A week ago my son got married...

I may share more pictures when we get them from the photographer...

However I became an instant Grandma since she has3 kids.  Two girls and a boy.

While they went on their honeymoon we watched

Indie the the little 3 yr old. At the beginning of her

coming to stay, I was Grandma Miss Natascha...

It was probably the longest I've had to entertain a

3 yr old and I think I did amazingly well.  

We went to the playground

oh those blond curls!

The first night she wanted to watch her tablet

so I said ok you can do that with your headphones.

I want papa Matt to tell me a story. 

Then of course she said oh I want to listen to a 

story too....and that was the last time

she wanted to watch her tablet with us.

I made paper people to color with her and

then we used them to play with.

She slept really well, and she slept in until

after I left for work.

She got to hold a butterfly that had

just emerged.

She loved taking long....really long baths and when I 

would say ok Indie - time to get out let me rinse your hair.

She'd pile all the bubbles on her head so she

wouldn't have to get out!

I gave her a tea party

She requested "orange tea" and cheetos

be served at our fancy tea party!

She loved it and wants another tea party. 

I promised we will do another one

with fancy hats next time!

and I built a fun fort that she got to fall asleep 

with me in after we pretended we

were camping in a tent....and yes we

told more stories together, taking turns.

Indie had a great time and by the end of her stay

I got promoted to her just calling

me Grandma!

and do I mind....

not one bit!

 

My Secret Garden

This is the back yard when we bought the house 

in Oct 2019

The patio was small and cracked so we redid it.

 This was our downstairs patio a year ago.

I just always saw this as being a secret garden area.

Since it is very private and secluded. You would

never know we live in a subdivision

would you?  I love that I can't see any houses

out my windows!

This is it today as I envisioned it to be

my secret little garden!

A large majority of the plants are 

from my old house that makes

them so much more special to me

to see them thriving so well.

These large caster bean leaves

look exotic and tropical to me.

They are annuals here and I will replant them

again in the future.

These pink coneflowers are doing so great.

They were never this big at my old house!

I spray painted all my metal wall hangings black and

wired pots  on them

I think they make the wall interesting and pretty.

This is my planters early spring.

I also planted gourds for the first time in a 

raised planter we made.

They are growing and should

 be pretty in a bowl this fall!

This vine growing over the trellis is white Clematis

that will bloom in the fall. It has grown gigantic 

compared to the tiny plant I planted.  I wasn't even sure

it would make it.  I said ok little plant you better

get to growing or I will yank you, and I guess it listened!

This is early spring- May 15th

and this is now...

My planters are bursting!

This wisteria ,that planted that will hopefully cover

the pergola in the spring one day.

I planted hyacinth beans which bloom

pretty purple flowers in late summer.

The white container under

the deck that is my butterfly enclosure. 

Quite a change from 2 yrs. ago.  All is thriving 

and nature has come to our back yard.  We have a

family of bunnies living in the yard. 

I see lots of birds. 

I have lots of host plants for butterflies,

Milkweed, a spicebush, Rue, dill, 

parsley & carrot greens.

I have also read that my cherry tree's

 are a host plant for a type of butterfly.

 I also see a lot of hummingbirds 

in my garden.  Which I love!

We built it and they are coming!

It took a long time but Monarchs finally

showed up in my yard this summer.

This is 2 Monarchs

mating on my cherry tree.

I am waiting on several to turn.

#NataschasInspirations

Baby Zella's Baby Shower

Parents to be- my son & daughter in law...

Cameron & Caitlyn

I held my first and probably only 

baby shower this month. Caitlyn has 3 children

already.  So this may be it for the two of them at 4 children total.

 It was a lot of prep work getting ready for it all month so I haven't 

been doing as much art this month.  I am ecstatic

that they are having another girl.

With us having 2 big dogs it just seemed easier to have 

everyone came in through the garage.

I made a balloon swag to dress it up a bit.

The theme I was shooting for was a boho

garden party theme.  In pinks obviously for

the little girl that will be coming along.

at the bottom of the stairs

A sign I made Welcomed

all to the shower with 

photo's of the couple.

I decorated with balloon

swags in shades of pink, white

and cream and a little green.

Lights and lanterns to brighten it up

and make it look magical!

I also used burlap which I happen to

love for the texture.

The rabbit buggy had diapers which

people could write messages on

to perk the parents up during

late night diaper changes.

I did the flower arrangements myself

for the tables in which I included 

some greenery and daisies from my yard.

Don't they look pretty on the table in mason jars that I glued

jute rope around the tops, for that informal casual feel.

This is the gift table before the gifts arrived.

Pretty tissue flowers on the door and streamers

that swag to dress it up.

I hand made the pennants with her

name for the table.

I discovered it is much easier

 to just string the balloons

on floral wire than on balloon arch tape.

They stay put and when done I just

taped the sharp end of wire so it 

didn't pop balloons.

During the decoration process.  I hung lanterns over what

will be the food tables.

The dessert table

We also had a chocolate fountain

table with fruits and all different

treats you could dip in the chocolate

We order food from a caterer that

was absolutely delicious.

Everyone said they had a wonderful

time.  Although the shower was

open and they could leave whenever

they wanted.  Almost everyone stayed

the entire time.  

People could sit inside or outside.

I loved the little girls 

sundresses  which seemed

to match the decorations!

Cute as can be!

They got lots of gifts.  Some not even 

pictured.  It was 2 car loads to take

them home.  So I think it's safe

to say that the baby is already

spoiled before she has even arrived.

I put together shower gifts for everyone that 

came to take with they and we also had a diaper

raffle with 3 bigger gifts.

Everyone  got to take a little succulent

A pretty candle

A baby houseplant if they wanted.

And a goodie bag  with sweet treats of a

fancy decorated cookie & handmade chocolates.

I am thrilled that it came out so well.  As you

can guess I was nervous with it being

my first shower that I had ever done.

 In fact, I had never had that many people over in my

 house at one time.  I just wanted to make it nice a

 memorable time for them and all that came.  

Everyone seem to have a great time and loved

the food so I think this Baby Shower

was a complete success! 

Yay!