How Much Is That Cupcake In The Window?

Psst...it's me! Sheepishly peeking around the corner of the cafe to see if anyone has noticed that I haven't been around for a week. What can I say? It's summer time!

Where have I been for the past week? Well, funny you should ask! Last Sunday, my husband and I took a long bike ride on the Monon Trail, the rails to trails biking/walking path that runs through the heart of Indianapolis. We started in the area of Broad Ripple, biked along the canals of the White River, and ended at a nice cafe in the neighborhood of Meridian-Kessler. As I was enjoying a wonderful iced mocha java chip frappucino, I wandered down the street and found the most adorable cupcake shop in the world!



The window display was filled with the cutest assortment of vintage items, all fashioned around the theme of carnival.




I really loved this color combination of turquoise blue and red! Add some polka dots and roses, and I was smitten!




The minute I saw it, I started fashioning a card in my head. Today, I finally got a chance to have a little fun in my studio. Here's the card that was inspired by the cupcake shop!



{recipe: all products from Stampin' Up!, Baby Blossoms stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, tempting turquoise ink and card stock, riding hood red ink and taffeta ribbon, pink pirouette ink, kiwi kiss ink, white card stock, Bella Rose designer papers, scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals}

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Visitors

Yesterday was a day for visitors. In the morning, I looked outside on the front porch and saw this little kitty who had come by just to say hello.



Now that the weather is warm and the porch is nice and cozy with chairs, pillows, and rugs, this kitty seems to think it's a nice place to spend the morning.



Kitty certainly made himself right at home!

This week, Sam is attending Track Camp. He's been having fun despite the heat. Yesterday was overcast and breezy, at last. While all the kids were participating in camp at one end of the track and field...



...I looked down at the other end of the field and saw this unlikely visitor!



Could it be? I had to get closer to make certain...



Yep! A fox had wandered onto the track! He also looked as if he'd been making himself at home there for quite some time. He seemed a little put out by all the hubbub at the other end of the field. We watched him walk off the track, through the parking lot, and off into the adjoining neighborhood.

I've decided to dedicate myself to keeping my boys busy this summer. With all of the sports camps, vacation bible schools, trips to the pool and library and such, I figured it was time to say goodbye to the part-time job for a while. I'm only one woman, and can only fit so much into the daily routine. So for now, I am happily unemployed. When summer is over and the boys are off to college and school, then I will look for whatever new opportunities God has planned for me.

In the meantime, I plan on puttering around the house and garden, doing a lot of reading and stitching and crafting, and visiting family back in Michigan as often as possible.

I've prayed on it, and I just felt that God was telling me to let go of this one thing because He has something bigger planned for me. I'm walking out in faith and enjoying this sweet summer life one day at a time.

Thanks for being my visitor today!

Of Food and Festivals

Here in small town America, summertime means festivals. And in my small town, we proudly announce the upcoming festivals with flags attached to lampposts. We hold most of our festivals at the "courthouse square". If you've ever seen "Back to the Future" and the 1950s town with the clock tower, then you have a pretty good mental picture of my little town. This weekend, we're looking forward to the Old Mill Festival. But thoughts of next weekend's festival already have us salivating.

You see, every year, the old church ladies gather under big white tents to make hundreds of bowls of the best Strawberry Shortcake this side of heaven. Think homemade short cake. Think locally grown strawberries. Think yummy vanilla ice cream and homemade whipping cream. It's to die for.

Last year, I was polite. I won't order my own. No, I'll just have a bite of yours, dear. My poor husband was being forked for the last bite! This year, I'm ordering the whole enchilada!



I made today's card to send to our family in Ohio. They also enjoy their very own Strawberry Festival in Troy, Ohio. Today, I'm thinking of family, but truthfully, I'm also thinking about that strawberry shortcake!

{recipe: Tart and Tangy (soon to be retired from Stampin Up!), Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU), Summer Picnic paper (SU), black, real red and old olive ink, paper piercing tool, square punch,
foam dimensionals}

Tools of the Trade

I've been working in the garden the last few days. I don't know how the weather is in your neck of the woods, but here in Indiana it is H-O-T! So I've been working in the mornings and evenings when it's a bit cooler.

I have a few trusty tools I use when I'm outdoors. First, I slather on the Aveeno SPF55 sunscreen first thing every morning. Then, I plop on my favorite hat (from Vera Bradley on clearance last summer...love it!). Then, I usually slip on my garden clogs and put on a bug band.



Have you found Bug Bands in your stores? With this wet spring, the mosquitoes have been ferocious. Consequently, the Bug Bands are selling out in the stores. But I managed to snag the last three on the shelf on Memorial Day. They work great! Wear it as a bracelet or anklet, loop it on your belt or on the handle of a baby's stroller, and you're good to go. Keep them in their plastic cases when not in use, and they'll last for up to 120 hours of protection, DEET free. Safe for the little ones, too!



I'm not a fan of the mosquitoes, but the bees in the garden don't seem to bother me. Yesterday, I was dead-heading the roses, and the bees were humming along with me. I decided to make a "sweet" card for today's sketch challenge!

{recipe: So Very (SU), Nature Walk (SU), Daffodil Delight card stock, Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety paper, black ink, amuse twinkles}

Hope your day is sweet!

Everything's Coming Up Roses

This has been a week where everything was related to roses (more about that later!). I was inspired to make something with one of my favorite stamp sets, "A Rose is a Rose". This is a tag, not a card. Thought it would make a cute addition to a gift bag in the future.

{recipe: A Rose is a Rose (SU), Noteworthy, so saffron ink and card stock, black ink and card stock, old olive ink, First Edition papers, Le Jardin papers, confetti cream card stock, lace edge punch, ivory seam binding, pearl}

So, last week my husband was in New York City for business. "Bring me back a souvenir!" I tell him. I think I'm going to get an "I Heart NY" t-shirt. No, he bought me this amazing necklace instead! It's from the famous Macy's at Herald Square (home of Miracle on 34th ST, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!).



I love this necklace! I've been wearing it every day! It' so light and delicate. That husband of mine, he's a keeper!

Then my mom came to town last week and gave me this amazing milk bottle that she found at an antique store!



It's hard to read the words on the glass in this photo, but here's a closeup:



The milk bottle says "Rosebud Creamery" and has a detail of roses on the front. Isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen? My husband (and my sister, Jenny's family) often call me Rosebud. This milk bottle will make a great flower vase this summer. Thanks again, Mom! You're the best Mom ever!


And now, here are the roses that made their glorious appearance last week. I wish these photos had Smellovision because these beauties are so fragrant! These are my beloved David Austin English roses that I just planted last year. They seem very happy in their sunny spot!





Can you spot which variety inspired my rose tag? Yep! It was the Graham Thomas variety of yellow rose that has a distinct tea fragrance. So lovely! You can find a full selection of David Austin roses at the website:

www.davidaustinroses.com

Thanks for visiting my rose garden today! Blessings on your weekend!

Signs of Summer

Yes, I know that it is not officially summer yet. But when the calendar flips to the month of June and the temps are near ninety, then the mind naturally travels to the season ahead.

Nothing says summer for me like a tennis racket and a hot, sunny day. A sweating water bottle, the fumy smell of a new can of tennis balls, and heat radiating from the baseline.

I've enjoyed introducing my sons to this simple sport. This week, Sam is beginning his tennis camp, and he's showing a lot of promise. He keeps his racket level, he doesn't swing at the tennis ball as if he's going for the home run, and he's managing to get them over the net without faulting.



That is a boy in need of a serious summer haircut! ha ha!

Watching him play this week has got me anxious to grab my racket and hit a few balls myself. Time to get all my boys motivated.

Sam's school system offers free sports camps throughout the summer. Isn't that wonderful? I signed him up for basketball camp, tennis camp, soccer camp, track camp, softball camp, and bowling camp. He's been having a great time learning these new sports, and it gives him something to look forward to every day.



This is my secret weapon to combat the "I'm Bored Blues". For the last few weeks, I've been scouring the local newspapers and websites for activities in June, July and August. Then, I fill my calendar with all of the free and cheap programs at the area parks and attractions. Free days at the zoo and museums. Campfire programs for kids at the parks. Free concerts. Free sports camps. Vacation Bible School.

I'm a big fan of "free" entertainment! With two sons in college this fall, I'm embracing free in a big way! With a little planning, families can have fun together for next to nothing. For example, the "Kids Bowl Free" program is nationwide. You can check out their website for a location near you.

Today is the first official day of summer break. Before tennis camp begins, Sam and I will head over to the local library to sign up for the summer reading program. No summer brain drain here!

Tell me, what's your favorite free activity to do in the summer?

Happy Endings, New Beginnings

Whew! What a weekend! We had a great time at John's graduation this Memorial Day weekend. With Grandma, Aunt Jenny, and cousins Joey and James in town, it really made it a fun celebration!


There were 570 students in John's class. That's a big group!





Big brother, Luke, does not like this photo, as he is noticeably shorter than younger brother John. :) I like this photo, though, and if it had a title, I'd call it "Two down, one to go!"



I needed a card for Sam's first grade teacher this morning. I sketched this card out in bed last night, woke up early and assembled it at 7 am! Clean and Simple with lots of graphic impact.

{recipe: Defining Alphabet (SU), Country Apple (SU), notebook paper (amuse), kraft card stock, riding hood red ink and ribbon, flower button and dmc floss, versafine onyx ink, corner rounder punch}

Have you seen the retiring list from Stampin' Up? It was just posted this morning. Defining Alpha and Define Your Life are on the list. So glad I got this combo when I had the chance. I do use it a lot. You can see the complete list of retiring stamps and discontinued accessories at www.stampinup.com.



Hope your day is A okay! Thanks for visiting the cafe!