A Few of This Week’s Favorites On the Web

Happy Saturday! So glad you are here…I’m sharing a few of this week’s favorites here today. There’s been so much happening here this week in hosting a fourth of July family gathering, having our grands here for the week, creating new recipes for upcoming sharing, and lots of family time.

What among your favorites were served on the fourth?

This watermelon salad became one of our favorites… I’ll have to share that recipe soon.

A week filled with cousins, petting zoo visits, swimming and even a sweet niece’s birthday party filled the week to overflowing.

Family have now all returned home, so normalcy after the bustle of little and big feet is returning to our home.

Recently, travels took us to a favorite spot.

A few weeks ago, we took time to rest away from that bathroom that had placed us on weary and overload timelines.

We are close to the National Park area- Land Between the Lakes- and had a leisurely drive through the hills along the lake. Just simply one of our favorites.

A closer look at tornado damage of that area was so disheartening. Life is returning and cleanup of trees, but so much growth and beauty has been altered.

Thankful for the One Room Challenge Bathroom completion.

If you missed the bathroom reveal, you can find it by clicking here!

What else has been happening?

Reseeding of those zinnias has occurred again here. If you saw this post last year, because the composting lot wasn’t yet opened, those self seeding zinnias proved again to be the over 7′ wonder of amazement.

This year? Yep, the compost lot had equipment issues and those zinnia seeds from that bed came up full and gorgeous again.

Just a tip as they begin to grow and need support. We added fence posts on the other side of the zinnias and attached netting to both the picket fence and fence posts right above the zinnias.

The zinnias have grown through this netting and the net is no longer noticeable.

Best tip ever! The zinnias are now between 6-7 feet and that netting has offered the support needed. Rains and winds don’t affect their stature now. Win! win!

Now, if those groundhogs would stop jumping on the fence to nibble on them! Seriously!

And one of my perennial favorites on the deck?

Remember when I shared with you about planting hosta in pots on my deck?

Well, I forgot to mention that the little mama wrens love to build their nests there. Each year if I can catch them before they get too far, I have done that. Well, I messed up before that Mama had created the most amazing nest with eggs. This also made watering that hosta a bit tricky.

They have now all flown the nest. But, it was so sweet to watch them grow.

In the June VUE magazine, I shared a story of my dad.

You can find my June article in the VUE magazine here. Just click on that link to read the rest of the story…

My July VUE magazine recipes are shared here.

A great herb butter recipe to add to your pasta, sides or grilled steaks.

A beautiful blueberry cake recipe created by my niece was shared in that issue, too. She makes the most glorious and delicious cakes. Thanks, Emi, for sharing your masterpiece to taste and save!

For this month’s issue in the VUE magazine…

You can read the article online here.

Perhaps the contents may speak to you, too.

More favorites from the web. Enjoy!

• My porch plate wreath is in need of a refresh. I am so in love with Jennifer’s garden tool wreath that I think mine may take inspiration from hers.

• I’m getting ready to paint some chests for night stands in our bedroom soon. I love Lauren’s tips for painting them. You can find them here.
• Heather always speaks to my heart. Her term rest-cue may be what all of us need. By the way, she is now booking speaking engagements.
• My friend, Do, always creates amazing things. Recently, she shared how to make drop cloth napkins. I think I need them in my life…do you?

• This week will take us to find some fresh vegetables to add to menus and begin freezing and canning. I am so behind on canning this year. My husband has taken over the tomato planting and we are so ready for them to ripen. The plants are glorious and covered with lots of types of green tomatoes. Can’t wait to add more roasted tomatoes to the freezer to add to omelets, frittatas, pasta and more! Hope you will give them a try.

Our weekend began with a wonderful meal with friends who had their feet under our table. Lots of sharing life, prayer requests, great food and conversation happened gathered around that table. Loved every moment.

As I hear thunder roll in, I’m thankful for a bit of rain on our drought ridden area this afternoon. My garden and yard will be happy.

Happy Weekend, friends!

May it be filled with lots of memories,