I may be absent from this space for a few more days, there is always so much life to live during the summer and this last week has been no exception. Inside and outside projects, chores, preparing for the next few months, getting away for short breaks...but I'll be back soon!
I'm sure in a year I'll be taking pictures of those flowers and putting them here on the blog. Here's to waiting patiently!
Here's what the husband picked from the garden today...yum! I'm thinking I'm going to put the blueberries and raspberries into a batch of scones and some of the strawberries will be eaten fresh (some already were) and the rest are going to be frozen for later. 
I did think it would be fun to take my camera along for a tour of the flowers that are currently blossoming in my garden...won't you join me?
This is the third year I've had blooms from this gorgeous peony, and this year the plant is bigger than ever!
I love the way they look as they are beginning to open up.
This bloom found it's way into a vase that I brought inside, it will bring cheer to my bedside stand for the next week or so.
This overgrown planting of sweet peas could use some pruning, but I haven't the heart, I kind of like the wild look it has. So for now it will continue to flourish. These sweet peas are not very fragrant because they are perrineals which unlike annuals, do not have a strong scent. The nice thing about them though is that they come back on their own each year, there's no need for me to replant. They too have grown bigger, faster this year than they did in the past two summers. The flowers tend to "self-arrange" nicely when they are put into a vase.
This little bloom-in-the-making is on a dahlia plant that I've had in this spot for three years now, it too is bigger and more full of blooms than ever.
Perrineals really are a wonderful idea, one investment followed by years of enjoyment.
These almost not quite real looking blooms are on one of the fushia baskets that hang from the pergola at the entrance to my vegetable garden. Fushias are my new favorite plant this year, the varieties of color blow me away!
I'm not normally a fan of calla lillies, to be honest, they remind me of funerals. Actually, let me amend that statement, white calla lillies remind me of funerals. BUT, the pink/purple variety that is growing in nicely in the beds by the entrance to "The Pod" greenhouse doesn't make me think of funerals or death. I actually find this variety of calla lilly to be cheerful and delicate all at once.
White calla lillies: not so much! Calla lillies with color: yes, please!
The strawberries were picked from our garden, but the blueberries weren't - mine aren't quite ripe yet. We're off to celebrate Independence Day at a friend's house on a lake. As expected, it doesn't look much like summer here today - it's always said that summer in the Pacific Northwest doesn't start until July 5th...but hey, at least we've got lots of strawberries!
You may recall how I shared that on my birthday last month, the husband and I went for a nice walk on the beach. It was that night that I made a summer's resolution to spend more time there. It's only about a ten minute drive from where we live and it's beautiful. It was especially beautiful this past Friday evening. We went there to enjoy a picnic dinner. We had about half a mile of beach all to ourselves. It wasn't too cold or too windy, in fact wonder of wonders it may have even been a bit on the warm side...not something we can usually say. Bambino was along for the trip and had a blast chasing his ball all over the beach - and eventually into the water - this was the first time he's ever swam at the beach. It was also fun to use my new (to me) picnic basket and picnic quilt...finds from a local vintage shop. We all had a good time, there will be more picnics at the beach to come this summer.
The restaurant is on Chuckanut Drive which goes along the water, looking out at the San Juan Islands. The best time of year to make the drive is the summer, and even though it's been a bit of a rainy start to summer around here, the evening that we had our reservations was the perfect summer evening - gorgeous!
We left early enough that we weren't in a huge rush, we were able to stop and enjoy the views.
Dinner was okay, though not really spectacular. I would have probably been a bit disappointed if the majority of our check hadn't been covered by a gift certificate. We probably won't be back there on our own dollar. But it was still fun to have a night out. 
The view really was the best thing about the restaurant, it was gorgeous. We had a great table right by a window looking out at the water.
Besides, even for a less than fantastic meal, it is still fun to put on a cute pair of sparkeley flats.
Over-priced mediocre meal: not really my thing.
Dinner shared with my best friend and a beautiful view: yes please, anytime!
We returned from Whistler yesterday...it was a short but sweet getaway. We rode our bikes all over the valley, had dinner by Lost Lake, spent an afternoon laying by the pool, treated ourselves to gelato and Spaghetti Factory pasta, made a delicious breakfast in the mini-kitchen in our room (the housekeeper had to have noticed the bacon smell!), and generally had a fantastic time...the husband and I usually head up to Whistler in the wintertime for snowboarding, we've gone there since the first winter that we knew each other. This upcoming winter the Olympics will be there - it's not likely that we'll go up there for the events, the prices have already started to soar in anticipation. But I digress...we had a great couple of days, it was nice to spend many hours reading and relaxing. The next time that is planned for us to get away will be in October when we head to Egypt...more on that to come!
Have a fantastic week, I'll be checking in here and there with some updates of the goings-on around here!
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