Summertime

Well, we hosted our very first backyard BBQ over 4th of July weekend, and it was wonderful. The weather cooperated and our yard was filled with a handful of close friends, which was pretty perfect.We've finally finished off the last of the food leftovers, but our fridge is still stocked to the gills with beer. Note to self: next time, under-buy assuming everyone will bring at least one six pack with them! Whew!

Here are a few scenics from before guests arrived:

A welcoming walkway with a view of our veggie garden.

The lawn lounge area.

A few snipped daylillies in a wine bottle festive up the deck dining area.

I also recently did a few more very small upgrades as far as decor. A new lamp for my nightstand. A triptych of mirrors in the upstairs hallway to throw some more light and make it less cavernous (though the jury is still out on if this is actually a success...). Finally replaced the falling-apart welcome mat on our deck that we inherited from the sellers. Slowly, slowly things are coming together.

A beach-glass style lamp with a hollow base is a perfect nook for some shells.

A charming threshold between our deck and laundry room entrance.

Attempting to shed some light.

Still feels like the wall is missing some accents, but it's a start.

We have picked paint colors for the kitchen/laundry room and guest room, as they are the final places left for us to paint. Now just to acquire the colors and find the motivation to cut in around every goddamn cabinet in the kitchen...oy. But I have to remember it'll be worth it for a fresh look. And I'm just dying to finish off the guest room--paint on the walls, curtains over the windows, maybe spruce up the walls a bit with a better art arrangement, etc. So more on that as they develop.

In the meantime, here's how I've improved my view while doing dishes and when looking toward the sliding glass doors in the laundry room area. Very tiny tweaks, but they are more than enough to make me happy every time I glance in those directions.

Because our gardens are still bare, these are from the Bordentown weekly farmer's market.

This hutch has been here since moving day because we had nowhere else to put it.

We will eventually give it back to my parents, but for now it's safely in our (dry!) basement. My gosh, look how open and bright it is now! Instant improvement. But now I'm aware of how stark the walls are in the laundry room...oh, projects for post-painting!

Ciao, bellas, and stay cool in this July heat--it seems summer has indeed finally arrived.