Brotherhood Winery.

The oldest continuing operating winery in the US. Note the "continuing". They produced sacramental wine during prohibition.

Did you notice the link to the August break that I'm participating in? I'm going to have less words and maybe just a photo each day in August. Click on the link, there are many great blogs you may enjoying looking at.

Last day of the Bar Exam.

At the dinner after graduation I had a good idea that Kristen wished for success on her exam. Hope her final exam day goes well.

Wordless Wednesday

NEW YORK BAR EXAM

Today is the first of three days of the New York Bar Exam for Kristen.

Please be thinking of her over the next three days !!
I gave Kristen a 6" x 6" scrapbook for her birthday last year and I continue to make pages to add to it.

Bird Feeder

I bought a new bird feeder and it's filled with peanuts. I bought it for the wood peckers that I've occasionally seen and always hear in the yard. Within two days I had two wood peckers at the feeder, one at a time. They won't share.

I wasn't able to photograph a wood pecker but I did get a blue jay.
With my camera not working properly it's very difficult to get any shots in focus. Especially shooting at a distance.

I do like how this shot looks, broken camera and all.

Wicker Cleaning

Once a year I take all my wicker baskets outside, hose them off and let them dry in the shade. I read that drying in shade is better since the wicker has time to absorb some of the water.

I like how all the wicker baskets look in the house but they are big dust collectors.
Every now & then I'll dust off but nothing beats a good cleaning. This is what Martha Stewart suggests

Wicker: For both traditional and "outdoor" wicker (woven from resin or coated paper), the chief challenge is dealing with the textured surface. To remove dust, vacuum or use a soft-bristled brush. When that isn't enough, scrub with soap and water. If traditional wicker cracks, the fibers are too dry. Apply boiled linseed oil, and wipe dry (the used rags are flammable; soak them in water and wrap tightly in plastic before disposing). To repair traditional wicker, apply a damp towel to any loose strands until they become flexible enough to reweave (about an hour). If necessary, tack with an exterior brad.Read more at Marthastewart.com: Outdoor Furniture Cleaning and Repair and more decorating ideas, organizing tips, and homekeeping and cleaning solutions on marthastewart.com

I would love to polish all the baskets with linseed oil. If only I had that staff that Martha has.

Wordless Wednesday