Getting Things Done Faves

Well, today is our youngest daughter's last day of high school classes and in-class exams.  Next week she has the state French 2 exam and then a few days of days of relaxation before having to go out to UNH for orientation and classes sign up and then back home for graduation on Saturday the 24th.  

This past week we have been getting things done around the yard and house and some of those make up my FIVE FAVES.  I'm linking up with Susanne to share the blessings and read what others were blessed with, too. 

basil is planted!

ready for reading, fellowship, fun, relaxing

• DECK AND FLOWERS READY!  I finally had a free Saturday to get the flowers in for the containers on the deck, the basil planted, and the deck swept and set up for breakfasts, coffee, dinners, friends, etc.  I love the deck...it gets the morning sun until about 1 pm at which time it is then in the shade....just perfect.  It faces east which I love.  I had coffee on Saturday afternoon out there with a good book, then breakfast on Sunday morning and dinner on Wednesday evening.  Whenever I have a few free minutes you will find me either in the big swing (not pictured) or on the deck reading.  I'm thankful we got yard work done as well as the flowers in.  The deck needs painting but I think that is gonna have to wait until next spring at this point.

backyard bonfire pit

• BONFIRE!  Saturday evening my youngest (Claire) asked if we could have a bonfire.  We have a LOT of wood/brush to burn from chopping down a small overgrown, half dead bush last year and most of the free evenings we have had this spring have been wet!  Either it's been raining, or the wind has been too strong, or the wood has been too wet.  But Saturday the conditions were perfect so Dave got a good fire going around 8:30 pm and we sat out there with mugs of coffee chatting and laughing.  Our oldest gal joined us when she got home from work around 9:30 and even Dave came back out to talk.  We sat around the fire planning the Italy trip, and just having a good time. I'm thankful for evenings together as a family.

• COFFEE DATE:  Sunday afternoon after church, I had a coffee date with one of my childhood friends from Central NY.  We met half-way...she lives about 80 minutes away so I drove west and she drove east and we met at a fave diner in a town just about 35 min northwest of me.  This time was important to me as she had some things she wanted to "get off her chest" about some situations she's dealing with and although the day was gloomy, rainy, grey, we ended up having a really good chat and then did some shopping together.  I bought some items I will need for Italy and then I found a birthday gift idea for my niece Mady who turned 9 on Tuesday.  It ended up being a really good day, despite the chilly rain!

peonies in front flower bed

• MORE BLOOMS!  My peony bushes bloomed this past week and I love them!  The white ones were so heavy they were dragging on the ground.  I have them here in the right corner of the front flower bed and also by the mailbox close to the road.  The scent is just heavenly but for some reason, this year, they are making my eyes itch!!  I have had these peonies since 1997 and they have NEVER given me allergy symptoms.

claire on pointe at the park
photo courtesy of Courtney E T
June 2017

• BALLET PHOTOS DONE!  Not only did my oldest daughter do all of Claire's senior photos for the graduation announcements, but she also did the ballet photos.  We decided to incorporate ballet into the announcements as that is one of Claire's major passions since age 4.  They all came out beautifully but this was the one we chose for the announcement.  Once it was uploaded, tweaked and uploaded again to the website where I created the announcements, the final list was done of "to do before graduation".  Tomorrow she will have her professional photo shoot at the dance studio but we are only ordering copies for close family members as those are pricey.  I'm thankful the "to do" list is shrinking!

That wraps up my week.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.