Summer Updates: Gardening, Family News, and Learning to Wear a Bun

I’ve been missing blogging lately. Summer seems to be rushing past at an incredible pace, and despite all the ideas and plans I’ve entertained, I haven’t completed a single home project. I have, however, spent a lot of time thinking about projects I want to tackle when the time allows.

Container Gardens That Surprised Me

Back in April I planted some tiny starter plants in containers. I worried about them through the early months, and then forgot to water them for the hottest stretch of the summer. To my surprise, they recovered beautifully and are now thriving.

After that dry week, the containers filled out and became colorful focal points. Seeing how resilient those little plantings are has made me more confident about trying new varieties in containers next year.

I had never grown carnations in containers before, but they handled the drought-like conditions far better than I expected. Their hardiness has convinced me to try carnations again—especially for sunny spots where watering can be sporadic.

Emotional Family News on the Ferry

One afternoon recently I was checking Facebook on my husband’s phone while we waited in line for the ferry. I learned that my nephew and his partner had welcomed a baby girl that day. The photos were beautiful, and I smiled as I scrolled, enjoying the joyful news.

Then I read the caption. When I saw the baby’s name, I couldn’t hold back my tears. The car windows were open, and the man in the next car looked over with concern. My husband noticed right away and asked, “Umm…Rita?” I showed him the caption through my tears. The name seemed to mirror my own mother’s name, and it hit me hard. I don’t know for certain whether they named their daughter after my mom, or if they simply liked the name, but either way the moment brought a rush of emotion.

Despite the public setting, I found myself blubbering and then smiling as I typed a quick congratulations. Warm wishes to Tyrel and Kaity on their new little one—what a tender, surprising day for our family.

Long Hair, Messy Buns, and Tutorials

For the first time in my life I finally have hair long enough to put up in a bun. Right now I have a big, happy bun piled on top of my head, and I can’t decide whether it looks chic or silly—but I’m thrilled it’s even possible.

Because long hair is a relatively new experience for me, I’ve been watching hair tutorials to learn different styles and techniques. I’ve been following a series of messy bun tutorials that show how to create an effortless, lived-in look without spending an hour in front of the mirror. I don’t expect my version to be identical to the tutorials, but it’s fun to experiment and find what works for me.

Even though I’m enjoying this new long-hair phase, I’m also looking forward to the next time I can sit in the chair of my favorite hairdresser. She lives far away—out in Montana—and a trip to see her always feels like a small getaway. I’ll share more about that appointment another time.

Looking Ahead

So that’s the update: container gardens that surprised me, an emotional family milestone, and a small personal triumph in the form of a bun. I plan to put some of my newly hatched project ideas into action before the summer slips away entirely. For now, I’ll keep tending the plants, celebrating family moments, and learning new ways to style my hair. Thanks for reading along—I’ll be back with more when I have finished projects to show or new stories to tell.