Strawberry Moon and Other Stuff

 

The Strawberry Moon is late this year--the moon of June and June is almost over.

 

Last night the moonshine was gorgeous--at midnight the night was not dark, the sky and beach glowed with aquamarine light, and the moon reflected on the water, like a sequined pathway to the stars.

Unusual, otherworldly. I hope you looked up too.

July marks the switch to hot weather here, Fourth of July is almost always the hottest weekend of the year. It's pleasantly summery today [breezy, sunshine, low 70s] yet the doom weather folks are shouting about the heat. It's annoying. 

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Years ago as young moms my friend L and I got into the routine of doing errands together---back then once a week we'd drop the kids at school and set off for a busy day. Less boring when the chores are done with a friend! Time and life has changed that but every month or so, we do get out together. First, a few weeks ago, after doctor visit,  I lured her off to the flower nursery for geraniums. Don't know why but this year I am yearning for geraniums--red!--that Mediterranean  resort vintage-y vibe.

You may recognize the Flower Farmhouse from autumn visits.

Wonderful fun Posies metal stakes, 

and a ladybug Welcome sign. [wish I'd snapped them up, but no]

Gasp worthy geraniums, 

look at the prices.

More...

I got a couple smaller plants and a few pretties. The striped flowers are SuoerBells,"Holy Smoke"

Another day we did local errands: 

Trader Joe for flowers and bread. Never again on a summer Friday. TJ's was teeming, seething with hungry humanity. Crazy. The famously awful parking lot was gridlocked with impatient huge SUVs with nowhere to go. We had to do the double parking  thing while one of us shopped. I  did get my roses and hydrangeas, just a bit of lovely to cheer me up. [the bread aisle was flooded, eeew. But grabbed fave Rainbow Radishes too.]

Then Dollar Store for doll clothes makings and fun finds.

Abridged version of a book I remember loving when I was a child. Now--tedious and unreal, as I reread. Bought fir collage cutting up.

The best seeds!  Their Lilliputs are what got me hooked on zinnies.

Look at the sale price.

I did relent on my patriotic boycott and got the flag garland. I'm hearing my dad's voice in my head, ''cutting off your nose to spite your face --your boycott is pointless, the Flag belongs to us all.''

BTW the flag garland could maybe be used in a quilt. The fabric is woven, nylon or polyester. Tea- or coffee -dyed it might look like old silk.

I also made a dolly outfit for my friend's 14" doll. She's growing up so fast, if she continues to love dolls and my handmade clothes she may be less enthralled by my over-the-top designs and gaudy add ons. She may want ''Elinor" and "Willa" to dress like real girls? I must remember to ask her....

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I'm pleased with the deck garden.

The zinnies are in bloom.

The geraniums look bright. The impatiens  [a Mday got from Little Friend], lush and colorful. Plus an addition from the nursery day outing .

SuperBells [mini petunias] w more impatiens  for a different look. Petunias don't do well in harsh deck conditions--but--adorable, right. Love stripey flowers, esp tinny blooms.

First coreopsis, these are reseeds. How I love them!

A charming small planter. Cobalt ceramic little person to hang out w Tiki. Both got impatiens .

Have a good holiday! [pic from better times]

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.......

memories....

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A Little Beach Walk

 

Another Monday, grey and doldrum-y. I thought to do a bit of deck gardening as Amazon brought a few new pots and some soil. But it's actually raining, who knew? Mizzle, I guess we'd say.

I've been walking almost daily to Mo and my beach entrance bench. Some days further, there's a lovely bench at the top of the dunes and another I'm aiming for at the end of the boardwalk.*

I peeked over the seawall, wondering if the cleanup party on Saturday had removed the wind tossed trash that accumulates between the back dune and the seawall. So windy--I couldn't tell. A prominent McDonalds bag was the star of the show. Usually I d go pick it up myself but the fear of ticks and Lyme Disease has prevented my dune walking in recent years.

But look! How adorable. Beach Balls that escaped and blew here. A party? a beach day w kids?---who knows.

Another day: Mystery solved. These tracks?! Both myself and blog friend Mel google searched these odd tracks with their unusual tail or wing impressions. 

We got Alligator [I think not] or opossum [a maybe?]. I continue to see the tracks often. Hmmm. I followed the tracks...

Aha! Rubber Ducky!

Now we know.

He's so cute! Has a beachball too! Gone the next day.

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I haven't been doing much garden fence peeking. It's dodgier to do w/out a doggy as camouflage. Mo was always happy to linger and sniff as I peeped thru the grey wooden slats. Now I feel like a creeper. But the other evening I was invited to friends' temporary home. It's a rental while their dream house is being built a block away.  The temp house  just two houses from the beach! 

And the yard is quite lovely I think. No grass, no lawn. 

Like a secret garden, peaceful and serene. Sheltered. 

Old growth professional landscaping, c.1980---so almost 50 years.. 

A eucalyptus I think.  [ I was wrong. The tree is called European Smokebush. It was once used to create a natural dye. However there are hardy eucalyptus that grow here in coastal northeast. The leaves and berries .really do look just like Trader Joe's euca.]

Delete

A topiary honeysuckle.

Lots of lush sedum.

Roses and a huge hydrangea hedge. 

The garden is cared for via the owner. As a renter my friend, a wonderful gardener, is being totally hands off. I was surprised, but he has lots going on. The dinner was deliciously gourmet burgers and hot dogs. (fresh pickles to die for, homemade mayo! Rare perfect burgers, nicely charred hot dogs.) So fun to welcome Summer of 26.

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*Boardwalk is set aside, perhaps til next winter. I got it to a good stopping point. Must make notes tho.

Posies is going slowly but I love it. So rare, I always hate in-work projects

I think it's cute. 

Julierose's version is so elegant and further along, check it out. HERE

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Current after walk snack: cottage cheese w crisp spring vegetables. Two favorites here--esp the radishes. From Quebec! Cottage cheese is getting good press lately: high protein, calcium rich, relatively low in protein. In the winter I usually have Triscuits [high fiber] and a cheese of the week, it varies. Plus always vegs.  Do you have a favorite lunch/ snack? 

And current supplement, gummies. For hair and nails. Month three, hair seems to be regrowing post covid/ flu; nails look a lot better. I'm impressed.

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Have a good week. Welcome Summer!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

The OCs have been flying about, teaching their big babies to fly. The terns [arctic, least, and regular--all nest here] are attacking! 😧And the Skimmers have a new flight path, low over my deck.😧 Such an odd bird, prehistoric appearance in flight, little and dumpy on the ground. Not vicious like terns though. black skimmers