One Crock, One Birthday, and One Ga-Zillion Weeds

What is it about summer that makes us lazy?
Or is that just me?

Come summer, I begin channeling my inner child.

No more pencils, no more books. . . let the dust pile in the nooks . . . .

Speaking of dust, and other things that accumulate over time in a house, take a look at this:

That's the toss-out-pile at a neighbor's house.
Naturally, I passed it s-l-o-w-l-y a few times, and looky what I found:

A big crock. Big. With handles on either side.
Complete with some honest and well-earned schmutz on the inside.

It's marked, although I have no idea what the marking means.

It is in excellent condition. Right now it's sitting on our step outside the sunroom,
holding down one end of the granite slab. and
waiting for a permanent assignment at That Old House.

Don't you just love it?

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Speaking of giving away vintage treasures,
we sold our old Sellers brand Hoosier cupboard in an eBay auction.

We just don't have room for it.

Unfortunately for us, the first bidder was the only bidder, and got it for a song.
But he also has a 1725 house in Pennsylvania, and is super excited to get this piece for his kitchen,
so that goes a long way towards making me feel better about saying goodbye to this old beauty.

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Do you dream about how you want your home or cottage or castle to look?

When I picture the narrow side yard at That Old House, the one off the sunroom,
in my mind's eye what I see is this:

Only, this gorgeous patio area belongs to someone named
Thomas O'Brien and the picture is from Domino magazine.

Dang.

What I really see, when I actually look at our side yard, is this:

Oh dear.
Here I am showing off my cottage, and what I am showing off is what
extreme heat and some rain can do to a formerly civilized patio.
It's just been too darned hot to weed, and the weeds and the ivies and the mints, opportunists all, are running amok.
The inmates are taking over the asylum.
See that green stuff between the pavers? That isn't even supposed to be there.

Note to Mother Nature: Some cooler weather, please! Howard and I don't look good in sweatbands anymore!

At least there are still flowers to cut.

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Switching gears again: Howard's sister Phyllis has a charming English Cocker spaniel named Kelly, who is our guest this week. Dion is quite smitten. Kelly sometimes has to threaten to knock his block off, to keep him in line. He loves it.

When Phyllis brought Kelly to us on Friday, she also brought me a chocolate cake,
because . . . Saturday was my birthday!

I am doing okay for being 406 years old, and I can still drive without wearing eyeglasses. Mighty darned impressive, don't you think? Have a lovely Monday! -- Cass

LINKS!

I'm sharing my big jugs
--- ooops I mean my big jug ---
for Today's Thrifty Treasures blog party.

Join Rhoda at Southern Hospitality!
She is sharing a post about hanging yard sale plates.
Lovely stuff!





And for Show Off Your Cottage Monday,
I shared my sad side yard.

And my hopes for making it look better!

Visit Cielo at The House In The Roses
for more Cottage love,
and her post today featuring a
charming rose-patterned tea set in a lovely setting.