The other day, Larkspur and I were headed down our road when we passed an odd assortment of chairs at the end of a driveway. There was a small piece of cardboard sitting with them that read, “Chairs. Free.” Larkspur yelled, “Free chairs!!! Turn around!!!!!” So I turned our big van around on our little country road and we proceeded to gleefully load up six wooden chairs. Maybe because we tend to acquire our furniture secondhand, and maybe because we are hard on it, we always seem to have a pile of broken chairs, rather than chairs we can actually use. This felt like hitting the chair jackpot. Such a small thing, but also something I think Larkspur and I will always remember.
I planted my zinnias on the late side this year and they have finally started blooming. A friend introduced me to some new varieties last year, and I am so happy with them! I posted these on Instagram, and several people asked about the varieties, so I will tell you here as well. I ordered from Swallowtail Garden Seeds, and the neatest varieties are Queen Red Lime and Queen Orange Lime. I planted some Zinderellas (peach and lilac) as well, but those are mostly not blooming the way they are supposed to. My other favorites are Oklahoma Salmon (these are really good) and Benary’s Giant Salmon Rose.
We are trying to have a proper summer while waiting for news of moving (next week, maybe?) Slow mornings with a bit of schoolwork for the younger kids, swimming, working on garden beds and picking flowers, fossil hunting, and playing with friends. Oh, and we watched a series that I really loved called Rivers of Life (affiliate link). I don’t usually watch shows with my kids (they watch shows-I just don’t), but this one was so fascinating and wonderful! But more than anything, I’ve been wanting to knit and read lately. Stress does that to me. I am finished with the body of Mabel’s cardigan now and working on the first sleeve.
I’m working on a big batch of neck scarves for my shop, but in the meantime I’m updating my shop today with a new batch of goat milk soap and some headscarves. I’ve been receiving messages about the headscarves, and unfortunately I don’t have that many to offer! But hopefully you will be able to grab one if it’s something you’ve been waiting for. I’ll list them at 10 a.m. ET today.
Frau Kirschkernzeit says
I thank you for your answer! I my… That’s hard! I remember that you had a really hard time letting go the last home and settling in here now… And now again. I feel truely with you and am sorry for these newly upcoming challenges and all the hard work -physically and mentally and in your heart- that comes with moving… I hope everything will turn out more wonderful than you ever imagined!
Taryn @ WoolyMossRoots says
I just came to do some catching up on your blog today, you have a lot going on. Glad you have your knitting and reading to turn to- having things unknown is always the hardest for me, once I know one way or another I feel like I can start moving again. Hang in there. I love hearing all the wonderful things you’re up to this summer. We homeschool in the summer too. 🙂
Laura says
Oh my goodness Ginny! I missed your original post about the potential move. I can certainly understand what feelings you might be having about it – especially since you love VA so very much. I will be praying for your family that whatever happens will be wonderful for all of you!
On another note, love Mabel’s cardigan! It’s beautiful!
GretchenJoanna says
I have never bought new chairs, except for a couple of folding chairs to help us out on holidays. It’s something I really like about my house, the odd assortment of furniture, the wooden chairs being the most assorted. Over the decades we have gleaned and been gifted from a family cabin, a restaurant I worked in that was replacing the old chairs, a set displayed on our neighbors’ lawn, and various other sources. They all do need repair from time to time, or get to the point of no-repair…
It’s great that you have nourishing and productive activities when under stress – and *waiting* to know if you will be moving must be one of the most anxiety-producing situations. May God give you peace and courage, and even joy, in the midst of it, but I pray it’s resolved soon and you get to the settledness again.
t.a.knight says
That chair thing… is that a big family thing? we also have a pile on the side of the house that need repair and seem to have them rotating constantly! That is winning the chair lotto, I so get that, some of ours are new, some new to us… they seem to last the same amount of time in our home of 8.
karen says
praying that the move is somewhere you will LOVE and that they give your husband boatloads of money for his salary 🙂 Fingers and toes are crossed for you and your family.
Alicia P. says
That Mabel girl. <3 I love her. Will text you next week and still keeping every finger crossed for you guys. XOX
Bora says
Everything looks so pretty: the flowers, your children, you, your knitting…
But what I don’t understand; you will have to move? Again? Somehow I must have missed these big news it seems… Haven’t you just moved from your tiny but loved farmhouse to this bigger home? And you have already made it such a lovely place (wow, your garden walls!)…
Do you have to move or is it a free choice for your family?
Ginny says
My husband has been mostly underemployed since last fall and right now his two job possibilities are out of state. Definitely not our choice to move! 🙁 But we will make the best of it and are grateful for these potential opportunities!
Frau Kirschkernzeit says
I thank you for your answer! I my… That’s hard! I remember that you had a really hard time letting go the last home and settling in here now… And now again. I feel truely with you and am sorry for these newly upcoming challenges and all the hard work -physically and mentally and in your heart- that comes with moving… I hope everything will turn out more wonderful than you ever imagined!
Bindy in Australia says
Yay for a good second-hand find! I love it when that happens. We have a reputation for preferring second-hand to new and so lots of people have offered us excess furniture from their houses over the years.
We acquired a set of chairs and a dining table that way, and said yes because they could stand up to my husband and a group of our male friends, who loved a rowdy board game at that stage and would have loud and competitive games of it. That was before kids, but has stood us in good stead as those metal-framed chairs are still withstanding all that our kids throw at them, ten years or more on from those board game days. If only our mattress and bed frame were coping so well with kids’ shenanigans!
I have been wondering about your possible move and whether it would happen. That’s a pretty big deal, Ginny. I hope and pray that whatever happens is right for you all, and that you have a sense of peace about it all.
Ginny says
Thank you, Bindy!
Marilyn says
Love the story about Larkspur spotting the free chairs. Many,many years ago we were driving by and a house had put out several lawn chairs. My late father rang the bell and asked if he could take them. The owner said yes. We still have these chairs. Mabel sure is an early knitter.
Marilyn
Joan says
Flowers are beautiful. Ginny you have a green thumb. thank You for sharing.
Joan
Joan says
Flowers are beautiful. Ginny you have a green thumb.
Joan
Marion says
Ginny i think Mabel wants to start knitting. Love the way her hair is done.
Marion
Laura M says
I love the picture of your dog looking up at you 🙂
mary aldrich says
Thanks for the seeds link! I had so-so luck this year with my zinneas and have been looking for a good supplier.
Susanne says
Love your posts ?Greetings from Germany ?
Susan Kuhlman says
I heard a talk from a native plant specialist (Smithsonian) today and the idea of edible plants came up. He said he has more questions asked about that topic in the past year and wondered if people were expecting to have to be living in the woods soon. Anyway, an interesting fact. People can eat what deer eat. What deer will not eat, we can not eat. Not that it is tasty or even very nutritious.
Antonia says
You inspire me!
Helen says
So much fun for you both finding the chair jackpot!!! Hope you post how or what you do with them … such a fun project.
Kate says
Our family is so rough on chairs, especially my big boys. There are certain older chairs that they are not allowed to sit it – nothing with spindles or arm rests. It seemed like for years all I was doing in my spare time was tackling the pile of broken chairs in the garage with wood glue. I finally found some sturdy school-desk type wooden chairs for the boys. None of our chairs match, but everyone has a seat. Victory!
Love your zinnias. Mine just started blooming. I planted some morning glories in a hanging planter and they have stayed about four inches high for weeks. I was hoping for a riot of blooms by now. At least all the wild daylilies and Queen Anne’s Lace are blooming all along the county roads.
Becky says
Hi Ginny,
I’m curious about the little mice Mabel is playing with and their little box/house.
Ginny says
They were a gift to Beatrix-handmade by a friend’s father. Unfortunately, he doesn’t sell them-they are so cute!
Becky says
Oh no, I was hoping to be able to get them for my little granddaughter. I just love them, they remind me of toys my dad and uncle used to make so many years ago. Simple, elegant toys that have so much play value and become best companions.
Deanna says
Love your posts!!! You are living the life I was hoping for, but alas no children for me. God has a reason, I know.
Where will you be moving to?
Ginny says
We don’t know yet. We are hoping for job offers in the next couple of weeks and then we will know more. Nothing certain yet!
Anne Marie says
Your little boys have gotten so big!
victoria says
The chairs are a real find! Larkspur has a real eye for quality. They look quite similar to chairs that we inherited from my husband’s grandmother. They must be pretty old—probably from the 1920’s. It’s odd that someone would just give them away, an antique store would have bought them for stock surely.