Still a chilly day but hot, hot is coming

After being down south I’m a little disappointed in the cooler weather that we have had this week but next week promises to be in the high seventies and low eighties. In our area we aren’t really safe to plant outdoors until after Memorial Day but I couldn’t help buying something already. I found an unusual hanging basket of red and white that will go perfectly with my summer outdoor curtains. And in Wamart I found two lavender topiary trees to put in the two urns by the door. I am trying this year not to buy so many annuals but my need for color after our dreary winter makes me regret that pledge.


  We had such a wonderful trip. On the weekend we first went to my sister Diane’s house in Smith Mountain Lake. On Friday night we went for the second year  to Capp’s Hardware Store for their Ladies’ Night Out. This is such a popular event that we had to stand in line for a half an hour just to get in. All the ladies are turned into the store with a 20% discount but that isn’t the main draw. Capp’s has a lot of activities going on to entertain us. There were vendors, demonstrations, a photo booth, and a dinner with free wine. The theme this year was the sixties and participants were encouraged to dress to the theme with a fashion contest. During the meal we played name that sixties tune and afterwards there was a game of Let’s Make a Deal. At the end of the night there were a lot of drawings for prizes. Oh, and did I mention the free t shirt?


On Saturday my two sisters and I headed over to Roanoke for their home and garden tour. We started at the Ronald McDonald house where we boarded a shuttle which took us to the area where five houses were open. The bus let us out at the bottom of a steep hill and we had a lot of climbing to do to get to all the homes. The gardens weren’t as impressive this year but we certainly enjoyed the inside of the homes. The flower arrangements are done by the garden club and were spectacular.

After the tour we went to the Taubman art museum in downtown Roanoke to see a special exhibit on garden impressionist paintings.

While we were there we also viewed some modern and different art such as sculptures made with bobby pins, keys, and hair. It is refreshing to go out of your comfort zone and view something entirely different. We had a terrific weekend with lots of sister laughing and fun.