Early Soiree on the Patio

 Chris enjoyed a milestone birthday in June and since I love any excuse for a party, on Wednesday afternoon I had the girls over for a small patio party.  Since it was the late afternoon before a holiday it felt a bit like a pre-func party.  That time before a holiday where you know you have a long weekend coming up, that time before you have to get your game on and feed the world(especially true for moms), that time when you know the sun will be shining for the holiday.  Definitely a time of anticipation!

There were gifts for the birthday girl, delicious food, cold drinks, good conversation and a lot of laughter.  

And Shelly brought her shrimp.  Enough said.

I need to do this more, get together with other women, enjoy their company and relax.

Like the ad where the little girl is rambling on about wanting more.  

"And then we want more, cuz  more  is  more  and  more  is better."

I couldn't agree more.

Road Trip

For Father's Day this year Hubby and I gave my Dad a day at the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.  We went yesterday and had a great time.  Right away Dad spotted this black and white Crown Victoria.  Many years ago he and his buddy Trenton took a cross country trip in one just like it except it was turquoise and white.  Good memories for Dad.

 About the time I was thinking that it was annoying that some of the cars had their hoods up I realized that looking at the engines was the best part for Dad.  Once a mechanic, always a mechanic.

 Mom remembered what a big job it was to keep those white walls white.

 My folks drive a Chrysler Town and Country now so it was fun to see the old time Chrysler Town and Country.  Definitely some "junk in the trunk" on this baby!

 Hubby thinks one of the wagons would be nice to tow our '57 Aloha to the campground.  I agree.

 I thought this one was cute with the cheerleader pompoms in the back window and the dice in the front.

 Hey, it's Fred Flintstone's car!  Every Fred should have one.

 We all tried to pick a favorite and this 1941 Buick convertible was my favorite.  I usually go for Cadillacs or Mercedes but this gal stole my heart.  She is just so sleek and the gunmetal gray had enough metallic to make me swoon.

 My mom admitted that she always wanted a red Mustang.  Who knew?  The reds are racy!  There was a red Mustang there but I didn't get a photo.  Now she found herself attracted to any of the blue cars.  Dad and Hubby couldn't pick a favorite, though Hubby liked the 1959 Chrysler 300.

We had hoped to see a '49 Ford since Dad had one but it wasn't there.  We also wanted to see a 1960 Mercury like we road tripped to Disneyland in when I was in first grade, but it wasn't there.  

Now, that was a car!

And lastly, a self portrait.

The LeMay has car shows on the lot on Thursday nights in the summertime and they offer drive in movies too.  It is a beautiful museum and worth the drive.

Get Your Summer On

Summer is here!  Sunny and warm here in the Pacific Northwest and it's only June.  I've been busy getting my Summer ON.  First up, hang a summertime bunting on the patio. Leslie made my bunting and I love to watch it flutter.  Thanks Leslie!

 Make up your patio bed so it's ready for a nap in the shade.

 Keep yourself hydrated.  Drink a lot of water and for a treat try the Starbucks Refreshers, its fairly low in calories, thirst quenching and it has a hit of caffeine.  I like the cool lime and there is a berry and an orange one too.  For happy hour try a shandy, it's a hard lemonade and beer mix served with sliced lemon.

 Keep your plants well watered.

 And your pets too!

 Get your summertime reading list started, it's time to kick back and read.  Well, for me anytime of year is the right time to read but it is fun to find some light beach books and fly through them.

 Find some dappled (that would be a nice sun and shade mix) area and peruse a stack of magazines.

 Find a food truck for some great eats.  I don't want to cook when its hot but everyone still has to eat.

 Get your summertime salad ON, yummy!

 Get your FaN oN!

 And get your Fourth of July ON!  It looks like we will actually have a sunny, hot holiday.  

Tomorrow we are getting our road trip ON!  Nothing says summer like a road trip.

Enjoy!

Debbie Donuts Are Good

Someday I'll get back to a cohesive blog post but at this time it is just random.  Random again.

Max left on Sunday with the '54 on the trailer.  It needs a drier climate and the guys aren't here enough to drive it anymore.  Max made it over to the east side safely after a week at home. Sam doesn't report in until July first so he is still here as are the little debbie donuts...  It has been a tough eat less move more week with guys at home.  I have snacks in the house for them, I actually cook dinner for them, I baked cookies and somehow I end up tasting and snacking too much.  By the way, the little debbie donuts are actually better than Hostess.  Rumor has it.

 Hubby and I did a bit of junkin' on Saturday and I found this sweet little Christmas musical tree.  The best part, it came from my Aunt Nelda.  So, every Christmas I'll be thinking of her when it gets unpacked.  I love my Christmas things that have a connection to someone.  Christmas is all about family.

 Someone has been writing on the walls at the Stone house.  Oh wait, it was me.  It's harder than it looks so get that casual loopy style.

 Yesterday I went on a lamp shade quest in Belltown.  It's difficult to find the right shade with the lamps I've been finding at garage sales.  The proportion issue is important with shades and their lamps.

 This one(below) was a brass lamp I found for $1 at a garage sale.  It's been 'zinced', given a new shade and looks pretty stylish now.  The shade fabric has texture to it.  I don't think neutrals with texture is an actual decorating style but it is the underlying theme in the master bedroom.

Many projects going on here, many repairs being made and honestly the whole place looks like a big, fat mess right now.  As they say on the other side of the pond, "it's a tip."

It's back to work for us today.  I wish Molly Maid knew our address and would show up and clean up...

Party On

On Monday afternoon I attended a work party at Chris' studio.  Shelly, Holly, Chris and I had many projects waiting in the wings and decided to set a date and work collectively on our individual projects.  It just seems less like painting when the air is thick with creativity rather than paint fumes (ASCP has no smell). Enjoying refreshments which include champagne cocktails also help to make painting seem less like a chore.  And some quality time with the girls helps too.

 We had a party on the patio Monday and Tuesday evenings.  Many guests, delicious food and weather that cooperated, who could ask for anything more?

 Well, I guess Sam could ask that his Mom put the camera away.

This week we have been on our patio, our friends' patio and tonight... probably no patio.  The rain has returned.  It's raining so hard that flamingos were trying to find shelter on our lawn this morning.  

Go south pretty pinks!

I think I'll make soup for dinner tonight and try to keep dry.  After all, Summer actually begins tomorrow and then no more soup because it will get warm and sunny.  Right?

Three Out of Four

Last evening Blake, Sam and Max were home for dinner.  This doesn't happen very often anymore so Hubby and I are happy when the stars align and our guys land on the patio.

Blake isn't really ours but there was a time when he was at our place so much that he had his own pile of clean laundry lined up with everyone else's stack in the laundry room and the futon upstairs was considered his bed.

The guys have brought some very special girls to the table.  I felt so blessed last night to have my guys and sweet, sweet young women at the table.  Good food, a still and warm evening on the patio, great adult children, many laughs and good conversation made for a perfect storm for Hubby and me.

Since our guys live all over the country we treasure these storms.

I wished Danny and Jessica could have been here but three out of four is still pretty good.

Pretty good, indeed.