Kick Off of Summer

Seeing all of the happy schoolchildren being released from classes this week makes me realize that we have already experienced the kick off of summer vacation.  I remember those days and what a joy it was!!!!  How did the saying go??  It was something like, "School's out. School's out.  Teacher let the monkeys out.  No more school, no more books and no more teacher's dirty looks."  Does anybody else remember that?

Meanwhile.....we celebrated Memorial Day with a family BBQ in the backyard.  It is always wonderful to have everyone over and the kids just enjoy hanging out with each other.  It is so interesting to see the girls all congregate in one event and the boys in another.  There was lots of jump roping and I truly wish I had some pictures to share.  Unfortunately, I was jumping and I was the one with a camera.  NOT a good combination!!!!  Isn't it funny how the cute jump roping songs come back to you when you're participating?  The girls heard a few new ones and so did I.

The girls getting ready to "perform" for us.

Big guys vs.

Little guys vs

Half anf half!!!

DIL, daughter and my mom.

The tractor remains a hit at parties.

Wednesday was #3 son's birthday and his family got him all sorts of backpacking gear.  I guess that means he will be heading off to the unknowns and doing a little roughing it.

Gotta love the mosquito net!!!!

A hummingbird feeder too.  I think that is staying home.

I have been playing around a bit with making fabric flowers.  Have you noticed that flowers seem to be the big rage this year?  I am loving the idea.  First I tried a flower that was in this month's Quilting Ar*ts magazine.  It was a fun one to do and I can definitely see using it in different projects.

A luscious hand dyed fabric that a friend made me.

The next one was one that I sort of "winged" it on my own.  It was much less complicated and added a bit of whimsy to the bag that I made from a placemat.  I think it looks "summery" and will do a tutorial on it if anyone wants me to do so.

I have to share a picture of one of my orchid plants that bloomed this week.  I just love the color of it.  I wish I knew the name of it.

Today I went out and got a new summer hairdo.  I was so bored with my "old" hair and decided I needed a change.  For some reason my gray hair turns yellow - unlike my mother's gorgeous color of gray.  Every hairdresser I have had thinks they can get rid of it either by using special shampoos or whatever.  It never goes away and only gets worse during the summer.  I decided to give up on it and added some brown highlights and that makes it look a LOT less yellow.  I am happy with it.  Now I will await the opinions of the rest of the family.

We are looking forward to a quiet weekend topped off with a Pinot and Paella in the Park event on Sunday.  I hope all of you will also be enjoying a summery weekend.