A busy morning

Feels strange post at this time...later in the morning. The reason is that I was out by 6 to vacuum the pond, flush the pump, add back in the 12 gallons of water  and add the algae chemical. Of course even though I did not take a pond shower, I did spill some of the lovely green water on myself. The dust storm yesterday afternoon brought all kinds of stuff into the yard and across the garage so that was swept up before coming in for a normal shower.  Then it was make hummer food and  clean 2 of the feeders and fill them. While on this roll I cleaned the aquarium and now I am finished.....also tired. Yesterday we had strong winds and a  dust storm....

this was the dust storm looking out of my garage toward the East. Nasty stuff. I just poked out for a second. Not something you want to be in walking or driving. The winds were actually howling at times. Not sure of the size  of this one, but they can be huge and very dangerous to be caught in.
Today my word is Patient.

This was the next word to stitch and  the first word I did when Denny was admitted to the hospital.....he thought it was so fitting as did I. A simple word. He was the patient and I was being patient even though I knew it was going to take more than I had at the moment. Everyday at the hospital he would ask what I was stitching and when finished asked to see it. They were long days and I was able to usually finish a word. The crystal beads are beads he found among my many beads. They make me think quiet and gentle. We have many wind chimes that he hung both in back and in front of the house as well as indoors too. I dangled these in that fashion...they hang quietly here.
Thank you for the lovely comments regarding the Words banner. I am happy that you have been enjoying the story and planning that went into it.  Thank you also for the kind words and emails and cards. Thank you most of all for your caring friendship. Let's have a good day.

Ready for more Monsoon

The rain we had Wednesday evening did not amount to much but they say more "storms" for the weekend, so here is my boat so I can float! Okay, so it is only paper origami....it is always the thought that counts. My thought this morning is to thank Keith for sorting out my computer issue yesterday...good neighbor and friend are they; Keith and Al. I tatted on 3 of the 5 Denny's Angels yesterday but they will all need their halos before picture time. I also cleaned another of the cupboards in the garage....I own 7 fry pans...that is right and they are all different sizes. I also found a set of sauce pans (not needed) and the Waffle Iron and a Cool Daddy (also not needed)...guess there will be a Fall Garage Sale. I still have the upper cupboards but this is getting done slowly. A conversation with sis Lynowl earlier this week and she asked me what she could send me...I asked for and got my favorite Rhode Island biscuits..

Palmieri Bakery Pepper sticks....not one bag but 4! I will tell you that I can eat one bag a day easily...but I am behaving. They are not available out here in Arizona. I wish I had the recipe for these....wonder if they would share it? Be right back....
I had put a small wash in and it was ready to leave the washing machine..in this heat you can not leave clothes in the washer too long. The garage is not air conditioned.  Anyway., on to the Word for today is Caring

It can mean to feel love, feel concern and protection. I certainly felt al these with Denny. I miss his smile that said I love you....his holding my hand which gave me protection and his worrying about me.

He loved to plant roses. Back in RI we had several lovely bushes in our garden, out here he had little to no luck. His favorite was the Lincoln Rose....When we sorted through looking for embellishments he asked that I include this someplace...my tatted rose. I told him maybe  I should make many to hang in the garden...he rolled his eyes....but it is here. A rose for my Denny.
It is very cloudy out today, I think maybe I should make a fleet of sail boats! Glad to chat with you and thank you so much for the kind words and for your Caring thoughts for me. Thank you most of all for your friendship. Let's have a good day.

A little bit of rain

Around 6:30 last evening a downpour...first rain of the monsoon season around here. It lasted about a half hour. This morning is clear hot and humid with winds expected. So, the umbrellas will probably remain down for awhile.  Glad I went to the market yesterday so I can stay put today. I woke around 3 am-ish with a light headache....I am already feeling better but I would rather just try to relax today.  By relaxing I mean a little tatting and needlework of some kind. Keeping my hands busy. Yesterday was re-arrange the houseplants and re-pot 3 African violets. I then forgot them outside in the heat... never said I was good at re-potting...that's right Denny did those things. One of the plants that has a new spot is my spider

 I have brown tips on the spider plant so I trimmed it and thought a change of scenery might help. The stand is just under the master bedroom window and on the bottom is The Frog...

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I fell in love with this frog a few years ago and Dennis bought it thinking it would go outside...no, indeed not. He has lived on this stand in the kitchen with a different plant. Now when I sit in the chair of business, he stares at me but at the same time he makes me smile. Smiles are good. His name is Prince...as in kiss a frog to find a prince. Denny told me not to bother as he was already my prince. Sometimes gems flowed from his mouth.
Today's word is Blessed

In the dictionary it says that blessed is bringing comfort or joy. Denny brought both to our marriage. We laughed together so many times and we cried together. He was my comfort and joy. It simply has a green button to match the thread......simple.
I really should fiddle with the pond this morning, but it really is very humid and if I have issues then I just might do away with those swimmers! Anyone have pond or very huge gold fish bowl...there can be yours! I must get on with my chores, vacuuming and laundry. Then on to tatting or whatever needs a needle. It has been great having you stop by...a new blogger stopped by and her name is Sally Ann over at My Tiny Home...stop by and say hello. Thank you for all the kind caring words you send to me and most of all thank you for your friendship. Let's have a good day.
 

Being Kind

Well, it seems that things around Horton House are getting taken care of. Don was here yesterday to finish the sprinkler system drip lines. The only plants I need to water are those in the large pots and with the exception of one or two, they are not watered everyday. I talked  to a pond company and to our landscapers asking if they could find a home for the pond fish. I will be sorry that they will go, but I am trying to make it easier for me. Denny I know understands he himself some months back said that if anything happened to them we would not replace them. The little hummer continues to visit the lanai each day and stays for a few hours.  The new feeder remains popular with a couple of them. Yesterday was a bit of tatting

 5 of Denny's Angels got their dresses now to finish with the bottom row of tatting. These will each have colored beads....red, blue, southwest, green and gold. When I first made these in March, Denny thought they would make nice gifts to send at Christmas. Then while in hospital he reminded me to be sure to make them and send them; hence they are called Denny's Angels. I enjoy the process of tatting them and think of him with each one.
Today the word Kind....

The dictionary describes kind as being gentle. My Denny was a gentle man.  He was kind to me, sharing all responsibilities and spoiling me.  He loved his garden and was kind to all the creatures. If he lifted a pot and scared a lizard, he would actually feel bad. He especially wanted the hummer feeders to be full at all times and the birdbath kept clean for the other birds. He worried about the bunnies even though he loved the coyotes. So the word kind has a hummingbird and bunny charm. He was a very kind man. 
Today will be a tatting day and I still want to start a teddy bear. I want to do so many things but then my thoughts get in the way. So, I will sit and enjoy my coffee and waffles (no, I did not make them, they are frozen...although we do have a waffle maker). Thank you for visiting with me today and for the kind words and emails. Most of all thank you for your friendship. Let's have a good and be kind to someone.

A cloudy morning

Whenever I have something to do in the yard (which seems like everyday) I try to get out there around 5:30. It is already light but the sun is not bright or heating up my yard. So, today I though, good a cloudy morning. Out to trim a couple of plants and then to repot 3 African Violet plants ...another first for me. Most likely they will be d-e-a-d by the end of the week. Then to sweep up the overnight debris and before I knew it, it was 6:15 and time to water the indoor plants. I have not visited with the Aquarium tenants yet! Yesterday was a very busy morning: First I had to call the landscaper because the sprinkler valve was really leaking...so he came took it apart ant fixed it. Then as he was done Don came to put the new sprinkler heads and drip lines in.... I had already did my morning yard job and struggled with the pond and pump. Before it was all done and I was back I the house it had been 3 hours in the heat. Of course then the headache started and before you ask, yes I drank ice water the entire outside time. When the temps are 100+ you know it is a must. I immediately let Denny know that this is a bit tiresome in the heat. I am seriously thinking of finding a home for the fish then the pond will be much easier for me to handle. I tatted another Denny's Angel top so today the goal is to Hair-pin lace the dresses. This will make 9 that will be completed.

Today is Precious.....my 47 years with Dennis is so very precious to me. I miss holding his hand and he mine. The beads on this are Turquoise and some others. He loved Turquoise and bought me several pieces of jewelry,  just recently in April a pair of earrings. I added the star button just because.

Sunflowers were one of his favorites.....so I took apart an artificial flower that he found and found the glass bumble bee and voila...a sunflower appeared.  The bee which is hard to see is dimensional... and oh so cute. All of a sudden I am hungry...already had my coffee and an English muffin. So off I go to find something else. Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words and most of all for your friendship. Let's have a good day.....

A new week

Yesterday I actually stopped for gas...I know so what. It is a big deal for me as this was my second time. There were three guys at the next pump; they had a truck towing a boat and a car. One of the guys noticed my hesitation and he stood with me to make sure I was doing okay. He said, "we live in a crazy world but there are good people too" He was indeed a good and caring person. I am lucky to always be around good people who care. The first time and the last, was June 17th...so, at this rate I only have to deal with gas once a month. Today is clean the pond day...I wish there was someone I could find for this task.  I hope to get out there real soon before it gets any warmer. Right now it is partly sunny but no rain expected....just heat and humidity.
Today I will start with the Words explanations...

I stitched all the words in the order of release but laid them out my own way. The first was Love...just right for us. I embroidered the date of our wedding on the patch, and added two pink hearts. Pink was the color for my wedding. I truly fell in love at first sight and he with me. We were fortunate to have a caring loving marriage for 47 years. I put our wedding picture in a tatted heart. and hand wrote our names . That is a Token of Love charm next to the heart. Dennis thought I should add the crocheted flowers with seed beads someplace on the banner....right at the top.

In the crocheted circle I attached our original wedding rings...again with a pink ribbon. I am on my 4th ring...and last.

Denny really hated to take his off but due to the edema had no choice. He asked me to take it home and put it back into the box and in my jewelry box where it has been. He told me how happy he had been being married to me and that the ring reminded him everyday. When I started this banner Denny helped picked out some of the embellishments and thread colors. This truly was a project of love for me.  Donna has since the start of this project released other words and just this weekend 2 more. Tomorrow another word and embellishments. Today a little more Denny's Angel tatting and maybe poor neglected Alice will sit with me. Right now, I think it is time to get outside and clean the pond. Thank you for visiting with me and for following my new journey. Thank you for the caring and kind words and most of all your friendship. Let's have a good day.....

Words of Affirmation is complete

Well, at this point it is. This project as I mentioned before was started a few months before Dennis passed. He was very much a part of color, embellishment and ideas and also where to hang it. I thought I would show you the full banner and then for the week or so pick an area and tell you about it.

It is about 13 wide and 36 long. Denny thought it would be good to hang it on the closet door...a place where we would encounter it many times. His plan was to mount it differently than I did but for now this is how it is hanging.  This truly was a labor of love for me to work on. Each word has a special meaning for me and also because Denny really liked the project and gave input. By the way, it looks crooked but it is not...I guess I stand off kilter. I say it is complete and it may be so. However, I may find a charm or two to add. There is one thing I did not make yet...a yo-yo. Dennis mentioned it would be nice to "put one of those cloth circles" on it. I had a busy day yesterday. Dianna and Bob came by so Bob could fix the running toilet....Thank you Bobby! Then he also hung my new hummer feeder in the kitchen window out of the sun and helped with my front walkway. Dianna and I have been friends for a long time (worked together at Jo Ann's) and even worked on projects together. Now I can add her Bobby to my list of caring friends. I have been overwhelmed with the caring messages and kindness of all. Don stopped by to check the watering system to help me make some changes. It will make my care of the yard easier.
I love my Dragonflies and I received 2 beautiful pins.

This one is from a long time Rhode Island friend, Janet.  I will always think of her when I wear it.
Dear friend Glenda saw this and thought of me....

So pretty. Cards, messages, flowers/plants and emails have brightened my days. Dennis did not want any commotion. "Just cremate me and put me in a box on the book shelf with Sherlock and Zoe (our pooches). No service , maybe you could have a party with balloons (he loved balloons at parties). Having him home with me has really brought it to reality. I am never really alone~~~~~~

A package arrived from cousin Janice (in RI)...

Is this not the cutest thing! He/she is solar powered and has an on/off switch at the tip of the nose. Part pipe, part metal and a glass bottle for a butt....just too ~~ too cute! Now I need a name for he/she.....it could really be either. I must tell you that at 3:30 this morning the winds were crazy. One of the closed umbrellas fell over, the bushes and trees were whipping around as well as a few other yard things. Now it is quiet....not a leaf is moving and it is cloudy...after all, this is Monsoon season so maybe we will get rain??? or not. I have been working on Denny's Angels and hope to start at least one Denny Teddy Bear soon. I always liked keeping busy and more so now. Did I mention that I have one more cupboard in the garage to clean? It is the cupboard with the cooking stuff...pans and things. Did I mention I found the last (I hope) electric drill which brings my collection to I think 4. I know there are way too many frying pans out there. Yes, he enjoyed gardening, electronics and buying pots and pans for his cooking. I think a Fall garage sale is in the works! For now, I will straighten the house, make my bed and get a bread dough ready for baking tomorrow. Right now I need my coffee and my tatting. You are all so special tome...thank you for the kind and caring words and emails. Most of all thank you for the love and friendship. Let's have a good day.💖