Gardner Village Witchfest and Witch Scavenger Hunt

 One family tradition we have in the fall is to go visit Gardner Village during Witchfest or Witchapalooza or Witch Scavenger hunt. And we always visit this original water wheel at the Archibalds Restaurant and furniture store at Gardner Village shops. They put out all kinds of giant bigger-than-life witches in funny positions hanging from buildings, spiderwebs, and stirring pots of green goo. It's a great photo op for kids. Check Witchfest out HERE.

See what I mean? Witchapalooza! My grandkids have loved it in years past. It is fun to go hang out and see what is new at the shops at Gardner Village too. My favorite place there is the 2 furniture stores and the Quilt Shop, and of course the candy and fudge shop. But caramel apples were like $6.95 now! WTHeck! Kinda pricey folks! 

They have these lovely covered bridges, a lake running through it with real ducks and geese you can feed breadcrumbs to, and witches, of course, sitting on rafts in firemen suits. (yeah, there is sometimes no logic to the witch surroundings). 

Sometimes you'll see a witch sitting on suitcases going through security at an airport, and another time she is wrapped up in a spider's web. It is very creative. I think this witch is in a gold mine. lol. Good luck with that, witch! They also have like 200 pumpkins all around the place. It is very festive. 

Then you have these real witches that tried out to play the witches of Witchapalooza. I tried out one year. But I never got a call. You have to put together over the top costumes like this one. And you have to have a very dramatic witchy voice and put on airs and stuff. This one was very weird and obnoxious. But she made me laugh. Dylan, my grandson, not so much. :D 

She had this funny pumpkin rolling stroller she dragged around behind her everywhere she went. I felt like she was stalking us at one point.  She was a little freaky-deeky! These people have to have lots of craziness and personality. They make it fun, though, I have to admit. 

 You go throughout the outdoor shopping village and look for witches to match each of about 20 clues. Then if you find them all you get a cookie in the sweet shop bakery. The girls loved that part.

 This is my favorite witch scene. The witches are stirring a green brew in the steaming cauldron. Everybody loves this scene. They added a lot of new things this year like a giant trampoline, a corn maze and pony rides that go around the park, not just in a circle. The extra kiddie land was $6 bucks. Otherwise it's free.

 It gets you in the mood for Halloween, and lots of kids dress up. We usually do. The parents sometimes dress like witches too. It is a fun community event. YOU have to try it.

I finished decorating the kitchen and living and dining rooms. My hubs was making fun of my "spooky kitchen!" because I plugged in a little string of skeletons and like 3 of them already won't work or their heads fell off. Stupid lights from China!  sigh......I still think they are cute....headless skeletons and all.....

Beautiful Yards and Landscaping in Utah

We've been hanging out at the Parade of Homes in Highland and Alpine, Utah lately. We saw some pretty yards that I was coveting, if you want to know the truth!

Look at this Parade of Homes back yard. It is so lovely and green! They probably didn't want the hassle of a pool, so they put in a splash pad instead! This one is in Highland, Utah. 

The homes themselves in the Parade of Homes were so pretty. The front had such interesting architecture and rock facings. But the landscaping is where I really fell in love. 

 The brick walkways leading up the this house were so pretty. I loved the circular brickwork with the flowers on either side.

 The backyards were almost over the top beautiful. This home had a pool, splashpad, fire ring, multiple covered patios with T.V.s and BBQ areas.

 I would love a pool with a slide, wouldn't you? I'd hate cleaning it though.

 You can see this covered gazebo area with a splash pad, a big screen and BBQ.

 Just off the house was this fireplace seating area with the BBQ and view of the pool.

 Here is the other side, where you walk down to the swimming pool.

 This was my favorite Parade of Homes backyard area. There is a Basketball court, a putting green, a splash pad and pool and many other fun things. You'd never leave in the summer!

Here you can see the walkways for exercising, the fire ring, the green back area, and a bit of the pool. There was so much to do here. I loved this yard. 

Well, we decided to go spend some time in the outdoors too. So we went to the cabin and rode quads. Our landscaping is nothing to write home about, but we have a goal now. 

We sold some of our outdoor furniture and we are starting a fund to do something fun at the cabin. Not on the grand scale we've see in the pictures above, but something fun. Maybe a volleyball court and a jacuzzi and a circular driveway using crushed gravel. That is doable! 

More junk we sold, in addition to 2 bikes, a dirtbike, a piano, and some tables and chairs. 

Then we went and relaxed at the Journey and Steve Miller Band concert at Usana Amphitheater. It was fun. 

Journey and Steve Miller Band Concerts were both awesome, as well as the Tower of Power band. 

 My favorite was Journey. Here is the awesome guitarist doing his thang.

 We also spent Saturday night at Draper Days Festival and saw Little River Band. Here I am making friends with a baby crocodile (or was it an alligator?)

We've had some fun so far this summer, the hubs and I. You have to take a break from all that weeding you know! 

Outdoor Wedding Garden Party at Le Jardin in Sandy, Utah

I snapped a few pictures at a recent outdoor garden wedding reception I went to with the hubs. It was so pretty! Our California friends Vickie and Russ's only son was married nearby and had a reception up at Le Jardin, where we had our son's reception. So we were lucky to attend and say hello! It's been years since we've seen them!

Le Jardin is a giant greenhouse filled with lovely things. Here I am entering the front of it. I love this place. It is a flower shop during the day and at night is is for parties, receptions, and family reunions. 

Everywhere you look are flowers, statues, fountains, wrought iron, plants and beauty. 

Oh and lots of arches, gazebos and twinkly lights too! I got NO good pictures of people. My camera was on the wrong setting. My bad. 

I didn't get a great shot of the cake, but it sure was pretty, as were the bride and groom. I used to teach this particular groom when he was only 7 years old. He was one of my 2nd graders back in California when I taught school there. He is now a physicist! Wow! 

 Here was a cute little sitting nook I thought was pretty. The whole place had so many plants and flowers everywhere, and little twinkle lights here and there. Very pretty.

Pretty flowers paths and plantings everywhere at Le Jardin in Sandy, Utah......

Lots of Pots full of beautiful pansies...... I wish mine looked this good already! How do they do it? 

These purple and white pansies do make a charming combination don't they? It looks like daffodils or tulips were behind these once upon a time. They have the same problem I do.....deer love to eat the flower tops off as soon as they bud out! Notice every one is gone. 

I loved the statuary all around and many water features to add ambiance to the garden like atmosphere. These indoor tulips were saved from deer munching. haha.

This is the outdoor gazebo that I just LOVE. It is fun to go strolling around it in the early evening looking at all the flowers and greenery that surround it.  My house is just up the street and so are the mountains (well, about 10 minutes away those mountains are....and just look they still have snow on them! 

Pretty heart shaped topiaries on the tables were so pretty as were the pink and white hydrangeas. 

I wish I could grow hydrangeas and spider plants like this. Some of my very favorites! 

This was such a sweet touch at the reception as you were leaving. I grabbed a couple for our trip to the movies. YUM! 

The reception center is called LE JARDIN and has a beautiful meandering walkway through this lush garden and tables are set up here and there to the sides till you get to the back where they had a lovely set up of sandwiches and sweet treats I forgot to snap a picture of. My bad. You know what happens to me around food. I lose all my sense that is what!! 

More beautiful pottery filled with greenery at Le Jardin Reception Center in Sandy, Utah.  

I loved this lamp so much I bought one similar to it a few years ago and it stands in my front bay window of my house next to a little oak bench. I love it. But I got my inspiration from Le Jardin. 

Good luck to the newlyweds! I hope you enjoyed your wonderful wedding day!  I didn't get ANY good pics of people. But this little picture of a picture tells the story anyway. Congratulations Taylor! I thought your new bride was a doll. :D

Tulips, Daffodils, and Spring Decorating

 Don't ya just LOVE SPRING? I love all the tulips and daffodils sprouting up around here. No these aren't mine. I have like a few dozen. These are from Thanksgiving Point Gardens Tulip Festival going on right now in Lehi, Utah. It's so beautiful to go walk around there and get inspiration!

 I just cross my fingers the deer don't see my tulips  very soon, or they will be gone gone gone in a swift munch. At least they don't like the daffodils though. I have a few of those that might survive deer. :D

So with spring comes a renewing of the old decorations. I am changing the decor in my entry room. It is blue and mauve leftover from the 80s. They called and wanted their wallpaper back. So I'm happy to oblige. We are GOING GREEN! It will be kind of lime  greens and yellows and muted corals. 

I'm so excited I found  this wall mirror that will be perfect on the new painted walls in the entry room for $15 bucks. Can I get a hallelujah?!! What a steal! It will look nice after I paint the walls a pale lime.  I have an old ball and claw table I'm painting the base lime too. It will look nice here in the bay window. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these garden ceramic drums. They are nice to put a drink on if you have guests sitting on your ottomans or accent chairs. I've got one of these in blue in my great room and another one I love in white up at my cabin in the master bedroom. Now I'm going to put the green one in the entry room. It is my inspiration color  for the new decor. 

I loved these little mirrored eggs I found too. I think I'll keep them out year round with the new lime green and yellow decor. I just need a prettier basket than this old green one leftover from St. Patrick's day! U-G-L-Y! Gotta get to Hobby Lobby! 

I got this candle and this cute seahorse to add to the great room. I love the colors. They are all beachy turquoise blue. 

And I couldn't resist this table runner. I love the new beachy colors and designs they have come out with lately. It reminds me of where I grew up! I lived on Redondo Beach most of my teenage life. Miss that salty sea air and the R and R of beachside lounging around with friends. Yup I really do miss that. sigh.....

This little seahorse and runner will  match my great room colors. Here is a little peak of what I've been doing on my off time from teaching school. I usually redo something during Spring Break. 

Here it is! After months of working on my greatroom, we are almost done! I got new couches and chairs and pretty curtains after we painted and had new floors put down. It is just about done. I loved how the wall paint color turned out. That was actually the hardest part of all the decisions......paint colors. I rely on the hubs a lot. He has the final say because I always go too dark. 

John put new ceiling fans in awhile back and they match the floor nice. I love how it is turning out. I got the cute chair from Pier 1. The lamp and knick knacks and pillows are from T. J. Max. I love that store. And I love that guy. He is a good decorating assistant....snicker.....(slave is more like it). I hope he doesn't read this.....

The after Easter sale was great at T.J. Max. I got a ton of stuff there. Here's something my grandkids will love.  I got some cupcake decs for CH CH CHEAP! 

These sugar sprinkles are regularly like $7.00 and I got the sprinkle container with 4 types of sprinkles for $1.40!!. And who doesn't love Jelly Belly candies for a buck? Well I do. Yum. I'm going to go eat some right now. I hope there will be leftovers for the grandkids when they come over!!  :-O