Monday, April 27, 2009

Hot and bothered in Maryland (and the Giveaway is still on)

If you’d like to enter my Giveaway, see the post below this. The contest ends at 6 PM Tuesday and the winner will be announced later in the evening.

I want Spring back, please. Today it went up to 92 here in Cecil County and the entire weekend was quite warm as well. But today was a scorcher here. When I came home, I’d noticed my husband had put fans in strategic locations and had covered the kitchen windows with some interesting choices in fabrics. I found a nice linen tablecloth from Williams Sonoma in a lovely sage green hanging over one window and a textured bed linen in ochre over the other. The room was cool, and I told my husband it was tres chic, because I’m in a French mood today.

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It really wasn’t tres chic, but if he wants to hang tablecloths and bedspreads on a couple of the windows, then who’s it hurting? It’s not like we’re having guests and entertaining all the time. And besides, I really didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

We don’t plan on turning on the AC in this house too often because it’s too huge a space to cool all summer. So we’re looking for small ways to cut back on the heat entering. The walls are probably 3-feet thick on the outside and that will help a great deal. But we may get a small window unit just for the bedroom. There’s no use suffering.

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I still took George for his walk after school. Here’s a view of the backyard where my husband has a small garden. His lettuce is awesome and it’s coming in really well.

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I found this leaf sprout from a downed tree at the edge of the property. I took this with my regular 18-55 Nikon DX lens and set it to the macro setting.

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My husband took this photo of one of the azalea bushes out front. It’s beautiful here in the Spring!

Remember, the Giveaway ends at 6 PM Tuesday. Until then, my friends . . .

36 comments:

Sarah Anne said...

I wish I could grow azaleas out here, but our soil isn't acidic enough (thank my AP Enviro teacher for that tidbit). They're so pretty.

Reddirt Woman said...

Those azaleas are gorgeous!

Thanks to your hubs for the photo!

Helen

Anonymous said...

Your house is awesome!

I too love taking macro shots.. the leaf shot is gorgeous!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

abb said...

We weren't that warm here today in CT. And we're at least 2 weeks away from planting the garden!

Love the focus on the dogwood blossoms in that one photo.

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

We live in an old house with super thick walls with no air conditioning either EXCEPT for the room one in the bedroom. Couldn't agree more with not suffering! I sure do miss the azaleas...so beautiful. Off to enter the giveaway!

Unknown said...

I love that house. And the photos are stunning.

I always get an amazing sense of peace whenever I look at your work.

Deb said...

Would you believe that is was hotter in MD than in GA today?
3 foot walls, huh? I would love to see that house.
Outstanding photos.

Andrea said...

Yes, we went from winter to summer here in Maryland in just about 2 weeks!

Jill of All Trades said...

Your house is AWESOME and I love the garden. Just fabulous.

Donalyn said...

We kind of skipped over spring here too, but it will be back in a day or two. We don't even have AC, but it's a lot hotter down there I think. Gorgeous photos as always :)

Molly said...

Lovelovelove the photo of the house from the back across the veg garden.

Have a good week!

Shelley said...

Your husband has a nice sized garden! And your home is just dreamy....love all that land that its on. And of course because George is there! wink, wink! :-)

Jo said...

92 degrees!? Holy doodle! It's not even May yet!

That is a magnificent house.

Mental P Mama said...

I am feeling a bit of azalea envy. Still.

Char said...

hot here too - love the magnolias. beautiful shots.

Jeannelle said...

Your house has so much character! Love the fuzzy little leaf bud sprout, too! So many great things to see in spring. Sorry to hear you're having heat wave already. It was cold and windy here today.

noble pig said...

Hey bedspreads on the window, who cares! I mean seriously why not.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

hot here too... A?C is ON has been for awhile... can you block vents except to the rooms you use??? we keep the house dark too helps to keep it cooler but no OLD thick walls here... that should really help keep the heat out!
such a beautiful place...and great garden and always love the azelias... we have pink and white ones :)

iowacowgirl said...

Your house is so wonderful. And the widow's walk!!! - I love it.

Sometime please share some history of this beautiful piece of architecture.

It is COLD and WINDY here in Iowa today, and RAINY and Tornado-y. where is spring???

Pony Girl said...

Those azaleas are a beautiful shade of lavender!
Thanks for sharing the lens info. As a newbie, I always wonder these things. I'm still perfecting macro with my 18-55. I think I might need to get something a little better...oh darn! ;) wink!

imom said...

90 degrees in April is just too darn hot! My husband would totally hang odd things to cover the windows too.

Your house is gorgeous as well as that azalea!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness beautiful house! I remember quite a few days in Northern Virginia where the heat index was in the hundreds and smog alert days where you were encouraged to not leave your house. Despite living in the south ... it's actually cooler down here! The ocean breeze really helps. Your azaleas are gorgeous ... :)

Alli said...

Your house and gardens are beautiful. Reading your blog always makes me happy.

Anonymous said...

We were just talking about putting in azaleas. My mother has some gorgeous ones in her yard. I lust after them...

Your house is so beautiful. Love the photo of it.

Anonymous said...

Your blog never ceases to amaze me. You are an incredible photographer and you have a wonderful calm way with words.

CJ xx

GailO said...

Here in RI we went straight from "too Cold and rainy to work in the yard" to "too Hot and buggy to work in the yard"!

Mary said...

What a gorgeous house that is, Kate! We've had all our curtains drawn and shades pulled here, too. I have these awful paper shades in the bedroom that are supposed to be used while renovating. I really have to find some blackout shades, but in the meantime, I'll be hanging some dark fabric over the window too.

And yes, our bedroom AC units went in over the weekend.

Your husband's garden looks cute. I hope the really hot weather won't cause the lettuce to bolt.

Love the macro of the leaf -- so soft and pretty!
xoxo,
Mary

jarvenpa said...

My goodness, that is a HUGE house you have there. And lovely, I must say.
Here in northern California (where my cabin is less than 1000 square feet, but I say my living room is several acres) it has been cool and drizzling. I'll see if some cool air can waft to you.

Daryl said...

Get a floor fan, one of the ones on a tall pole, and use it to move the air .. we put the A/C in the LR window and a tall fan in the BR and let it pull the cool air into the BR .. that was last summer and all the summers before it .. we need a new A/C ... given how quickly Husband does anything ....

Back from holiday, trying to catch up ...

Delphine said...

So you live in a chateau too! fantastic flower photos -

Unknown said...

It is quite hot here isn't it! I am ready to go back to spring!

Shimmy Mom said...

You want Spring back and I'm wishing it would start. We've had a total of about 3 days over 65 so far. Today it is 50 and windy and storms are expected. I'd really like it if Spring could get here before Summer should be half over. Why can't they mix us all up in a bag and give us all decent weather?
*hugs*

troutay said...

What is that on the top of your house?
It almost looks like a Widow's walk.
Bad weather here also for the last couple of days. Today, we have sun!
But it is still chilly.

Skogkjerring said...

Stunning photos Kate!! Your home is really wonderful...every time I look at it I try and imagine it way back in it's original day...I can only imagine how stately and fantastic is was and how well it's maintained it's beauty over the years...you are truly blessed to live in such a lovely place!

WarPony said...

I gave you an award on my blog. You aren't obligated to DO anything, just wanted to let you know!

http://phoenixdownfarm.blogspot.com/2009/04/kreativ-blogger-award.html

Flea said...

I love your house, and your azaleas are beautiful. :)