Stepping out of my back door this morning, I was stunned by the beauty of the red hollyhocks backed by newly opened sunflowers. This variety of hollyhock has certainly proved to be a winner for us after having tried several other varieties. Now if I could only remember what they were called!
Of course, you can see a bit of the white picket fence and the brick walkway, both built by my husband from salvaged materials. He scrounges derelict buildings for bricks and timber. He built our grape arbor with a rescued chestnut beam from a torn down house. I have seen old bricks for sale for inflated prices, but he has picked ours up here and there for free. I joke that when I see a building being knocked down, I immediately wonder what he might find there.
Summer has arrived in full force. Kids are walking by our house on their way to the town swimming pool a few blocks away. It’s free, clean and safely tended by a team of patient lifeguards. The ice cream truck drives by at least once a day, still playing “Turkey in The Straw” on its loud speakers. I had hoped that they might substitute another tune this year, but no such luck. Random fire crackers left over from the fourth of July sound in the evening. A few fireflies light up the yard. It’s a fleeting season in New England, but one with many small joys.
Saved By Words 
Beautiful colors! Isn’t summer wonderful? 🙂
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I love the brightness of everything!
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More, more photos Elizabeth 🙂
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Ok.
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Our ice cream truck plays “How Much Is That Doggy in the Window? (Arf! Arf! Arf!)”. The barking drives my pups crazy!
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That is hilarious.
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Your husband sounds like a very handy guy, Elizabeth. Just like my remarkable Dad.
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And when we met he didn’t have a handy bone in his body. Thankfully he was patiently taught everything by two different older neighbor men.
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The colors are wonderful. I miss ice cream trucks coming by. We have not had them over here in about 40 years I guess. I loved the mental pictures invoked from your last part of your post. Great.
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Thanks. I would think trailer parks would be a great place for food trucks.
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Fireflies! What do I know that they survive in New England? The last time I saw them was at Concordia, Kansas. BTW, love that red hollyhock.
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I was delightfully surprised that the hollyhock was that deep red. I thought I had only planted pink. Yes, fireflies are all around here.
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