What a great weekend. I don't know when I've had more fun shoveling dirt and sticking things in the ground. The garden fortress is shaping up beautifully. The Mister is nearly finished hooking up the drip system that will keep everything watered without wasting a drop. He is amazing that way.
He makes great waffles too!
We gave the girls each a wooden whiskey barrel and let them have their pick of flowers to plant in them.
The results reflected their personalities to a tee. One chose soft pastels, wispy, ethereal, graceful.
The other went for bright, colorful, spicy.
Can you tell who belongs to who?
We'll also be planting things like squash and beans, but a little instant gratification is nice.
It wasn't all work though, we did manage to slip out for enchiladas one night and made strawberry sorbet. Yum. Goodbye crock pot. HELLO ice cream maker!
It's hard to leave this groovy party, but I will be taking a little blog break for the rest of the month.
I just have one more loose thread to tie up before I go.
The summer book give-away!
My goodness. Never knew there were so many of you lurking out there. Thank you all for stopping in and brightening my morning!
The comments are officially closed and all the names are being tossed into the super sonic spinning bonnet as we speak.
A winner will be announced at any moment.
Hang onto your hats.
Drum roll please.... (nothing like keeping you all in suspense is there?) OK. The Super Shuffler has spoken.
It appears that lucky number seven has been chosen! Congratulations lucky number seven! If you are lucky number seven please contact me promptly to claim your prize.
Star appears to be waving. That's my cue.
So long for now . . .
I like to believe you will find to time to pop-in and post a thing or two periodically. I will be checking. As always, you share such lovely bits... it's a pleasure to visit.
Posted by: Natalie | June 04, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Ha, we are both having troubles slowing down the blogging! I'm finding that doing less is almost harder, because then my posts want to be too long and sort of lose their rhythmn, so now I'm rethinking things again!
I was away over the weekend and missed your book give away, but will add this title to my library reserve list. The strawberries are perfect! I CAN taste them!
Love the girl's barrels and the way they reflect their personalities! Like the arbors at the gates to the garden. My goodness it's going to be huge..my sister's is too. The table looks so pretty! Love that combination with your beautiful roses...but, I was wondering...do the roses smell like sour milk and rotten eggs? LOL!
Well, this is getting to be a pretty long comment! I guess I'm having a hard time with goodbye too!
Take care Vicki. I hope you have a great summer!
Posted by: Mrs.Staggs | June 04, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Have a very, very, very fun summer! It looks like you'll have no problem doing just that.
Posted by: Anina | June 04, 2007 at 11:03 AM
You are sooooooo right... what a perfectly lovely weekend!
Posted by: gillian | June 04, 2007 at 11:11 AM
A comment on your strawberry story; you MUST try refrigerator strawberry jam. No boiling,very easy, fresh berry taste, delicious!! Recipe is on Certo, as well as other brands. Try it. Happy summer! Tina
Posted by: Tina | June 04, 2007 at 11:25 AM
omehow I missed that you were signing off for the summer.
:(
I do hope you'll find time to pop in occasionally!!
Posted by: Barbara H. | June 04, 2007 at 02:57 PM
I am truly sad that your blog is on hiatus for the summer. I will miss this creative, warm, artful online connection to home! I send the best for summer!
Posted by: Yin | June 04, 2007 at 03:36 PM
That must have been such a good weekend.
Posted by: paula luckhurst | June 05, 2007 at 01:11 AM
Great entry... super start to a summer garden... Hope it stays a little cool for you and not too humid.......
Posted by: sandy haynes | June 05, 2007 at 05:03 PM
Oh, I will miss this blog. But I know the problem, sometimes I put all my crafting time in reading blogs
and working at my own, and the real life has to go on!
But I really hope you will show us some lovely pictures from time to time.
Have a nice summer in your beautiful garden!
Posted by: Sabine | June 06, 2007 at 02:35 AM
Vicki--lovely to see you here in spite of your supposedly leaving us for the summer--LOL! Your fortress garden is really taking shape-will be exicting to see the finished product. The girls' flower barrels are a joy to behold. Hope you can swing by here once in a while...Happy Summer Days! :o)
Posted by: Tracy | June 06, 2007 at 05:21 AM
I'll miss you over your summer break, but I know the feeling. So much to do, see, EAT, smell, enjoy-and summertime is fleeting. I will check in from time to time in case you slip up and leave us another fabulous post!
Posted by: willzmom | June 06, 2007 at 06:37 AM
I've been reading your blog for a while now and I just love it when you put pictures of your pretty gardens up :)
Posted by: Amy | June 06, 2007 at 09:48 AM
I would love to have an automatic watering system. I've heard they're the epitome of decadence!
Posted by: Felicia | June 06, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Hello! I found your blog while searching for something to do with fabric yo-yos. You have a wonderful blog.
Tell your daughter I love her name!
Posted by: Ginger | June 06, 2007 at 06:13 PM
i don't know what to comment on more, how i will miss posts, or how pretty everything is...the slower pots...the waffles! :)
enjoy your summer, and hope to see you around!
Posted by: jenny | June 07, 2007 at 06:50 AM
FUN! Will you be my mom?
Posted by: RAchelle | June 09, 2007 at 02:41 AM
Great pictures, interesting reading.. and i think i have bought patterns from you awhile back! Have to add you to my blog list!! Thanks for the eye treats!!
Posted by: Debra | June 09, 2007 at 12:00 PM
What a lovely post this is!!!!
Posted by: Gypsy Purple-Chamara | June 10, 2007 at 08:42 AM
I'll miss you although I understand needing a break!! Have a great summer. I'll probably go back and read old posts just so I don't go through withdrawl too much, I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of great things you've done!!
E
Posted by: lambie-pie | June 10, 2007 at 08:59 AM
As I'm playing catch-up, I just found that somehow I missed your post about taking a break - and Grace's sweet 16th as well!
A belated wish for a very happy and sweet sixteenth year to Grace!
And a slightly teary-eyed 'au revoir' to you - only for a little while I hope! Though I do understand how time-consuming this blogging business can be - more than ever after a week of computer problems, and realizing how much MORE I accomplished while not being able to view and comment on blogs.
I do hope you'll pop in every now and then ('once a month, at least?' asked in a hopeful voice...) - just a quick wave?
Take care and have a wonderful summer, Vicki!
XOXO
Peace~Love~Hugs
Posted by: tinker | June 11, 2007 at 01:02 AM
I love your arbor! Looks great! I want one to seperate my driveway sidewalk and patio...gotta put it on the "honey do" list! Your flowers look great too...
Posted by: Marie | June 11, 2007 at 03:58 PM
I think I need a vacation, too....sad and lonely. already. without you.
i am in love with star, btw.
Posted by: Kim Sherrod | June 12, 2007 at 05:15 AM
Enjoy your summer break. Your post made me smile - must be the image of star at the dentist's!
Posted by: marie | June 12, 2007 at 02:05 PM
I just used that recipe for your cupcakes, they turned out wonderfully :) I baked them on a half day of school and brought some the next day, every one looved them! And the icing was deliciouse =] Thank you!!
~Colleen
Posted by: Colleen | June 12, 2007 at 10:13 PM
Oh I love your blog, I do I do I do! I am enchanted by all your creations, thank you for sharing them. I am so lucky to be able to view them over here in rainy Yeadon, Yorkshire, England.
Campervanchick xx
Posted by: | June 13, 2007 at 12:25 PM
You have to pop in with a picture of your garden as it's nears harvest. It's amazing looking all ready! Enjoy your free time, it is much deserved.
Posted by: Gina | June 14, 2007 at 11:13 AM
where you been??? missing posts from you!
Posted by: NotQuiteJuneCleaver | June 15, 2007 at 06:44 AM
oppps...see that now...gone for the whole summer!? hurry back!
Posted by: NotQuiteJuneCleaver | June 15, 2007 at 06:45 AM
what gorgeous pictures!! xo Natalea
Posted by: Natalea | June 19, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Wow, your "fortress" looks amazing!!! Wish I could have something like it, but as of now, I am still working on getting a few raised beds built! ;)
Posted by: Genevieve | June 20, 2007 at 07:11 PM
Your whisky barrel of flowers made me so happy. Its lovely:) Where I live, im almost at the end of when my garden blooms and It makes me a little sad. Enjoy your flowers!
Posted by: Quirk | June 20, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Vicki,
I just had to stop in to get a TF fix...even tho I know you are on break.
Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you.
Happy summer days!
Dawn xo
Posted by: Dawn | June 26, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Thank you for the deer repellent concoction. I bought willow cagey things for some of my roses this year and they have worked gloriously but I want to try the concoction for some other things. Have a fun summer!
Posted by: Kathleen | June 26, 2007 at 11:53 AM
i'd like to move into just your garden space/fortress. lovely!
Posted by: brooke | June 27, 2007 at 06:19 AM
Oh, no, you must not go! I just found you! I want to see more and more of that garden (it looks like my dream garden), and will be rooting around in the archives for more pictures and descriptions of it. You'll see a very poor imitation of your garden in my blog. I do hope, as others have said, that you'll pop in from time to time and show us how it grows!
Posted by: Ann | June 27, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Farewell for the summer friend! I have been thinking I may need to do the same. I hope you still have time to see me and Hannah when we're up in August, no pressure of course (well, just a little ;) xo.
Posted by: Toni | June 27, 2007 at 02:46 PM
Absolutely, delightful, so much fun to read.
Thank you,
Betty G
Posted by: itsboopchile | June 28, 2007 at 05:00 PM
I love the photos, sounds so fun. Bright, colourful and summery - lovely to read when we are in winter. Renee xo
Posted by: Renee | July 03, 2007 at 06:19 AM
I just discovered your blog today (via Cerri @ Little Pink) and it is just wonderful. I cracked up when I saw the photos of Ginger at the table. So cute. Also love that "Dream" quilt...simply darling! Have a great summer!
Posted by: Jeanne | July 07, 2007 at 09:11 AM
Ooops! I think I referred to the horse as Ginger...I meant to say Star. He/She is darling!
Posted by: Jeanne | July 07, 2007 at 09:50 AM