A BBQ with friends, a very warm day at the farmers market, a little bit of kiddie pool time (I know, I know, we should be conserving water… we used it to water the garden afterwards though). Eating tomatoes straight from the garden. Movie nights and weary late nights trying to get this rascal of a child to sleep. A busy, nice summer weekend.
Playing catch-up once again here on the blog. I swear I’m constantly thinking about this space, but I’ve just had so much trouble finding time to get here. So here are 29 and 30 a week or two late.
29/52
eloise: I couldn’t help myself with this one. Here we were in Washington, two years (to the day!) and in the same spot I took your portrait as last time. My you’ve grown. I’m so glad you got to visit this very special place and spend time with your Great Grandmother. I’m also so very glad you got to meet your Great Grandpa Earl before he passed away.
30/52
eloise: Summertime. Naked, reading books in her tent outside. A week away from turning 3. This portrait is the epitome of Ellie.
Thank you for all your kind words about my Grandpa Earl. It was really wonderful getting to spend some time with my Grandmother up in Washington. Learning more about my Gramma’s husband. Being reminded of how they met, what he was interested in and what they enjoyed doing together for the 20 years they were married. We talked of the week I spent with them when I was in college and the trip we recently took two years ago, when Ellie got to meet both of them (ironically enough, it was the same exact week, two years ago). I got to talk painting with my grandmother the master painter and we got to enjoy a bit of the incredible beauty that Whidby Island and its surrounding areas has to offer. A quick, but very meaningful trip.
My Grandpa Earl passed away earlier this week. He was my Grandmother’s second husband. And although he wasn’t my real grandfather, he had been around long enough that I considered him my grandpa. I spent a week with him and my grandma when I was in my early twenties. Listened to him tell stories about his favorite things. Giving me lessons on history and the way things work. He was a painter, an oil artist. He had a beautiful studio out behind his home. The last time I went to visit, it was filled with art and supplies, but lacked his presence. His hands and heart, too tired to paint anymore.
The last time we were up visiting was when Ellie was just about to turn one. He made these delicious pancakes. We brought home his recipe and Ellie and Jeff make them every Saturday morning.
Were heading out to Washington to be with my grandmother and for the service this weekend . I will probably be absent in this space for awhile.
(My parents, grandmother, baby Ellie and Grandpa Earl).
It’s summer time and we’ve had long, warm days, filled with pool parties, ice cream, barbeques, and lots of outdoor play time . It was a fast weekend, but nice. We are all going to bed tonight, tired, sun-kissed and happy. How was your weekend?
* streamer in first photo is from BeneathTheRowanTree.
28/52
eloise: this little one is gearing up for her 3rd birthday party in a couple of weeks. A Peter Pan party to be exact. This funny kid can not only sing every song from the musical Peter Pan, but can recite the first page of Peter Pan the book. She only wears pink or blue dresses (because that’s what Wendy wears), but wants a “green Peter Pan Dress” for her party. She cracks us up with her knowledge of everything Peter Pan. I so hope she enjoys her party.
It’s been so long since I’ve done a garden update. We’ve been picking strawberries and pulling carrots for several months now and the tomatoes are finally starting to ripen. We have cucumbers growing and lots of herbs and Jeff over did it this time with the hops. They are growing everywhere! Ellie and I enjoy being out in the garden daily, tending to everything and watching the bugs we find.
We spend so much time outside these days, I thought it would be fun to start bringing some art into the garden too. We painted rocks for the garden the other day and they bring a pop of color out there!
We also found a lovely little caterpillar friend in our milkweed plants a few weeks back. I thought it would be really neat for Ellie to bring him in and watch him turn into a butterfly, so we bought a butterfly house and made sure he had plenty of fresh milkweed. Well, after watching him turn into a chrysalis, yesterday he finally came out! It was really neat releasing him in our garden. We watched him fly around for a while and then he flew away.
What’s happening in your July garden?
27/52
eloise: spunky, rainbow, (softie) baby-wearing, Tinkerbell almost 3-year-old. You amaze me with your beauty, will and smarts every day!
-joining Jodi for the 52 project!
What a fun weekend! We decided to stay local after a busy birthday weekend, last weekend. We did our town’s annual “push me, pull you parade” and craft fair in the morning. Met up with some friends there and enjoyed watching Ellie and their daughter play, running around in the fountains. Ellie wanted to ride one of the carnival rides for the first time. She was adamant about it, which Jeff and I were surprised about. But, she did great!! After nap time, we took a very chilly walk on the beach and then took an impromptu paddle boat ride around the harbor. We watched the fireworks from our house and enjoyed a wonderful day together.
Sunday we spent at my parents house (actually, Jeff and I were supposed to see a movie, but they were all sold out), so we enjoyed the wonderful weather and took Ellie to the park. A really wonderful weekend.
summerplayshouse 