Our Lady of Lunch

Our Lady of Lunch

I love lunch!

Ophelia, Henry and I recently had lunch together from Here and There Grill...you know how much I love Julie's food. We walked the short block over to Bountiful Home in Edmonds to enjoy our meal in Todd's garden nursery. Of course, he was 'The Host with the Most' and created a delightful lunch spot for us under the apple arbor. Young Henry was quite smitten with Todd (who isn't?!) that day. We are sure Henry remembers how much fun he had the last time he hung out with Todd and committed a party foul by pee-ing on him! Good times!

It was a gorgeous day. I spent some time snapping photos of the garden. Fall inspiration and beauty!

A Tutorial and Christentine Greetings

 Back on December 20, 1990 when we bought our Little House, we didn't have a Christmas tree. It just wasn't going to happen that year. So when I came home from work on January 25, 1991, Doug had purchased a living evergreen tree and had decorated it with Valentines and proclaimed it Christentine! So tomorrow is the 20 year anniversary of the first Christentine. We celebrate it every year with a 'Happy Christentine!' and some kind of blended decor. It works for me...no rush to get the holiday tree down and I love red! Our newly redone bathroom is the perfect Valentine-y space with its red ceiling and black and white accents so the tinsel tree that was in there was the logical choice.

Pink dove from Ormolulu,
Red Feather Butterfly from Bountiful Home
and
Valentine Fat Book from a Red Lead Swap.

For the December 2nd Saturdayz Urban Market I had made some Ribbon Wrapped Wire Stocking ornaments and then for gift pizzazz I made some Initial ornaments. So here is a quick tutorial for Ribbon Wrapped Wire Hearts.

You will need:


18-gauge wire
Pliers (round nose, smooth nose, or needle nose)
Wire cutters
Ribbon (I used Midori silk, double-faced satin and velvet)
Ruler
Scissors
Bling

Cut wire to about 14" long. Use round nose pliers to make loop and then bend wire by hand into your shape.

Attach end of wire around inside of first loop and crimp closed with pliers.

Cut 1 to 1 1/2 feet of ribbon to wrap around wire (depends on  how large you make your heart).
Tie around wire at top of heart. Leave a little tail at the top.

Wrap, overlapping slightly each time around.

When you reach the end, tie off at the top to the existing tail of your starter knot.
Trim ends as you like.

A group of hearts....
You can add bling to your loop or bend up with pliers for hanging.
Here I added a chandelier crystal to the pink heart.
But it could be beads, charms, another heart.

Happy Christentine!

A Dreamy Day

Wednesday started out just like any other day around here. I had an appointment at 11am and then was just going to drive out to Woodinville to pick up our weekly vegetable share at The Root Connection.

But after my appointment I decided to meander down into Edmonds to check out a food truck I have been hearing about -- here and there: an anywhere grill. Oh my goodness! The menu changes weekly and is posted online along with where the truck will be and for how long. Julie is a mighty fine cook, to say the least!



Hydrangeas at Todd's



The food truck was only a block from Bountiful Home in Edmonds, so I wandered over to Todd's to 'borrow' his garden to eat my lunch in. I used a potting bench for my table and a rolling thing-a-ma-jig for a seat...he was a terrific host and I felt like a queen. Joan of The Weed Lady fame was there too...it is always a treat to see her.

She had brought in some teeny tiny rose hip sprays for Todd. He gathered up a small bouquet for me to take home...a treasured momento of this beautiful fall day.



My rosehips in my bathroom--a reminder of my dreamy day!

Then off to Woodinville. As I was picking my weekly floral bouquet at the farm...Dahlias this time...I wanted to soak up the last of the summer sun. I am really self-conscious of my chubby arms and keep them covered up. But I decided it was my party today and I hadn't invited anyone who would judge me! So off with the linen jacket and on with the glorious sunshine.

People, I can't tell you how much the magic, unexpected events of today meant to me. Walking in the sun; filling my tummy with delicious food; surrounding myself with friends in a garden; simple, thoughtful gestures; my own confident defiance.

It was dreamy!



Whirlwind Weekend

My sweetie, Doug

We had a delightful weekend in Edmonds and beyond! First up was Junk-o-Rama at Bountiful Home.

I was so happy to meet Sandra and Todd of Pink Marmalade. I loved their stuff. The signs are fresh and nostalgic!

Joan, the famed Weed Lady!

Then we had lunch at the Taste of Edmonds. Loved the duck sliders from Epulo! Plus, my brother-in-law works there part-time. Gotta support the family!

And we decided to cool off with the car air conditioning and head to Bothell for the grand opening of The Weathered Rose in Country Village. Darling shop that also sells New York Cupcakes.

Hope you had a terrific weekend, too!

It's an Edmonds kind of weekend!

Saturday in Edmonds will be Fun Fun Fun!

Junk-o-Rama and Taste of Edmonds...junk and food!