GoldCountryCottage: June 2012

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

IN SUMMER DRESS....

"Nature can do without man, but man cannot do without nature."

Prentice Bloedel

Things are starting to change in the garden.

We've had some very hot, sunny days, a little rain, and nature is beginning to put on her summer dress.

Endless Summer hydrangea, on the First Day of Summer.

If you look closely, you will see that bees are buzzing in the young lavender crop, on the First Day of Summer.

Hi, Honey, you sure are looking sweet, on the First Day of Summer.

The color of purple, from the new crop of morning glories, on the First Day of Summer.

I know, I know, this is but a non-important weed, but it's little face is so cute, on the First Day of Summer.

This charming little wild canary, stopped to get a drink of water, on the First Day of Summer....

....While the little garden fairy suns herself, on the First Day of Summer.

These are those mystery plants, lining the sidewalk, about to explode, on the First Day of Summer.

These are those mystery plants, up close and personal, on the First Day of Summer.

Please, could anyone out there give a name to these mystery plants, on the First Day of Summer?

"Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there."

Thomas Fuller

A beautiful butterfly, drinking the nectar from the last standing Valerian, on the First Day of Summer.

Little Miss Maggie, on her favorite perch, on the First Day of Summer.

The sun shining through lace curtains, on the First Day of Summer.

"Warm summer sun, shine friendly here..."

Robert Richardson "To Annette"

Straw hats at the ready, on the First Day of Summer.

Star Jasmine, lightly resting on the porch, on the First Day of Summer.

Reflection through grape vines and rose hips, on the First Day of Summer.

Be at your ease, on the First Day of Summer....Judy

"Summertime, oh, summertime, pattern of life indelible, the fadeproof lake, the woods unshatterable...

E. B. White

I am sharing the First Day of Summer with these lovely parties this week:

Cottage Garden Party

Wow Us Wednesday

Home and Garden Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Midsummer Party

Seasonal Sundays

Sunday, June 17, 2012

THOUGH YOU ARE GROWN....

A story of celebration about a graduation,a barbecue and a surprise!

I remember years ago,

You were so little then.

Sometimes,

I can't help but wish,

That you were small again.

I've cried when you've faced heartaches,

And saw, that as you grew,

Nothing broke your spirit,

Instead it strengthened you.

I'm filled with mixed emotions,

As I hold back all the tears

And, with much pride remember,

Back so many years.

Cynthia A. Sieving

Congratulations, Jake, we are so proud of you!

Jacob Paul McConnell

Soquel High School

Senior Class of 2012

The first part of the day was very exciting and filled with much emotion, so we were ready for a relaxing time with family, great friends and good food.

Preparations for a barbecue celebration given by two families for two best friends.

Jake and one of his best friends and fellow graduate, James

As the celebrating came to a close, and all signs of the party were put to bed, we thought that nothing more could be crammed into such a full day but we were wrong....

Jake and three of his friends had given themselves a graduation present. A jump out of an airplane at 14,000 feet.

What a huge surprise!!

Hope you enjoyed the celebration...Judy

I am linking up with:

Grill, BBQ & Picnic

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

OLD GLORY

You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The Home of the free and the brave.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress replaced the British symbols of the Grand Union flag with a new design featuring 13 white stars in a circle on a field of blue and 13 red and white stripes - one for each state. Although it is not certain, this flag may have been made by the Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross, who was an official flag maker for the Pennsylvania Navy. The number of stars increased as the new states entered the Union, but the number of stripes stopped at 15 and was later returned to 13.

On June 1886, Bernard Cigrand made his first public proposal for the annual observance of the birth of the flag, when he wrote an article titled "The Fourteenth of June" in the old Chicago Argus newspaper. Cigrand's effort to ensure national observance of Flag Day finally came when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nationwide observance of the event on June 14, 1916.

However, Flag Day did not become official until August 1949, when President Harry Truman signed the legislation and proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day.

In 1966, Congress also requested that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as National Flag Week.

Source: Google

Ev'ry heart beats true

'neath the Red, White and Blue,

Where there's never a boast or a brag.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

Hope you are having a grand old week....Judy

We are leaving tomorrow to celebrate Jake's high school graduation/barbecue. Won't be back until the first of next week, so I'll see you then!

Flag Day

Thursday

June 14, 2012

I am linking up with the great party:

Wow Us Wednesday

Friday, June 8, 2012

THE SECRET GARDEN....THE MAGIC IS WORKING, PART ONE

"There is magic in the garden...

good magic"

Colin to Mary Lennox, "The Secret Garden"

Here is a part of the long-awaited Secret Garden that I promised you a while ago.

I know it's taken some time, but, in case you haven't noticed, that's how we do things around here. After all, it's coming on to summer and the livin' is easy.

It is a beautiful day in the Secret Garden.

The sunlight is dappling, the birds are singing sweetly and a soft breeze is blowing. It's a most joyous time to sit, with a cup of tea, and reflect on the journey that has gotten us this far.