Week End Musings

It was a busy week end with two ball tournaments for four grandsons on Saturday and a cook out for the youth from church Sunday evening. This is a picture post! :)

Our three grandsons playing on the same team.

The two coaches, their dad on the left.

'A' prior to hitting a grand slam!

Their team.

After watching their first game, I went to P's tournament. P had fallen down a flight of stairs the night before but was determined to play the next day...he loves baseball! He was doing fine until he got rammed at home base (he was the catcher) with another bump. He was taken to their chiropractor that day.

We've always enjoyed watching ball games and in years gone by, attended them when Hubs played and our boys played 'pickle,' a made-up game of their generation. I was amused to hear the little boys still playing that game! We still watch their games and now Hubs does some unoffical umping for their league. Our love of ball games spans three generations!

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Sunday evening, we hosted our church youth for a cookout in our back yard. This brought back a lot of memories for us when our children were that age. :) The boys outnumber the girls but the girls can hold up their end very well! :)

Playing 'Amish golf'...

and Kubb (pronounced Koob).

Then there were these two little ladies playing dress-up.

Love this cute, innocent 'mini-train' model walk!

We enjoyed the evening very much and in spite of predicted thunderstorms, it was a perfect evening!

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- From the pulpit -

Authentic manhood - responsibility of action and attitude is the call of true manhood.

• Taking responsibilty of  personal attitudes and actions.
• The tendency to silence when they should speak out.
• The need to define goals and core values.
• Taking resposibilty for moral purity.
• Taking responsibilty for integrity.

In reading over these five points, I was challenged with the thought of how I can make it easier for my husband to reach these goals. Allowing him to speak without interruption is a great place to start. Dressing modestly myself. Supporting him when he stands up for truth, even when it costs! Yes, this message on Authentic Manhood on Father's Day spoke to me as well!

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I so enjoyed the comments on the last two posts - thank you for them! To those who live nearby, stop by for starts of the Grandiflora hydrageas in the Fall after the first frost and I'll share starts with you! :)

Grandiflora Hydrangea

When we got married in 1969, we bought our first house for $12,000 - we paid more for our first mini van at $18,000! :) It was a restaurant-turned-into-a-home that we lived in for sixteen years and after we moved, became a rental. We eventually sold it and the last family that lived there left a lot of perennials and a few shrubs. This 'Grandiflora' was one of them. It's similiar to 'Annabelle' but has sturdier stems that doesn't drag to the ground when it rains. This is a beautiful addition to the gardens because bouquets can be made from it most of the summer as its flowers turn from apple green to ivory and back to apple green again and can be dried into a lovely bouquet.

I have them scattered around the yard and the only care they take is cutting them back in the fall or spring. I like to cut them back in the fall so the dried flower heads aren't blowing around all winter.

- in the morning light -

- by the playhouse -

- the gazebo -

- the wire basket -

I've had this wire basket for a l-o-n-g time - IN STORAGE! Truth to tell, it was a forgotten purchase. I used four of my blue jars to make this beauty.

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This is my view from MY FAVORITE OUTDOOR SPACE when I take a break from gardening on the swing that's on the back deck under the AKIBIA VINE.

Very relaxing!

Side bar link parties: 

New Nostalgia

Southern Hospitality

Tattered Tag

Masterpiece Monday

Thrifty Thursday

Tuesday Garden Party

This was featured at Boogieboard!

Brick Columns

I love brick - especially old, used brick! Years ago, I saw a vignette in a magazine of one, dry-stacked brick column in a garden and knew I could do this. My one brick column turned into six more columns around my own garden. They're very simple to do and the instruction are HERE. They're a lovely addition to any garden, whether one or seven are used!

 We are in the process of a few changes in our front yard but this is how it looked last summer.

- entrance into the back yard -

- the other side and the columns are nearly buried by the clematis -

- a single column that finishes an iron fence -

- a two-layer column -

This one (there are two like this) is a two-layer column that is just off the back deck. It could also be topped by this with a candle in it at night time, which is why I got them but I've found another place for these.

If you're lucky enough to find old, used brick, try it! New ones can be used as well - it simply doesn't have that charming look used brick has.

Side bar links:

Tuesday's Treasures

An Orgeon Cottage

Masterpiece Monday

Metamorphis Monday
New Nostalgia