Thursday, June 30, 2011

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

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~

Thursday, June 23, 2011

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
(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~


Thursday, June 16, 2011

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
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~



Thursday, June 9, 2011

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~




Thursday, June 2, 2011

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
and
Beverly's blog
How Sweet the Sound
for

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~