Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Always Something To Do

We are finding that our new country life is very busy.
There is always a job to do.

The main job this week was working on the fence.

 Trips to Home Depot to purchase supplies.

And lots of building.
Look close and you can see my Sweet Steve . . .
Working on his Honey-Do's :)
Not finished, but well on it's way.

Our neighbor came over and helped.
He built the gate and Steve built the trellis.
I did the staining and I'll be working on
 getting it all stained next week.
The weather is so hot that 6 to 8 A.M. 
is the best time to do it :)

Our garden is doing great.
It is so much fun watching it grow.
I love dill . . . it smells so good
and it is so pretty.
I've even used it in flower arrangements. 
We are getting so many peppers . . .
We plan on drying them and crushing them for our spice rack.
The beans are starting to climb the tee-pee :)
 
Well, that's what we have been doing . . .
What are you up to?

Keep Smiling,

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

69 comments:

  1. I so enjoy seeing in photos your progress and beauty. Your garden is wonderful and the arbor an fence so nice.

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    1. Thank you Nancy, It's a lot of work, but little by little we are making it home :)

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  2. I love your fence and the trellis. I do miss working in my garden. This kitchen is taking all my time this year.

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    1. Hi Betty, there is always something to do, right? I enjoy staying busy and seeing accomplishment :) Change is good :)
      Thanks for stopping by and visiting . . . i enjoy getting to know you better with each visit :)

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    2. I think you are doing a lovely job Connie.That fence looks great. I think your garden is extremely productive.Everything looksso fruitful.

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    3. Thank you so much . . . it's a lot of work, but we love doing it. It's becoming home :)

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  3. Evening Connie, I love seeing the view of your sweet cottage from across the way! I can see Steves workshop and of course, your nice craft building!! I absolutely think the fence is perfect with your home. So much to do but with everyday your vision for your house is coming together! What a lovely garden....I miss mine!! But Lord willing, I'll have something next year. The last 2 days, Ken and I have seen a baby deer....and I mean a baby deer in the backyard of the cottage by the woods. It has it's little spots all over it...we have yet to see Momma. I wonder if it has a Momma......It's precious. Your place is too SWEET and adorable..You and Steve are doing a beautiful transformation......I love it!! Blessings~~~Roxie

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    1. Hi Roxie, thank you for all of your encouragement . . . we are kind of sailing in the same boat :) It takes a lot of work to turn a fixer-upper into "Home", but every little step in done with love. I love that you have seen deer and a little Bambi at that . . . how sweet. I think that we are both in for a wonderful experience of cottage living at it's best. I love that we have down sized our home and up sized our yard . . . I'd rather be weeding the garden than dusting the furniture, LOL. We enjoy just sitting in the backyard watching Butchy run and play and watching our garden grow :)
      Thanks for stopping by to visit . . . I know that you are very busy.

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  4. Lovely fence and gate. Lookin' good! Nancy

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  5. Somehow I missed your last post, so I will say here how much I loved your curtains and how delicious your stuffed zucchini looked. Your new fence is going to be really nice. Your garden is growing like crazy! It seems there is always something that needs to be done around the house.

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    1. Hi Rebecca, thank you for your kind words . . . yes, there is always work to do, but it's better than going to a gym because you've got nothing to keep you active at home :) My biggest problem is that I get a lot of exercise, but I also love to eat . . . you can tell by my last post, LOL.

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  6. You have settled in so quickly, it is lovely to see. Your garden is looking so lovely. You can dry the dill too for use later xxx

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    1. Hi Fran, it is great to see you . . . thanks for the visit. We are loving our new home and the garden is so much fun. I really like adding dill to rye bread, have you tried it? It smells like heaven in the toaster and taste amazing :)

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  7. Lovely lovely photos, Connie! I am so enjoying your evident enjoyment of your new home!
    I have been madly stitching to finish a commission, and preparing for my trip to the Burwell Bash, my annual week of merriment, madness and music, I leave later today. I shall take my laptop but don't know whether there will be time to blog, or even email/facebook!
    We are enjoying lovely weather , our garden is burgeoning with veggies thought he strawberries are over. Have a good week and catch up later! Lxxxx

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    1. Hi Lynne, I'm excited now to see the photos that you take while at the Burwell Bash. I love, love, love tagging along with you and your friends and seeing all of the festivities. If anyone knows how to party, it is you and your mates. Here's wishing you good weather during the week and lots of time to catch up and visit with old friends. I'm sure that there are some that you only see once a year at this event. Don't worry about blogging, just enjoy yourself. We'll all be waiting for your after bash posts :) HAVE FUN!!!

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  8. Dear Connie,
    Its all looking so beautiful. I love your fence.. Living in the country is for me living with nature itself.
    Indeed, always something to do around the home and the garden. Once done, then there is the upkeep..
    I have been to the yacht.. but will only sail next month.. maybe a weekend or so. just up the coast to Cascais.
    Have you been sailing with Steve !!!!
    happy week Connie.
    your new header, gave me an idea.. i like it.
    val xxxx

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    1. Hi Val, No, we have not had our boat in the water at all this year. This is our year to work hard and whip this old place into shape. I'm sure that next spring we'll be back on the lake enjoying Gypsy Rose. I hope that you will take your camera with you on your sailing adventures next month. I would love to see your photos :) I'll be looking to see what you do with the idea that I inspired with my new header :)

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  9. The fence looks great and I love the gate and trellis. Your garden is growing so well too.

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    1. Hi Ann, thank you. Won't it be pretty when I get a vine growing up that trellis?

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  10. It is all looking great, Connie! It seems like you and Steve have settled in very nicely in your new home.

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    1. Hi Kathy, thank you, we are loving this place. It is taking a lot of work to whip it into shape, but we are putting our heart into it and having a ball :)

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  11. wow, it is looking great. Love the gate and trellis.

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    1. Thank you Becky . . . you're a sweetie pie :)

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  12. Your gate looks wonderful...love the trellis over the gate. It gets hot here too...and so early!
    We're supposed to be getting rain over the next week-- it will give our garden a boost, it's almost at it's end until cool weather comes and what ever is planted may give us a bumper crop!
    take care.
    Pat

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    1. Hi Patricia, Steve is outside giving our garden a good drink . . . he likes to take care of it on the weekend and I water, hoe and pull weeds during the week. We are both reading up on canning and want to try our hand at it soon, when the cucumbers and tomatoes start coming on better and ripening :)

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  13. So nice to meet you Connie!! What a gorgeous space you have here as well! And that fence and trellis look beautiful as do all of your yummy veggies coming in!!! What a great blog you have here! I look forward to journeying along with you! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Hello Nicole, and thank you so much for following me back . . . I never stop getting excited each time I meet a new blogging sister with common interests.
      I'm looking forward to becoming great blogging friends.

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  14. Connie,
    Your fence looks great. Looks like your new home is going to have some really wonderful touches by both of you. Enjoy your new home.
    Kris

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    1. Hello Kris, thanks so much for stopping by . . . I love reading my comments and I love getting to know you better. We are loving our new country home :)

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  15. Hi Connie, I love seeing your sweet cottage...and your wonderful craft building!! Love, love your fence...it is perfect for your home. Your garden looks great...we can't have one here as all the critters will eat everything in it, so I just gave up years ago.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, oh, I am sorry that you can't grow a garden . . . those critters can be a nuisance. Happy that you like, excuse me, Love our fence, me too :)
      We are just putting one foot in front of the other and getting a little bit more done every week :)

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    1. Thank you Sally, I'll be sure and let my Steve know how many of my blogging sisters have said that. I'm sure it will put a big smile on his face :)

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  17. looking good! How lovely making your home so fabulous. x

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  18. Hi Connie, Thanks so much for becoming a follower of my blog, A New England Flowerbed. It's fun to see what is happening in gardens all over the world. Your home looks like it will be SO much fun transforming into your haven! I'm always interested in being frugal and re-purposing especially when it comes to garden ornaments. I'm looking forward to being your garden sister! Sally

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    1. Good Morning Sally, it is 7:30 here and the day is young. As soon as I finish this reply I will be off and running. Packing my husbands lunch, starting a load of laundry and then out to stain the fence. I want to do it in the morning before it gets too hot around here. We are suppose to reach the mid 90's today, so I want to be back in the house by noon so that I can shower away the sweat and start baking some zucchini bread :) Thank you so much for following my little humble blog. I love the title "Garden Sister" and I'm looking forward to a lovely blogging friendship.
      Have a glorious day!
      Connie :)

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  19. Love it! The fence is a great 'country' addition to your place.
    There is always something to do, isn't there.
    Of course, you've been putting a great amount of time into sprucing up that little place. It shows it too!!!
    Looks like a well loved cottage :)

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    1. Hi Kerin, it definitely is a well loved cottage . . . we love it more with each day, that we live here. It is a blessing for our retirement years :)

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  20. Wow you have achieved so much in just a few short months Connie, it all looks so neat and well cared for, and the garden veg are coming on a treat. The fence, arch and gate all look so pretty and country.
    You make me feel like getting out in the garden and making changes!
    Gill xx

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    1. Hi Gill, well I worked until noon today and then came in and took a shower to recuperate from the heat. Our thermometer is at 97 degrees and climbing. I'm back watering every day just to keep the grass green :) The vegetable garden loves it, but some of the flowers are wilting away. By noon I was wilting too, LOL.

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  21. Hi Connie,

    I came by for a visit and love what I see. Your garden is beautiful. :) I became a member while I was here too!

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    1. Hi Belinda, thank you so much . . . My poor old heart skips a little beat each time I receive a new follower and make a new friend.

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  22. Hi Connie! What a lovely new fence and arbor! Thanks for visiting my blog, I'm always happy to find new-to-me bloggers in Washington. I don't know how you cope on the other side of the mountains with the high temps we're having. As soon as it hits the 80s here, I start to wilt.

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    1. The heat never really bothered me until I reach by mid 50's . . . I think that my body puts off enough heat of it's known, now, LOL Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  23. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Too true, there is always something to do. We have about 2 acres cleared of our five acres, plenty for now. The next adventure will be to get chickens.

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    1. Hi Susan, everyone keeps asking us when are we going to get chickens? I'm afraid at our age we really have enough work just keeping up with the lawn and garden. We also have a section that was fenced off and gone to weeds. Next year we want to plow it under and enlarge our garden. We are thinking maybe a corn field and a potato patch. I would love to grow enough to mostly live off the land, at least the vegetable part of your food supply.

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  24. I love your new fence and the fact that your neighbor came to help build it. With a new home, I don't think there will be an end to your "list" for a long time.

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    1. Hi Carol, there is so much to do and a lot of it we want to get done before cold weather. Right now we are having a heat wave. Yesterday our thermometer was at 105. I worked until noon staining the fence and then had to quit or I would have wilted into a wrinkled up old toad. Today I'm staying in. I think that I will make a couple cold salads, maybe potato and a paste and zucchini salad. It is too hot to eat warm food. I'm delighted that you had a great vacation, welcome back :)

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  25. All that hard work is paying off - your place looks gorgeous! Love the little turquoise birdhouse :)

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    1. Hi Rosemary . . . thank you. That little birdhouse was a yard sale find . . . then I painted it turquoise :)

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  26. Thanks for all the kudos from you, Connie visiting my blog post! Your blog is wonderful...love all your fun projects.
    I will visit you again, soon!!!

    Hugs, Carolyn

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    1. Good Morning Carolyn, it is lovely to see you, thank you for following me. Your blog is so creativity, I feel blessed to have found you and I am looking forward to a wonderful blogging friendship.

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  27. Thanks for stopping in to visit my blog. You are right about always having work to do. I hope to get some porch time in my day today. Blessings to you my friend.

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    1. Porch time sounds wonderful! I'm afraid with our heat wave 100+ on the thermometer . . . I'll be waiting for this to blow over before sitting on my porch. The air conditioner sounds better right now, LOL. Thanks for stopping by and for following my blog . . . I do appreciate your friendship :)

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  28. Hi there!! I found your blog through the comment you left on a quilting blog...came over and just fell in love with your blog! I see that you live in the NW, me too...country, too, not city. You are right--there is always something that needs to be done!! :) But it is fun. I love watching my garden grow, too...such a deep down satisfaction when you go gather dinner from your garden, isn't it??I have to tell you that I ADORE your laundry room curtains--they are just too awesome! Beautiful color choices and stitching. I have been needing to make curtains for my kitchen and back door...now I am inspired to just get them done and up!! Thanks!! I will check back on your blog--it's fun!!

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    1. I'm so happy that you found me and that you like my blog. Have fun making your curtains; it feels very nice to be your inspiration :)

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  29. Connie so nice to meet you and thanks for being a new follower! After reading a bit about you and your interests, I am so excited to dig into your blog and leave comments and ask questions! But right now it's near my bedtime and I've got to go out to the living room and visit with my husband for a bit (and get off the computer!) I will stop by again. Liked your little sign about the mosquito finding 'Power in the Blood'! Now, I'll be singing that til I go to sleep!

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    1. Hello Joy, it was lovely to have you stop by . . . and what better song to have going through your mind, right:)

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  30. You seem to be settling into country life well - there seems to all sorts of work going on to make your property beautiful both inside and out - keep up the good work.

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    1. Good Morning Elaine, It is lovely to see you this morning and thank you for visiting. There is a lot of work to do, but we are loving our new home :)

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  31. Hi Connie, I'm BACK!!! When I looked at your blog I just couldn't get over how you and your husband are doing the same thing me and my husband want to do.
    Have a little place (little!) in the country. Just 2 days ago my husband found a place that he said could work for us. Just a mile out of town--he's going to check and see if the place is for sale, probably not! He is 2 and 1/2 years from retirement and we want some private space and he loves to garden, I love to be creative sewing or working on a household project. I know you posted here about all the work you have to do on your place. We do think about our ages and wonder if it is the right move or should we go to an apartment-- but we both like being outside and we like having outside projects--just don't want to kill ourselves. He grew up in the country on a farm and we lived on that farm for 7 years. We miss privacy, space, and quiet. The neighbors are awful close here. Well, I didn't mean to write a book. I am wondering if that wood 'shed' is your house or is that other place your house. We want to downsize even more than we are now. I also think your mud room curtains are nice and I sure like that mudroom with it's storage--it looks peaceful in that room! I'm going to look around your blog some more and will most likely be leaving more comments. Have a great day in the Pacific Northwest!

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    1. I believe that you need to grab the bull by the horns . . . don't think about being too old to start a new adventure. The way I see it, the extra work and exercise will be what keeps me young. I'll be 69 in September and I have another (at least) 15 years to garden and enjoy working outside . . . Good Lord willing.
      We are so happy that we purchased this place, we love it more and more, day by day:)

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    2. oh goodness, I am 60 and today he is 64. We know what hard work it is to remodel houses--we've done 2--he's an excellent carpenter. Everywhere we go we make the homes look great--neighbors compliment us. We'll see what God has in store for us. Like he and I were saying today, we've learned not to force God's hand... when the timing is right, the right options appear! Thanks for your advice.

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  32. P.S. I've always used Dill in flower arrangements too!

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  33. Wow, now that looks like a lot of work! Why did you decided to put in a fence.....Besides the fact that it looks adorable! I love that your neighbors are so great!!!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, We want to have a border that will keep Butchy from running on the road. Our neighbors have told us that many dogs have been lost on our road, it is pretty busy. When we are done, we will have gates and fenced in areas where Butchy can play and run safely . . . that is our goal. :) And the picket design is for country charm :)

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  34. Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog, nice to see your garden and surrounding – so very different from where I live in London with a tiny garden! And whether the garden is tiny or huge – there’s always something that needs doing!

    I have just posted a video of my garden for the ‘End of Month View’, you might want to pop over and have a look, that will show you my garden much better than the photos you have seen. Take care, Helene.

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