Meet Bella...

Our baby finally arrived last week.

Bosco's little sister, Bella, joined the family, and she took right over.

I was worried that Bosco was going to be dominant....and jealous.

NOT!

Bella holds her own with her big brother.

He might try to hide all the toys and chew sticks from her, but she does not put up with any of his big brother  rough-housing.

If he pushes her too far, Bella will chase him from here to Detroit...then she latches on to his ear, or a lip and won't let go until Bosco yips, and cries "uncle".

We have no intentions of breeding either dog. Bosco has been neutered, and Bella will be spayed as soon as she is old enough.
Both dogs are tiny. You can see how small Bella is in comparison to the chew stick next to her in the photo.
We travel  down-state quite a bit, and it's easier having small dogs...for us, since I have a small vehicle.
We love our little curly balls of fur.
Someone is barking....Who let the dogs out...who, who,whowhowho.....

Flower love

I went to the green house this evening to find another hanging basket for the porch.

I found these cute wave petunias.

There are so many different varieties this year!

The greenhouse where I shop has beautiful baskets that are big, and full.

I love the colors of the flowers in this basket.

They also carry the flowers for my window boxes.

and....beautiful climbing roses.

The iris I brought when we moved from our old house.

Along with all the columbine.

I do not know where this came from.

It just started growing????

I love it.

The honeysuckle grows just outside the kitchen window.

I can't imagine anything more wonderful drifting in upon a soft breeze.

This is one of the first baskets I bought at the greenhouse.

It's a double mini wave petunia.

I looked for another one tonight, but I must have bought the last one the other day.

There are so many plants I would like to buy. I did pick up an autumn clematis. I was so very glad to have found one! I had one growing on an arbor two years ago, but it died out for some reason. It was gorgeous!!!! Every year it came back with thousands of tiny white flowers on it in the fall. Hopefully this one will do well.
I still have some yarrow to plant from my last visit to the greenhouse.
Looks like I'll be busy planting, and weeding this weekend.
Enjoy the holiday!
xxxooo

Phloofing outside

It was such a beautiful day here at the Lakehouse, I decided to spend it outside...phloofing my head off.

I know I already showed you the patio furniture with the quilts on it. Today I took the quilts off to wash them. This is how the furniture looks without the covers on...euwww.

I moved the furniture around, and I kind of like it this way better.

I found these pillows that match for when the kids are up, and I prefer NOT to have the light colored quilts on the furniture.

Popsicles, suckers, fruit juice, and chocolate bars just don't work well for me.

I dug out more aqua planters today.

It feels a little cozier with the chairs facing the settee, yet you can still watch the boats go by.

Mr. Lakehouse made the simple little arbor I asked him to make for the rose bushes I recently bought.

I didn't ask for anything large, or fancy...just some cedar, and lattice.

I wanted to hang the little chandy in it....

I even phloofed my rock garden, and added a few primrose.

It's back to work at the pharmacy tomorrow.

I look forward to Friday, as I have the whole weekend off!

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!
Thank you for stopping by.

Flowers growing EVERYWHERE!!

While walking in the yard this evening, I noticed something growing in the grass.

These sweet little violas, or johnny jump ups I had planted in the window boxes last year are growing in the lawn!!

They are growing everywhere!

I remember planting them in the window boxes, years ago, for one of the kids graduation parties.

Their school colors were purple and gold.

The following year the little flowers grew all over the place!

                       
I really don't mind.  The flowers are so tiny, and cute. The grand kiddos will love picking them, and filling little cups full of them for the playhouse this summer when they come up to stay at the lakehouse.
I LOVE having flowers everywhere! If that means having them grow in the lawn...that's fine with me!

The window boxes are in.

The window boxes are filled.

I was going for pink and white this year, and ended up with different shades of pinks, with not much white.

That's okay. I'm happy with the way they turned out.

When you have eight boxes to fill, you are lucky to find enough flowers that are similar for all the boxes.

Erin(middle daughter) gave me this sweet bunny for Mother's Day.

She looks cute snuggled in the window box.

This box is on the front porch.

It's usually a little different from the others.

I love the color of these geraniums.

There are two of these on the north side of the house.

It's so nice to be able to enjoy the flowers from the inside of the house, as well.

I have plans to put up an arbor for the climbing roses today.
It's so nice to have weather that allows us to be outside working in the gardens.
Enjoy your Friday! I know I will.

A Mother's Day surprise!

I received a bouquet from our son and his family for Mother's Day today.

Beautiful pink tulips, and pretty blue iris.

I've been enjoying them all morning.

A yummy box of chocolates was tucked in with the flowers.

I will try to take my time with those...mmmm.

It warms my heart that Todd and his family think of me, and send something to show that they care.

This pillow I received from Sandi at A Cottage Muse says it all.

Thank you Todd, Christina, Isaac, and Ezra for thinking of me for Mother's Day.

The flowers are perfect!

Love you guys.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!!

Working on the patio

It was a beautiful day, so I decided to work on the patio.

I don't have all of my flowers and plants from the greenhouse, so things look a little bare out there.

Since Mr. Lakehouse is going to re-do the surface of the dock, we are using the patio for the furniture this year.  I prefer being closer to the water, but a change is good.

I love this little angel.

She was grey...but in bad shape.

I cleaned her up, and gave her a fresh coat of paint to match the trim.

The furniture pads are orange(ack), so I covered them with blue and white quilts I use on the sun porch furniture. Soooo much brighter.

My friend Debbie, from Florida, found this cute chandy(it was black).

I was going to put it in my shop.

After cleaning it up, and painting it my favorite summer color, I decided to keep it.(I owe you some $$$$ Debberra).

I gave the wicker basket a fresh coat of aqua, and added some pillows the color of the sea , and "poof"! we have a comfy summer room for company to sit and drink some Sangria.

I just need some flowers, and plants, and a few shells, and maybe some knick-knacks here and there, along with some mini lights, and candles. I guess I'm not quite finished, am I.
Oh well, That will be for another post.
Enjoy your evening!
Toodles.

Doilies, table clothes, and pillows

While phloofing my booth yesterday, I found this wonderful crochet table cloth in one of the other little shops.

I couldn't wait to get it home to soak it in bleach to remove the tea stain.

I knew right where it was going.

It would look perfect draped in the basket on the table in front of the sofa.

A friend of mine that also rents space near my little shop, makes quilts, and pillows.

I've had my eye on these two pillows for quite some time.

Yesterday I finally bought them.

She does beautiful work...using doilies, lace, and vintage buttons.

I usually stay with white...but these pillows are just so lovely, and have so much character...I really love them.

Sometimes you have to throw in a little something that surprises the eye, and causes someone to say...."oh, now that's pretty!"   ya know?

Enjoy your Saturday!

Lily of the Valley, worth the wait.

Living in Northern lower Michigan means waiting for flowers to bloom...and waiting...and waiting.

I must admit, it's worth the wait.

The Lily of the Valley finally bloomed this week.

Breathing in the wonderful fragrance upon rising in the morning, and seeing the beauty of each little flower has to be one of the best ways to wake up each day.

It puts you in a state of thankfulness even before your feet hit the floor.

How can you help but smile as your senses fill with God's tiniest wonders of Glory.

I might have to wait longer for the blooms of spring here at the Lakehouse....but it's so worth the wait.