What a week!

It wasn’t just the long holiday weekend that had me all jazzed this week. It was the blogland love.

First, I posted a little ditty about how fabulous the feature on Julie Newmar’s garden in the new issue of Cottage Living is.

Photo by Marion Brenner for Cottage Living, July/August 2008

Next thing I know, the Divine Ms. Newmar is posting a comment on my blog! I almost plotzed. And I know what you’re thinking: No WAY. But I did a little sniffing around and I have this to say: Way. And so way cool.

Then, the lovely Julia from Hooked on Houses mentioned me on her blog and gave me a You Make My Day Award!

Imagine that! Julia’s blog is fantastic, so coming from her it’s quite an honor. A self-described real estate junkie and addict of houses (if you read my first-ever post in April, you know I kind of stalked my way in to my own house!), Julia’s blog mixes photo tours of amazing, sometimes over-the-top (sometimes both!) homes, with stories and anecdotes about her own home and family, and – last but certainly not least – her HGTV Design Star recaps on Mondays. The recaps are hysterical and way better than the show is this go round. I mean, I’m more of a design star than some of these “talents.” And I don't know what the heck I'm doing! But back to Julia: Her blog is a well written, fun read (in addition to having great photos), and since she’s one of the first bloggers to regularly visit mine I’d have to say that she makes my day, too. I’m seriously amazed anyone who’s not related to me comes by my blog! Just as Julia and Julie Newmar made my day this week, the lovely bloggers who come to my blog regularly and comment like Nesting Instincts, Please Sir, The Laundry Is Never Finished, Snapshots and Confabulation, Shoot Scoop, and Adventures in Renovating make my day, as do the new (to me) bloggers I'm meeting, especially Aimee’s Adventures.

And just how did Aimee make my day? I won a custom pet portrait on her other fabulous web site -- 4 The Love of Animals, which focuses on animal rescue and is loaded with great tips, pet advice and giveaways. I can hardly wait for talented artist Tabatha Rhodes to get started. As soon I told the other lady of the house we’d won, she flashed a smile an even threw a “high five” in the air.

So Aimee, you made our day for sure.

And, finally, the one big thing I learned this week: The Jersey Shore loves July 4th. Like a kitty loves milk. There was more red, white and blue than I think I’ve ever seen in my life, and a parade in every town. I posted some pictures of Asbury Park on the 4th of July, but the 5th of July brought the parade to our own little hamlet.

Santa even made an appearance:

As did Uncle Sam...

...but he got a little tuckered out and took a seat from someone.

Love this bike, and just had to shoot in black and white:

And can we talk about this peach of a house?! It's one of my favorites in town, and I watched the parade from in front of it so I had to take a picture:

Here's another stretch of (single family!) Victorian beauties on the parade route:

I hope your week was great, and that my Stateside blog friends enjoyed their holiday as much as I did. Now....back to work...

And, hey, stay tuned: My recent "fleaing" turned up what will be my first blog giveaway! I think it's pretty cool (I guess I would). More on that this week.