Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Summer is flying by w-a-a-a-y too fast for me!



Here it is....
already the Fourth of July!
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I live for Summertime.
I enjoy living in Idaho.
I love it because each season here is beautiful,
but Summer is my favorite season...hands down.


Here in the mountains of Idaho, I don't have the extreme heat that so many have to endure,
and my Summers only last from July to about the first of September.
We have a very short growing season and not a lot of heat, so I revel in every day of Summer.


Our Winters are L-O-N-G! and C-O-L-D!
(which makes for icy roads so that sometimes I can't even leave town)
and you remember I live in a town of only 500 people))

So this is why I live for Summer.
I pack it so tight that I hardly allow myself time to breathe.



I love working until dark in the garden.

I love the farmer's markets and antique markets held in nearby towns.

I love all the reunions and rodeos.

I love our tiny county fair in August.



I love the smell of the sheets that have hung out all day on the clothesline.




I love the sound of the farmer's sprinklers as they make their way across the alfalfa fields 
behind us and feeling the mist as they pass nearby.







I even love the sounds his hay baler makes in the middle of the night as he harvests his hay.





One of the many joys of living rural
: )




  
                              I love hooking up to our camper and exploring new places in our beautiful state
                                             or re-visiting some old favorites.






I love watching our horses munching away in the pastures.
I love how they shed their extra hair in Spring and put on their sleek Summer coats
that shine in the sunlight.






                I too love shedding all my warmer clothing and putting on my cotton tops, tees and skirts.




   
and I LOVE my flipflops!





I hope that each of you who live in the northern hemisphere are cramming all the things you 
love about Summer into your days too.

  ...and no matter where you live...sending you wishes for beautiful days ahead.




71 comments:

  1. goodness those are gorgeous photos!!!!
    happy 4th

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  2. I grew up in a small town and I loved it, now that I live in the city, I sure miss it! Our Summer here lasts May-Oct. But, I love it....Wishing you a lovely Summer =) Xo, Ashley

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  3. Oh June, your summers sound just heavenly to me!!! Our summers here in Georgia are awful, humid and unbearably hot. I do appreciate the occasional rain shower when the temps are down a bit but it's mostly terribly HOT! I guess that's why I'm always dreaming of fall and the cooler temperatures. I can see why you love summer so and your gorgeous garden must be flourishing! Thank you always for sharing your beautiful flowers, you have such a way with them, growing, cutting and arranging ~ just GORGEOUS!!! Sending you hugs and love sweet friend, enjoy your beautiful summer, Dawn

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  4. Happy 4 th of July dear June! These peony pictures are so gorgeous. I can feel the mild weather in your photos and a delicate light breeze, but enough heat to make things grow. It sounds like paradise. I hope summer slows down too! I feel the same as you. It's going way to fast.

    Hugs!
    Nancy

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  5. Yup-that's summer! Both the photos and the words. But you forgot one thing. Spray planes at sunrise. Or are you not that lucky? ;)

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  6. oh June, your peonies are absolutely breathtaking!!! I rarely leave comments, but just had to tell you how much I enjoy seeing all of your posts and what is currently in bloom. Your garden is truly one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I would surely dread your long, hard winters, but oh, how I would love your mild summers. I'm in Chattanooga, Tn., and our summers are miserable. Our temps have been over 100 degrees for the past week, not to mention the humidity!
    I always look forward to your new posts! Blessings, Sandra

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  7. Ahhh, summer time! I'm sure hoping it has finally arrived. I've been up at Lake Chelan, WA for the past six days soaking up some fun and sun.Now it is back to my garden and enjoying our summer.

    You have the gift dear friend for your peony photos! Just simply love then.

    So here's to cramming every second of summer full of fun!

    The other sista June!!!

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  8. Hi June, I always love your wonderful photos of your flowers. I can imagine why you enjoy summer so much, and I think I'd love to trade summers with you! Enjoy it while you can, I DO love to embrace the seasons, xo

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  9. What beautiful words here to accompany your wonderful photography skills. I love Summer, too..and ours isn't much longer than yours...a couple of weeks maybe.

    We pack a lot into summertime, too. Too much I sometimes think. Blessings and Happy 4th of July to you-xo Diana

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  10. Dear June
    I too love Summer as ours is short as well
    I love when I see you have posted
    I love your photography
    I love your style & design
    I love your spirit & energy
    I love hearing about your Family too
    I love how your posts make me smile...
    Thank you for being you!
    Hugs,
    Wanda

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  11. Beautiful words & photos of your gorgeous garden flowers ♥
    Wishing you a very Happy July 4th June xo

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  12. Oh me too! Summer is my favorite. I love the fact that it stays light later in the evenings. I love the warmth of the sun and the way it makes me feel just a little happier.
    Love all your pics June.
    Have a great 4th,
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  13. Well sweet lady, I love the pictures of your flowers sitting in the pretty turq tin container. What a romantic combination.

    I agree.... summer is running way too fast. So time to slow down and smell those beautiful roses.

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  14. Hello dear June, I've never really enjoyed summers but if I'd live in Idaho, I think I would. I'm not sure if I could deal with the long winters though. It's wonderful how much and for what reasons you love your area. Your pictures are gorgeous as always. The peonies look so pretty in that cute light blue bucket.
    Hugs to you,
    Julia

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  15. Dear June. I love your post. I could see everything in front of me, as I read. The seasons are just like here, but the summer here is more rainy. At least this year. Wish you beautiful days. Friday we take a trip to Denmark. Love holydays.

    Hugs from me

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  16. Thank you dear June! I think, we love everyone all the same things you love in summer time!!!!
    Sending you warm summer greetings from Switzerland, where the weather is not always like in summer! A lot of rain and thunder storms! But today - yeahhh, the sun is shining again and it will be warmer, than last days
    Hugs, Barbara

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  17. Hi June, I love your photo's, their beautiful as always. So glad your enjoying summer. It's so hot here in Texas I'm always ready for the cooler month's... but will probably be October before it cools off any at all. Happy 4th!!!
    Hugs~~~ Daphne

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  18. Приказне божури, обичам ги много и как ухаят. Красиви снимки създават ми страхотно настроение. Поздрави и хубав ден от мен.

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  19. Hi dear June. Your photo's are beautiful as always, I love your peonies. You certainly have very short summers, didn't realise that. You must be living as high up on the map like Norway here in Europe, I believe they have also those short summers. I like summer and winter, don't like it too hot tho. When we were in Rome two weeks ago it was 36 degrees Celsius, so hot , TOO hot but the beauty of the Pope's church and the airco made it worth being there.
    Have a lovely 4th of July my friend.

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  20. Hello dear June,
    I also love the sommer, and I do love your really gorgeous and lovely peonies....
    Happy summertime and a great 4th of July for you!
    Warm greetings
    Bine

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  21. Hello, dear June!

    I love your summer list. I love your peonies. I love your photos!!

    We are having a very late start to summer this year so yes, each and every day, night, event, activity and blooming flower are precious and cherished.

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful summer memories in the making.

    hugs

    – g

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  22. Dear June,
    Reading this I almost think your weather are similar with the one we have here in Denmark, so also I know about short summers,and cold icy winters, and the longing for the first rose to bloom in June.
    Your post is beautiful, and all your reasons for loving summer and be a bussy bee, to be everywhere when the first sun beam arrived, I totally understand :-)
    Hugs and love,Dorthe

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  23. OH ,I forgot to wish you a happy 4th
    of July.
    xo,Dorthe

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  24. I love all the things you do especially the flipflops,I love putting the boots and wellies away and having my feet free in pretty flipflops,one of my grandsons asked me "grandma which is flip and which is flop",I couldnt answer that one for laughing bless him I just said to him "which ever one you want it to be".Have a wonderful summer and happy 4th July to you.Love Jill xx

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  25. Seeing as how I live in New Hampshire I know exactly how you feel about summer, June! It is so short it's ridiculous. Like you, I too cherish every warm, sunny day I can. Every flower seems to go by so quickly, especially if the rain comes. In the mean time we shall take it all in. Relish in the beauty that is summer.

    Fabulous peony shots : )

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  26. Dear Sweet June
    I have been so waiting to see your peonies and I am thrilled with your stunning display and the colours are of the softest shades. I know how thrilled you must be feeling at reaching this stage of Summer! It is a most precious time of year for you.
    I can relate so readily to all the reasons why you love the environment where you live - it is so reflective of mine here also.
    I am so grateful everyday for the beauty that surrounds me here as it does you.
    You have such a special gift in displaying your plants and flowers dear woman. Enjoy every minute while they are blooming for you!
    Much love from frosty but beautiful sunny Winter days downunder,
    Suzy

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  27. It sounds like,I have to move to youre country,love the photo`s and youre story,have a nice day,greetings Musje.

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  28. Oh dear, summer IS FLYING AWAY TOO FAST!!!!!! But I am trying to seize each moment as best I can! LOVELY FLOWERS my dear June! Anita

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  29. June,
    I LOVE all the things you LOVE about summer.We live in the northern part of our state in the northern states.We were lucky last winter it was not as cold.A gift from God.But normally we have lots of snow and cold.I cherish every summer day.Unfortunately this summer has been way too hot 100 + almost everyday.So not much time out in my pathetic looking garden.Still I would rather have warm weather than cold.I LOVE my flip flops!. Your peonies are so beautiful.All your photos are.Thank you for sharing your beautiful flowers.Have a happy 4th of July!
    (((((((Hugs))))))))
    Anne

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  30. gorgeous...and makes me love Idaho even more! We have been at a steady 95 for nearly 2 weeks, with almost 80% humidity - so very different than what you are experiencing!

    have a beautiful 4th and a great rest of your week
    xo+blessings,
    Anne Marie

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  31. Absolutely lovely!
    Happy July 4th to you!
    Kari

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  32. Such a lovely post June! From the age of 8 to 14 I lived in a rather small town on the Eastern side of Canada. I have fond memories of the summer nights, getting mosquito bites everywhere, the sweltering humidity, going to a cottage at the lake...they were fun summer days:)

    Enjoy!

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  33. Such stunning pictures of your peonies in their dear basket & your lovely home!
    We spent July 1st ...Canada Day...dogging bits of rain with our sweaters on! But today is July 4th ...your 4th! and we are getting sun & it is staying for a few days!
    We are off to friends @ their cottage on the beach!
    Then thursday is a day trip to Seattle!
    I am so blessed reading your blog & your joy of summer...sounds like you have a lot of adventures ahead of you for the next 2 months!

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  34. Oh what deliciousness you've shared so beautifully! Wonderful summer poetry.

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  35. THIS sounds EXACTLY like my summers. Got to relish every second. Summer just doesn't last long enough for me. (winter is tooooo LONG and COLD)...like yours.

    I have been gone most of June to Reno and Utah and wowza IT WAS HOT. Utah is burning up. My hubby struggled with the 100 temps.

    In that regard, it was nice to come home to cooler, fresher feeling days.
    Enjoy your summer days girlfriend and letting us share them with you.

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  36. Your little town truly sounds like a piece of Heaven on earth... Jack wants to move there!... our winters are harsh too, but not as harsh as yours sound... but I revel in each day of Summer like you do... your flowers are all so pretty!... and I love them on the chair... when we had our little farm, I loved all of those same sounds and smells that you describe... the hay baler in the middle of the night in the acreage next to us... the smell of new mown hay, the large rolling sprinklers... there is truly nothing like living in the country!... wishing you a happy Fourth of July!... much love, xoxo Julie Marie

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  37. HOLA JU. FELIZ DÍA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA.
    LAS FLORES SON MARAVILLOSAS. SON MÁGICAS. ALEGRAN TODOS LOS ESPACIOS.
    Y EN ESTAS IMÁGENES LUCEN TODAVÍA MAS BELLAS. UN ABRAZO.
    LULA :o)

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  38. Hi June!,

    Happy Fourth of July! Absolutely LOVE your photos!! Hope you are outside enjoying the weather and your family.

    It is "supposed" to only reach 90 here in Boise today, but hit triple digits by the end of the week! We may need to take a trip to the mountains to cool off! :)

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  39. One of my very favorite rural sights is fields of hay bales. I have tried and tried to draw them to no avail but I can get them with my camera. And I too adore flip flops!

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  40. I love love love your pictures!!!!!wonderfulllll

    Kisses Tanja

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  41. your summer sounds wonderful! and your beautiful flowers reflect the perfect, if not short, growing season. we are having a drought with extreme heat, it is all i can do to keep my flowers watered. i just love your beautiful imagery and bucolic notions.
    happy fourth.
    erin
    xxoo

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  42. In my perfect world, I will have a summer home in the mountains of Wyoming. I love LOVE the mountains and the cool beautiful summer's. I'm not so sure that the growing season is really that much shorter, here everything fries in the summer until there's nothing pretty left. We're heading that way in a couple of weeks and I can't wait! Your pictures are beautiful as usual.

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  43. Me again June... I just came back to drool over your photos once more, and loved seeing the picture of you and Landon again when he was a baby in the background in one... that is such a priceless picture of the two of you... a mama and her precious baby boy... xoxo Julie Marie

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  44. such a joy my dear!!!!!! I can´t have enough of your incredible wonderful peonies!!!!

    I have made a post about you, hope you like it.

    many hugs to you

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  45. Dear June, I absolutely love all your loves and I love it when you share it all with us! God bless you dear friend! Happy Independence Day!! Julie

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  46. Oh June - you are SO right about summertime! Even here in MI, I feel like summer is way to short and the leaves are turning to red and gold much too quickly. Even though we've been battling drought and severe heat here this past month, I'm reveling in the sunny days which we certainly don't get in the winter time. It seems like once July gets here, summer just flies by and we're raking leaves again. So, I too, am taking each of these summer days as a blessing and being grateful for every one! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  47. It is undeniable that you love summer. And i guess everyone will agree that summer is the well-loved season of the year. Aside form Christmas of course ;).
    Ed Butowsky

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  48. June, it all sounds so wonderful. I grew up on a farm and know the joys of a summer's day. Thanks for taking me down that road with you.
    Your flowers are a treat.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  49. Oh how I love to read your summer post.

    Enjoying every picture of your beautiful peonies, their colors are so dreamy.

    Have a beautiful weekend.
    Hugs from Holland,
    B.

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  50. Hi June,
    I understand excatly how you feel about summer-I love it too!
    We are having beautiful sunny days here so far this summer.
    I hope you have a wonderful summer and enjoy all the things you love.
    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  51. so so pretty! I can smell those peonies from here....Happy Summer!

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  52. Beautiful post! Sounds like you live in Norman Rockwell America where you actually stop to enjoy the natural things of life.
    Mary Alice

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  53. And... I love hearing about all the beautiful things that stir your heart. Me too... i love the little chirpy things you hear on summer nites, and the smell of the honeysuckle.. and the sound and the smell when someone is cutting the grass...
    It sounds so charming there, well, except for the cold part!

    I'm with you, it's always the simple things that are the best...

    Cindy

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  54. Sweet June!

    Thank you for visiting us! Yes, we LOVE to dream and then WORK to make it happen. Even in this heat of ours, we are scraping and prepping for paint and have a courageous builder out here this week to build us a deck. We had 100+ temps yesterday but today, though it is still dangerously hot, is a little better!

    Looking at your all white décor is so soothing! Enjoy each fleeting summer day! Anita

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  55. I wouldn't live anywhere else but in the country June!! I am a country girl at heart, born, raised and live in the country. No city gal here. lol

    Beautiful photos!!!
    Blessings~

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  56. Oh, your pictures are sooo gorgeous! I know what you mean about enjoying summer and all you can cram into it, I grew up in Minnesota and we only had about 6 weeks of summer. Now I live in Florida and live for the cooler winters!
    Carol

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  57. You don't have a comment form on your other blog. I love both of your posts today. Such a joy. I hope you're not in the drought are of the US. xo Jenny

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  58. Hi June... just visited "Grace Gardens" and wanted to let you know how beautiful everything looks!... I LOVE that pale lavender colored Delphinium!... your weather must be alot cooler now than ours... alot of my early Summer blooms have pooped out... my pansies and violas are long gone... thanks for sharing your lovely gardens, xoxo Julie Marie

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  59. Good grief June...I'm about the 63rd comment on your post! But, I can see why. Everything is so beautiful to see. I just love visiting here and seeing all of your lovely photos of the peonies and peeks of your pretty home. I also like hearing about your small town and how wonderful it is living there.

    You are truly blessed and we are truly blessed to be a part of your life.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  60. Gorgeous photos!!!! It sounds like Heaven there:) Have a beautiful weekend.
    ~Debra xxx
    Capers of the vintage vixens

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  61. Oh, we love so many of the same things! Our summer seems to have begun today - first really sunny day with any hint of warmth in the air,
    Flip flops - I have just discovered them!

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  62. Dear June,
    what a beautiful post! I really feel your summerlove and your photos are wonderful! So beautiful are your peonies! I want to thank you for your so kind words for me! I'm always very happy! I am glad that you found my little blog and you take the time again to stop by! I send you many greetings and have a nice summer weekend!

    hugs Sylvia

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  63. I love all your loves, June! And I agree totally.
    Of course, I think you took the photos for this post just for me....you know I adore peonies. Just perfect in that bucket!
    I am so fortunate to live in summer year round.

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  64. It looks beautiful where you are, June. A picture-perfect summer!
    Enjoy,
    Zuzu

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  65. Hi June,

    So many wonderful reasons to love summer and you must be enjoying every minute of it.
    Your peonies are so beautiful and would want to sit and admire them all day.
    Never knew that about Hyacinth bulbs, so thanks for telling me.

    Have a happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  66. I don't know how you survive your long winters. I think I would die, but I'm sure your summers are just perfect. Not like here in Ohio, where everything is an extreme something or other. We have very few perfect days, but each one is cherished. I call them "San Diego" days because they remind me of my visits there where the weather is nearly perfect year round.
    Love your photos - always. Just beautiful. Your flowers always look prettier than mine. I'm sure they like your climate better and don't have to endure scorching heat like we're having here with no end in sight.
    As always - so nice to visit.
    Cindy

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  67. Oh June...I am speechless. These photos are absolutely gorgeous! What a joy to behold! You do such an amazing job of styling your photos! And to have all the peonies, AND fresh lavender!! What a blessing!

    Thank you again for taking the time to create such beauty for us to enjoy!

    Hugs,
    Becky

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  68. Getting everything possible out of your summer! Charming! Your flowers are glorious! I love working outside until dark too! Just walked in the door (10:00pm) after doing some hand watering! Continue to enjoy you beautiful summer June! June...a perfect name for a summer~girl! xox

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You all bless my life with your sweet words,
and I appreciate you taking the time to leave them.