A Preview of August

Wow! What a weekend! It was three days of boxes, lost treasures found, dirt, dust, and finding the remains of unwanted visitors. Once again my daughter, ex-sister-in-law and friend, MJ, and I are joining forces for the 127 Corridor World's Longest Yard Sale. We like to think we have a classy, well-organized sale full of cast off treasures, collectibles and even a few antiques. The yard sale extends from 5 miles north of Addison, Michigan, to Gadsden, Alabama.  This has become such a big thing that HGTV heads out to tape sellers and shoppers alike.  So there's my pitch for the yard sale that begins this Thursday, August 2 and ends Sunday, August 5th.

Sometimes a lady just has to try something new, hence the cut up photo of two coneflower blooms that fought the heat to survive and flourish as best it could.  The flower was planted this spring with great hopes of producing a nice bushy plant, but now I'm just delighted it soldiered through.  By the way...that is the color of the flowers and I just love it. 

August Break!

Yes I'm joining Susannah Conway again this year for The August Break.  There will be a photo most days, but few if any words unless something spectacular  occurs that I just can't keep to myself.  Oh wait...something spectacular did happen over the weekend, but it's too soon to spill the beans. Wanna join the August Break?  Hop over to Susannah's site and check it out. 

Whewwww.... busy weekend shaping up to be a busy week, but ya know busy is good. 

Mosaic Monday

Today really is Monday and I'm all about the flowers of Toledo.  My hosts's yard, in the median strips of four lane highways, city hanging baskets, parks, and public places offered up flower treasures just waiting to be captured by a camera.  My first mosaic...

H y d r a n g e a  L o v e

Nothing stops me in my tracks like spying a hydrangea.  My eyes open wide, the heart beats a bit faster, and my hands quiver ever so slightly...this is love at first, second, and third sight.  I never grow weary of looking at the pendulous orbs of florets.  The one thing I love the most about this plant is the wide range of colors on one shrub, white, creams, pinks, lavender, and that wonderful sky blue that brings deep, sighs of yearning. 

I nabbed shots of hydrangeas in MJ's backyard, in Perrysburg, and the most stunning blues at the Toledo Museum of Art. 

C o n e f l o w e r   C a r n i v a l

Coneflowers or echinacea do a flower fandango in MJ's front yard.  Petals circle around the brilliant yellow and orange cone that flirts with the sun and bid me come hither.  Flower beds that include coneflowers grace the elegant exterior of the Toledo Art Museum so, of course, I just had to take a few photos while attending the It's Friday event.      

Please join me on a romp through the blogosphere ooohing and ahhing over the marvelous mosaics of others. Let's start at the Little Red House, the blog of our hostess for Mosaic Monday. 

Want to know more about hydrangeas?  I found a wonderful website, Hydrangeas!, Hydrangeas! that is everything hydrangea from varieties to weddings.