Summer's End

Tomorrow I go back to work and my summer is officially over.  For me, summertime is not only about hot sunny days, sleeping in if I want to, drinking wine with ice and sipping on lemonade, it's about having time to finish projects that otherwise sit on the back burner.  As I prepare my mind and body for the shock that awaits me tomorrow, I've also time to reflect on all that I have accomplished this summer, and on the things that are still left undone.  Let me just start by saying that there is always an unfinished project.  There are always projects that I want to do and that are therefore in the queue.  Summer allows me the time and energy to get things done!

Shelling Black-Eyed Peas

The ongoing major project this summer was our garden.  We learned a lot this planting season and I've already got a list of what not to do, and what was successful.  Main lesson learned: growing plants from seed is an art and needs more time than I gave it this year.  And... the more time you put into your garden, the more you will get out of it.  I also became paranoid that raccoons were going to come and eat our entire crop of corn, but that didn't happen in the end.  I also learned how to sunbathe and shell peas at the same time.

Garden at the beginning of summer

Garden towards the end of the season

I finally painted our whole downstairs this summer too.  In the bathroom, I used a Lowe's Valspar seasonal color called "Lunar Tide".  In the hallway and main living room I used "Homestead Resort Parlor Taupe".  I also bought simple white cotton curtains for $10/pair at Ikea and hung them on smaller cafe rods that I bought for about $5 each. 

"Lunar Tide" in the bathroom

Homestead....Taupe (and my $100 gift to myself)

The "hill" out back was showing signs of erosion so after planning several scenarios, I ended up buying day lilies for $3 each.  Somehow I ended up planting 45 plants on the hill along with digging a drainage ditch to fill with stone.  With the day lilies I planted Sedum Autumn Joy, Yellow Coreopsis, Dwarf Coreopsis, Blue Delphinium, Pink Coneflower (Echinacea), Blue Fescue, Russian Sage, and one other that I can't remember the name of.   

We also had some fun with little critters this summer.  I found raccoon prints in the backyard and we saw bear prints while picking peaches on the mountain!  I know it may seem ridiculous to be excited about such things, but I started out a CityGirl, remember?

  

It's back to work to my proper job in the morning.  That doesn't mean the work at home stops, just that it slows down.