Summer Remembered

 Our oldest son works at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Aquatic Plants.

For my birthday, I asked him if he would take me on a tour of where he works.

It was late in the season and so he felt that it was past its peak.

But I thought that it was gorgeous!

There were still lovely blooms to be seen.

and peaceful views. 

with hints of autumn

And surprises if you looked carefully.

Can you imagine going to work here every day?!

I would think that you couldn't help but be happy.

And feel at peace with the world.

I took this photo of the lotus from afar, but he gets to go in the boat or his hip waders and get up close.

We focused on the aquatic areas

As I wanted to see what he sees each day

and to hear his stories.

But there is so much to see there

and so many areas that we didn't cover.

Can you hear the breeze rustling through the leaves?

The Japanese gardens are lovely.

I didn't want to leave.

I think that the Great Blue Heron was posing just for us.

In keeping with the theme, my sons gave me several plants for my garden including:

Yarrow! So happy and hope that it will come back next year.

I also received some great Fiskar pruners and a Cubs t-shirt.

My sons know me well :)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, 

because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

Blessings, Patti

Mrs. Maguire's Garden

"Mrs. Maguire's Garden"

design by Pineberry Lane

I just realized that I forgot to share this finish.

It is a slightly abbreviated version of the original design.

I didn't have any trim that matched nicely,

so I added a bit of stitching to the seams.

I think that my husband and I visited Mrs. Maguire's garden on the 4th of July.

Don't you expect her to walk out any moment carrying her watering can?

I bow down toward your holy temple

    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

    for you have exalted above all things

    your name and your word.

~Psalm 138:2

Blessings, Patti

A patriotic finish and a bit of time in the garden

Thank you ever so much for the kind and generous spirit of Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm!

This 4th of July finish is "Flag Maker" and Lori is sharing this pattern for free on her blog!

You can find this pattern along with many other gorgeous freebies here.

Thank you ever so much Lori!

And I am loving my little flag threadholder by Notforgotten Farm as well :)

It was a quick and fun stitch.

I made it into a little threadboard

and on the back...

I used antique ticking and calico to create a flag.

It has been a wonderful summer for the garden!

The coneflowers and black-eyed Susans are huge!

Earlier this season I found these incredible succulent wreaths at the nursery.

I just had to have one!

Wouldn't it be gorgeous hanging on my garden gate?

Luckily I looked at the price tag as I was putting it in my cart.

They were each over $100!!!

Yes, gorgeous, but not in my price range.

I went home without them.

The next week, I was at our town's farmer's market 

and found something in my price range...

Succulents in a chicken feeder!

Too cute!

I didn't put this one back, and it came home with me!

It is so sweet and I love it just as much ;)

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

    I have set my heart on your laws.

~Psalm 119:30

Blessings, Patti

We have a winner!

Thank you so much for the response to my little giveaway! There were 54 entries and the winner is #25 Linda M. who said, "I would love to take a class from Barb Carroll for Rug hooking or go to the Country Sampler stitch retreat Looks like a fun time was had with friends Thanks for sharing pictures"

 

Linda, you are a no-reply blogger so I am unable to reach you. Please email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with your mailing address by Tuesday, May 31 and I will send out your prize.

 

It was so much fun to read your responses. Many of the retreats that you mentioned are ones that I have been to: From Our Hands of course, Boxwood & Berries, and classes with Country Sampler, Blackbird Designs, Maggie Bonanomi, Stacy Nash, Rebekah L. Smith, Lori Ann Corelis, and La D Da. But many that you mentioned are also on my bucket list: Buttermilk Basin, Shepherd's Bush, Primitive Stitchers Society, Attic Needlework, Primitive Gatherings and at the top of my list: Notforgotten Farm! Hopefully we might even get to meet at one of these retreats in the future...

 

 

I just had to share these photos...

My strawberry patch one month ago, watched over by a wonderful folk art rabbit that I purchased from Ginny Henson last summer.

 

My patch last night - my rabbit has almost disappeared!

My strawberries are growing faster than any year before...

 

I even picked my first pound last night!

I think this may be a record breaking year!

 

And the clematis in the first picture is not even three feet tall yet, but is bursting with plate size flowers! It's a great spring for the garden!

 

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

Acts 20:24

 

Blessings, Patti

 

Garden's Last Gift & Away I Go...

My Indian Corn is dried and ready to hang.

I love how the colors come out as it dries.

Late in the summer we replaced a clematis that didn't make it this year. 

I thought I would have to wait a full year to see the flower on this new variety.

But I was pleasantly surprised one recent morning to see this:

I love it!

What a lovely surprise.

Well, my homework is done, I'm just about packed and I will soon be on my way.

Boxwood & Berries, here I come!

I'll be back with a full report as soon as I can...

"Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.

Let this be our song, no one stands alone.

Standing side by side,

Draw the circle, draw the circle wide."

~Mark Miller

Blessings, Patti

Indian Corn

I like to grow corn.

Living in an urban area, my yard gets some looks once the corn is taller than the fence.

But I love to watch it grow and the way the stalks rustle in the breeze.

My little urban garden in early August.

The corn reaching the gutters on the garage.

Enough of a garden to make me happy :)

Only one week later!

While we were gone the corn had tasseled and the ears had formed.

(And the sunflowers grew so tall and developed their flowers.)

This past weekend I decided it was time to pick some corn.

This year I managed to beat the squirrels to six ears of Indian corn so far!

I love to pull the husks back and to discover the colors on each ear ~

it's like a gift! 

They are drying inside right now and as they dry the colors become brighter and more intense.

I'll share when they are all set :)

I hope that you are enjoying the delights of early autumn harvest!

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

~Philippians 2:3-4

Blessings, Patti

Late Summer Flowers

Has it really been a week since I posted last?

How can that be?!

I have been working on my Stacy Nash Stitch Camp sewing tray. I wanted to change up the center of these flowers a bit and finally am happy with my tweaks. The stitching is now done and I have dreamed up some ideas of tweaking the tray itself. Hmmm, I am thinking that this is going to take longer than I thought. I just hope that it turns out as well as it looks in my mind's eye :)

The zinnias in the garden are still happy and going strong.

I didn't realize that butterflies like Zinnias.

This swallowtail with touches of blue spent several hours around the zinnas one afternoon. He would flit around up near the trees and then come right back down. 

The next afternoon the same flowers were visited by a Monarch butterfly. I remember when they used to be so common and plentiful, but we haven't seen many recently. I heard that they are now threatened. Many of our neighbors are now growing milkweed in an effort to help and I am thinking of putting some in our alley myself.

I'm trying to enjoy the flowers while I can...

knowing that their days are numbered.

This happy bouquet came home with me from the farmer's market. 

I won't be cutting any more of my own zinnias now that I know that the butterflies are enjoying them so...

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

~Romans 1:16-17

Blessings, Patti