Catch Up

My time away for the most part has been quite good for me but getting back to everyday life and home is nice.

I came across this little cartoon the other day and it reminded me so much of myself when I first started out on my own. I was always surrounded by books and plants, pens and notebooks, cuts of fabric, beads and fibers. Much has changed since those early years and much has stayed the same. I am still surrounded by books, my plants are all outside, for some reason I have no luck growing houseplants in Florida. My fabric, yarn, fibers and beads are all neatly tucked into plastic bins, out of sight and always on my mind. When I think of myself this little cartoon is how I still see me. Content.

We say hello to a whole new month tomorrow and for me I am starting a new chapter of my life, nothing noticeable to the outside world really but within myself new things are beginning to take form I would guess some of the personal changes will influence some of my creative endeavors which isn't a bad thing.

This month I'm making a few changes inside the house, while its too hot to putter in the garden now is the perfect time to putter in the house, the first room to tackle: the kitchen, I needed a new mat to stand on my the sink, the old mat has gotten ratty and worn and I wanted something bright and I knew a few local places to look, I found this bright mat with a garden theme (what else)?

floor mat

and I also picked up some dishtowels to add some brightness or the summer, I found these at one of

dish towel 1

dish towel 2

my favorite stores, K-Mart, not only were the linens on sale I am a rewards card member so when I checked out my points were applied and I paid a whopping forty nine cents for everything. I love a bargain.  With the linens changed I decided to clear out some stuff in the cabinets, I really don't need two coffee grinders, 3 sets of dishes, the electric knife I've had for over 30 years, used oh 5 or 6 times and not since I have lived in Florida, 20 years this May.

Today I begin work in my bedroom, I would like to move around a few key pieces of furniture, my desk for one by the window is nice during the cooler months, not so much through the summer which gets quite warm even with those energy efficient drapes, the book shelf unit I'm going to move out of the bedroom. I have a few other ideas rolling around my head.

Well let me leave with a few more beach photos, early morning biking on the boardwalk, and kite

flyers up early getting in practice for the Annual Kite Show, that brings back memories of when my son was a little boy.

Jan 2014

in the middle of winter my friend sent me the snowy photo, she knows I love the beach and the snow, I miss those days less and less as I get older.

a slightly different angle and a few early morning fisherman and beach patrol.  The view of one of the amusement piers early morning before the start of the summer season.

quite a view

sunny day

My favorite time of day on the beach is early morning before the city wakes up and the only noise is the gentle roll of the surf, gulls diving for breakfast and the sound of your own thoughts for the day ahead.

Hope your day is a great one!

In Memory: All Gave Some, and Some Gave All

Sunday Evening Sunset

Sunday Morning Sunrise

When I see a view like this I know all is right in my world.

Summer rolling in

Good Morning

sunrise Wildwood Beach

Summer is in the Air

Well I am finally starting to feel better and hopefully this last bout of infection is behind me, Summer is in the air and I for one don't plan to spend it sitting in my reading chair or lying down.

I am in search of a new doctor, on the 12th I was in the office for a check up and to my surprise while having my vitals recorded I was informed my doctor is no longer with the practice and I would be seeing a new physician, apparently the contract for the facility was up and my doctor moved on, no letter to patients, no notice as all, I was not happy. There are more events that went on from there but I won't go into them right now.

On a more pleasant note the weather has been all sunny skies and breezy days allowing me pleasant mornings in the garden then a few hours at the community center pool, nice for recuperating one's lost energy and getting in some exercise too.

Today I'll bring along a few things to read, I am enjoying the Anna Quindlen book very much I just

love the way she describes certain things, its like she reached into my own thoughts and put them on the page.

I have a few crafting projects I will be working on over the next few weeks (months) right now I am gathering supplies, I didn't have any more of the long doll making needles in my sewing supplies so I

grabbed a packet of those along with a 6 yards of elastic for and shades of pink embroidery threads. The pattern below is for a Full Figure cloth doll which I plan to get started before the month's end.

I'm reading through the pattern and making a list of the materials I need to make several of the dolls then head off to Joann's or the internet for fabric to use for the doll's body.  I have always used a muslin or cotton for cloth dolls however this pattern lists other fabrics so I can try something new, I think it will be interesting.
This is the first time I won't be designing the doll's body, using a pattern designed by someone else should be an interesting experience.  I will design the clothing the dolls will be dressed in. I don't make dolls often but lately I'm just itching to be more creative.

The latest quilt top I made is just solid white blocks I plan to applique or embroider something in each block.

I had an idea so I grabbed the pink embroidery thread but then I looked at the blocks I have several other thoughts, such is the way of the creative mind.

Now let me leave you with this little thought and wish you all a great weekend.

Just a thought

A short garden walk

Despite the early planting, diligent watering and weeding I am losing the gardening battle again this year. Not everything is lost but I would say half of what I planted is dead, or near dead, or fruiting before it has had ample time to grow.

my roses have been doing well and after much trimming and pruning throughout the autumn the shrubs in front of my house are actually blooming.

I don't know what the shrubs are called, what I can say is they are quite fragrant and the bees are happily buzzing around the flowers.

Some of my tomato plants have begun to bear fruit the plants are not yet two feet tall which surprises me,

Roma tomato

roma plant #2

My limes are doing well and the tree is full of fruit forming, the lemon tree has a few fruits too but they are struggling no need for a photo of those.

limes

the snow peas are still doing well despite the fact half of the plant dried up and turned brittle brown just like the green beans which really surprised me because I had harvested a nice bunch and then we had 4 days of rain and when I went to see if I could get another harvest they were dried up.

cauliflower head 

One of the cauliflower plants is forming a head and something has been eating the leaves, I have checked both sides of all the leaves and have caught the munching culprit, but I'm sure I will.

The broccoli and cauliflower before I start weeding, this is after 2 days of rain, they are growing very well in this spot, the 4 plants in the cement block bed are not doing as well.
This is another look at my red rose.

Hi Gloria, Here's the photo of the Celtic Quilt

I am still enjoying my much needed break, though a few things have upset the apple cart a bit I am ironing out the wrinkles.

Gloria this is the photo of the Quilt I made, it took nearly two years from design sketch to completion.

And a closeup of the piece that made the seam ripper just about become a permanent attachment to my hand.

Well I will leave you with a wish for a wonderful day!

Mother's Day

Just stopping in to wish everyone a very Happy Mother's Day I hope you all have a wonderful day today.

Taking a Short Break

I am taking a short much needed break, you may notice changes have been made to my blog and right now its waiting for me to add new content. Meanwhile I wish you all wonderful days ahead.