Garden in Bloom, New Gazebo & Royal Wedding

We had a "constructive" weekend.  First I have to show you this massive Rhododendron.  I just love the polka dotted flowers on this one.  This is on the right of our front yard. (ETA - thanks to my friend Theresa, she identified this Rhodie as "Sappho"!)

We got this new gazebo last Fall and now the guys and Kristi are putting it together.  It has SO many parts, over 1200!

The instructions say it will take 4 people to build it, but our son Travis built each side on the deck and then Dayle and Kristi helped raise them while Travis fastened them together, just like an old fashioned barn raising!  Kristi is the organizer of parts and Dayle is the "supervisor" and Travis was the builder, adding the screws and bolts and nuts and generally the brawn of the outfit.  

I'm the recorder of history.  

This is the company's advertising photo of what it will look like when done.  The size of the gazebo is 12'x14'.  

My little cast iron gnome is keeping an eye on the building.

My purple Iris has 3 flowers in bloom on one stalk now.

Next to the Iris is my big Honeysuckle vine.  Unfortunately it always is covered with black fly or something and I may have to dig it out and burn it.  I am not a proponent of poisoning pests and this vine obviously is not strong enough to take care of itself which is a requirement to be a member of our garden.  :-)

This is our white Rhododendron that has yellow markings.  What is weird is that this is usually the first Rhodie to bloom and the red ones the last.. ever single year.. but this year this one is after the red and pink ones.  Hmmm.  (ETA - I googled this variety and it's name is "Catawbiense Album".)

My little Siberian Irises.  These were in a big bed up by the Apple tree, I dug some up and had a pot of them on my houseboat deck, then brought them back here and planted them at the top of the creek and waterfalls.. where they never bloomed.. so we moved them down in more sunlight by our walkway and here is where they've thrived.  34 years of moving these around.. nuts.

My beloved 4th of July rose bush is covered with buds and this is one of the first to burst forth.  

My barley twist candlestick collection grew from 2 pairs to 3 over the weekend.  Facebook's Marketplace is the culprit.  These ones are the smallest, have silver-plated top and bottoms and a little removable top bobeche.

I got my collection of polka dotted candles that I ordered from Cath Kidston in London and put them in the candlesticks for the table.

Kristi surprised me with a new Pioneer Woman tablecloth, so I put it on the table, freshened the roses we got for Mother's Day last week and arranged the candles.  The designs on this cloth remind me of crocheted mandalas, don't you agree?

I sure do love colorful things.  

I did not get up at 4:30 am to watch the Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan - but on Sunday afternoon I watched a CNN showing of it all.  :-)

I absolutely loved it all and am so inspired by the positivity of their union.  While our own country is moving backward and spiraling downward into racism and bigotry - I am thrilled with the how England is showing us all the right way to behave.

*C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S*!* to Harry & Meghan!

Right before I began to work on this post I saw the official photo of the wedding.  How beautiful!  I love the way the Queen and Meghan's mother are wearing a similar spring green.  

I had sat outside watching the gazebo building for a long time and got thoroughly chilled, so this was me when I came back in to watch the wedding.  With my pink shawl and Woodland blanket making me cozy.  :-)

Kristi had gone to check out a new meat shop and came home with 5 Porterhouse steaks, 2 filet mignon and 4 marinated teriyaki kebabs.  This is our dinner on the pellet grill, Travis was the BBQ chef.  Kristi served it with twice baked potatoes and green beans and asparagus.  Yum!

I don't think I told you but our grandson Hayden had decided to be a vegetarian and was eating that way for almost 2 months.  But a few weeks ago we went out for Chinese dinner and Hayden was not pleased to miss out on having meat so he is once again a carnivore.  And no, he did not finish this.  :-)

So, that's all our news.  How was your weekend?  I hope it was a good one.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)