Making friends

The sunset last evening was beautiful...it usually is. Stormy looking but beautiful. It certainly has been a busy week around here. So much has gotten done and it feels good. I am one of those people who sees or knows something needs to be taken care f and does not rest until it is. I am so lucky to have the friends that I do. Yesterday was a trash pick-up day. They do not come the same time each pick-up so I got organized early. I moved the car out of the garage and found the jig-saw. Hooked it up to a long extension cord and then turned over 2 of the Home Depot buckets to put the length of wood on to cut. Then I went to the pile of wood and thought I got this. Well, never having used a jig-saw or any electric saw before, it was not that easy. I seemed to have trouble keeping the blade in contact with the wood. I managed to cut 2 of these in half so it would be in the 4 foot length that is required. Along came one of the guys with his rolling barrel...let me explain. There are "runners" as I call them that come along with these large barrels on wheels and empty your trash into hem and then meet up with the truck and empty into the truck. Anyway, along comes this guy who stopped in his tracks and gave me such a look. "hello" he said and then reminded me to take my grip off the handle to stop the blade from running. I explained that I was trying to get as much cut for the pick-up and that they were early this time. He looked into the yard and saw the pile. "I will leave your barrel right here in the drive and when the truck comes they will come over and you can tell them what you are doing". So, the truck did stop and he returned with the 2 guys who came over and explained what I was doing. "We will take it as is for you"...oh my thank heavens because I was not accomplishing a lot. I said "thank you so very much because I really do not know how to properly use this saw". The one in charge replied , "yes..." with that look when you do know this person is dangerous with an electric saw, even if it is a small one. So all my wood is gone. I offered them a tip and at first they refused but then I insisted. I must have been quite the sight to them. I kept forgetting to let go of the handle so the saw was almost always in motion. I so the same with the electric drill ! I think I will stick to the needles and pins and non electric tools. On the pond update...it is now drained and dried and I need to clean out the top portion then I can see if the waterfall feature still works....that is next weeks project. Yesterday I cut out another teddy bear and have it ready to sew. This morning I plan to make Pizzelle and organize my things for the curio. Never a dull moment here...glad you visited and we could have this chat. Thank you for your kind words and most of all your friendship...friends, I am so lucky to have good friends. Let's have a good day.
Tomorrow it is all about my new curio....

Busy Thursday

Thursday was the day...the pond cover came down

Meet Sherry who unlike me can handle an electric screw driver and not strip the screws. She arrived bright and early and right to work. Together we got it done...

now I have a pile of word that must be cut into 4 foot pieces for the trash pick-up. Now to locate the jig-saw I found in the cupboard. What a change to the corner of the yard. After Sherry left in came Dianna....and to work we went. She began with removing the last of the word from the wall and then to helping empty the pond. Once that was completed Dianna snapped the blind in the bathroom into place with little effort. I did watch how she did it for the next time. The problem was not only did Denny do all these things I did not watch how many were done. These gals are teaching me as we go along. While chatting I showed Dianna the chair I wanted for the bedroom and of course the wandering gal she is said "let's go get it" so of course off we went and came home with

Perfect chair for reading and needlework. Speaking of chairs, Dianna knew I was looking for a doll chair, something to sit one of many in and she found this while out with her Bobby....

a rustic handmade rocker. After texted me the picture and cost I immediately said yes. Once I am advised by friends Don and Glenda how to clean it, it will be used to display which ever doll fits the season/holiday. They know just how to clean and know whether to paint or stain furniture. What a busy day. Now this was why I was not here yesterday; busy is the key word and then exhausted. Now today or I should say once I drink my coffee out to the yard I will venture to do the cutting of the wood...did I mention I have never used a jig-saw? The pond still needs some cleaning but that will be tomorrow morning. All the outdoor stuff needs to be done early to beat the heat.
Today it may be that I will beat some rain. What I do not cut today will be moved into the garage to keep it dry until I can cut it all. Slowly things are getting done with the help of my friends. How lucky I am to have them. Glad that you my friends have stopped to visit. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement and most of all for your friendship. Let's have a good day.

A Teddy Bear

Well now.....

Isn't this just right. Finished the teddy yesterday and it is sitting pretty. I love this pattern. It is a Simplicity pattern 

dated 1986 and I have made countless bears from it. This time the bear is special. It is from a pair of Denny's jeans and pieces cut rom one of my old blouses. 

I embroidered the Sorbello stitch along each arm top and on the top of the legs. My new favorite stitch.

I whip stitched the small inside pocket from the jeans to the back where it can hold a message or.....whatever. Fits nicely here. This is the smaller bear of three sizes.

Simple black buttons for the face. I really like how the back pocket looks for the face. I am not really happy with the ears of this pattern and have done them many ways in the past. The next teddy I will make a change. And how about the heart of this bear...

Indeed this teddy bear was made with love.....
I started the day with a problem. I took down the bathroom mini blind to wash and now I can not get it to snap into the bracket....Denny always put it back. So, tomorrow when Dianna and Sherry arrive to help with the pond, one of them I hope can get this back in place. I think I am needing a handy man. I suppose some of the things can wait until The Brother Alan arrives each year, but I really do not want his vacation time as work time. Just another loose screw for me to deal with. It was nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. Let's have a good day.

Plan B Thursday

So, this is all that I could accomplish with the pond cover. Of course with friends like Dianna and offers from Sherry to help, it will be Plan B Thursday. We will I am sure get the task finished. Of course the guy I called to come and drain and clean the pond never called me back yesterday evening as he said he would, so I will move ahead with that on Thursday also. I am being careful to continue to run the pump and fountain head to help keep the mosquitos at bay. The fish helped with that. Pond donuts will have to do now.

Teddy has his stuffing but the seams have to be sewn. Today I will sort through the buttons to find the right ones. Oh yes, his ears have to be attached too. I will do some hand sewing here and there also. I also made four hairpin lace dresses for Denny's Angels. Today is starting very overcast. This monsoon weather messes up my sinuses and gives me light headaches. In a way it is a help...crazy to say I know, but it slows me down and recently I am moving with little rest. I keep finding this or that to do and have not been my usual organized self.   So today will be maybe the teddy, or maybe the angels or could be Alice. Definitely not yard or pond work! Maybe I will read a bit with some music for company. Glad that you stopped by today. I hear the timer telling me to remove the laundry form the dryer so off I go. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship. Let's have a good day.

A rainy Monday

The day is starting with light rain....and clouds. Finally the temp will not be in the triple digits today. The yard work I planned will be on hold which is fine with me. I did sew yesterday on and off

The ears are sewn after it is stuffed so it is ready for the stuffing. I remembered that I am not fond of sewing denim.  Probably using a serger for the seams would be good...I do not have a serger. I do have a few overcast stitches on the machine so before the next one I will try on crap denim. So today I will start to fluff him out and find buttons for his eyes.  If you click on the picture to enlarge it you will see that I used one of the pockets with the stitching on it for his face.
I just went out to check the pond as I do every morning and evening, and the fish have died. So I will have to dispose of them and call the guy and let him know that I only have the one. These fish are at least 8 years old...pretty old for common gold fish that endure the outdoors. I noticed the other day that the 3 silver and black fish that moved in are now turning orange.

That is correct, when Keith was here he noticed it too. Got to be something with me and aquariums. Or just fish in general. The idea was to have silver to reflect and not add more orange to the tank.
I also starched my Denny's Angels yesterday and now to start a few more. I am hoping to work on Alice too this week. I have ambition but only in my mind! We shall see, but I am at least planning. Well friends guess I best get the fish removed and call the guy. Never a dull moment for me. Glad you stopped by and thank you for the many kind words and hugs too. Most of all thank you for your wonderful friendship. Let's have a good day.
UPDATE: When I finished this post I went out to remove the fish and they were all dead. Already found someone to come and drain and clean the pond so I can have it simple. No more fish however. Simple and easy to maintain.

I am still here...

Hello friends, thank you for missing me. I took a few days off. First because the 21st was my first month without Denny and then to gather myself. Besides the blog I keep a diary separate from here and those thoughts , well it was best to take a break. I am here and over the next week I want to share some more of the embellishments on the banner. I had a love y day with Dianna and we did cut out the teddy...

and today I start to sew. We also went to a thrift store and  I found just the right book for my teddy bears

I will remind myself not to return there on a Saturday...so chaotic. Dianna found some good stuff too. Early last evening my friend Keith stopped by to bring me an embroidered something....

well, I can not show it as it will be a gift but he has a wonderful embroidery machine and I asked if he would stitch this for me. Then he helped me to send a couple of videos to The Brother Alan. Keith is a computer wiz....really what he does, sort of. Anyway, it was a productive day. Right now it is cloudy with chance of rain and very humid. I did get out earlier to vacuum out  18 gallons of water, then add fresh water back in. I also remembered to add the algaecide chemical. Cleaned the pump too. I think they will be going to a new home next week. I called an organization and the man said email me your address and I will come out to get them next week...so lets keep those toes crossed (the fingers will most likely be doing needlework) that he does come for them. I sent pictures to him. I actually added a few more stitches to Alice, but not enough to even notice. So I have been busy.  I hope to sew on the teddy bear. I have some yard work to do, but I will get out early each morning to rake, sweep, pond vac and such....too hot after 7 AM. I also need to get a new filter for the fridge ice maker next week and hope I remember how to do install. I watched Denny do it hundreds of times. How hard can it be? You will soon find out.
By the way...remember

I  decided to call him Harry.... just popped in my head and did not leave, so Harry it is.
Guess that about covers what I have been up to and what plans I have. Glad to have you visit with me and thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. I am trying to get back into visiting all of you...Let's have a good day.