Aby Quilts Blogaversary!

http://abyquilt.blogspot.com/2008/07/2-years-blogiversary-giveaway.html

She is hosting a tremendous giveaway - hop on over and add a comment.

From discarded carcus to live flight

In an earlier post I posted a picture of a dried bug shell... this is what comes out and flies around and buzzes like crazy. A favorite toy for a cat. This one is setting on the side of our house utilizes the dryer vent to dry it's wings.

Back Yard findings

I grabbed the camera and went out and checked for blooms in our back yard and I took an updated picture of our garden....

Today's Americana Stars

I made these 3 blocks today and will be mailing them to Illinois for a block lottery. If I win I'll get these back plus some more. I'm not sure whats going on with blogger as the pictures is having trouble posting. If it doesn't show up I will try to reload later tonight or tomorrow. I switched photo's as this one is better.

Pressing on!

I've had soreness in my chest and center back since Saturday night and feeling rested has escaped me. I just went out and did some work in my garden and I am feeling a little more energized. Perhaps all I needed was to up my physical activity a bit. I edged about 10 feet of the outer edge of the garden; weeded about a bed and a half. Transplanted some begonias, egg plants and peppers into the cleaned out areas. I plan to work a lot out in the garden this weekend to get it looking better and to perhaps plant some more veggies. The animals are wanting to stick close to me today so there has been at least one or two at my heals all day. I've got some quilt projects that have to be completed and mailed today; so I better get to that next. I'll post some pictures of my finished projects.

Dinner?

I ought to be starting dinner but thought I'd post a bit first. Went and saw my sister, Robin - her new car is lovely. She is quite happy with the purchase. My niece, Gwen and nephew, Drake came over from their fathers to see me a few minutes before I had to get back home. Most of them are going to Pennsic (probably not spelled correctly) and Robin has been making pottery pieces like crazy to sell up there. Hopefully she will make enough to cover the cost of the trip and her materials. Her pieces are so beautiful. The title of this post is now a link to the pennsic war site - MEDIEVAL FENCING! My sister is a Gold scarf fencer and now her kids are getting into it as well. Gwen is getting into fencing and belly dancing - skills I can see worth adding to her tremendous singing skills - I guess.

Bloom of the Day!

I got these bushes in a plant swap years ago and used to know the name of them but it is escaping me this morning. So far this one bush is the only one that has produced any blooms.

Vocal Bugs

The chikata bugs that are recently coming above ground are quite vocal this morning. If they don't watch out that Mocking Bird that is always hanging around will make breakfast of them. I'm not sure if the "empty bug" is visible or not but they crawl out of the ground and leave these calling cards all over our yard.

YEAH! I'm off tomorrow!

I'm so glad that I am off tomorrow. I'll be going over to see my sisters' new car. I have gardening, sewing and household chores to do as well so I can't visit with them long. Greg will want to do something with me as well I'm sure. But I've got to catch up on things here at home.

Today at work I witnessed more unethical behavior - excess breaks and using the company phone to call out of state relatives for personal issues. It's crazy how people can't see this as stealing.

Breakfast... who said breakfast

As I came back around the front corner of the house to come back inside I was greeted by all three cats. Little Nickie and Mistress Tara on the outside and the fat one - Mr Tesla (who had all ready been fed but was still hopeful for more).

Newest blooms in our yard

This is a hydrangea that I planted in our side yard. It has LOTS of volunteer offspring that I will be happily transplanting up to our property. This is the first year that it's blossomed this well and I believe it has a lot to do with the lovely showers that we've been getting this year.

Visitor in our bonus room

Greg's friend Samantha is asleep on our bonus room floor again. Greg has to take her keys away from her anytime they go out and about together as she gets so drunk he won't let her drive anywhere. So he sets her up with a sleeping bag and pillow out in our bonus room. At least she wasn't out on the road in the wee hours of this morning.

Mr. Tesla cat has been sneezing the past 2 days and I fear he has some type of cold or something. Poor kitty looks down right miserable but he is still eating and drinking and using his box ok so I don't believe it to be anything serious. I'll keep an eye on him though and if it continues until Monday I'll take him over to the vets.

Survived work and am home!

Well I made it through my time at work and am home now and so happy to be here. Scott and I currently have the house to ourselves as Greg is out with friends; gone to eat Sushi - YUCK! I can't stand the stuff myself. To each his own I guess. I can hardly wait to hear about his adventures with food while traveling about in the Navy.

I bought a couple butterfly wind chimes to put up out on the porch. I'll perhaps take some photos of them tomorrow.

I have to work tomorrow afternoon/evening so I won't get much done around here as we hope to sleep in and have a quiet leisurely breakfast and some reading time in the morning.

COLD FROM HELL!

Ok I felt better when I first got up and now I feel like this.....
My head is killing me! Just in time to go to work!

Overcast Morning

It's looking like it will rain today the sky is so overcast and gray that you can hardly tell the sun has risen. I had a horrible time waking this morning just can't seem to get alert. Luckily I don't have to be to work until 4:30 this afternoon. I don't really care much for working evenings like this but it's a job so I'll deal with it.

Lenora stopped by last night and she loved the quilt. YEAH!

ADD ON--- it is now NOON - I succumbed to the dreaded "cat lure" and went back to bed. The plus side is I feel better and the sun is definitely up now. The bad part is I will be pushing it to get all the laundry done before I have to leave for work.

Lenora's Quilt

This is the Care Bear Quilt that I made for Lenora's baby. The top is made up of 9 patch blocks and the backing fabric is white with Rainbow Care Bears all over it. I hope that she will like it. It's a basic quilt meant to be dragged around and washed often. I quilted around all the squares in the seams. Should last to become well worn.

Lots to do today...

I have to wait around for the AC repair this morning and I'll clean until he gets here and is done. The damper to our bonus room appears to be stuck open again so it's cooler out there than it should be; probably one reason our electric bill is so high. The garden also needs to be weeded again before it gets totally out of hand. And this afternoon Lenora is stopping by for a visit so that I can give her a quilt for the baby. Lots to do!

Books are a weakness of mine

I can't resist good books. I just got these two in from Amazon yesterday and they are awesome. Sublime Stitchery contains over a hundred ready to use stitchery patterns. And they are GREAT! Doodle Stitching contains projects but also encourages you to stitch your own doodles. Now I would like to order Jenny Hart's other book titled Stitch-It-Kit.

Expensive ear drops

Well yesterday's appointment ended with the purchase of some VERY expensive ear drops (my co-pay $55). The radio set I wear at work is causing irritation in my ear so using it can/will cause this to happen again. So I'm trying to figure out how to rig the thing so I don't actually have to put it on my ear. I'm nearly totally deaf in my left ear and I won't damage my right by wearing the radio.

I'm doing some laundry so I'll have clothes to wear to work at 1. If I thought they'd get dry fast enough I'd put them out on the line to dry. I love the way line dried clothes smell. Plus it saves a good bit of money on the electric bill - I think I'll hang them out.

Monday Morning pictures

It looks like we will get some cherry tomatoes but the larger varieties are not producing any tomatoes so far. I think we added too much nitrogen (chicken manure) and I didn't remove the suckers from the plants this time. We have one plant that needs to be pulled out as it has wilt. Scott's corn bed is looking GREAT but needs weeding something fierce. The cucumber plants are taking off but also need weeding (didn't get a picture of those). Our Crepe Myrtle trees are in full bloom and gorgeous! Of course Amelia had to have her picture taken and come in for a little while. I better get a call into the DR now.

Got an appointment at 12:20 so had to call the store to let them know that I may be a bit late. I'll be so glad to get this cleared up. Having hearing loss is bad enough add pain to it and it's nearly unbearable.

Ear Ache

I'm going to try to get an appointment with my Dr in the morning as my right ear is quite sore and my left is also a bit tender... could be an upper respiratory infection.

Scott did the laundry today so tomorrow I will do some of the other basic household chores... dust, sweep, mop, vacuum and get the trash out. Change Tesla's liter box and perhaps work on some sewing projects. I have to be to work by 1:30 tomorrow so I will get as much done as I can before then.

COMPFY CAT!

Nap time lure....
Doesn't he look comfortable?

AMEN TO MARY!

"Money does not necessarily make for a good life. One has to find
something that satisfies our souls and that requires some introspection
not $$."

Mary is a gal that post to homesteading lifestyles - a yahoo group and she posted this statement today and it is what I believe as well so thought that I would share it on here as well.

AOK checkup!

Yeah! My teeth are clean and healthy! And I'm good to go until January. I stopped at Jo-Ann's and bought some purple quilt binding for the Care Bears quilt I made for Lenora's baby. I had bought lime green but can't find it now so I went to get more but they were out so I switched to the purple. It will still look pretty. I'll post a picture or two of it once I get it finished.

CONFIRMED DENTAL APPT!

They called me day before yesterday to confirm todays appointment so I will actually be seen this time! Greg wants to go for a walk when I get back. Better get going.

THE words have been spoken....

I NEVER thought my husband would say, " I'm starting to think it's time for a new mower". Yesterday I mowed the back yard and one side of the front and then no matter what I did to it I could not get it restarted after stopping to empty the bag. Then Scott couldn't get it started when he got in from work either so the statement was made and we had our usual follow up statement - "Geez nothing lasts anymore" - Keep in mind we've had this mower since Greg started walking at 10 months; he'll be 22 YEARS next month. I think over 21 years is good for a mower - we've seen neighbors buy a new one every year. I'm certainly lucky to have a husband that can fix just about anything and not much slows me down either when it comes to making things last.

Friday we are going up to help Scott's Aunt and Uncle with some repairs that need to be made at their place in Greenville. Scott's Mother will be going along with us...

FUN WITH GREG

My son the comedian.

FUNGUS on the Riverwalk

There were so many examples of fungus along the Riverwalk today.

Riverwalk with Greg

Greg and I walked the Cayce end of the Riverwalk this morning and then went to La Fiesta for lunch. Greg cracks me up so bad - He is going to be a difficult recruit at boot camp I'm afraid or perhaps he will keep everyones moral high... only time will tell.

Lack of COFFEE!

I went for a second cup and it's GONE! So I've made some more just for me. Greg has to report into his Recruiter this morning and then we are hoping to go walk the River walk together. It will be HOT by then but Scott and I are trying to help Greg loose some weight. I'm going to take the camera just in case something interesting pops up. I really need to go through the memory on the camera and discard anything that I don't want/need a hard copy of. Today is also trash day and the guys got the old love seat to the curb and this morning I hauled all the black bags of weeds to the curb from where I cleaned up the garden. I need to empty the household trash cans next and do some laundry. I'm only working 2 more days this week so perhaps I will be able to work on some projects around here.

Ethics and Moral Values

No matter where I go these days I find ethics and morals to be terribly lacking in society as a whole. I'm not a church attending Christian these days - never found a church around here that felt like family. But my ethics and moral values must be quite strong; gifted to me by my Grandmother who was always such a positive role model in these area's. Being cruel, adjusting ethics to my own benefit and letting my values out the window to follow the crowd just isn't me. That's one of the reasons I left Cracker Barrel. Perhaps when we get moved up to the property I will be able to find a small Methodist church to attend.

Window out, gone and filled in

We had a window that was in the kitchen that you could see out into the bonus room and we decided to close it off as this is where I would like the new pantry cabinet to be installed. It really looks different and will look awesome once sheet rock and cabinetry is installed. This area will also include a desk area with a household file and bookshelves for my cookbooks.

Ever so sleepy this morning

I am having a hard time brushing the sandman aside this morning. I closed last night and have to be back to work at 8 this morning and I'm dragging something fierce. Luckily I'll be home before 2 this afternoon so perhaps Scott and I can get that one bed replaced in the garden and perhaps get something more planted. The tomato plants look awesome have had blossoms but so far no visible fruit. I think for next Spring/Summer's garden I'm going to start bed prep in January so that any added items will have a month or two to break down. I've got to get this garden productive!

Amelia is still scratching like crazy so Tuesday she will get a thorough scrub down - once with flea killing shampoo and then with some shampoo to make her smell a little less DOG! UGH!

POOR PUPPY!

Just had some K9 Advantix put on her neck... if I let her out in the yard right now she would try her best to rub it all off. So she is going to stay in for awhile. The package says that it takes 12 hours to kill all the fleas so we will keep her in or with us for as long as possible. Perhaps we will take her to the Riverwalk before I have to be to work at 5 PM.

Friendships that attach to your soul

I've been thinking about friends I've made and lost touch with and wondering how they are doing. Friends from my little home town that I went to school with for the first 18 years of my life, friends from my O-C Tec Days - I wonder how many actually made it into Law Enforcement. Friends from past jobs and groups I was involved in while home schooling our son. Those friends that seemed to really connect with my soul like ribbons on a May pole. I truly hope that life has been good for them and that they are all safe and loved.

Dentist Appt. that was not!

I have the card listing my appointment date and time but when I got there yesterday they did not have me on the schedule so I've made another appointment for the 17th. After the NON APPT I went over to my sister's for a little while and played with her cats and caught up on her families adventures. Gwen got her college physical yesterday and shots so she wasn't feeling too well. Drake was into his video games as usual.

On my way back home I stopped at Hancock Fabrics to see if they had some fabric with cows on it for a project I'm working on. They did and it was half off! SCORE!

I also stopped at Bi-Lo and got some of the basics - milk, bread, eggs and yogurt. I made sweet Italian Sausage and peppers last night for supper and we ate it as sandwiches.

Thanks to the afternoon/evening storms we've been getting the cucumber and squash plants that I transplanted to the garden are doing well and Scott's corn is up about 3 inches now. It's so nice to have a garden once more.

Patterns!

OK Rachel I'll send you two patterns and Queen of Click I'll send you the barbie clothes pattern - that way you both win. I just need you to email me at playsinsoil1@yahoo.com with your mailing addresses and I will get these in the mail tomorrow!

Pushing toward mid-July

Here it is the 8th of July all ready. This year is just flying by... 3 months from now Greg should be leaving for the Navy. I so want him to succeed at this and go and explore some of the world. He needs to know that there is so much more to life than here.

Today before work I'm going to help a friend empty her stuff out of a storage unit. I've got my work clothes in the washer and hope to move them to the dryer before I have to leave to help her. I guess I need to sew up some more clothes for work. I hate shopping! Plus the styles just aren't "ME" in the stores.

I may try to get the squash and cucumbers transplanted to the garden this morning as well. They are getting quite large in the starter flat.


Just went out and transplanted the squash and cucumbers to the garden. MAN ALIVE DO I NEED TO WEED AND MULCH THE WALKWAYS! Perhaps tomorrow before or after the dentist appointment.

Hectic week ahead

I'm working 5 days this week for 5 to 6 hours each day. That suites me better than 8+ hour days. I guess I'm just reaching an age where being on my feet too long is painful to the point I'd rather not do it. So I'm happy with the schedule and I will even be home on most evenings. Wednesday I have a dental check-up; my second with the new dentist.

We have corn up in the garden! Scott is so happy it grew. All our seeds on hand are old but we want to use them before we buy new. I have cucumbers and squash that needs to be transplanted to the garden. Our tomatoes have had blossoms but we have seen few bees so we are wondering if any pollination is occurring at all; if not we won't have any tomatoes. People always want to kill all the bugs; I guess they don't realize that those little creatures are what make it possible for us to eat. When we get up to the property we may have to learn to keep bees so that we will have our own on site pollinators.

Scott got the new window in the kitchen and it certainly changes the view.

New window and the views I get standing at our kitchen sink.

DUPLICATE PATTERN GIVEAWAY!

I've got three patterns in my collection that are duplicates and I'll give them away to anyone that wants them just post a comment here. If I get more than 1 person interested I'll draw a name on Wednesday. If only one comments before then they are the "winner". The patterns are all by Simplicity numbers - 5554 baby doll set; 5785 Fashion Doll clothes and 5699 slip cover pattern. These are like new; nothing has been cut out or opened.

Back to work today

Well it's back to work today. It was so nice to be home with Scott this past week. I wish it was for longer but bills have to be paid.

July 3rd trip to property

We drove up to our 10 acres after Scott got out of his Conference call at the plant. I knitted and napped while he was on the call. It never ceases to amaze me how refreshed I am after walking about our land and working up in my minds eye where our cottage will be built where Scott's shop will be located and the garden(s), chicken coop and rabbit hutch, etc....

I even managed to catch a bit of poison ivy or oak across my ankle. It was itching like crazy and is now oozing... YUCK~!

Lawns mowed!

Well I got the entire lawn mowed and Scott planted a bed of sweet corn. We have two other beds ready for something to be planted in them and I'm thinking beans and salad greens. I have one bed that needs a total re-building and filling so that I will have a place to plant all the cucumbers that have come up in the flat on the porch. After we get some lunch we are going to Lowes and Home Depot to check out some cabinetry - mainly for ideas as Scott is planning to build all our new cabinets. He'll get to use nearly all his toys out in the shop. I've totally given up on calling it our garage as no auto would fit in there.

So much for getting up early!

I had plans of getting up early so I could work in the garden for several hours before it got too hot out there, but that did not happen so I will be working in the heat as I have got to get a handle on the weeds out there. Tomorrow we are planning to go up to the property and I want to get some things ready to drop off up there. I plan to transplant my rose bushes to the property and we have thought of a way to use some of our rocks so I'd like to have some of those ready to move up there as well. Scott has to stop at the Plant to take a conference call in the morning and then we would go up to the property for awhile. While he is on his conference call I will work on my knitting project... yep - I'm trying to learn to knit again. I swore I was going to stick with crochet as I can do that but knitting looks so lovely. I'm doing only the knit stitch right now and this is to be a blanket/ cover up. It may just be used as a shawl though. The yarn I'm using seems to pill badly and I keep having to work around lint bunnies that develop along the yarn as I'm knitting. When it's all done I'll have to take a sweater shaver to it. Well I better get this day started.

A cookbook must find!

If anyone collects old cookbooks this is one you must try to find! Creative Cooking made easy - The Golden Fluffo Cookbook Copyright 1956. The brownie recipe in this book is our stand by recipe and today I made the banana bread. I use Crisco every where they call for "Fluffo". I wonder if it's still made or when they went out of business. This little spiral bound book is full of delicious recipes.

Kitty Love