A Little Mailbox Garden Story

When your doorbell rings at 2 a.m., it's usually not a good thing. So last fall, when our next-door neighbor came a calling in the middle of a cool fall night, he was actually being very kind. He's a great neighbor. He was awakened by the sound of a crash--the crash of a young mother, drunk, who had run her SUV smack into my treasured brick mailbox!

This mailbox was the original brick mailbox built with our house. I had always thought of it as being fairly sturdy, but when a drunk driver fails to make the curve on a culdesac, and in fact hits it head-on, well, that's the end. Our neighbor ran outside to find this woman sitting on the curb by our now-crumbled old mailbox as her two friends hoofed it down the street and ran away with her car keys. Nice friends. When she saw our neighbor walking towards her, she tried to run away from him, and even yelled curse words at him! She was out of her mind.

The old mailbox after the crash.

He, being the gentleman he is, convinced her to calm down, called the police and a tow truck, and even gave her a ride home afterwards. So now, we knew who she was and where she lived.

A brick mason friend came to the rescue.

A call to her insurance company--now noted on the police report--took care of the rest, and I was on my way to getting a brand new brick mailbox with the built-in flower bed I had always wanted. This summer is its first crop of flowers, and I decided to go wild, planting wild flower seeds--since it wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for that wild woman and her drunk driving. I really hope that she grew from the experience and got her act together, especially since she has young children at home. Although it was obvious that this would have been a hit-and-run if she hadn't been too drunk to even know where she was or what she was doing. And, if she hadn't hit the mailbox, she could have hit our house! It was a very sad situation, and I'm glad my neighbor was kind to this poor soul because we were kind of in shock that night. But just seeing my growing flowers is symbolic that you can restore and bloom. I know my mailman has enjoyed watching my flower seeds grow each day he delivers the mail, and I hope it's something that my neighbors who are out walking babies, doggies, and jogging enjoy every day. I do! Now, I just hope it never gets mowed down again! 

He designed my special flower bed just for me!

The zinnias are the first to bloom. I'll post more photos when the coreopsis and marigolds get into the act with their blooms! Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Grow!

Every Inchie Monday--BOOKS

Happy Inchie Monday everyone!  

Today's theme "Books" could definitely go many directions. I chose to see how many favorite books would fit on an inch. I suppose my hand-written font could have been even smaller, for sure, but after listing a few, I went ahead and added a few stitches (all good, non-digital books have stitches), some color, a teeny button and little tacks.

I could spend all day dreaming up book Inchies, but thank goodness there are many creative ones to look at on www.everyinchiemonday.com.

My daughter and I had a lovely morning today at Barnes & Noble book store. Once in a while it's nice to go on a quiet weekday morning, get a table in the coffee corner, and take your time leafing through books and mags. And I love to see what she picks out--she's quite the avid reader and writer. Very proud of her! (a future English major) I grab all the latest issues of Somerset-everything (they have several varieties of publications) and choose which one I can't live without! And now, when I'm settled down for the night with my cup of tea, I'm going to attempt "Howard's End."

We have been enjoying our summer, in spite of the continuing heatwave. I try to get up as early as possible and do my gardening by 8:30 a.m. I have a lot of writing to do, reading to do, and plenty of stitching inbetween! Due to the lateness of my garden, the tomatoes have not quite turned yet. But the plants are loaded so when they do...I'll be chained to the waterbath canner, getting all the yummy fresh tomato love packed into jars of salsa and other goodies!

Eat, READ, Write, Dream, Stitch!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Banana Bread Morning

Banana bread is just about one of the handiest quick breads. It is ideal for dessert, potluck, tea parties, and breakfast--it's always ready to go. I tried a new banana bread with a streusel topping, and we love it! Warning: it's decadent. Yum!

Streusel-Topped Banana Bread

In your large mixing bowl combine 3 medium bananas, mashed, with 2 beaten eggs, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup room temp. butter.

In another bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

After the wet ingredients are mixed together well, gradually add the flour mixture, only gently combining, and pour into two greased small loaf pans, or one greased large loaf pan.

In a small bowl use a fork to mix 1/4 cup brown sugar with 3 tablespoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of butter. Add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts if desired, and sprinkle streusel onto top of banana bread loaf(s).

Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. 

Have a good morning!

Back to work on my new little cross-stitch heart quilt!

Eat, Write, Dream, and Stitch yourself happy!

Sweet!

A tiny button and bead for the flower.

I love this little pewter Pooh button, and finally found a way to use him for today's Every Inchie Monday theme: SWEET. 

Pooh is someone who would definitely take the time to stop and smell the flowers, and even wait for the bee to show up and lead him to the honey!

Started with three layers of fabric.

Visit amazing, tiny, one-square-inch artworks at www.everyinchiemonday.blogspot.com.

Put as much as you want in the cap and throw it in.

I don't usually do product reviews, but I'm very excited about a new laundry product that is coming out. I love it when my whole laundry room smells fresh and sweet, and couldn't wait to try a product that is nothing more than a scent booster for anything from bedding, to workout clothes. I'm one of those people that will use more than one dryer sheet at a time, just to get the scent into things like quilts and towels. But here's the thing about this Downey Unstopables: the scent lasts for more than 30 days! I have been using the fresh scent, and it really is ahhhmazing! The fresh scent is floating into every room of my house. Love it!

I got this full-size product, free to try, from vocalpoint.com. Vocalpoint is a great website filled with information, tips, savings, and ideas. I was really excited to get Downey Unstopables in the mail, and a cute pair of socks to go with it! All I can say is, sweet!!

My roma tomatoes are all grown up and producing!

Remember my little Roma tomatoes?

On the longest day of the year...

Here come my roma tomatoes--summer is here! I can almost taste the salads, salsas, and bruschetta's. We've been known to have nothing for dinner but a crusty loaf of Italian bread and freshly made bruschetta. Ahhh. Happy summer solstice!

 

"If I had to choose just one plant for the whole herb garden, I should be content with basil."

--Elizabeth David

"The love of dirt is among the earliest of passions...Mudpies gratify one of our first and best instincts. So long as we are dirty, we are pure."

--Charles Dudley Warner



The days are long, and the fireflies light up the night. Love it! Summer dreams.

Art of a Woman--Every Inchie Monday

Every Inchie Monday Theme Today: Woman.

Visit www.everyinchiemonday.blogspot.com.

working on the Inchie

All kinds-a-woman in one-square-inch of art: the hairdresser, the society woman, the bride-to-be, the new girl, the crazy neighbor, the mom--we were backstage and getting in costume for our 2004 stage production of the play, Steel Magnolias, when this photo was snapped. I made another Inchie, a while back, using a photo of me and my fellow cast members. We were not in costume for that session, it was just a fun black and white picture of the six of us. So it was only fitting I needed to do another Inchie of all of us in costume (I played Truvy, second from the right). Steel Magnolias not only celebrates friendship, but really celebrates being a woman, and being a strong woman too. So that's why I had to add the word, "wonderful." I highly recommend the movie! Happy Monday! Hey, I think I'm onto something: "Theatre Inchies!"

"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her."

--Anon.

My little kitty woman, Princess Minnie

Blooming

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

--Marcel Proust

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I could look out the window and see snow everywhere! I'm so thankful that it is June, and the first official day of summer is upon us. I love walking out into the garden in the mornings, wearing flip flops, feeling the sun and the breeze, and enjoying more time at home with my family. 

Today is Father's Day, and I think my husband is the best dad in the world. He's a hard-working, loving, talented, fun, devoted father to our daughter. It doesn't get any better! It is a blessing I am grateful for and never take for granted.

A cross-stitch from when I played Truvy in "Steel Magnolias"

I stitched a flower word once--now I'm in the mood to stitch some flowers! I have several patterns to choose from, and all my favorite floss colors lined up.

French breakfast radishes from my garden--yum

Happy father's day to you all and happy eating, writing, dreaming and stitching!