Midsummer Weekend Pt 4: Swimming lessons

This Sunday, I was also a proud pet parent. 

My baby bear swam for the first time.

It may sound ridiculous, and maybe I've taken the pet thing too far. But I was proud of him. :)

He has been so apprehensive about water before so the hubster got in the water ankle deep and coaxed him in. 

First he just sipped the lake water (ew ew ew).

Then he followed his papa around.

Then a stick came into the picture and it was over. I wonder if there is another dog out there that loves sticks as much. Lol!

 You ask what did the little one do while he was swimming? Oh, she ate some grass and moseyed about, she's not one for swimming that one. :)

This afternoon he went swimming again, this time though, the apprehension was gone and I was lucky he didn't drag me in after him. Ah, I love my bubba-bear. 

Pretty cute...

Well thanks for reading my midsummer tales. I am very much looking forward to having this upcoming weekend off. Much needed R&R. 

I leave you with a thought:

If you were a rosebush, wouldn't this be an amazing place to grow some roots?

Midsummer Weekend Pt 3: Peony love and rose adoration

Onward with the tale of my midsummer weekend! 

Sunday, we went to the arboretum with a dear friend after I got out of work to check out the peonies in bloom...and to admire the roses yet again. 

Nuff said.

 Photo credit to my husband. I love the bee's fuzzy butt! Cute!

Ok, catch your breath and scroll down for roses... Oh did I mention the sun has been shining since Sunday afternoon?

 (every rose has its thorn...)

Gorgeous, eh.

If you are interested in the name of a particular rose, leave a comment. I can see if I remember what it was...or just go check from the garden. :)

Thanks for reading. 

Next time Part 4: Swimming lessons.

Midsummer Weekend Pt 2: Gardening

So if you checked out my previous post HERE, we left off at us arriving at the garden by boat. I hopped off with Nana and we walked down the little lane (I guess you could call it that) to our garden. I had to stop along the way and take a few pictures of the gorgeous gardens other folks have.

This first one is by far the nicest. The woman who is behind it all is a retired graphic designer (or something artsy like that) and packs a mean green thumb with some really great ideas. She is an inspiration to us all in the gardening plot area. Props beyond props to her!

Other people had such neat little rows.

And I love this idea of little pots hanging on sticks. I wonder if they accidentally wound up there one day or if it was a preconceived idea. 

There is the diamond in the rough in between all the gorgeousness. Like abandoned plots covered in weeds.

These gardeners made me laugh out loud - literally. I love the attitude. (Look closely at the glove...)

 

One of our neighbors poppies got to me again. I love love poppies. The color combination in just one flower is mind-boggling. 

These yellow flowers would look pretty in the garden of a farm house one day, wouldn't they. I wonder what they are, growing in a neighbors garden.

And back to our little garden...
The bees were swarming around the raspberries. It was a bit daunting to stand there amongst them, but I for some odd reason have become increasingly obsessed with bee pictures...

And they were busy pollinating the chives.

The currants are coming along nicely. They're such a vibrant green!

The roses are starting to bud, but they've encountered some danger. 

What should we do about these unwanted guests?? I wish I could call 1-800-LADYBUGS to help out, but I guess they can't afford a phone line. 

And whoever did this, needs to pay!

The first strawberry was harvested straight into my mouth, but I managed to get a picture of it before. I call this the life cycle of a strawberry:

1) Flower

2) The flower drops its petals and becomes a star(t).

3) Green berry

4) Ripe deliciousness

OR
Eaten by pheasants/mice/other garden creatures.

Other wonders are these bellis perennis.

Pink and white daisies. 

Green, green lettuce sprouts. 

Ah, and how sweet are these sweet williams. 

The love I have for this garden is indescribable. It's better said with pictures. :)

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for part THREE: PEONY LOVE!!! FINALLYYYYY!!!! And if you were interested in the garden, read about it in my previous gardening posts here, here and here. (in order of new to old)

P.S. How was that for delivering a quick part 2, same day delivery! Lol! :)