Sign Making & Sally Sitting

Juggling 2 very important tasks takes a little creativity. First, I wanted to make my Seaglass Design sign but secondly, I was also the doggie day provider yesterday! Luckily, for both of us, it was quite nice outside.

I already had a nice wooden sign that was whitewashed for future use... I do save some very useful items that some would have thrown away! All this needed was a quick coat of my "seafoam green" living room color.

Next came lettering the piece. I sketched out the design, replicating my business card and realized Sally wasn't going to leave me alone. So outside we went...Please play, paw? Please? I painted, and threw the ball. Back & forth we went and surprisingly, Sally didn't end up with any blue or green highlights in her hair!

Basic painting accomplished, with Sally asking "are you done yet?" How can anyone resist this little girl?

So we ate my salad lunch together.

Color and distressing were next to make the sign look slightly vintage, cottage-like and to give it some character.

Voila! the finished Seaglass Design sign.

Let's get back to what's really important, where's the ball Sally?

Pumpkin Play

I haven't carved a jack-o-lantern in many years. A free pumpkin, the blog needing an updated post and there you go! (speaking with my hands ...wooden hands, giving me a hand)

Pumpkin eyed Sally was a bit scared of this thing called a rolling pumpkin.

The old pottery tools from 1997 were brought up from their "basement coffin" to aid in the new fangled art of partial carving.

The unlit creature here does not well represent the original idea. Partially my fault, drawing the ______ and carving the ______ was not as easy as I thought!

Well, if you MUST know.     It is the "Count". 

Sesame Street generation please say so!!!!

Weekend Walk & Winery!

This weekend, being what I believe to be a true Indian Summer occasion that was perfect for walking...we did! Sleeping Giant Mountain in Hamden, CT allows dogs (leashed) so up we climbed.

Not sure if Sally needed a rest or we did!

The tower at the top looks out over a beautiful valley and Quinnipiac University. I stayed below though to watch Sally while heights are not my cup of tea I must confess.

The Mountain Laurels (our state flower) twist and turn their faces to reach the sun leaving barren branches that seem haunted.

A downward jog of sorts pulled by Miss Sally ended in thirst all around.

Just by chance, on our way to buy some much needed apples we spotted a Connecticut Wine Trail sign!!! What would be better than that to end this day? After getting lost thanks to the iphone GPS and possibly some bad navigating by the novice iphone user (me), we found Chamard Vineyard in Clinton, CT.

A very welcome sight, seeing the sign and arriving before closing time!

Quite the location! The vineyards, the grounds and tasting areas were calling out to us, stay, have at least one glass...but we had someone (Sally) waiting in the car. So we decided to hold our own taste testing at home.

So much fun staging our little wine tasting. The wine was good, feeling great from our walk...we need a few more weekends like this!

Seaglass Sunday Summer Wrap Up!

Better late than never. Before we get even further into the fall season, I wanted to show a few moments of Summer 2011. It was a wonderful. Gardening, beach days, tomato harvesting and more.....

 The summer's haul. Soon to be organized into bowls and vases.

  Tomato in the tree??? Squirrels are quite clever.

The Pandora Shell collection.

Summer Salads.

Shell and driftwood collections on display.

While I dug in the garden, Sally dug in the yard!

Tomatoes runneth over. And over.....

Gardens survived, came into their own and filled in nicely by September.

 AND, I signed up for a watercolor class this fall.

So is this Indian Summer? Not yet! When the weather is sunny, clear and warm and after we have had the first killing frost...then we can claim a day like this to be an "Indian Summer" day. Today finally felt like the season has changed though...a brisk breeze off the water, a few falling leaves yet a warm sun. Just wonderful!

Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh!

Or, do something that makes you laugh when you really need a good one. Sally is not my dog but she is part of the family now. What she chooses to wear is not my doing...although I admit she looks very preppy, cute, warm & snuggly.

I think she may have posed for this photo shoot too.

Saint Sally

I try to keep my blog dialogue and postings related to nature, crafts, decorating and of course seaglass. I have wandered off course a few times but now I must share something completely askew. It is human nature (so is this still related to nature?) to either laugh or cry at life's misfortunes. Is it dog nature to act out when bored, lonely, scared and hungry? I believe we have the evidence here that YES, it is dog nature to do just that.

This is sweet, loving, adorable Sally that came to live with us on Easter weekend. (see old posts). She has been a saint sent to us for many reasons. She has also been a handful, a little "sassy" as we call it at times. We love her as she loves us.

But today, she was not saint-like at all! She had been gnawing a bit at the baseboard but I figured I would replace it when she left puppyhood behind her. I know Mike, our best contractor must have some of the same baseboard, somewhere????? Please? 

NOW? WOW. Sally, Miss Sheetrock has given her nickname "sassy" a new meaning. We know she was left a little too long, met a neighbor who let her out to do her business that may have freaked her out, ( Megan we love you !!! and thank you !! ) and Sally was too long waiting for lunch. Dog Nature 101.

Azaleas, Poppies and Dandelions!

What is blossoming now in your yard? I have the most striking pink and fushia azaleas in their glory today. The rest of the garden is coming along...foxgloves, pinks, yarrow, iris and more.

Pretty in pink? Sally has grown and loves the playing under shrubs!

These poppies have been in my garden since we bought the house, almost 32 years ago! They are so delicate and last such a short time but they give the early spring garden a burst of magnificent color!

 I have high hopes for the coleus this year too. The deepest purples, red & pinks, and the beautiful lime green edging...I just hope they flourish!

 And then the dandelions...hmmm. Love them, hate them, can't control them. But when you catch one in this stage it reminds you that they are just as beautiful as any flower! (Now you can see why I can't control them. One passing breeze and oh well)