer - for the weekend, and wanted to stop in to check up on you. :-) What beautiful photos of God's glorious creation! and I love those curtains in your kitchen. They are so perfect for fall. I do love living where there is a change of seasons, although I wish winter would change to spring much sooner than it does. LOL Right now it's very cool in NW Wisconsin and our Amish neighbor is out putting up a new fence to try to keep the cows out of the bean field. It seems to be a never-ending challenge! I hope you have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy, it's lovely to see you here. I think of you often and hope you are well. Cooler days always bring my favorite time of year--Autumn. Sure hope your neighbor can keep his cows from eating the beans! I have a great picture of that in my mind's eye! Have a nice Sunday!
DeleteYour garden looks lovely … we are seeing changes in both cooler days and leaves beginning to turn colour as Autumn approaches. I love the Autumn and am already looking forward to lovely walks and the rustle of leaves as I walk among them :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures of your Grandson, the years fly by and they grow up so fast. I like to hug mine every time we see them, special moments to cherish.
All the best Jan
Jan it sounds lovely where you live. We are seeing some subtle changes in the dogwood leaves and the black gum tree. Autumn is coming and I can't wait. Thank you so much for your kind comments. Yes, hugging those grands is one of the greatest joys!
DeleteI am always catching up on our photos and have many to share still. Whatever you post is always delightful. Coincidentally I was looking at my kitchen and thinking about red gingham curtains only a couple of weeks ago. Your valance is very pretty! Thanks for sharing where you got them from. I have been following the news about the devastating effects of Dorian and it is heartbreaking listening to the stories of the survivors. As for your dear grandson, Happy Birthday Miles, a lovely celebration. A beautiful rose and a lovely hummingbird feeder and sweet hummer, along with the butterflies and the dragonflies, great motion shot by the way. I would be very leery of the yellow jackets too. What a cute turtle, I saw a few at the park we went to recently. Your garden looks wonderful, lovely lighting in your photos and the field is an idyllic scene. Thank you Martha Ellen for sharing these. Have a great Sunday and week ahead :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise for your kind comments. Our hearts are so full of sadness for the hurricane victims. I just can't imagine how to begin again when everything is gone. There is much to be thankful for, isn't it? Sending you wishes for a lovely week, my friend. ♥
DeleteYour grandsons are growing up quickly. Amazing how kids do that! I love your new kitchen valence--it's a beautiful pop of color against the white. I too am so ready for cooler weather
ReplyDeleteDotsie, it seems that our grands grew up much faster than our own children did! It has been a lovely cooler day here. I hope the same for you soon.
DeleteHow nice to catch up with you at home. Boy! Do grandchildren get that old? How nice that you can enjoy them. Yellow Jackets are a mean insect. Sorry about the birdhouse. We are already stocking up on traps for next year while they are on clearance. Beautiful photos! Love those dragonflies! Hope your new week is a good one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen. Our grands are growing up so fast! Those stinker yellow jackets had quite a nest in that birdhouse. I love nature and try to give them their place, but we had to draw the line on the yellow jackets. Wishing you a wonderful week as well.
DeleteThank you, Agnes.
ReplyDeleteLoved everything about this post, Martha, thank you for the info of the curtains, I am in much need of some new ones. Grandchildren grow up so fast, one of the reasons I try and capture memories with my camera.
ReplyDeleteWe too have had lots of butterflies in our gardens this summer, I need to get busy with my camera, I am also a fan of dragon flies, but not wasps, or any other insect that stings, but we try and not bother them unless they pose a threat.
Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Sue
It's so hard to believe our grands have grown so quickly, isn't it? Capturing the special times is so important.
DeleteNature is fascinating, all of it! Those stinging stinkers do need a wide berth! Thank you for stopping by. ♥