And that we did.....

Today we thoroughly enjoyed our annual trip to the "great Minnesota get-together"...the state fair! The weather was perfect, cool and blue skies. Felt like a September day. Almost here!
The kids did some new things this year that they've never tried, like rides! They didn't go on this one, but didn't it make for a gorgeous photo?!
They did do some kiddie rides like this speedway and of course the carousel.


Lots of wonderful colors and yummy food! Including one of my favorites, cinnamon roasted almonds.


I thought this little girl's hair looked like a giant cotton candy:)

I'm a big fan of seeing the bunnies in the poultry barn. I had lop eared rabbits growing up and always enjoy seeing the array of bunnies at the fair each year.

The kids were tuckered out at the end of the day waiting for the bus to bring us back to our car.

What a fun way to end the summer!

Hope you're having a great weekend.

P.S. You can still enter the giveaway until the 1st of Sept.

Last call...and giveaway!!!

It's the last call for participants for the Sweet and Sinister swap! I will only take names until Sept. 1st and then the swap is closed for another year. If you're on the fence, now is your chance. However, don't be too quick to dive in, make sure you can honor your commitment. Check out all the info. on A Year of Color blog. If you're not a member of the blog, you can become one here. If you've signed up, you should have received your partner this week. If you didn't, check your spam folders and let me know ASAP if you don't have the info. Thanks! Since there are so many of us getting into the Halloween mood, I thought I'd do a giveaway for a book that is hot off the press. I don't think it's even on the shelves yet!
The book Happy Halloween is put out by the Country Living team and is a fun mix of pumpkins, decor, recipes, party ideas and costumes.
It's a best of that's been published in Country Living magazine and some new whimsical ideas, with lots of instructions provided. The real strength of the book is the dozens of recipes for seasonal fare and ideas for theme-specific parties along with the gorgeous photography we have come to expect from Country Living. I own most of the Halloween books out there and this is a new favorite.

If you'd like your name in the hat to win the book, please leave a comment here. You do not need to be participating in the swap to enter. Make sure you leave your email, so that I can reach you if you win and also your favorite thing about Halloween. I will draw a winner on Sept. 1st.

Good luck!

Back to School update!

I'm thrilled to say I did a little Back to School update in my etsy shop. Lots of old school vintage goodies. Check it all out HERE!

Hope to do a fall update in the coming weeks!

The joy of succulents...

I'm loving the plump greenness of succulents lately. In Minnesota, they are something that is rare to this land of cold winters. Although sedum are definitely one of my late summer favorites. I enjoyed the large containers of succulents they had at the arboretum on my visit last week.


They remind me of this wonderful store display at Nature's Harvest last year.
Feeling green and earthy with all the rain we've been having.

This is where we play (part I)

Since summertime is all about play and the weather has been picture-perfect here in Minnesota, I thought I'd share with you some of the wonderful spots we've found to get out and enjoy. I normally post pictures of the "special" trips that we take, I thought it was noteworthy to document the day to day sights that the kids and I enjoy in our corner of the world. I love all the big trees you find here in the twin cities. This park is one of our new favorites. It has some fun equipment for the kids to play on. When they're tired of that they have a couple of rinks that are used for hockey in the winter and the kids enjoy pretending to put on their skates and slide around the imaginary ice.
Then we head out into the beautiful marsh just behind the park. This trail meanders around through the tall cattails and the kids enjoy playing in the little ponds that we find full of duckweed. They find a reed to push into the water and stir the "soup" as they like to call it.
Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our daily park experience. I will periodically post places that I enjoy taking the kids for a climb, or a stroll, or a bit of make-believe skating!

Where do you like to play?

Late summer finds...

Haven't been reporting much on my estate sale finds of late. There have been a few good ones here and there. Getting my house into late summer mode. I made my first loaf of pumpkin bread today. I know, it's not quite fall....must resist! I have some exciting new projects coming up this fall and hopefully an etsy shop update sooner rather than later. Gathering, gathering...Here are a few of my favorites.

Had to snap this picture of Chloe with our gigantic sunflowers we've enjoyed so very, very much! As you can see the first to bloom is now going to seed.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Hot August colors...

I took an Artist's Date today and spent some time here. I ran the 3 mile drive that they have and then wanted to take in the gorgeous flowers, feel relaxed and inspired all by myself. Appreciating the hot colors of August on this humid, sunny day.

Remember the dhalia's in bloom last year? I hadn't ever seen any like these, they were as big as my head and completely breathtaking.
This helps you picture the size of these beauties. Oh yea, and that list. Better check on that!
The kitchen herb garden was a favorite.
The aroma was intoxicating.

Such a riot of color. Cockscomb are definitely one of my favorite flowers.

Mission accomplished. What a great morning!

What's inspiring you right now?