scenes from the past couple weeks {summer unfurling}

a panoply of roses swaying in the breeze as the “rose wall” blooms along our deck out back ~ gracie tanning, a trail of hawaiian tropic following her wherever she goes reminding me of our vacations to maui and mexico… me, slathering on the 50 SPF coppertone sunscreen and running for shade wherever I can find it as my Celtic skin is wont to freckle and burn ~ iced tea, iced tea, and MORE iced tea ~ herb recipes ~ hammock naps beginning and ending with good books ~ kitties, always kitties. If I were Monet I would change the quote to ” I must have kittens, always, and always.” ~ strawberries in every form… can’t get enough ~big oak trees providing more than ample shade again this year… this will be their 118th birthday ~ dinners cooked together and enjoyed under the light of the candle chandelier that lives above the table on our front screened-in porch… such a romantic spot, rain or shine ~ firefly dances held every evening at dusk ~ sweetie pie grand girls with curly hair and piggie tails ~ a little road trip to stillwater minnesota… lunch at our favorite dock cafe located on the shore of the st. croix river… this is the place jeff asked me to marry him 19 years ago… on the menu: gracie had the fruit and cheese plate with baguette… jeff had the seared ahi sandwich and I had the blackened fish tacos (of course!) with a side salad… and, their wine list is particularly lovely this summer ~ the always-captivating stillwater bridge and paddle boats… jeff continues to experiment with his new camera… SO much fun… the aerial views of our home town and other favorite places are astonishing! (video clips coming soon.) ~ and… frozen hot chocolate for dessert on the drive home.

XO,

~Melissa