All gone...

The Brother left yesterday afternoon...miss him. As usual, we had a wonderful visit....fun and relaxation. He hiked, time in the pool, visiting a few favorite places and a couple of new places. I hate the hug when he leaves, but it will last until next year.
I did pick up the needle to stitch, but I really have nothing much to show. The morning was spent doing laundry and getting the guest room back to my sewing room....hope tomorrow to have a few pictures to post. In the meantime, hope all are safe if you are in the tornado area. My thoughts are with all of the people who are struggling to get through this. Thank you for visiting with me and for the kind words. I am going to read for a little while and sit outside on the lanai....enjoy your day.

Ride'em Cowboy

Off to Payson AZ last night to a rodeo.... my first and definitely not the last. It was about a 2 hour ride north to Payson the temps dropped quickly and we were feeling chilly  cold as the temp registered 70! We left The Valley with temps around 95! The ride up to Payson was through the beautiful Tonto National Forest with so many giant Saguaro's. Many of them were in bloom.... sorry at this moment I have no picture to post. The Brother Alan took several so when he downloads them, I will get one to post. The events included bare back riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. There was also barrel racing and steer wrestling and tie down roping. We really had a good time. I look forward to next year's event.
I have been practicing my tatting... I think I will have a nice sample to show to Debra next week. I did put a few stitches on the violets... maybe tomorrow I will have something to show for it. Everyone is still asleep... I even slept late! When I opened my eyes it was 5:30... now that is over-sleep for me. Not sure of our plans today.... Glad you spent some time with me today. I always appreciate the kind words and emails.... have a great day.

Having a great visit... but no real stitching!

Enjoying The Brother Alan's visit.... have not stitched though. We are keeping busy, the pool, Scottsdale for shopping, out to eat and just relaxing. I love having him here for his yearly visit....
So, if, as I say if ... I get some stitching done, you will be the first to know. Thanks for stopping by... hope to share some fun pictures soon....have a great day.

Just waiting

This  week Last week seems to have passed quickly...and I am happy for that. Today The Brother Alan arrives... this afternoon. He will be in flight from his stop over. This weekend we were busy preparing for the arrival.... making the guest bedroom back into one form my sewing room. A bit of re-arranging and voila, it is ready. Then there was the trip to the market yesterday for groceries. I am always happy to have him visit.
I have been stitching... and tatting trying to tat a new project. I thought I Had it but alas, no. I will start it over because I will get it! There will be no Debra session this week. I will certainly miss my learning time. The landscapers are here and I did not get outside quickly so a new fellow trimmed severely a bush that was not suppose to be trimmed per my request. Ugh! I know it will grow in... eventually.... but it annoys me that I will have to wait for the lovely purple flowers on the Sage Bush. I planted seeds for hard shell gourds indoors last month and when they were a few inches high Mr H planted them out in the garden. You can not believe how fast they are growing! Yesterday we started to see flowers on them. WE are having them trail up instead of on the ground. Our yard is mostly brick and it gets mighty hot in these temps of 100+.
That is about it friends... thanks for stopping by and for the kind words. Enjoy your day... I will as soon as The Brother Alan arrives!!!

I did it!

Well, session three and I am able to say I can tat with a shuttle...

I can not believe what a difference 3 weeks has made. Of course the high five goes to Debra who has been patient and also a very good teacher. Although this motif is just about 2 inches, to me it is big...I mean a really big deal. I must admit that it is not perfect... but I will get to where it will be better. I need to work on my tension and picots. Debra and I will miss next week's session....The Brother Alan will be here. We decided that our next meet will be a road trip to Mesa to The Attic to see the new store and lunch and The Fiber Factory. In the meantime, I did start the same motif to try to perfect my skill. I told Mr H that I wanted to make snowflakes for one of my Christmas tress...his response, "you better get started, you have 6 months."
I am off to work today then on vacation until The Brother Alan is gone. I would like to wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day.....for some of us it is a difficult day, but I will think of you. Thank you for stopping by today....

Middle of the week...

Sometimes Wednesday is a boring day. The middle of things to do before the week ends day. Next week at this time The Brother Alan will be here! I am so looking forward to his yearly visit. We have tenative plans, because we all know how plans can be spur of the moment. Recent visits, he thinks of what he would like to do when he arrives.... nice... it helps that we do not have to think of things. Whatever we do, time will pass all too quickly.
Tomorrow is session 3 with Debra and Tatting. She has not lost interest in teaching me! I have tentatively selected a few projects to concentrate on once she feels I am ready. I really want to make a bunch of snowflakes for my Christmas tree and to send as gifts.... I would like to think someone would like a tatted snowflake from me. I can always send one to EvaP... she likes everything I do.... moms are like that. I have been working on a crazy quilt patch piece...can not show you as it will be sent to someone who reads my blog. I have also made progress on my candle stand piece...

I am not crazy about the linen as it is very stiff, but it was on hand so I am using it. The colors are prettier in person. I hope to have it finished this week and mounted. As I sit here typing, the sound of the pond is soothing... the chatter of the birds entertaining..... I think it is time to sit out on the lanai and stitch. Wouldn't it be nice to have you join me with a cup of tea...
So very happy that you did find time to stop by...enjoy your day....

Postal snafu and tatting

First let me tell you about our mail person.... he is retiring and not a day too soon for me. He is not on my friendship list for a few reasons... so, enter a possible new mail person.. a she who in her divine wisdom did not know what to do with an envelope addressed to me at my correct address from Australia. In my mail box was a pick up notice for the parcel. When I went to the post office, I explained that I frequently get this type of mail and expect that it is delivered to my home... the she in question is a trainee. But here it is....

It is my Black Bird Exchange from Leanne in Australia. Delicious caramello Koalas! and chocolate covered cookies and look.... a ribbon embroidery pin to stitch. I do like ribbon embroidery! She not only stitched my initial on a card, but in my color.... laveneder....and the pin pillow has a log cabin square...very nice indeed. Thank you Leanne.
I had a to do yesterday with Bet Buy...trying to schedule an appointment to have the remote starter installed. I can not go on my own because Mr H is the name on the order and it will take 3 hours and we will have to remain there as we have only one car! I had to speak with 5 people before this was accomplished. So Wednesday is the day for the installation. I am very spoiled and miss being able to pre-start the car and have the air conditioning run for a few minutes before getting in. Back East, it was for melting the snow and ice off the car!
My second lesson with Debra went well... she started me on a motif....

my homework was to finish the round and she will start me on the final round. I am quite proud of it. Using size 30 thread was a bit of a challenge, but I think I got the hang of it now. She is so talented and patient. We have discovered that we have so much in common.... this is a nice friendship.
I should tell you that I finally saw the elusive baby fish in Mr H's pond. It is all black. Why am I telling you the color? Well the other 2 monstrous fish in the pond are orange and one is mostly white! So far, it still prefers to hide under the rock edge or at the bottom so I have no idea when my next sighting will be. I should mention that Mr H is going to be upset again with the birds. Again this year, the Doves are as I speak with you building their nest in the wall basket next to our back door. I will try for a picture..... We have turned into an aviary!
I am glad that we had some time to visit. Thank you for the kind words and emails. Whatever your plans for the day, hope they include some stitch time... I will be out on the lanai with my project.....