End of Summer - Beach Days

Here's a little glimpse of what we've been doing at the beach this week. Oh how we love it here!

The weather has been really crazy at times.
The other day, it was kind of stormy and at one point a partial part of a beautiful rainbow appeared. I attempted to capture it with my camera...

We've been feeding the birds too. Isn't this herring gull pretty?Yesterday, right before a major down pour this cute boat went trolling by. I love vintage cruiser boats. My grandpa built similar boats like this family cruiser back in the late 20's.

Sydney and I started a craft project. We've been gathering shells for awhile...

I found a framed mirror at a yard sale on Saturday. We painted the frame white and are attaching our found shells. Once it's completed, it'll hang in the main bathroom in beach house.

Oh and today was my birthday. I always try to be at the beach to celebrate since it's one of my favorite places to be. Tonight we had these ice cream cone cupcakes for dessert.

A good friend of my mom gave her a framed poem that she has hanging in the cabin. It sums up my thoughts of living at the beach pretty well. I'd like to share it with you.

Living At The Beach
People who live at the beach live in a different world--or perhaps they live in the same world in a different way.
Here time stands still--or it races like the running tide.
There is time for everything; there is time for nothing.
Then there is the weather. It rains, it blows, it sunshine's. Sometimes we have this in winter, sometimes in summer. Other times it does it all at once.
Living at the beach! It evens sounds special and it always is.
Any way you look at it, life is life.
But living at the beach makes it better.
-Betty Orr

Shades Of Inspiration - Rust

We're back up at the beach for our last couple weeks of summer vacation. While Sydney and I where on our beach combing walk this morning, I spotted this old rusty chain connected to a log. Seeing it, reminded me of this weeks shades of inspiration challenge which is rust.

Check out some of the rust we found today at the beach...

There are lots more shared rust colored inspiration photos here.
Be sure you take a peek, you'll be glad you did!

Grilled Shrimp With Orzo Salad

Tonight I made one of my hubby's all-time favorite summer meal. It's real simple to make and perfect for a summer evening. Here's what you need, and how you can make it too.

You'll start out by making a vinaigrette:

Whisk together juice from one large lemon (about 1/4 C)

1/2 C good quality extra virgin olive oil

1 TBSP dill (fresh or dried)

3 (or more) cloves of garlic minced

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Pour 1/4 C of the vinaigrette over the shrimp - toss to coat and let marinate 20-30 minutes.

Reserve the remaining vinaigrette for the salad.

Meanwhile, cook 1 - 16 oz package orzo according to the package directions until al dente. While the pasta is cooking prepare these items for the salad:

1/3 C grated parmigiano reggiano

1 can black olives cut in quarters

1 bunch green onions - sliced

chopped fresh parsley

Once the pasta is done, drain, place into a bowl and toss with the remaining vinaigrette.

Add the parmigiano reggiano, black olives, green onions, and parsley. Toss again.

Thread the shrimp onto skewers - grill over high heat until the shrimp is opaque - turning once.

Serve the shrimp immediately with the pasta.This salad's tangy flavor complements the grilled shrimp really well.

Leftovers are super yummy the next day too - if there are any leftovers that is...

A Card A Day For Lynn

A couple weeks ago I happened upon this wonderful blog. As I reading through Rhonda's previous posts, I came across one in particular that really touched me. Her mom is currently going through radiation treatments for breast cancer. Rhonda put out an invitation asking anyone if they could make and send a card to her mom for encouragement and to help lift her spirit. Rhonda's goal is to have a card a day delivered to her mom.

I made a card and it's on its way to Lynn.

What a simple request to help encourage someone that is going through something so horrible as cancer. If you would like to send a card, I know Rhonda would appreciate it so much. Leave her a comment on her blog, and she will contact you via email with her moms snail mail address.

Slippin' and Slidin'

We've been taking advantage of enjoying the sunshine around here lately.

Sydney and Daphne are crazy about the slip n slide! I always wanted one when I was a kid (never got one), so that's what we got this summer instead of a blow up pool .

It's been a huge hit!

No matter what, Daphne gracefully manages to end up on her backside - like everytime. hehe Even daddy has to go for it! I hope you all are having a wonderful summer!

I Have A Confession...

I don't make our bed everyday....

Whew! Now, since that's off my chest, I feel so much better. hehe

I've really never been good about making my bed, just ask my mom! I've had times when I have actually made my bed everyday for a week - but oh, those times were short lived...

I do however make our bed anytime company is expected.

Sydney wondered who was coming over today. hehe

The reason our bed is made today is because I wanted to show you the letters I hung up yesterday. Nothing fancy... I just covered the letters with old sheet music, and I thought they turned out pretty cute. I've had the letters since before Christmas and figured I'd finally better do something with them...

Since our room is presentable today, here's a peek around... I found this antique armoire at a moving sale a few years ago. Thankfully I had some birthday money to spend at the time. It's my absolute favorite! Our room is pretty small, I have it packed to the max with furniture! It does look nice when the bed is made. Maybe I'll try to make it again tomorrow... it's a good thought anyways.

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Oh, and one last thing. I've been on the lookout for an old silverplated loving cup trophy for a long long time. Most of the time the old trophies are way out of my price range. A couple weeks ago, I happened to find this old loving cup at a local estate sale. It has the most perfectly tarnished and silverplate loss look I wanted. I have such a hard time cutting the roses in my garden, I rarely ever do. I'm happy that I cut some tonight though. I think they look so pretty in the loving cup!!

Stirring Up Dirt

Happy Monday everyone! I thought I share a bit of what we're doing around here.

A couple weeks ago my sweet hubby started a new project.

Our front lawn was in desperate need of a redo since it had become overrun with moss. Thankfully, my father-in-law has a Bobcat skidsteer that hubby could borrow to do some landscaping.

First off - scrap off all the old icky lawn!

Our front yard area has a slope to it that I don't like.

I've always wanted to have a flat front yard, so we decided to put in a rockery and fill dirt to make a nice flat grassy area.
We are using basalt rocks for the rockery.
Here is the start of the rockery. We'll have about 2 rows of the rock built up to make the yard level. We've already had 42 yards of fill dirt delivered and we need more! Hubby is putting in a sprinkler system too - yippee!!

It's really coming together nicely. I'll update more when there is more progress. I'm busy researching about trees, shrubs and plants that I want to add to the yard.

We're doing ok living with the dirt (ick)... I mean filthy feet! hehe
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On another note, I've added a couple cute things to our front steps this week.

A little while ago Sharon shared a picture of a cute mailbox planter that she put together for her front porch. I thought hers was so charming that I just had to get one for myself.

I repainted my box black and stenciled U.S. Mail on it. I just love it!

I have been searching a long time for an old porch milk box. I was lucky enough last weekend to find one at an estate sale - 3 bucks, I was so happy! Yay, another cute planter on the steps. Now, I can't wait for the dahlias to bloom!

Shabby Scraps - Show Me Your Dress Form Party!

Happy August everyone!

Whoo hoo! I'm so excited today has arrived, I just love parties, and this one is going to be so fab! Thanks so much Tiffany (Shabby Scraps) for hosting today's "Show Me Your Form" party.

Ok, so I haven't been fortunate enough to find myself a vintage dress form yet, but one of these days, I'll find that perfect one for me - I just gotta believe!

In the meantime, my dear friend Stella helps ease my pining for an older form. She, being a much younger lady, happily models a white chiffon vintage 50's prom dress for me, in our living room. She's a classy lady who loves to flaunt vintage accessories like her frilly hat, waist corsage, pearls, and gloves. Stella is a lot of fun to have around!
My intentions have always been to give Stella an aging makeover. One of these days, I suppose I'll get around to it...
My form is named in honor of my maternal Grandma. While visiting my Grandparents when I was little, I'd loved to play on the exercise bicycle that was down in their dark (their very dark) cellar like basement. Grandma had a old dress form down there too, just sitting in the corner by the bike, and oh my, it always freaked me out!!! All kinds of stuff went through my head while I'd be riding the bicycle. Why didn't it have a head? What could have happened to its arms? How can it be watching me when there is no head? Is that really what boobs look like?
Can't imagine what ever happened to my Grandma's dress form. I sure wish I had it now....