Friday, July 6, 2012

Catching Up

floating candles

I’ve neglected my blog a bit this week because I was overjoyed to have my dear parents come for a visit to help celebrate the 4th of July with us.  Since fireworks are banned here in this town like so many other towns, I thought some floating candles would provide some night time sparkle.  I had one of those “light bulb” moments last Monday when it occurred to me to take an old galvanized tub, fill it with water, and then float some candles in it.  Since I did not have any proper floating candles, I asked my husband to make me some little candle rafts, which he did out of some scraps of cedar.  Not only was the finished result pretty, but fragrant too!

 

lilies

This lily is the current highlight of the garden.  A few years ago Amy rescued it after she found it set out by the side of the road.  Dried up and mostly brown, I was skeptical that it would survive, but Amy carefully planted and tended it, and now-all I can say is wow!  It’s stunning-and every bit as ah inspiring as any fireworks display!

 

image

This is the book I’m currently reading and I can hardly put it down!

How was your week?

12 comments:

  1. Hi Valerie,
    I love your floating candles! The cedar rafts are so cute and very clever.
    Its so hot and dry around here, it made me very nervous to see so many neighbors setting off fireworks. :0
    The daylilies are about the only thing blooming in my yard right now. They have held up well to the crazy heat.
    Hope you had a nice week with your parents, enjoy your weekend!

    Kimberly :)

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  2. Oooh, I haven't read that book! I'll have to see if my library has it. We've been going a lot lately - it's cool there and they have a lot of kid's toy and science kits to play with.

    Our lilies are done for the season, but I think they're so beautiful.

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  3. That is a WONDERFUL book! Glad you're enjoying it.

    And oh my, that lily is gorgeous. I wish I could have a flower garden. I really do. But I can't stand to be out in the heat for very long and I know that tending a garden is required for it to be beautiful and healthy! LOL

    The floating candles was a great idea! I'm so glad your parents were able to enjoy the 4th with you.

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  4. Your candles are fabulous! Bravo to your honey! I do miss the warm nights along the Columbia River.. ♥

    Can you believe it's July already .. before to long the Rodeo will be in town!

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  5. Thanks Kimberly! The candles did work out well!

    We had people by us setting off illegal fireworks-my husband worried about our roof catching fire. Even with the amount of rain we've gotten-it's still dry as a bone!

    You have good weekend too:)

    Lisa-glad you can go to the library and try to stay cool! I hope you get your power back soon:) You'll love the book!

    Melissa-It's rough trying to garden when it's hot-both for the plants and me too. I have lots of weeds that need attending too:)

    So far I love the book!

    Lisa-I always have loved the Columbia River too! When I was a kid my mom used to sing a song called "Roll on Columbia, Roll On" or something like that. The Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite places to go:)

    The rodeo is next month, isn't it! I don't want summer to go so fast!

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  6. Valerie, that was a brilliant idea with the candles. I will try it this weekend.

    ...and that lily...sometimes the best things are things that nearly got discarded or overlooked, and with a little love look what happens!

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  7. Thanks Dawn! And I agree-a little love can do great things:)

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  8. I adore this idea of floating candles in a galvanized tub. Perfect. It must have been very pretty.

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  9. Thanks Tina! It was pretty:) There is just something about the soft glow of candlelight-I love it!

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  10. You (and your daughter) have such a knack for bringing new life to things! I'm always so impressed by the inventiveness of your projects. Like the candle rafts; I never would have thought of that. It makes me want to make use of all the stuff I have hanging around. Your week sounds wonderful. I too spent the Fourth with my parents; they came to visit the bf and I at the beach. Even by the water it was scorching! Still, we had a great time.

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  11. I love your idea with the floating candles. That would be a great addition to an outdoor party. I had no idea that fireworks might be banned some places.

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  12. Thanks Kim! They would look pretty at an outdoor party!!

    The danger of fire is so great here in the summer that fireworks are illegal-but you'd never know it by the total war zone this town turns into every 4th of July! People buy fireworks on the local Reservation.

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