Yesterday's Silly Boys

Yesterday afternoon Scott took the little fuzzy worm I had crocheted for the cats using the leftover bits from the scarf I'd made and dunked it in the cat nip jar. Then he gave it to Mr Tesla who was quite happily playing with it when Nick came along and wanted in on the action - he ended up taking it away from Tesla. These two cats crack us up daily.

HOT weekend

Yesterday was too hot for a walk by the River and we had so many errands to run and the house REALLY needed some attention in the cleaning department. I got the den deep cleaned and looking better. When Greg moves out the monster TV is going with him and we will turn this room into more of a library and quiet spot or put the dining room furniture in this room. The TV is used by him the most; playing games. I never want a huge TV again. If I want to see something on a HUGE screen I will go to the movies.They just take up way too much room and don't add a thing to my viewing pleasure.

I miss having a couch but there is just no room for one in there right now. You can see where we got stopped on our remodeling; perhaps one day we will be able to get it completed.

I'm thinking today will be laundry and just stuff that makes me happy - a walk by the river, sewing or crochet/knitting.

On My Mind... Quilt Blocks

Another quilt block nearly completed; just need to sew the components together.

I'm joining in again with Rhonda and the other bloggers  over at Down to Earth for this weekly feature.

Perhaps....

I should continue my current trend and finish projects in 3's....

A hat for myself made from Lion Brand Nature's  Choice Cotton. The pattern is called Spice Solace Cap and can be found on the Lion Brand website. I finished this hat a few days ago and then started on this scarf.....

I just finished this this afternoon and it will be set aside for a Christmas gift. This was simply 15 single crochets all the way across and back again until I reached the length I like... to the waist line.

And then I also got one Autograph Star Block completed and have added it to Irene in England's package along with her potholder; so one package is ready to be mailed out and I'm hoping to get 2 or 3 more ready to mail this evening. Just gotta sew more blocks; here is Irene's...

I added an "autograph" to the center after I took this picture .

Mid-Week

Well I've made it to Wednesday; I've been so unbelievably tired this week - when I haven't been working I've been sleeping and yet I feel so tired. Not sure if it's the heat or me trying to recover from last weeks flip flop schedule but I'm hoping the tiredness is reaching it's end as I have so much I want to get accomplished around here. After lunch I plan to go in my sewing room for awhile and get some quilt blocks made.

Seeing PINK

A pink doily that is....

A completed project on to my next task.

A Walk and Amazon

We had a nice walk by the River but by the time we got back to the car it was starting to get hard to breath because of the humidity and heat.

I love this mural that is painted under the Blossom Street bridge of a River Boat coming up the Congaree River.

The second picture is a look back at the Blossom Street bridge from further along the walkway.

Blossom Street Bridge

Section of a Sycamore that came down during the last severe storms.

A glimpse of the path from the Cayce Entrance.

After we finished our walk we decided to drive down the 12th Street Extension to see the progress on the new AMAZON distribution center. It's absolutely AMAZING! how big this building is; it goes on FOREVER!

They are to employee close to 2000 people a REAL plus for our State. 

Another Squishy!

A few days ago I received another wonderful "Squishy" in my mailbox from another on-line Quilting friend. And there was such wonderful things within....

Another Autograph Star block and some little churn dash blocks as well as a SUPER cute Cupcake potholder. I've got to get all my swap items made this weekend so I can send squishies to them by Monday. For now though we are going for a walk along the river before it reaches 102*F. Perhaps there will be some creature picture's to share.

On My Mind .... A home cooked meal

Terriyaki pork tenderloin, corn-on-the-cob and cauliflower and broccoli in a cheese sauce

Tried a new recipe for the cheese sauce which was SUPER easy! Just make sure you are watching it after adding the milk as it will boil over - ask me how I know? ; )

This is a weekly photo feature started by Rhonda at Down to Earth

What day or night is it?

I've been struggling with knowing what day it is; working overnights really messes your body clock up. And tomorrow I switch back to 5 AM shift - so my body is awake NOW thinking I should be at work working but I really need to be asleep right now to get up at 3:30 AM...GGRRRrrrr...

My sewing room needs a thorough cleaning up and you can see the potholders are still waiting to be put ito envelopes and mailed to my swap partners. I have a bunch of quilt blocks to get made and I need to start on Christmas gifts as it will be here before I know it.

This evening we finally made a trip to the grocery store as we were starting to look like Mother Humbards Cupboards around here. The good thing about getting off at 11 tomorrow is I can come home and cook a proper meal - Terriyaki Pork Tenderloins, corn on the cob and perhaps some broccoli and cauliflower mix with cheese sauce.

The pink doily is coming along nicely; only 3 more rows around and I will have it completed. I will post a picture when it's been washed and blocked. I received my issue of CROCHET! in the mail today and there are several projects in there that I want to make for myself. Always new projects to grab my attention but I'm thinking I better get the ones I all ready have started finished before I start on any new ones; what do you all think? ; )

The garden is also needing attention and I have just been so dragged out from work and the crazy schedule with that that I haven't even stepped in the backyard except to give the dogs fresh water. Perhaps this weekend I will be able to get caught up with things around the house. There is always laundry and house cleaning waiting to be accomplished.

I hope that everyone is having a lovely week; I have been reading blogs but this is the first chance I've had to post myself not to mention being conscious enough to post something. Next week we will start getting 2 trucks a week... AH the Holiday Season has begun!

A Project Revisited

I've been taking it easy today and napping whenever the urge struck as I will be working 9:30 PM til 5 AM or a little later the next 3 nights; SO I cleaned off my desk once again and came across this pink doily I started awhile back and decided to work on it some while watching Law & Order UK on TVLinks.  So I'm now on round 12 out of 17 so 5 more rounds and I will have this one finished. I will then wash; starch and block it into shape. It will be a gift for someone in the future.

Now just so know one worries - I may or may not post for the next few days since I will be a Zombie during the day I'm sure but will post a bit when I can. As for now I've got to get a shower and start getting ready to leave for work. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

2011 Fall Garden Planning

Our garden has pretty much FRIED in the sun the past few weeks so our focus has turned to a Fall garden and I've visited the Clemson Extension site for planting guidelines for Central South Carolina. This is what I found out for July-August
July 10-20th - Tomatoes
July 15-20th - Beans/Pole Lima
July 15 - 25th - Peppers
July 15-30th - Potatoes, Irish
July 15th - August 15th - Collards
July 20th- 30th - Beans - Pole and Lima
July 20th - August 15th - Broccoli
July 25th - August 10th - Cabbage, Cauliflower and Rutabaga's

August 1 - 10th - Cucumbers
August 1 - 15th - Squash, Summer; carrots and Brussel Sprouts
August 1-20th - Beets
August 5th - 20th - Beans, Snap and Beans, half runner August 15th - 25th - Lettuce
August 15th - Sept. 15th - Kale
August 15 - Oct. 1 - Mustard
August 1 - Oct. 1 - Turnips

So as you can see we still have quite a bit we can plant yet and then there is September...
Sept. 1 - Oct. 25th - Radish
Sept. 15th - 20th - Onion, seeds
Sept 15th - Oct. 20th - Spinach
Sept. 15th - Nov. 15th - onion, sets
Sept. 15th - Nov. 15th - Garlic

If you live in another part of the state you should visit the Clemson Extension website to see what you can plant this Fall. HAPPY GARDENING!

Osprey, Flowers and Vultures ... OH MY!

A Regal Osprey

Morning Glory

Trumpet Vine

Fungi

Tiles in the ladies rest room done by local school children.

Scott nect to one of the amazing old trees - check out the bark

Vulture... only 1 today on the power line towers.

8...

One, Two, Three, Four,Five, Six, Seven.......

EIGHT! Potholders that is... finished and ready to be mailed to swap partners.

Squishy Mail Love

Anne in IL sent me some lovelies in a "squishy" envelope that arrived in yesterdays mail.

Autographed Star/ Friendship Star Block

Scrappy Churn Dash Block

A potholder - second one I've received - gotta get mine in the mail soon for these wonderful gals.

This was the first potholder I received from Mary Lou - it's quite unique and she included a couple recipe cards as well.

As you can see the potholders will each be quite unique to the maker - such fun and they certainly brighten ones day when life throws gobs of lemons.

Beasty Boy and Petty Officer

Last night Tesla (AKA Beasty Boy) decided to "own Rachel" and Greg took these hilarious photos...

It's almost like he was telling her to "TALK TO THE TAIL WOMAN!"
And last night I was presented with "crows" to add to Greg's uniform. Here is Petty Officer McAuley as he was getting ready to leave this morning for his Drill weekend...

Sunrises and Sunsets are one thing....

But a "Moon Set" is AMAZING!

4:13 AM looking out my back door.

Favorite Sewing tool and potholders are ON MY MIND

First I want to thank Tania at Ivy Nest for the link in her post to texasfreckles where I learned how to make these fun potholders. Just in time to as I am participating in a potholder swap with my on-line quilting friends at 
ourquiltersfamilyhome.

In the above picture is one of my favorite sewing tools. The pointed end is to get the corners turned without poking through and the round end is for running around the seam inside the layers to get them to lay smooth. Above is before I used it and below is after I used it. LOVE THIS TOOL!

You add a layer of cotton quilt batting after you turn it right side out and I learned that it is VERY important to leave your turning opening big enough for your entire hand to fit inside so that you can smooth the batting down well before closing it up; adding a hanging tab and top stitching around the edge; which I did twice - once next to the very edge and then again about 3/4" in to hold the batting in place. I think they turn out really nice considering they started out as scraps in this little tub that I had saved back.

Six done - two more to make and then they'll be ready to go to my swap partners. 

This post is part of "on My Mind" with Down To Earth

From the Garden

The volunteer melon vine turned out to be a cantaloupe and we picked the first melon from it the other day as it had a spot that looked like it was going to go bad soon if we left it out in the garden any longer. This morning we decided to have some of it with our breakfast. As you can see it was quite large and half of it cut up filled our bowl so I covered the other half and put it in the refrigerator for later. There is still some left in the bowl in the frig as well and we have been nibbling on it all day. Yesterday we were able to make a much needed trip to the grocery store and we bought more fruit there as we seem to be craving it. We bought peaches, red plums, grapes and bananas. I love when the fruit is at sale prices like it was yesterday. 

I'll be picking figs next Saturday to make fig preserves from the tree in the abandon house next door. We've been keeping the yard mowed at our cost so this will be our payment for the gas we've burned and the time it's taken to do that task. I wish we knew the whole story behind the place. 

I went out to the garden this morning and decided to pick some of the Butternut squash (another volunteer in the garden).  The stems on these had started to turn brown and snapped free easily. I love how this year's garden feels like such a gift to us. 


Tonight I am working overnight - 9:30 PM to 7:30 AM tomorrow. Lots of plan-o-grams to get caught up on while the sprinkler system is totally updated. AH FUN!

Sunday Walk at the Riverwalk

Five Lined Skink

Raccoon Highway

Butterfly Picnic Table

Green Dragon Fly

Blue Heron

Squirrel

Aqua Dragon Fly

Fungi through the fence

Orange Balls of Fungi