"When the Crape Myrtle Blooms"

When the beautiful crape myrtle blooms
and the bumble bees still,
I slip outside
(and if the tree abides)
my summer dreams fulfill.

~Me

I always look forward to bringing in a bouquet or two of crape (or crepe) myrtle blooms each summer. They are so beautiful and delicate and oh so aromatic! I tucked into my bouquet a few sprigs of my fresh rosemary and it really adds a layer of aroma and beauty, in my opinion.




I am so embarrassed to say that I didn't have my yard sale this weekend (again!). I will speak of it no more until after it's done and over. Quite frankly, I was exhausted this week from our trip. When I ran out of sticky labels for the items I was labeling earlier this week, I decided then and there that I just needed a break for a few weeks and sufficient time to rest and putz about the house, catching up on neglected chores, frivolities, and such. It was just as well that I didn't have a yard sale this weekend because as I was working out in the gardening beds near the end of this past week and toward the weekend, I came down with the most dreadful case of sun poisoning. Each and every time I attempted to be outside, no matter how little time I spent out there, I broke out in a horrible, itchy, and painful rash. Imagine my horror when yesterday, shortly after arriving at our place of worship, I again broke out despite wearing long sleeves (part of my neck was still exposed - and that's where I broke out). I'm sure all my friends (especially mothers with young children) were not a little concerned - I'm telling you, I looked hideous!

So no more outside activity during the day until my skin is well. I'm coming to terms with the fact that never in my life will I have a beautiful golden tan. I never tanned as a child (had sun poisoning a time or two then, too) and have never tanned as an adult. It's burn and peel, burn and peel... I will work hard from now on at protecting my skin while trying to appreciate it's pasty-like porcelain-like appearance.

In the evenings, though, hubs and I have been able to work on our front full sun landscaping bed and I'm so excited about it! Hubs was a sweetheart and planted most of the new plants this weekend. I laid out the gardening plan and dug many of the holes. My favorites are the new delphiniums (photo to the left not mine) - they will grow to be be over 4 feet high! And I love the color...everything about a delphinium just seems so....cottage, don't you think?! As the garden fills in more, I may share photos if I can keep everything alive. Many of my perennials from last year, like my Prairie Dusk, came back, so that's a good sign! This year, I planted coreopsis, black-eyed susans, daisies, oregeno, ,sweet basil, and I don't even remember the names of the others... Next year, I would like to attempt a very small food garden out back, but I've said that every year, hehe. A few people have told me that food is so much easier to grow that flowers, and if that's the case, I'm looking forward to raising a small kitchen garden!

This weekend, Hubs also replaced our pitiful, poor old mailbox. It came with the house and is probably just as old as the house. I don't know why we're only just now replacing it but let me tell you, the kids were thrilled about it. Why? I don't know. I'm really excited, too. My father-in-law has a machine that cuts vinyl (for decals for signs, automobiles, etc.) and I may try and commission him to cut the words "The Twice Remembered Cottage" for me in a really pretty font, and maybe the lady and bird graphic (that's near the top of my blog) to go on the mailbox.

Right now it's just a blank canvas. It also needs some flowers along the base, don't you think?

One of my kidlets asked me to make apple cinnamon muffins this weekend so I obliged. These are so yummy...the Easy Apple Cinnomon Muffin Recipe is from Allrecipes.com but I changed the topping because the original topping as stated in the recipe didn't seem to go over well with reviewers. If you try this recipe, try the following for a sweet, crunchy, crumbly topping.... (also, double the muffin recipe and topping recipe for 12 or more muffins - the original is just for six)

Crumbly Cinnamon Topping for Apple Cinnamon Muffins:

Crumbly Topping:
1/4 c light brown sugar,
1/4 c all purpose flour,
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon,
pinch of salt,
3 tablespoons of oats,
2 tablespoons of butter

Crumble in 2 tablespoons of butter into dry ingredients and sprinkle on muffins before baking.

Here is how mine turned out....a family favorite for sure!