This Cottage shows it's True Colors!

They're

RED

~WHITE~

&

BLUE

My Dad's coming

for a few days,

to spend

the

4th.

with

us!

So I'm taking a moment

to show you whats

been happening

around the

cottage!

It was

my McGivers

Birthday

last weekend,

so the kids

came for a BBQ
and
Birthday Pie!

~Apple and Rhubarb Cherry Pie~

~The Grand Kiddos eating a mid afternoon snack~

Cheetos and Red, White & Blue Jello!

Notice how Lulu & Trevor are looking at

Audrey's Cheetos? Two seconds

later, they both announced they

didn't like Jello anymore,

and

could they please have

Cheetos too!

So much for my Jello

surprise!

~I couldn't resist the temptation of such a blank canvas~

~the paint washes off~

~love Red, *White* & Blue~

I found two of these adorable little flag holders

last year at my favorite thrift store!

~my clematis is blooming beautiful~

I can't wait look forward to this every year!

I found this fun bunting

at the Dollar Tree!

~*~

I added the next few pictures, I was

going to post on the 4th.,

but I'm afraid I won't have time!

~chippy & rusty flower cart~

~sweet Betsy Ross pin cushion~

This sweet little vintage lady, was my

 Grandma Stella's, looove it!

~love this~

Is that Uncle Sam?

I'm sooo

Proud to be an American!

I'm linking up with

Cindy's blog

at

My Romantic Home

for

Show & Tell Friday!

and

Beverly's

How Sweet The Sound

for

Pink Saturday

(How do You

Spend Your

Fourth of July)!

Please go visit these

fabulous peeps, they

are so CrEaTiVe!

Thanks so much for

visiting my blog,

and I looove,

love, love

your

comments!

Always, Debbie~

On Summer Break!

This school year is over!

The kids were so ready,

and

 I'm so excited, we were

so sad to see it end! :)

I work at a middle school

with special needs kiddos.

They look forward to the last

few days with GREAT

ANTICIPATION!

Our school has

fun events for all the students,

and our

kiddos

LOOOVE IT!

The 6th. graders

have

different

inflatables,

 junk food, snacks,

and

games!

~image from google~

The 7th. graders

go skating,

~image from google~

and

the 8th. graders go see a

movie!

I've always stayed at

school, and assisted

the kiddos

at the inflatables and various field events!

This year, I went to the movie

with three other adults, and

10 of our special needs

kiddos... along with

ALL

of the gen. ed. 8th. graders!

We saw

Mr. Poppers Penguins

with

Jim Carrey

~image from google~

and I loooved it!

I knew our kiddos

would love it,

and

enjoy being on

such a special outing,

(some of our kiddos

don't get out and about

very often), and this was

HUGE!!!

What I was happily

surprised with WAS...

How wonderful the 8th. graders

were...(They were sitting all around us),

 they laughed, their heads off...

just like I was, at all the funny spots,

and they were quite and attentive and

genuinely respectful, throughout the

rest of the movie!!!

When the movie was over,  

there was an appropriate ROAR of

Happiness, and they

CLAPPED,

and then,

they filed out of the theatre

in what I thought was a

quick and quiet

manner...

Honestly, I am soooo

proud of this group of young

people, I just had to share this

with you!

That was Tuesday...

and

yesterday (Wednesday),

was our last day of school,

and...

I took our best bud,

SPORTZ

to school!

~Sportz~

One of our boys had

been asking me to bring

him all year, and because

he was going to

High School

next fall, I decided

to surprise him

by bringing

Sporty!

The kiddos loooved him,

they hugged him,

petted,

 patted,

rubbed,

hugged some more,

talked to him,

starred,

watched,

called,

smelled,

kissed...(yep, they did),

and hugged some more!!!

and

He loooved them back!

His tail never stopped

wagging, and he stole

kisses whenever he

could!

My fave, part of his visit

was this...

It was magical,

one of

our autistic kiddos ran

up to his teacher

AND

told her (goose bumps here),

about the NICE DOG!!!:)

He talked...(on his own,

no coaxing),

seriously,

this was a treasured moment!

Another touching

moment was watching

one of our kiddos

that seldom talks or shares anything with us,

sit down on the floor, and plant

a  HUGE BEAR HUG around the big bear

of a dog sitting in front of her!!!

So sweet!

Anyhoo,

Later,

their teacher said,

"this visit with Sportz

was fantastic, and she'd

like to see it be a regular

event"! Yay!

I wish you could've

been there, it truly

was

MAGICAL!

Thanks for visiting my blog

I'm linking with Cindy's

blog over at

My Romantic Home

for

Show & Tell Friday,

(even though it's not about

my home).

If you get a chance, do go

see Mr. Poppers Penquins

with your kiddos or Grands,

it's a great family show,

with Jim Carrey at his best!

Always, Debbie~

Through My Garden Gate!

Over my garden gate

is the most

beautiful

WHITE

clematis!

I wait with anticipation

for this day to arrive

every year!

...AND

finally,

it's

here!

The first

bloom!

~don't look too closely, the garden is a weedy mess~

~this is the first of many, it's ready to burst open~

We've had sooo much rain

here in the Pacific Northwest,

I really haven't been

out in my poor garden

at all much!

Hopefully our weather is

warming up, and maybe, just maybe,

the rain will let up a bit...

 I'll also

be on summer

break after

next

Wednesday,

so, my sweet little garden

and I have

some

big plans,

a

garden

(work)

party

of

ONE...

My McGiver continues to

feed the critters. Our squirrels

have their babies out of

their nests,

and

the birds

are visiting with all their

newly hatched babies!

Last weekend my McGiver

even spotted a baby possum,

~image from google~

We weren't sure if

Mama & Daddy possum

had moved on, but apparently not...

Last night I peeked out at the feeder

to see if I could spot the baby

possum, and sure enough,

there was a critter out there!

NOT

at all

what I expected...

It was one of these bad boys

night bandits!

~these little bandits are not good for my little garden pond goldfish~

Luckily, the goldfish were still

all here

this

mornin'!

I'm linking to

Cindy's blog My Romantic Home

for

Show & Tell Friday!

Please go visit as many of these

fabulous participants as possible, they're

a talented group!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog,

 I read (and truly enjoy), 

each and every one of your comments,

and I'd looove it if you'd follow me!

Always, Debbie~



Taking a Nana Break!

Going through some pictures, I

found a few favorites

from the

last few months.

Of Our

Grand kiddos!

You know how we Nana's

are...

Braggers every ONE!!!

Yes, we are!

I'm pretty sure we actually

have braggers rights! :)

Here's one of Lulu at my

Dad's 80th. Birthday party,

she's a little peeved because

Sportz our dog, is hot

on her trail, hoping she'll

feel pity on him, and feed her

the two meat balls and chocolate

chip cookie she has on her plate!

~too stinkin' cute~

~Audreys Princess cake for her 5th. Birthday~

~our little monkeys~

Trevor & Lulu were taking turns riding

and pushing

each other around, he has his monkey

mask up on his head, but earlier

they both were wearing

monkey masks...

Laughing hysterically!

Until...

~plumb tuckered out~

Sweet Dreams Trev!

~Our snow bunny Audrey~

Doesn't it look like she has a winter crown

on her head?

Loving those adorable pink cheeks!

~Audrey checking out Lulu's Birthday cake~

I think she's planning what kind of birthday cake

she'll be asking Nana for!

~Audrey hugging Santa~

This was very special, Lulu & Trevor had

both sat on Santa's lap, but Audrey was

a little apprehensive,

but finally,

she ran up and gave Santa a

GREAT BIG HUG!!!

~sitting in Grandpa's chair~

They were having a blast sitting in

Grandpa's chair watching a movie!

~The guys~

Trevor waiting patiently while Grandpa

raises his training wheels!

~baby Angelo~

~Mama spiked his hair~

(He'd just had his first haircut)...no lie

This little one, is such a joy.

A happy go lucky little guy,

that

loooves laughing

at his big sissy

Lulu!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog,

 I really appreciate it, and 

looove all of your

comments!

Don't forget to follow!

Always, Debbie~

My Fireplace Needs a Sweet Cottage Makeover!

This is the time of year I

need a bit of a change...

No, not so much

the

scenery,

but a few changes around

the cottage...

I'm bored, and need

a bit of a pick me up!

I'm so sick tired of the

RAIN

DRIZZLE

&

GRAY SKIES,

Spring came, and

we really didn't notice

much of a change...

No Roar of a LION to be heard here!

I've been thinking about my

fireplace again.

It's so boring plain and

needs a face lift.

This is how my fireplace looks today,

the firebox will stay the same, it's

a propane insert, and I looove the

vintage piece in front, with the

iron and brass rail.

(the blue hearth will of course be painted)!

~my fireplace~

I've been

looking around and came

up with these beauties,

what do YOU think?

I know I have a few saved in my idea

folder, I'll dig those out too!

~image from Country Living~

~image from Country Living~

I really like this one, it still shows

brick around it, and adds

character.

I would like a bigger mantel though.

~image from Country Living~

This fireplace has intrigued me for a long time.

I keep coming back to it...

I would add a wood detail where

the beautiful plaster detail is, if it was ours.

~image from Country Living~

This one is kind of plain, but I still like it.

The one real difference, is that all of these

are floor hearths, and our home is from

the 60's and has the big slab out in front...:(

I'm going to link up with

Cindy's blog

My Romantic Home

for

Show & Tell Friday

and

Beverly's blog

How Sweet the Sound

for

Pink Saturday!

Please visit as many of the participants

as you can, they have

so many AwEsOmE ideas to share!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog,

and I'd looove it,

if you'd leave a message,

and

FOLLOWED ME!

Always, Debbie~