May Day In Smithville

 Smithville is a quaint historic town in New Jersey, located about a half hour drive from home.

Visiting Smithville is a treat any time of year but if you go on May Day,

they host a huge craft show with outdoor vendors in addition to their wonderful shops.

There were over 100 crafters and food vendors that feature all kinds of street food.

Lake Meone

Town Square

Sweet Things

The above sand sculpture sits right outside the entrance to 

The Historic Smithville Inn

There is a cute Carousal for the young and young at heart.

Food Vendors

Face Painting for the children.

And I stumbled upon these adorable Goslings hanging out in the lake.

I purchased 2 handmade ankle bracelets that sparkle and I love.

 A handmade piece of pottery for a plant, 

2 "be kind" stickers, one is for my mom and the pottery ornament that says "you'll live till you die".

There were so many beautiful things but not one thing I need.

I did "need" the ankle bracelets!

I love these spring festivals but it was 90 + degrees, too hot for me to stay long.

We split a chicken salad sandwich at

The Historic Smithville Inn

and headed home.

Why does it have to get so hot so quick.

We went from using the heat to the needing air conditioning in just a few days.

How Do You Enjoy Spring?

Staring with my favorite way...

releasing the Black Swallowtail Butterflies that have spent the winter with me.

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you know that I raise butterflies.

If you are "newer" to my blog, this could be news to you.

Instead of telling the entire story,

 I will spare you the specifics today and share a few older posts that detail the process.

If you are interested, you can read older posts here, here and here.

The Joyful Butterfly shares the best information for getting started with this amazing hobby.

Female Black Swallowtail Butterfly

She visited my garden dill last September, formed into a chrysalis and spent the winter in that form.

Yesterday, she emerged.

She was so perfectly beautiful, a little hesitant to fly off...but after a few pictures, she took to the sky.

Always a bittersweet moment, I am happy to see them free but sad to say goodbye.

Spring flowers really help in enjoying the season.

This Iris is not in my garden but I wish it was.

 We passed in on an outing and the hubs turned the car around so I could photograph it.

I have never seen a peach colored Iris before...

there were several grouped together and they were all healthy and gorgeous.

It is also Rhododendron season, they come in so many colors...

but this color is my favorite!

Isn't it just wonderful how everything blooms in turn, all the flowers have their own time to show off.

This is one of the Roses on my Knockout Rose Bushes.

I have 4 bushes and they are all filled with blooms.

Have you been saving your egg shells? 

They are wonderful, free nutrition for your gardens.

I watched a video on Instagram about the Chicken Pot Pies available at KFC.

We purchased one and split it, it was surprisingly delicious.

 We are in the middle of a heat wave, it was 92 degrees yesterday, I do not enjoy the heat.