Colorful Containers and New Outdoor Pillows

I took advantage of the nice weather to sit outside for awhile after work and soak up some sun, have a glass of lemonade (and watch hubby Erik mow the grass! Ha ha...)

Don't worry.....he mowed, but I helped him rake up the grass clippings.

I sat in one of our Adirondack chairs, resting my back against this sweet outdoor pillow.

I made these pillows myself. I bought some heavy outdoor canvas fabric from JoAnn's in this pretty hydrangea pattern. The fabric looks really blue in the sun, but it's more like a purplish-blue or pale violet. I used regular pillow inserts, some smaller 14x14 pillows I already had. 

 I sewed them on my sewing machine, leaving a small opening to stuff the pillow in, then stitched the opening closed with an invisible stitch. Technically, the outdoor fabric is not waterproof and this area is not covered, so I wouldn't leave them out in the rain. This area is where we are planning on making a patio, hopefully this summer or next, so it will eventually be all torn up. I can hardly wait!

Elsewhere in my garden...................

Purple astilbe

                                                              Pink astilbe

Lace-cap hydrangea. This variety is called Twist n' Shout.

Hydrangea macrophylla, Endless Summer. These are usually blue, but I must not have added enough aluminum sulfate this spring to make them blue!

I like to have lots of containers of colorful annuals. I usually attempt to over-winter my containers. I have two pots like this which I over-wintered. I added the pink double impatiens and the coleus this year, but the sweet potato vine and ivy were from last year and did well over the winter. I have a sunny south-facing bedroom upstairs that we don't use where I can keep my containers.

This is a new pot I did this year; red New Guinea impatiens and 'Merlin's Magic' coleus. I put this pot in my shade garden by my hostas on a small stand to add "vertical interest" .

I hope you enjoyed your day and evening as much as me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Outdoor Wednesday: Rose Explosion

It's time once again for Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

We've been having a lot of rain for the past week, but the sun came out long enough for me to take a few updated pictures of my flower gardens, including my pink climbing rose, which has literally exploded with blooms. Last week for Outdoor Wednesday, I had a couple of pictures of this climbing rose with just a few blooms (HERE).

Here's how it looks now:

I even got a picture of a very happy bumblebee who was busily visiting as many blooms as he could.

My orange asclepias tuberosa (a.k.a. Butterfly Flower, Butterfly Milkweed or Indian Paintbrush) is blooming also.

The flowers in the back are Green Wizard Rudbeckia, which have gotten a little flattened by the rain.

Asclepias tuberosa is a species of milkweed. In autumn, it will get large pods of milkweed fluff. It is often called Butterfly Flower because it's nectar attracts butterflies and it is the larval plant food for the Queen and Monarch species of butterflies.

I love this photo I took of my Black Magic hollyhocks on the same day.

The trellis is for my Celtic Skies clematis, which is small yet. I haven't had to stake these hollyhocks at all. This little corner between the back porch and side of the house shelters them from wind, which helps keep them upright.

Thanks for stopping by!

White Wednesday: Sewing Project; White Pillow Shams

Today I'll be joining Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday!

Some time ago I mentioned that I wanted to sew some Euro pillow shams to go with my "summer bedding"( click HERE to read that post). I did finally accomplish this project this weekend!

I already had the 26x26 size pillow inserts, so I just needed to make new shams. I chose this pretty white fabric with embroidered white flowers. I had initially picked out a beautiful white eyelet fabric that had ruffled bands of lace in a cross-hatch pattern, but when I saw the price per yard for it, I decided on something less expensive.

I made them with a simple envelope back; my usual design. I thought about adding a ruffle around them, but then decided I wanted them simple.

So pretty! I'm happy with how they turned out. I even have some fabric left that I can make something else with; perhaps napkins? Or a small boudoir pillow for the bed? Hmmmmm...

I also wanted to show this beautiful white cutwork embroidered tablecloth, which was a steal for $3 at Goodwill.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Food: Malted Banana Smoothie

One of the things I love best about hot summer days is relaxing with cold, delicious beverages. One of my favorite summer ( or any season) treats are yogurt smoothies. I have several recipes that I really like including a Malted Banana Smoothie. I tend to eat lighter in the summer and smoothies are a healthy and filling meal replacement if I need something quick. I will often have a smoothie for breakfast instead of my usual cereal or oatmeal.

This banana smoothie does not have yogurt in it, but ,surprisingly, the recipe said it only has about 320 calories.

I have a hard time getting my darling hubby to eat fruits and vegetables( yeah,he's not a veggie and fruit lover like me!), so a smoothie is a good way to sneak some fruits into his diet.

Malted Banana Smoothie:

 1 cup low fat milk (or vanilla soy milk can be used)

1 medium banana, peeled and sliced

1/4 c. malted-milk powder

1 tbl. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients together until smooth and frothy.

I'll be linking this with The Tablescaper for Summer Sunday

Thanks for stopping by!