The Simple Life

During my week of vacation, we had several six days of hot, humid tropical weather.  What better time to haul out the old sewing machine and whip up a few sock monkey bodies!

Now that our little Finley is officially a Country Bumpkin, I knew just the look I was going for with her new monkey.  

Meet Miss Maisy.

Settin' on her swing under the apple tree.

She is dressed in the vintage doll clothing I found here.

She wears a straw hat to protect her delicate monkey skin from the sun's harmful rays.

Blue eyes the same color as Finley's.

Her accessories include:

Simple wood and rope swing to hang from a tree on McFinley Farm.

• Woven basket for berry pickin' or early mornin' egg gathering.
• Watering can to keep her prize winning flowers lookin' purty.
• Cowbell to take along to Gandpappy's Ranch.

Now, just 'cause she's a country gal, don't mean she can't get all gussied up for the Friday night hootenany down yonder.  She'll just hitch a ride to town on the neighbor's John Deere and head on over to Auntie Katie's Kut 'n Kurl for some hair extender thing-a-ma-jiggies.

They say blondes have more fun!

Hamming it up for the camera.

Paris Hilton ain't got nuttin' on me!

All funin' aside, congratulations on your new country home, Megan and Dave!

(Oops, Finley and Gunner, too.)

And a special shout out to Ashley and Charlie with the arrival of their new bundle of joy, Adilene Olivia!

*Coming soon to Ranger 911:  A monkeylicious giveaway!   :@

Everything's Coming up Roses

Clearance Knockout Rose from Lowes.

This year, due to lack of time ( working 5 days per week, sniff, sniff ) and energy, and traveling weekends to visit the new babies, I have spent less time and money on my flower gardens than ever.  I've come to realize that maybe I was spending too much time watering and fertilizing in the past.  Except for under the garage eaves, the window boxes, and the few pots I did manage to put together, I haven't watered anything yet this summer.  Or fertilized.  And yet my perennials are flourishing.  I guess it pays to be lazy.

Here are a few of the most hardy perennials that can be grown in zone 3.  I don't even bother to cover anything with mulch or leaves in the fall, and still the flowers return each summer.

Spiderwort.  Look closely.  No spiders, but an ant and a bee.

Lime green Coral Bells.

Succulent and stinky Shasta Daisy.  This bee must not have a good sniffer.

Balloon Flower.

Purple coneflower.  Badminton birdie look alike.

Now it even comes in white!

Daylily.

If I had to choose just one flower, this is it.  Annabelle Hydrangea.

Feathery plumes of Astilbe.

Pretty pink Columbine.

Endless array of Hosta.  Watering only creates a slugfest.  Yuck.

Jackmanii Clematis is a staple of any northern garden.

You can even find them growing against vacant houses. 

These next few plants aren't actually perennials, but will reseed themselves year after year.

Pansies add such cottage charm to any garden.

Hollyhocks are usually found next to fences or buildings, but this one keeps coming up in our front yard, and I don't have the heart to dig it out.  Also, I've found they don't like being moved to a new location.

My first Morning Glory blooms.  OK, I confess, these came from the one plant I bought.  The seedlings I planted are climbing the fence and just starting to blossom. Mr. Hooter is doing his job.

So, perennials are the way to go for lazy low maintenance, cheap low cost landscaping.



Christmas in July



Winter imagery to cool you off.

Today we will be enjoying record breaking temperatures AND humidity levels all over the state of Minnesota.  We were out early this morning mowing, clipping, sweeping, etc. before the midday sun hits the yard.  I'm thinking I'd like to be lying in that snow making snow angels right about now.  Whew!

Now that I've got you thinking cool thoughts, let's talk Christmas.  I happen to know a few super-organized people that shop for Christmas presents throughout the year.  Not only do they save money by finding items on sale, they don't have to partake in the shopping frenzy that occurs between Black Friday and Christmas.

Believe it or not I am one of those people.  Honest, I AM!!  I find small ( usually vintage ) items throughout the year that I think the girls ( and sometimes their hubbies )  would like.  This is where my strategy falls apart.  The problem is that I can't wait until Christmas to give the junk treasures to them!  That being said, here are a few things I found for the new grandbabies.  Sorry girls, ( I hear Jeremy and Dave breathing a sigh of relief that they don't have to lug any junk to their new houses) but it is so much more FUN shopping for vintage baby stuff!

For Finley:

Green letter "F".  Somebody sponge painted it, but the overall color is perfect for her room.

I've seen her eyeing up my play telephone.  Now she has her very own in classic red. 

A-DOR-ABLE sawdust stuffed chenille and red polka dot mutt to add to her collection!

For Mack:

First, let me tell you, this is uncharted territory for me. Having two girls and one grandaughter, I've only ever bought girly stuff.  So here goes...........

LOVE this set of wood alphabet blocks in the original 1970's cloth bag!

I'm sure Julie will have fun creating silly word displays with the blocks.

Here it is Jeremy, his very first...

TONKA TRUCK!!!

This next item may be questionable, but I think it is gender neutral.

1950's crescent moon display shelf.

Put all these things together and what do you get?

A very masculine display.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be making a delivery very soon.  Ho! Ho! Ho!

Air Conditioned City

What do we Rangers do when we can't take the heat?  We hop in our cars and head to Duluth, the air-conditioned city on Lake Superior.


That's just what we did today.



But, SOMEBODY in Duluth forgot to turn on their air conditioners!  It was almost as hot in Duluth as it was at home.  Luckily the restaurants, antique shops and malls are cool.

After stopping at a few shops, we headed to Canal Park where there was a light breeze coming off the water. 

Aerial lift bridge being raised to let "pirate ships" through.

It was so relaxing just watching the ships. 

BAM!!!   What the heck was that?!

They were firing canons  from the pirate ships!

The noise didn't seem to bother them.  More food dropped on the ground, I suppose.

Vintage sign inspiration.

 Pretty as a postcard.

Vintage Threads

I was sitting in my car on my way home from work, waiting for the traffic light to turn green when I decided to take a quick detour to the nearby antique shop before it closed for the night.

I had a few small items in my hands when the lights went out.  "Aren't you open 'till 6:00?", I asked.  "Oh, sorry, I didn't know anybody was still in here!  Go ahead, you have a few minutes to shop before we lock up."  I knew she was in a hurry to get home, too, so I pulled out my wallet to pay for my things when I spotted one last item from the corner of my eye. 

I HATE making quick decisions!!  That's why I don't attend auctions.  No time to ponder what I could do with the junk.


The first few items were a no brainer.  A new summer wardrobe for a mere $5.00!!!!   I will be so fashionable in my vintage threads!

Fun and festive "country girl" look.

Simple cotton house dress for those hot summer days.

Casual chambray jumper and a retro looking handbag to match.

Obviously, these are vintage doll clothes, and I think you know where I'm headed with this. The red and yellow duds are the perfect sock monkey attire for Finley's new room in the country.  If you look closely, you can see a little farm scene on the yellow top!  I'll need to design a pink blouse to go under the chambray jumper to garb a monkey for a pink lovin' friend. 

Now, for the piece de resistance...................

This is what I spotted on my way out!

 

 

Quick, get me a nitro!   The price was marked "firm", so I knew there wasn't any haggling to be done.  Should I, or shouldn't I, that is the question.  I have 30 seconds to decide..........  ohhhhh, "I'll take it!"

I knew that I was unlikely to come across a vintage quilt in this color again, so really, there wasn't any decision to be made.  It will be the perfect jumping off point for the bedroom we are working planning to finish before Christmas.

This polka dot tin will be a colorful accessory to place atop the vanity that also needs to be finished!