Horay for Summer!

Hot weather is usually more than I can handle, but you will not hear me complaining....yet!
It has been beautiful outside the past few days.  And inside all the fans are whirring.  I am happy!

From the garden we are getting fresh strawberries and tomatoes.
We just planted the six strawberry plants last year and we are getting a nice bowlful every two or three days.

In the past Zip and I have declined to purchase 'patio' tomatoesw because we have a large garden area and selecting compact growing plants has not been necessary.  Last year we went to the local greenhouse to get our usual full sized tomatoes and were seduced into the patio brand by the lovely ripe tomatoes already on the sturdy little plants.  They turned out to be nice medium sized tomatoes with great flavor.  Good for sandwiches or salads.  This year we bought two plants and already have had about eight yummy tomatoes.

 Zip has planted sweet corn, green beans, beets and some herb plants so far.

I was looking out the kitchen window a few days ago and say this brown 'thing' in the grass beyond the garden.  We are trying to keep an eye out for those pesky groundhogs.  This did not move fast enough for one of those critters.  I made another guess and Zip took the camera and went to check it out.  I was right!  A snapping turtle!

And she had dug a hole.  I hope she laid some eggs in there!.

On Friday, Zip and I spent the whole day out cruising around to some favorite places.
We went to East Berlin to Woolgatherings.  Carol is selling her knitting supplies at closeout prices.  I bought a big bag of yarn and some needles.
I've been obsessing over sock knitting lately and wanted to get some yarn to make contrasting heels.  The two variegated yarns came from Joann's and Hobby Lobby.  We stopped at Mannings and got the solid color.  It is much more lime green than shown in the picture.

Here is the sock so far.  Now I have to decide which technique to use for the heel.  The yarn has more purple than shows in the picture.

In our travels we stopped at Ashcombe greenhouse.  I know I've shown this place before, but it's so lovely I couldn't resist a repeat.

As you walk in the gate you are greeted with a gorgeous display of color.

Inside the greenhouses are packed with a huge variety of flower and vegetable plants.

Herbs for every letter of the alphabet.

Orchids!

This display made me smile.  It looks like the garden patio for the modern witch!

I love this elaborate finch cage.

On Memorial Day Monday, Willa and Chuck invited us to their house to enjoy the peaceful setting around their goldfish pond.

The built a small stream that trickles down a bank and spills into the pond using some natural rock formations and other stones found in the mountains.

Their backyard is shady so hostas are featured plants.

We had a nice dinner of pasta and salad with flatbread.  They are getting ready to sell their home and move to Missouri.  Willa has been busy cleaning and packing and Chuck has been painting and fixing.  Zip and I will be sad to see these good friends leaving.

The kitties have been seeking out the coolest places to nap.  Deiter likes to lay in the bathtub where the porcelain is cool on his fur.  Penny and Reggie lay on the sewing room floor under the ceiling fan.  Tipper lays in the window on the shady side of the house.  Izzy is on the kitchen table where I'm cutting fabric with the fan going full blast.

Hope you are finding your own comfortable spots to enjoy the summer weather.