Notes from A Cottage Industry

Weekly words to live by.

Let us realize that the priveledge to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, and that the love of work is success.  (David McKay)

Hope you are enjoying a spectacular Labor Day weekend!

Weekly words to live by.

Weekly words to live by.

U is for....underwear.

Ohmygosh.

Where did the time go? Can it really be..?

My two first-born grands, just a month apart, are heading off to kindergarten. Their respective younger brothers are heading off to pre-school.

Oh, I am so excited for them all! I have some special little somethings for them to make the big day even more special.

(Okay, I got them all underwear.) My grand daughter will be wearing a uniform at her school, and I was stumped on what could work universally for all four of them...underwear seemed like a logical choice at the time.

Don't judge me.

They're Super-heros underwear....for the boys anyway. Ms. Cutie-Patootie got fun prints in various shades of pinks and her favorite color...purple!  That should garner a small amount of hoopla I am thinking.

(I am hoping it does, at any rate.)

I thought it might turn out to be another new family tradition.

(Although, I am not sure how this will be going over when I am buying boxers for 15 year old grands.)

*sigh*

A Gramma can hope, you know?

For now, I am looking forward with eager anticipation to hear how those first big days go! (and having really cool underwear from your Gramma Cupcake just might be the icing on the cake.)

Okay, probably not, but I want them to all know I am thinking of them on their big day.

View from the back deck.

Oh, how I enjoy sitting out on the deck on these beyond warm (it hit 100 here today, which is extreme for the Pacific Northwest!) August evenings.

I convinced my Rock n' Roll Buddy that we needed a shed last fall, and we placed it strategically in the yard to become a focal point as our backyard landscape is evolving. We painted it to match the house (I love the rich  gray and white. So New England looking to me!) Now, I am having fun searching our treasures to foofify up the exterior.

I am still debating on whether I should make a planter bed along the side there, but for this summer, I am happy with my old vintage French table full of pots and such.(What do you think?)

I wish I were a better gardener, but my squeamish nature at the sight of any kind of worm, slug, or snail makes it a little more challenging for me. I go along fine until the sight of one of those little creatures, and I am done for the day.

I am still perfectly content with the neutral color palette as a backdrop for my potted flowers and tablescapes. This works great for adding whatever punch of color I might want to use when entertaining.

I tossed my much loved old crocheted blanket throw on the loveseat for texture and a vintage touch. I got my cutie patootie pillow at Camas Antiques (of course) and the striped gray toss pillow covers are from Ikea. Oodles and toodles of mason jars filled with tea lights  add ambiance after dusk.(I like to fill the bottoms of the jars with birdseed, but I am currently out of it!) Pretty welcoming, no?

What are your favorite tips and tricks for cozying up your outdoor spaces at home? I would love to read and be inspired!

Weekly words to live by.

 

Hot August Nights in the Biggest Little City.

We spent last weekend at Hot August Nights in the biggest little city.

Oh my.

Over 10,000 cars on display all over Reno and Sparks, everywhere you looked.

I have experienced Hot August Nights many, many, many times, as I lived in Reno for over two decades, but for my Rock n' Roll buddy, it was a first.

There was more to see than cool old cars. There was live music. 

This guy danced like nobody was watching.

I have pretty much decided that very nearly everyone that went to high school in the 60's or 70's is now an old car enthusiast on some level.

It makes sense. We've raised our families, the economy is improving, (slowly, but steadily) we've got the time. and it takes us back to some fond memories of cars we had, or our parents or grandparents had, back in the day. In some cases, the guys that have restored these cars have had them since they were in high school.Such was the case with this guy... he originally bought the car for $20 while in high school.

He took his dad for a test drive in it before he bought it and his dad said, "Honk the horn."

He did, and it was loud.

His dad then said, "Heck, the horn is worth twenty bucks! Buy it!" and the rest was, as they say, history. (Granted, it didn't look like this back then. It was a rust bucket jalopy that needed some TLC and clearly this was just the guy to provide it.)

*sigh*

If I knew then what I know now.

I would have hung on to my midnight blue '71 Superbeetle that I bought on payments through my Mom's credit union for $800 after high school.

Weekly words to live by.