Fun at Longwood Gardens....

More Photos from our day at Longwood

last week....

We had walked the Brick Walk and then 

were headed to the Conservatory.

The day wasn't scorching 

but it was definitely hot in the sun.

So, when I saw a bench ahead

and it happened to be in the shade

I longed to sit down.

I resisted.

Jonathan did not.

This brought "scorn" from his sister

which led to a group of photos

from many benches in the garden.

After all....

who can resist "irritating" their 

sister.... or daughter, 

if it is all in fun.

She's not really mad.

Just loves to make faces.

I played around with the Fancy 

Collages in Picnik.

These are from the 

Heritage Collection.

I had to get in on the fun!

Those are my granny sunglasses...

which I love.

Even if they do make me look 

silly.

I do hope you'll find some

time to play with your family.

Make memories.

There is always work to be done

but your family is growing and

changing. 

Time spent together is 

precious!

You Are Invited....Blog Meet at Longwood Gardens

Edited: A California Blogger may be joining us.
A date will be chosen soon.
I'll let you know as soon as I know....
I think a Saturday will work best for the most people.

If you have read here much
you know that our family is quite taken
with the beauty to be found
in Kennett Square, PA.

It is the ideal place to meet
as walking and talking are so
low key and easy.

A small group of us did this last
year and vowed then to do it again.
JD, of the Ribbon Challenged Blog,
is reminding me that it is time to
get it on the schedule.

This was our group last year.



Bloggers attending were Mrs. Rabe of Creekside Cottage,
My girl, Chelsea, of It's About Friends,
I am behind her,
Jill of Ribbon Challenged
and Karen of Nittany Inspirations.

Jill's husband, Jim, and my husband,Warren, were there
and enjoyed the day as well.
They even had their
own table at lunch.


These were some of the sights we saw
in the Spring of last year.











This year's feature is all about Fragrance.
Everything has been planted with thought to
how the fragrances blend.

To find more about Longwood Gardens and
ticket pricing you can see their website
here....

All Bloggers are invited.

You can email me at beckypfa(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Please let me know what days of the week are
best for you....

I'll be anxiously waiting for your responses.

Now I am off to my kitchen to
make nearly fifty candles.

Hugs!

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Mikey's Dinner

Oh.My.Goodness!
What a fun, fun evening.

In the first place the weather
was perfect! Check out the
drive to Kennett Square and
Longwood Gardens.
















Over country roads and past
water features.





It was the finale dinner to
celebrate the accomplishment of
eight hard but wonderful weeks as
Summer Interns at the gardens.

We arrived at our destination
and were granted entrance by the
guard at the guardhouse.





Here in the parking lot I had to
take this picture of a plant
grouping.

Mikey was checking it
out too...so it is not just me!

The Conservatory was looking pretty
lovely as it reflected the sky.



We headed up the stairs to the
Terrace where we were to have our
dinner. I stopped and took a picture.



Mikey became aware that I wasn't
following and turned around.



He was so nervous.

He needn't have been.
The Longwood Horticulture Staff
and Administration were so lovely.

They chatted away with us as if we
were important to them. In fact, we
were so blessed by their attitudes
and kindness.

As Mikey is the first homeschooler
to be accepted into the program we
knew they were taking a chance on him.
There was no school staff to intercede
should something have gone awry. They
would have been stuck with us..."The Parents!"
However, we could not be happier with
the program and the experience.

Each program participant was given a
certificate of completion that is very
impressive and was encouraged to stay
in touch with their acquaintances at
the Gardens.





The "class"




Here is hoping that Mikey makes it into
the Professional Gardener's Program.
He wants it so badly.

He would start a two year rotation in either
2011 or 2012.

Maybe, just maybe!

We sure are hoping!
He will be working on
Latin Plant Names this school
year...just in case...



For more Outdoor Fun, please visit Susan
at A Southern Daydreamer! She's always
got the best friends sharing the beauty
of the out of doors.

Young Photographer and Siblings

For Outdoor Wednesday as hosted
by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

Yesterday, Mrs. Rabe and I headed
to Longwood Gardens to begin a fun
project with our Homeschool Co-op.

We have been invited to decorate a
wildlife tree for the Christmas Season.

Honestly, standing in a second story
room, sweating like a pig(far from glamorous!), when it is
90 degrees and humid makes Christmas
seem far, far away.

However, we were very excited to meet
our hostess and new friend, Pandora,
who is in charge of this project.

She showed us samples of ornaments
made for her tree. We are not expected
to duplicate her designs but to come up
with our own of which most will have
an edible component for the many birds
at Longwood Gardens.

After our time inside we left with several
bags of seed pods and other natural items
to begin our work. On the way out it seemed
a good idea to treat the Rabe children to
some time in two treehouses. They were so
patient to wait as we chatted away.

Just outside the first treehouse were these
awesome felled trees and stumps.

I had fun watching the children play here.



Miss Rachel returns from the treehouse
camera in hand.



She spots something in the trees
overhead...raising her camera to
get the perfect shot.




I find a smiling Sarah
willing to pose.



Master Kyle is very intent on keeping
his step on this log.



Looking at these shady photos
you would never know we were
melting!



The sun through the trees.
Love it!



Coming soon...photos taken while we were
without power last evening. Bad, bad storms
blew down trees which took power lines.
We finally got power at 2:20 am.
One good thing...I got to begin
burning my butterfly candle.
It IS pretty!

They are Beautiful!

A Beautiful Life Post hosted by
the lovely Melissa Michaels at
The Inspired Room.
This post was written Thursday
evening...so all references to
"today" should be taken as
having happened
on Thursday.


I was surprised to hear the door
open and close, as I was busily
writing a letter to a Senator who
seems to need a little
bit of advice...
unsolicited of course.
((insert innocent smile))

Nonetheless, there he was.
Our middle son, Mikey.
Done with one more day at his
internship.
We are all in amazement that
next week will complete his much looked
forward to eight weeks at
the famous Longwood Gardens!

It seems only yesterday we had fingers and
toes crossed as we sent out a portfolio and
application for consideration.

Since that day Mikey has dead-headed a
whole bunch of flowers, pruned,
planted, picked veggies, learned about design,
worked in greenhouses, attended several
field trips, passed his driver's
test, taught more than one person
that homeschoolers really are pretty normal.
A little intense,apparently, as the other
students wish he wouldn't be such a high achiever.
Most of them seem to view the internship as a nice
summer job. Mikey is intent on getting into
their two year program after graduation and wants
to learn absolutely everything he can.
He has taken some fun teasing for that.

Anyway, when Mikey came home today he brought
a treat...wait... make that two treats with him.

They learned about flower arranging today and
got to make two arrangements. He carefully
buckled them into his car and brought them home.

Yay!

Take a peek!





This is an Oasis Style arrangement.







And then the more traditional style in
a purple vase.
So many types of plants and flowers.
The fragrance is amazing!






























Would you not totally love to have the
flowers at your disposal that the workers
at Longwood Gardens enjoy?

What a total priviledge it has been to
learn more about this organization over
the summer.
I am more impressed than ever.

Everyone is so friendly, open and willing
to share what they know or are learning.

I do hope if you get to our area that you
will visit these lovely gardens.

It does not matter what season, there
are things to love on those many acres.

Thanks Mikey, for sharing your lovely
flower creations. You make us proud!

To You, dear reader, I appreciate the
opportunity to share our experiences
with you. I might write if no one ever
came, but it wouldn't be half as much
fun, I am sure of that!
And of course, you know I am totally Hooked On Flowers
so I am linking in to Julia's "Hooked On" Party.
I hope you might check out other fun links there.