Summer Happenings

The hubs and I are having a busy summer
 working on various projects.  His is very productive.
My projects are being completed at a snails pace.
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 My friend, Sigi, in Germany has this "tiny"
antique Dora Kuhn red furniture, but no room
box to keep it in.  Empty miniature Kuhn boxes
are virtually impossible to find.

This "tiny" blue furniture is the last version of the miniature
furniture made by Kuhn.  I keep it stored in a doll wardrobe. 
There is no room for dolly things so this furniture really 
needs a home too.

The handy hubs offered to make room boxes,

 in just the right dimensions for our furniture.  My

project this summer has been painting them. 

When both rooms are decorated, I'll do a post. 

Here is a sneak peek of the unfinished boxes.

I am also working on things for the nautical bedroom in
the Double-Decker dollhouse.  The Mariner is the first
of 2 Teresa Layman miniature knot work rugs.
This is slow needlework, but it's fun to see the design
take shape.  This ones going to be very colorful.

The unique wall art for the nautical room has an interesting
story.  These ships and lighthouses started out life as plastic
jewelry pins from the 1950's.  They were sent to me by Sigi,
from her pin collection.

Some of the paint had chipped, so I repainted
them and the hubs made walnut plaques with hangers.
They will look beautiful on the blue painted walls.
I sent some of the finished pieces back to Sigi for
her nautical room.  

Cindy and her husband hosted the annual girlfriend's 

gathering on their beautiful farm, north of Kansas City, in June.

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It was our craziest gathering so far!

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Cindy's car needed to be in the fix it shop,
so I came a day early and volunteered to be
the designated driver.  Of all the ladies, I am the
worst big city driver!  Luckily, they gave great 
directions and I managed to keep us all safe,
although I think I gave them a scare or 2!
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I lost my camera........somewhere.

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Beth is the editor of The Weston Chronicle,
the local town paper.  She had a scheduling issue,
 but managed to arrive the morning of day 2.
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   Teresa had arrived a week earlier and was staying
 with her daughter and son-in law.  Her grandson
had been in Children's Mercy Hospital, with a 
rare condition called:

 Kawasaki Disease

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Teresa joined us for our daily excursions.
We visited the Museum Of Toys and Miniatures.
(I've used website photos.....I have no photos)
The Nelson Art Gallery.

 McCormick's Distilling Co. in Weston, Mo.
The Farmer's House.

All the ladies are avid successful gardeners.
My gardening skills are practically non existent.
Besides, when you live in a forest, the critters
literally eat it up.  Teresa found the perfect raised
garden "bed" for the cabin.  Small enough to easily
maintain and tall enough to keep the bunnies 
& turtles out.  A small fence might even discourage 
the deer, possums and raccoons.

We had a great time, lots of laughter and hen talk.
The best part of our time together, was sharing
the joy with Teresa, that her grandson was
expected to have a full recovery and he has.
Beth, Teresa, Me, Cinders.
(Thank you Beth for the photos)
Last fall when Teresa hosted the girlfriends get together,
 I brought home 6 chestnut seeds from her chestnut trees.
I put them in a plastic bag with peat moss and kept them
in the top shelf of the refrigerator to winterize them.  This
spring, to my amazement, 5 of them sprouted!
Beth brought us all perennial herbs at the get together.
I planted mine in 3 clay pots.  I've watched them carefully

 and watered them diligently.  Trees and herbs are still alive.
I showed the hubs the raised bed and he's planning one
for next spring........I even have an old iron bed in the shed!

The hubs has made several Adirondack chairs and 

tables for the nieces and small chairs for Emmett and Ava.

He made oak kitchen recipe boxes 

for our daughter, nieces and friends.

He's working on a third captains sea chest.

  These handles are called beckets, painted knot work

 handles just like the ones ole' sailors made for

 their personal chests.  He spent a couple weeks this 

winter doing all the knot work and painted

them a historic blue.

This chest is made of wide cherry boards.

Cappy has diligently been executing her "yard 
guard" duties.  She safely escorts the many turtles 
across the yard and chases the rabbits and squirrels.
Unfortunately, she had a fall and began to lose
the use of her back legs, by the next morning she was
completely paralyzed.  The hubs and I took a somber
gloom and doom trip to the veterinarian.  Tissues were
flying out of the Kleenex box, one for me, two for
the hubs.  We were sure the outcome
would not be a good one.

I'm certain the vet thought we were in
far worse condition than Cappy.  While he examined
Cappy, his assistant dutifully handed out more tissues.
One for me, two for the hubs, one more for me, 
two more for the hubs.
To our relief and total amazement the vet was 100%
 confident she would make a full recovery as she had 
all the signs necessary, feeling in her legs etc.  He gave 
her a mega shot and sent us home with the miracle 
doggie medication, steroids.

 In no time she was standing and walking.  Except for 
outdoor trips to do her "business" he has to be 
confined until she's healed, so the hubs made her
a little pen.

Cappy's doing well, although she's none too happy.
Me, I'm full of smiles.
 The hubs.......... well, he has a new spring in his steps.
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Hope you are having a great summer.