Tonite's Unexpected Visitor....

"Well look at that" my husband said pointing to the kitchen window...We think it was a white Dove. Was it? As I moved closer to take more pictures, the white bird wasn't scared...

I was able to move right next to the window...
and closer...Only when we went outside it flew up on our garage...
My Buddy tried to have the bird come down on his hand...We think it wanted to, so we think this bird was not wild. Even Bella wanted the bird to come down...

Here's Bella wishing the bird would come down...

Does anyone know if this was a Dove? It did fly away. We really wished we could have caught it ~ thinking it was someone's missing pet...

Post Script: The sighting of a white dove means~ Peace. It was a very warm feeling that a white dove decided to visit us out of the blue tonite. I hope to makes it appearance again...

Backyard flicks from a car phone...

Isn't technology sweet? My Buddy took these pictures with his little ole' car phone of our backyard...This is his "haven" & he sits out here every night listening to the waterfall...

Buddy also takes a swim every night before turning in...

And only if you DARE go to my Mud Puddle Girl blog here to see what you DON'T want to visit your backyard...

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Real "Suds to Love"...

Tower of Handmade Soaps from "Suds to Love"

Made with skin loving ingredients like: Cocoa butter,

shea butter,palm kernel oil, & castor oil...oh-la-la!

When Trisha from Suds to Love emailed me to ask if I'd try some of her soaps, I course I was excited to say, "Yes." I had been following her informative trials of soaps making & as a bonus watching her family grow from two adorable pups (Roscoe & Howie) to her newest pup precious little Ellie Mae. What I didn't expect was the GRAND package that arrived in my mail box. Before I even opened the mailbox door~ I knew the package arrived!

Pure fresh soap heaven all wrapped up, & what I thought would be 1 or 2 bars of soaps turned out to be 8 bars! Now I haven't "soaped" yet with the bars, but if they are anything like they look...

Wonderful handmade soaps...all mine!

Trisha-ya nailed several things...the packaging was simple, but ohhhh so adorable with mixed papers matching the scent in hand, the swirls, the fragrances & their names.

Names like: Honeysuckle, Black Pepper Lime, Sweet Mango Sorbet, Niagara Falls, Champagne Energy, White Truffle Raspberry, Washai Green Tea, & Iced Carrot Cake.

It was more than a delight to open this package, especially since a lot of these scents were new to me. A fav? It would be really really hard to say, but here's a glimpse of some of them: Honeysuckle~ right off the bat reminded me of my grandmother's honeysuckle bushes in Leominister, Mass., Niagara Falls~ darn can't nail that fresh scent, but I may use this one first, & Iced Carrot Cake- Trisha-don't change a thing on this one, it's perfect, White Truffle Raspberry- looks like thick fudge, smells like sweet candy! And I will admit I have never seen black soap, which was the Black Pepper Lime one~ and no I didn't sneeze & I can smell the hint of lime.

Well Trisha~ What an amazing package! I really was floored, and sooooo gracious of your generosity. Many many thanks!!!! And a big HUG to you!!!
Suds to Love shop opening???

Sunset under the willow...

Sunset under our willow...

Our carriage house was built nestled underneath...
This picture was taken tonite. It was twenty-two years ago in that very spot that my husband & I would park our car (okay station wagon with wood paneling) on our empty lot & be in aww... of the view~ dreaming of building our home. That view was perhaps what sold us on this lot. In those years alot has changed, but it's nice knowing somethings will never change...

The sunsets Under the Willow are still magnificant.

Happy Father's Day...Dad

Coach "Dad" & me...


Father's Day Story to my Dad...


When I was in high school I was part of a pom pon squad. I was captain both my junior & senior year. The first year NO one wanted the position & the second year I was elected.


My junior year we had competed in a pom pon competition and were horrified when we placed 13 out of 14. That night my dad took me aside and asked if I wanted a "winning" team the following year. I thought~ of course I did, but it hardly seemed likely... I wondered what my father had in mind...after all he was a West Point grad....and he said he would be our "coach."



First he set rules of practice: 1. NO practicing in dresses, 2. Sneakers or saddles shoes, 3. There would be warm ups (lots), 4. We would practice (DRILLED) everyday~ and that meant through our summer vacation, 5. We would have committees for everything, and IMPORTANTLY 6. We had to be DIFFERENT...he said this would set us apart from the rest...


Coaching...


We drilled & marched on our high school track what seemed like miles everyday...


So with the embarrassing defeat in mind, and my Dad's West Point determination we practiced, NO let me correct that ~we drilled, we actually started to work as a team, and we found what would make us DIFFERENT.

As you can see, NOT all practices were fun for me....

In the beginning we couldn't get our legs going in the same direction, same height...we looked terrible...


But finally we all started to "get it". Kicks the same height...(me on the front left)


Back in the 70's all pom-pon squads used pom poms to entertain~ marching, swirling the poms during all sport events... Then our "routine committee" came up with the DIFFERENT that is still being used today...We simply dropped our poms during the routine, and went into a high kick routine. This simple change was the DIFFERENT that made a difference...





Off to a competion...we were even drilled to stand, look, wear our hair...we learned to be a team. (Me on the right)


So with lots of hard practice, determination, change in attitude, updated uniforms, and a DAD that knew we could do it...We took the state by storm the following year~ winning every competition we set our foot on, and changing the look of pom-pon performing to this day.
Performing...
Our "story" was noted so much in our state, that we had a book published by Orlino Castro, titled RPH 30 (Robert Peary High School~ 30 girls), about this story of determination and becoming champions.



The book...


A page from the book. Practice does make perfect...



Our "story" was noted so much in our state, that we had a book published by Orlino Castro, titled RPH 30 (Robert Peary High School~ 30 girls), about this story of determination and becoming champions.




Dad proudly holding one of our winning trophies that year...




The last page of the book... It reads, "The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success. Talent is only a starting point..."

Looking back how lucky was I to have a DAD so involved, so determined, a person who really believed that the impossible could be possible. I treasure those memories...thank you DAD.

Lazy Weekend...

Buddy & I needed rest so we headed for the Eastern Shore... As you can see Bella needed some rest too. She had a lazy weekend at our beach house... (Bella get off that couch!)

Buddy sat on the front porch and watched the traffic go by...

J & J

Jodi & Joey were near by so they met us for dinner. We had dinner with the "newlyweds" at our favorite restaurant in Cambridge called "Portside." Behind J & J is the draw-bridge going up...

I love this draw-bridge that is next to our fav restaurant (Portside). The restaurant is only a stone throws away from our beach house, so we can walk... Over the bridge is the historical part of Cambridge with brick roads and quaint shops. It's a sleepy little town near the Eastern Shore, friendly, waterfront, and the best seafood in Maryland!

Oh.... we had to go home. This is the tail end of the 4 mile Bay Bridge crossing the Chesapeake Bay...that leads to the Maryland Eastern Shore. When traveling to the Eastern Shore, timing is everything~ or you will be stuck in traffic for miles. At home I look forward to trying my new Products from Product Body. I ordered some VELVET Product Body sugar scrub, and Joanna (owner of Product Body) was super super sweet & thoughtful to tuck in goodies like: Pink Grapefruit cream, yummy Butter Scrub & a WOW of a Bath Bomb Fizzy.
I love the new bail container shown with the Velvet Product Body sugar scrub. I plan on re-using this earth friendly container to hold notions in my craft area. Great idea~ Joanna! I love all these products! What a way to end the weekend....ahhhhhhhhh

Back to the BIZ of Business...

Hardscapes, Plumber's Puddy, Cutting Edge, Kool Energy, Waterman's Catch, & more...

handmade manly soaps... now on Esty

We are a family of Tradesmen...Introducing Under the Willow's newest creation: The Tradesman Soap Collection. This soap line is dedicated to those who create & work with their hands. Some of these trades have been around for centuries, while others evolve as the need of the community calls out. Each bar is around 3 ounces, handmade, named after a "trade"~ & formulated with heavenly manly scents...No cologne required after your man shower with one of these babies...