Farewell to Summer

The Real Housewife has let summer get away from her.  Luckily, she took lots of pictures.
   

The Real Baby went from baby to toddler over the summer.  She runs, plays, slides and now even talks a blue streak.  Her vocabulary is way ahead of schedule.  Well over 75 words at seventeen months.  She continues to amaze and change.

She spent time with her cousins this summer over the Fourth of July.

We also made a trip to Atlanta to visit more cousins in August.  She waved at everyone and said "bye-bye" as they exited the plane.  She cracks us up.

We've done lots of summer things

We gardened (this was Spring - look how she's grown!)

We ate corn on the cob

We ate watermelon

We drank beer

We drank wine (someone raided the coolers at the neighborhood picnic!)

We played at the pool

We played in the water at home

And played in the fountain with Paddy

We played dress-up (she never saw a purse she didn't like!)

We went to the fair and saw the chickens

And fed the ducks

Then, almost as if on cue, the weather changed and we needed our jackets and long pants.

We slid

Then we rode away from Summer on our trusty two-wheelers

Bye-bye Summer.  See you next year (please come earlier next time!!)....

The Real Housewife (and Real Baby) of Sheboygan County

Where did Spring Go? A Post by the Real Baby!

Hi!  It's me, the Real Baby of Sheboygan County!  It's been a while, but I've been very busy this Spring!  My Mama has, too.  That's why we've been a little absent from the blog.  She says she'll try harder to stay up to date!  

My cousins, Tommy & Gracie came to visit me for the Kohler Festival of Beer.  We had lots of fun and they taught me how to play bean bags!

They are very fun to play with, and they're coming back for the Fourth of July weekend, too.  I can't wait!

Daddy doesn't realize that I'm a multi-tasker and can handle both his Blackberry & his beer at once.  I almost got away with it, too!

Uncle Wilber & Uncle Enos taught me the proper technique for "tipping back a cold one."  Don't worry, it was milk, and not milk stout, although I heard it was very good, too!

Things got a little out of hand, and I danced on the table.  I'm making the "Loser" sign because I couldn't get Uncle Wilbur to dance on the table with me!  

I met a new friend, too.  My name is Mary-Claire and her name is Claire Marie.  I touched her nose - just like I do all my new friends.  It's sort of like a baby fist bump, but not.

We didn't have much of a Spring, but the few nice days we did have, my Mama let me play outside.  I played in the fountain.

I ran around the neighbor's yard in my new pink tennies - I can run fast in them!

I helped Mama water the plants - sort of.  Paddy likes to help, too!

I played in the dirt.  Herbs smell good!  

I love to swing & slide!  

And I have this new cool water table that I can splash and play in.  I think it's even better than the fountain!  

Now that it's summer, it's done nothing but rain and I've been cooped up inside.  Rain, rain go away, come again some other day!  Or at least rain at night.  Please!

I'll catch you up again soon - I promise!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Life & Death in the Garden: Yes, I'm a Killer

I must admit something.  I'm a killer.  I did it.  I confess.  I killed my lilies.  Perhaps they were day lilies, or maybe Asiatic Lilies, but honest to God, I could care less what kind of lily they are - I HATE THEM!  I think the Lily is the most over-planted plant in the landscape.  I cannot believe there are societies that revere them.  I'm just glad they have someone to love them, because the good Lord knows it will NEVER be me!

The last shovelful.

The heaping barrel of lilies.

But for every death, there is life, and I am thankful for some of these things in my garden.

A few daffodils.

Blessed herbs - yes, I am a society member (Herb Society of America)

The new Mother's Day fountain that should be up & running soon.  It's called "Hurricane's Eye" and very personal to me, as I was a Katrina evacuee when I lived in New Orleans.  I can't wait to hear the sound of water in my garden!

Oops, here's the death of our arbor that rotted and blew over in the wind storm

But also, the emergence of an azalea I didn't even know we had (first Spring in a new house!).

Our new Celtic cross that we bought in honor of my confirmation into the Catholic church on Holy Saturday, as well as to honor our Irish heritage.

And some sprouts that will soon be Nasturtiums, Mini Basil and some Slow-Bolt Cilantro.

But here is my favorite "little sprout" of all, who is having a very hard time keeping her hands out of my lettuce bowl!

I think Spring has finally sprung!  Hip-hip-hooray!!!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County