Time for linen and gardens -

Officially it's not Summertime quite yet, but it certainly feels

 like it here with temps in the high 80's all week.  

It's an excuse for a brief 'fashion post' which I haven't done in some time.

My wardrobe changeover is underway!  

My heavy sweaters, coats, jackets are gradually being cleaned/washed

and stored away. . . . . . . and the linens are hanging in the closet.

I've purchased a new, slightly loose cut - the style this year - cream

 linen blend blazer/jacket. Very comfortable, doesn't wrinkle too much, 

and I wore it out to lunch on Wednesday over a tan/cream striped tee

and khaki loose cut cropped trousers. 

I love neutrals and stripes in case you don't know!

I also pulled out a pair of sandals and so enjoyed airing my

 toes after months of socks and boots!

Haven't worn a straw hat yet but have a couple at the ready for

bright sunny days, especially when gardening . . . . . . which

I'm busy doing a lot of lately.

This week the ancient John Cabot Canadian rose has gone a little

 berserk and is clambering up the arbor to twirl with the trumpet vine. 

Pink with orange was not planned but actually looks very colorful.  

Let's face it, anything blooming in a garden is a gift, all colors are

 lovely with a green background!

I've planted several large pots of herb seeds, also little peat pots

of hollyhock seeds which I hope will germinate and grow 

where planted later.  

This week I also shopped for the annual hanging Boston ferns

for the front porch. I don't buy the largest as they grow fast and

 soon fill out with a little TLC. 

Already I'm gently shooing away the finches - as soon as they see 

a fern swaying in the breeze they think of building a nest. We

 allowed that to happen some years but they are such messy

 little birds and we'd prefer they move in elsewhere, away from

 where we often sit outside!

Feeding and watering the birds keep us busy enough! We don't

want to be grandparents to their offspring - especially since 

the scary visit a few years back when the five foot long

 fat black snake came to the porch looking for finch eggs in the

 baskets. . . . . . and scared me half to death as it slithered silently

 across the wicker chairs where I was sitting!!! Despite not being a

 venomous snake I still never want to see one that close again.

I'm shaking just writing about it!

The weekend weather here will be mixed - full sun and a high of

 84F today, with rain tomorrow and then back to sunshine and a little

 cooler on Sunday.

Enjoy your weekend.