Life at a "Swell's" pace

Week-End: Things that made my week awesome

What a great day! Well, minus the rain. We've had such a long week we are glad to see this weekend and especially Sunday. The Mr. and I have been planning another road trip for our #snsroadtrips and we have been having a lot of fun figuring out a good place to go. Hopefully it will work out for us and I can have another place to mark off of our "bucket list." For now, here are the things that made this week awesome!

1. This camera

The Bean purchased him a new Polaroid camera and he has been having a blast with it. He likes the exposure the camera creates and has been snapping pictures of everything and everyone.

If you're curious if Polaroid film is still made, it is. You can get it here.

2. This book

If you're curious about the September book selection for SNS, here it is. "Better than Before"

by Gretchen Rubin. It's a book about what the author learned about making and breaking habits that we create over time. It talks about sleeping more, quitting sugar (which is a hard one for me), and how to stop procrastinating. You can see the entire list of book selections at the link "Library" at the top of this blog.

3. This "prescription"

Meditate, exercise, avoid processed food, eat more organic fruit and veggies, and spend more time outdoors and less time in front of electronics. Seems like the right way to cure the coming on winter blues or just the daily slumps.

4. Gardening tips

September:

Feed your lawn with fertilizer.
Take down hanging baskets, replace with winter/spring flowering versions.
Plant evergreen shrubs.

October:

Prepare your pond, greenhouse, and put your tools/outdoor furniture away.
Divide perennials that have become too large.
Rake up fallen leaves and spread them between the perennials in the border of flower beds and gardens.

5. This cleaning mission

We've been taking out camping gear out and going through, downsizing, and cleaning everything. We have cast iron skillets as part of our camping gear and they were in desperate need of a scrubbing. This tip I cam across in a magazine (I forgot which one) really helped out. We have decided to go minimal with our camping equipment too, so we were in need of an overhaul on our camping box and gear. Plus, we found out, we are in need of a new tent! *sigh*

What happened this time last year?

Our Garden Currently: Garden beds and solar lights

The Mr. and I have been on a mission to bring a bit of color to the side yard of the house we live in currently. I had a vision of making a large flowerbed in the middle of the yard to break up the grassy knoll a bit. We planted mostly perennials and they have really taken off in a beauty of color.

The side of the house needed something. When we first laid the dirt down and cleaned the area up it screamed flowers to me. The picture above is the first week they were planted and I was afraid they might not make an appearance this year. The old saying goes, "first year they sleep, second year they creep, and third year they leap."

Still a rough draft on the left-side of the house. This is right down, on the same side of the house, as the perennial flowers from above. Not sure what this space will become and I am almost afraid to put much more effort into it because of the winter months coming soon.

Some wild flower seeds were spilled near the fence line and we saw a few of them peaking through the cracks.

The slow-going flowerbed The Mr. and I put in place. We like how it looks so far, but things will start to show soon. I look a night shot because I liked the way it looked. (Of course, this is the first shot when we started and it looks great so far, but we shall see what it becomes before the summer is done.) -Scroll down for an updated picture of the middle flowerbed now.

Solar lights along the privacy fence. This fence will have more depth as the years go on. I am planning a big layout to bring it all together. It's still in the works, so stay tuned. Best part of the new "layout" is the fact that once it's done we can move it with us to a new location if, and when, we find that perfect home of our own. Fingers crossed that one comes along before too long.

August 21, 20126

August 22, 2016

August 24, 2016

August 26, 2016

August 27, 2016

August 29, 2016

August 30,2016

September 1, 2016

Sending a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to The Mr.!

Week-End: Things that made my week awesome (Extras: Converted bus and 9/11 remembered)

It's another week coming to a close. I can't believe how fast time goes by anymore. Maybe the saying is true, "Time flies when you're having fun." This summer has been a great summer and we aren't quite ready for the fall season here. We didn't have a hot summer and being from the south, I miss the heat of summer. It seems the hotter the summer it is here the more I am able to handle the hard winters here, especially the days of rain that seem to never let up. I am not ready to say goodbye to the sun just yet. We are going to be soaking up the last bits of the summer here until it's officially fall and cold. Meanwhile, here are the things that made this week awesome!

1. This book

I am loving Comestible Journal. It is packed full of great things for each season and I have been wearing out my summer copy already. Check out how to get on the mailing list here.

2. This sunflower

It is a behemoth and I love it. I only planted one sunflower seed in our middle flowerbed and boy did it take off. Can't wait to save the seeds from the head when it's finished growing.

3. This kid

Seventh grade here we come! I can't believe it!

4. This bear

In an effort to downsize our belongings The Bean's Build a Bear got the cut. He was sad to see it go, but understood why. We took some photos to enjoy if he ever starts missing it terribly.

5. This mirror

In an effort to ride our bikes more I wanted to get a rear view mirror to be able to take a peek behind me if needed. It works great and I love how I can keep an eye out behind us, as well. If you're curious where to pick one up. Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mountain Bicycle Mirror

Extras: