Finishing the Pot Holders

I got sidetracked with other projects to sew,

and to embroider as I learn 

this new machine.

However, I finally got a break and went back to finish

what I began ending up with 8 potholders.

As I made each pair of pot holders

I learned something else.

Sometimes about the machine and 

sometimes about the pattern.

It feels good to make progress

 and to be able to see

the results too.

And even better to end up with something practical

that can make nice little gift additions

to a kitchen basket.

Play Day

When I went to Michael's to pick up some etching creme yesterday

I decided to check out their Halloween beads.

I could not find a single one!

I did however spot these blue teardrop ones

and the lovely tan ones and bronze smaller ones.

So today I got out my supplies and made bracelets and earrings.

The color here is not true on the browns 

but they look amazing with a couple of outfits in my closet.

YAY!

I guess next year if I want Halloween jewelry

I will either shop earlier 

or make my own beads!

Fun for Halloween

I took a class last weekend

to learn how to use my new toy.

The pumpkin face on the glass block

was one of the projects.

Very easy and fun to scan in what you want

then have the machine cut it out for you.

I see many applications for this and have already used it

to scan and cut out some quilting patterns 

which I then ran through the sticker machine.

It will also cut out actual templates

so I see lots of uses for this tool!

Watch the M O N K E Y....

This silly little monkey with the wiggle eyes,

is for my daughter.

The 'body' is crocheted around a hair elastic

that fits over a camera lens.

Next month she is to take photos that include children

and I thought this might help keep their attention on the camera.

If it works at all I may have to adapt the pattern

with some brighter colors etc.

Chickens and the Walker

A friend shared this fun chicken pattern so...

a-roosting we will go.

An Unexpected Gift

I have a number of 'critters'

who I share my back yard with.

Many of them eat mosquitoes.

Gotta love those critters!

Some of them I feed.

And they share with the others.

The other day I discovered two empty sea shells setting on the fence rail,

exactly where I set special treats (nuts)!

So I cleaned them and made them into earrings.

Aren't these just a special gift?

And they only cost me nuts!

I do love the critters in my yard.

Light Show

Lots and lots of lightening in the sky this evening.

So very cool to watch (from a distance).

Wish I had a great camera and was a great photographer

because this was the only one that came out

and does not do it justice at all.

But maybe you can get the idea that it was very black in the sky

except when nature lit 'er up!

And yes, that is my 'window' to the universe

framed by a rooftop and trees.

Squirrels

I enjoy watching the antics of the squirrels in my backyard.

And my dog gets his exercise chasing after them.

But this little fellow said it was just too hot to move!

The Magic of Grandma's

I was making memories with one of my granddaughters last night.  She was awestruck by the solar powered dragonfly lights in my back yard and had to show her daddy when he came to pick her up.  She had forgotten all about being afraid of the sound of crickets she heard earlier.

And then there was dessert...

Conversation between grandma and 2 year old granddaughter:

Grandma: Do you like pizza?

Granddaughter: No.

Grandma: I think you'll like mine.  It has fruit.

Granddaughter: (silence)

Grandma:  Here try a bite...

Granddaughter: (picking off all the fruit and eating it) 

Grandma:  Did you know the crust is a cookie?

Granddaughter: !!!

Grandma:  Here try another piece.

Granddaughter:  Grandma Boats, you make the best pizza in the world!  And the (y)ummiest kool-aid!

I remember 'making memories' with my grandmother, but had no idea she was loving it as much if not more than I was!

Repairs

I finally began the foundation repairs.

This required lots of holes.

Lots of landscaping was moved.

Pilings were installed.

A very nerve-wracking, process that meant any dishes, books etc.

that were not moved soon fell.

Then an impressive display of coordinated jacking

as the house was basically lifted and leveled.

A process that magically caused most of the cracks

inside to vanish!

I guess this crew came prepared.

I have never seen one bring their own microwave!

It sure reminded me of the movie Money Pit,

and made me wonder how long they expected to stay!

I sure hope they finish this afternoon as promised

since I have a plumber scheduled for tomorrow!

Accessories

After I finished the latest outfit here,

I decided I needed a bracelet to match and had been wanting to try out one I had seen so...

I bought some dark green beads but the holes were too small.

I went back and bought some light green beads that worked just fine.

The bracelet was so fun once I got the hang of it that I just had to make a couple more.

At that point they just called out for some earrings to match.

That involved getting out some jewelry findings and tools that I had to pack away

a couple of years ago when I closed my jewelry business.   Long story short version, I had to clean the garage to get to the boxes I needed!

Fortunately we have been enjoying the very best (read - record breaking low temperatures) weather in our area so it was actually a pleasant job and I am enjoying the results of that as much as I am the new jewelry!  

Inexpensive beads, leather lacing and buttonhole thread combined with some buttons from the old button jar and bits and pieces from the jewelry supply boxes and I have some fun new accessories to wear with my new outfit.

  (The blue set will work well with the next top set I am making)

These have been a long time in the works with other projects intervening but worth the wait.

Getting popular

I had another visitor on the fence this afternoon.

I haven't seen many cats in quite awhile but all these birds and squirrels are very fascinating.

She is a pretty thing but my dog really was not amused and definitely not intimidated!

I am enjoying all my company this spring.

Visitor

My dog was making a rather concerned sounding woof at the living room window so I came in to see what he was up to and saw this fellow on the back fence.

I think my dog was a bit intimidated by a bird that even our brave squirrels had run from.

Isn't he a handsome guy though?

He only stayed long enough for me to snap a couple of photos.  I am so glad!

Where do they go?

Ever wonder where the bugs and critters go when the weather gets bad?

Well, this pretty little fellow has been in this same spot next to my front door all day.

Poor thing is probably too cold to fly!

I have not seen Lucky but then again I did not stay out long enough to look very hard.

What crazy weather this year.

Spring

It is really feeling and looking like spring around here.

I am loving these poppies that I planted this year.

I was most surprised to discover that it would produce multiple colors

for blooms on the same plant.

Tonight we had a spring thunderstorm with another one coming along behind it by a few hours.

Some areas are getting golf ball size hail.

I hope we won't as it will not be good for my garden.

Gate Guard

I need a name for this fellow.

I first ran into him Saturday as I was transplanting some flowers I bought.

He was on the flat and did not want to leave.

But I finally coaxed him off onto another pot on the bench.  

Since then I have found him hanging out in the sun by the gate catching bugs.

He does not seem to be the least bit afraid of me.

And is gaining a bit of weight so it must be a good spot.

Obviously something had a go at him as you can see by the holes in his back.

He was quite thin on Saturday and I did not think he would live.

But the spots no longer look oozy so maybe he will.

They do seem to be tough little critters.

Since I am not fond of bugs he is quite welcome to stay!

Cards for the hospital patients

My granddaughter is involved with a project where the goal is to make 300 cards to be given to hospital patients.  They will display the cards in the gift shop hoping people will be interested in donating to this cause.  The money raised will go towards grief carts but whether they sell or not all the cards will be given to patients.

So I offered to make some cards as so far they only have 60.  

I made 30.  Doesn't seem like a very big contribution but it is 10% of the goal so if each person gives 10% it won't take too many people.

I had intended to host a card making party on Sunday but we ended up spending the weekend helping my daughter set up her classroom as she took over a kindergarten class on Friday. Another worthy project that included the family and friends as they were available.

There is still one more weekend before Valentine's Day

 so maybe I can induce some friends this weekend and get more cards finished.

They are simple cards but I hope they will bring a smile to a face and a buck to the coffer.

What are you doing for someone this year for Valentine's Day?

Have you considered doing something for someone you don't even know?

Early Riser

I have a confession to make.  

I am not and never have been a morning person.

In fact most if not all the women in my family like to sleep late.

But last year this 'habit' got to be later and later and later 

until I was going to bed after the sun came up.

Not good.

I simply could not get enough done.

So while the rest of the world was planning diets for their New Years Resolution,

I was plotting ways to turn my sleep pattern around.

So far, so good.  

I am going to sleep between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.  (earlier than I was thinking but OK).

And getting up at 3:30.  

That's 3:30 A.M.!

NEVER SAW THAT COMING!

But it gets better.

This is what I found when I got up this morning...

Nothing leaking/dripping...

And it defies gravity!

Can the world not handle the fact that I am getting up early?

Did I somehow change a timeline or something?

Or is this normal in the land of early risers?

Maybe it is and that is why they are all coffee drinkers.  

They see weird stuff and just blame it on needing coffee.

Maybe I will become a coffee drinker too.

Somehow I think 2013 is going to be a new and exciting year!

And next year...

I will just resolve to lose weight like the rest of the world.

Hoping for magic

I got a really late start on a garden this year but figured, what the heck.

So here it is mid December and the fruits of my labor are still pretty dinky.

But gosh darn it, a mosquito just followed me back in the house!  And it was in the mid 70's today so maybe, just maybe some of that holiday magic will reach my garden.  

Is it an addiction if...

I really enjoy many things,

baking

family

animals

sewing

crocheting

quilting

many other fiber arts

crafts of all kinds

gardening.

OK, so I enjoy lots and lots of things.

But I just discovered that I LOVE

homemade butter pecan ice cream!

I can't seem to make it fast enough.  

I want it every time I go into the kitchen.

I found myself making it for breakfast!

So do you think I need help?

Should I join a group?

While you think about that I think I will go into the kitchen...