Signs of Summer

I love your pics and how you LOOK at everything around you! :) I will have to do that today as it is a gorgeous morning in Great Falls, MT. We have a Farmer's Market here that has fresh produce and I try to make it there, but this weekend I am having to do b-days and what not. :) But it is a sign that summer is truely here! :)

i just love your pictures! so inspiring! in fact i'm getting out my camera now. totally off-subject, would you mind sharing your house paint color? we have been fretting for weeks about a color and i love yours!
:)

Hi Ali,
I love, love, love that hanging flower basket. Where did you get it at? (I am in your area)

Anna is so adorable. I just love the photo of her and daddy!
Thanks for reminding me to stop and take some everyday photos today.

Great pics and post! I will definately have to take some of those pictures and make a layout. We are actually having a Heat wave right now so the fans are out, the sprinkler is on, and the bin of squirt guns is within reach in the garage!

Your timing is so perfect. Even though we live in Florida and it's warm a good chunk of the year I was sitting here this morning thinking - today feels like Summer!

Hi Ali! I love your blog! On a totally different note,
I thought you & our fellow scrapbookers might like a project :)
Have you heard of Sgt. Daniel Thornhill? He was seriously injured in Afghanistan 2 years ago by a suicide bomber. He lost both legs, is paralyzed from the waist down and has severe burns over his arms, hands and body.
His parents are asking people to send him birthday cards.
Sgt. Daniel Thornhill
Fort Sam Houston Fisher House
3623 George C. Beach Rd
Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234
Thank you!
Ingrid Windsor

Living in NC we're blessed w'warm weather ten months out of the year...but always love the fresh produce this time of year. For all you young mothers having "clothing" issues w'your kids...word of advice...let go! When you get into a "control" issue over food or clothing w'your kids...ask yourself...is this really important. Kids know what they like just like we do...perhaps Simon likes the "security" long sleeves gives him...it's a tactile thing...feels like a big hug. If you're worried about him being "hot"...look at all the people in the world living in the desert...all wear long blk/white sleeves to protect their skin. As mothers we try to protect our children...but being a mother of a LD child whom we used to call "The Taz" because he would throw terrible fits...trust me...when you let go and let me...allow them to be who they are...everyone is happier:} Fondly, Roberta

Hey Tina - we love Thistledown farm (out River Road before Lone Pine) for hanging baskets.

It's raining here today :). Where are you at Mel?

I love this time of year! I had a question for you, actually...how did you find out how to join your CSA group? I am very interested in looking into it, but I could only find general info on line.

In general I agree with you Roberta :). It's definitely a "pick your battles" issue. For us right now we are working with Simon on being "accepting" of different things & making good, healthy choices for himself (including not overheating because in addition to his long sleeves he has been wanting to wear his ski coat, gloves, and fleece hat even when it is 80+ degrees). And great point about people protecting their skin...I am all about that :).

When you click on Local Harvest (http://www.localharvest.org/csa/) there is a small box on the right to enter your zip code. From there it should take you to a page that lists farms in your area.
Around here we have a great farmer's market and many of the farms that sell their goods at the market also offer CSA programs. If you have a local farmers market you could see if any of those farmers offer a subscription service.

Some schools around here are getting out this week + others go a bit longer :).

Ah bummer Anna - it actually rained here last night and a bit this morning (with thunderstorms the last few nights).

I love your front porch container garden. Here in Phoenix, its getting too hot for veggies, but my herbs, especially my basil are very happy. A little suggestion for you, don't move your mint to the raised beds, keep them in a container. I made the mistake of putting mint in my herb garden and it took over everything. 3 years later I'm still getting it sprouting up here and there, even though all the soil has been turned and roots dug out (or so I thought). It doesn't even taste like mint anymore either, I think it mixed with my lemon verbena.

Lurv the potted plants! Simple and wonderful.

Too cute...I have memories of the "hat" and "glove" issue days...sure do miss them.  My "baby" is now 22 and getting married June 20th...and btw...he just graduated from NC State...he's a rocket scientist...some people (family members at that) always doubted Tim and his abilities...my parents (from their old school ways) use to tell me that I was "indulging" him and "spoiling" him...I didn't care what anyone said.  I have a special needs back ground (use to be an admin./grant writer for federal grants for Special Needs initiatives) and never had Tim "coded" in the public school system because I didn't want him "pigeon-holed" or "labeled" in the system.  When Tim was a senior in high-school, a private christian school, he was the second in his class and nominated to Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar.  Believe it or not...he was not accepted...much to the dismay of his HS counselor who called Chapel Hill on his behalf.  To make a long story short...Tim has test anxiety and he needed three more points on his math SAT's...Tim took the SAT's THREE more times and just could never make the points.  I told him we could ask for extra time since he has ADD and they would give him extra time on the SAT's...he said..NO MOM...I want to make it in this world without a doubt...when I have a job...they are not going to give me an inch!  Things happen for a reason because he was accepted into NC State in Raleigh and they have one of the best Aeronautical Engineering prog
rams in the country and he was very happy there.  Sorry if I digressed...reading your post just brought back so many memories.  Simon is a great little soul and you are very blessed with him and Anna.  Fondly, Roberta

I NEED that bush by your front porch! What is it? It is beautiful!

I wish I knew Peggy - it was here when we bought our house.