Butterflies, Flowers, and Everyday Life

 We hatched our final butterflies last week. Since they seem to hatch around 9 or 9:30 in the morning I've missed them while at work -- but Michael takes videos and sends them to me so I don't have to miss out on the fun.

This is the end of my exercise walks: the reservoir at Eagle Creek:

Drew and I did an "end of summer before college starts outing" -- we didn't eat cake like Rachel and I did, we burned up calories by canoeing on Eagle Creek. 

We had some good laughs about this seemingly very tall Great Blue Heron.

I spent a total of three days at the flower shop. Such gorgeous flowers right now because Emily's in-law's are bringing in fresh flowers from their farm.

Such happiness is wrapped up in these bouquets!

While I worked on market bouquets the other talented floral designers created wedding flowers. They were so beautiful I could almost cry!

On Friday I got to help make the wedding installation on site (at our Central Library!):

Rachel went back to Purdue on Saturday and Sunday evening we enjoyed a barbecue dinner with both Grandmas present. There was local corn (thanks to James' side-gig as a corn-picker on Saturday) and local tomatoes (nothing like them!). 

Masks are our new art form around here and this week James created a dwarf beard mask for one of his teachers at school. 

My garden is just full of birds and butterflies and hummingbirds and praying mantis' right now. It's bringing me so much joy!

I also enjoyed taking time to paint our Cake Bake Shop experience from last week. 

And now we are into a new week!

Last Week of July

July is just a busy month! In some ways it's nice to reach the end of a busy season, but July also spells high summer to me and August points toward fall and a new season and new seasons always bring a little bittersweet with them.

As usual, my week began at the flower shop.

Tuesday found me in my front yard enjoying a visit from my friend Christy who came all the way from NYC! Incidentally, I was to have been there this weekend but of course covid changed all that. Instead Christy was at my house.

Wednesday we got together with extended family to celebrate my mom's birthday. Chocolate cake was in order!

Yay for cousin time!

The chocolate cake was quite a treat!

We said hello to Job the donkey.

And we checked out the gardens at Grandma's house.

And we even got a safe selfie.

Thursday I was back at flowers.

And Friday David turned 14!

Two of my monarchs went into chrysalis (and as of today I have 5 in chrysalis!).

Friday evening Drew finally had the chance to graduate high school! Way to go Drew! We are so proud of you!

Drew begins at IUPUI for Business and Education next month!

By Saturday I needed a little alone time and took myself off to Eagle Creek for a hike and some painting.

David had a friend over to celebrate his birthday.

And I took some pictures of my garden, which is finally getting back to capacity after many years of fighting voles.

The side garden looks so pretty right now with all the hydrangeas and the purple phlox and hostas.

And now we are waiting to find out if the kids will go to school this week as planned or if the start of school will be pushed back. Such is life.

The Last of June

Father's day seems a lot further away than just a week ago. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed our evening meal outside on the patio.

Sunday is our dessert day. Once in awhile we have a weeknight dessert, especially if we've had something lighter like beans and rice for dinner. This was cherry cobbler. We have a lot of our desserts with natural sugar substitutes (honey or maple syrup) so that everyone can eat them.

Monday flowers once again. We are starting to have local flowers, grown by my sister's in-laws, to put into bouquets. It makes a difference in the whimsy. 

These yellow bouquets were just so cheery!

I went INSIDE the library for the first time since March. It was different -- so quiet, much darker (I couldn't figure that one out), and I didn't self-check my books.

But, I did discover that we could get seeds from our library! Who knew! I grabbed some butterfly weed, zinnias, cosmos, and cone flower. What a wonderful service!

I am enjoying my hollyhocks so much! Next week I'll have to show the black one that turned up in the back garden.

We made it back to the Art Museum gardens! One of our happy places.

This is a Bottlebrush Buckeye bush. I love the beautiful candles that reach up about 12 inches each and then have the tiniest little coral specks attached. Lovely scent too.

My patch of milkweed is in full bloom and scenting the whole backyard. The bees love it. I am so sad that I haven't seen any butterflies yet. Where are they???

And now here we are on the last day of June!

The Peony Parade

Peony season has come and gone for another year. It went by so quickly this year. 

It begins with just one or two popping open and then one hot day and they are ALL open!

Here is the row I have along the back of the house.

These flowers never cease to captivate me.

I walk around the house talking to them, smelling them, petting them -- definitely acting like a crazy woman.

But how could I not?! Especially when pink and green are one of my favorite combinations!

I picked a bunch on the very hot Saturday we had. I wish I could somehow spread them out over a month rather than a week!

The house was filled with them -- kitchen table, counter, kitchen sink, coffee table, living room, bedroom, bathrooms.....

They just make my heart sing!

I admit that I thought at first the peonies had grown smaller this year but I think it was just comparing them with the giant tree peonies I saw in NYC.

 Peonies remind us how fleeting time is and how important it is to stop and enjoy the moment.

Of course the house was full of ants. The kids think I'm crazy to put up with them but who cares about a few (or more) ants when you can enjoy this beauty?!!!

The morning light would come in my bedroom windows and illumine the pink blossoms in such a stunning fashion. It's never captured in a photo.

I suppose this photo gets pretty close:

I think the light pink peonies all came off two stems in this picture.

I'm not as fond of the "Bowl of Beauty" variety but it does have a lovely effect alongside the other blooms.

Of course peonies would be one of the hardest flowers to paint but I finally couldn't stand it and just had to try.

One of the last blooms.....

And now the very last buds, partially browned from rain and not very big, are sitting on my coffee table. The last goodbye until next year......