Plans sidelined

Today I was going to paint the pond wall...I stopped yesterday at Home Depot and picked up a few items...paint

to paint 2 stripes on the wall behind the pond matching the colors in this pottery jar that is on the wall. All the supplies were made ready last night

yes, in the laundry basket which is not being used right now. But...earlier this morning there was thunder and lightening and very grey skies along with about 5 minutes of drizzle. So, by the time this cleared up it is too hot and too muggy to be out there preparing to paint. Maybe tomorrow. The nozzle broke for the backyard hose so that made it's way into the cart. I also remembered to pick up a new skimmer

Denny was 5'8" and long arms...me at 5' short arms had trouble using the skimmer he had with no handle! This will telescope to 8 feet! It is a guarantee that I will not be leaning into the pond to collect leaves and not falling in! This morning I attached a timer so that if I want to shut the waterfall off I can do so from the house. I am feeling quite accomplished.
Enjoyed my lunch meeting with Vicki-K.

Vicki and Dan

Be sure to stop by and visit her Christmas blog  and also her other blog Being Grammy.  We had wonderful conversation as well as lunch. Her interests are varied and I am sure you will enjoy meeting her and her sweet grandchildren as well as get some organizational ideas for Christmas.
Remember my rearranging the computer? I had to disconnect several things so I could move it and in putting it all back together I messed up. No speakers! Of course what to do...after spending an hour this morning trying to figure it out, I sent an email to Keith and ....did you know that if you have a green connection it plugs into the green spot on the back of the computer? All fixed. Poor Keith I just about drive him crazy. The sun is shining brightly now and it is hot and humid so no outdoor activities for me. Soon, real soon, I must get gas...I am at the 3 line. It has been a month since my last gas adventure so I hope I remember what does what. Today will be a relax day and just maybe some needle in hand. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Most of all, thank you or your friendship.
❤Special note: Today is the funeral back in Rhode Island for my dear gentle cousin Rocco. 

Glenda's Teddy

The pond waterfall is finally all set and if only the weather would cool so I can sit outside and enjoy it! I have not gone to Home Depot yet for the paint but that is the plan for this afternoon. I will be meeting AZ blogger Vicki-K for lunch today and will pass right by HD.  Baked a fresh apple cake yesterday .. yum with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. My morning and part of the afternoon was spent rearranging the kitchen. My kitchen area is an L shape...galley area for cooking then a good size rectangular end. In one corner is my computer and the other my Bakers rack with the tea cups and pots. I got tired of the corner computer desk ... I also have a nice desk against the back wall. So, out with the corner desk and moved the regular desk on the side wall and the baker's rack along the back wall and the Kachinas across from the desk....I ordered a keyboard slide as this desk does not have one. The task then became where to put this and that and what-have-you.  I really need to clean out the files in the file cabinet drawers. So far so good. The walls got cleaned, all the Southwest pictures had to be moved to the other wall and the floor was washed. To say that my back and hip are killing me is an understatement. Just a bit too much work. I really should take pictures since it all sounds so jumbled.
I guess you would like to meet Glenda's Teddy ~~~~~

this will be a gift for her great-grandson. Made from a pair of her jeans with a special message on the left hand. Glenda was pleased with the bear....makes me happy. I really enjoy creating these bears and dolls. Knowing that someone is going to love them is best.
The morning air is a little cool and a light drizzle is falling. I love a misty rain. The temp is a cool 79 with temps expected to reach 106. Really need the cool weather so I can clean the yard thoroughly and the lanai. Most of all so I can be outside more. This monsoon season has been very active with lots of winds and with that talcum powder like dust that gets in everywhere! That about covers my last couple of days.  It is always a pleasure to have you stop by. Thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. Let's have a good day.

Special bracelets

Dennis loved lighthouses and we often visited them while living in Rhode Island

.the fat one in the back is Old Saybook CT, a beautiful area, the red one is Southeast Block Island , The tall one is Boston Harbor MA. So of course when I received an email from Alex and Ani, my favorite bracelet company, I was happy to see a lighthouse.....

I knew I had to have it. Then I read the description...It is a charity charm with 20% of the dale going to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Denny's diagnosis as you know wad Lymphoma.  It is named Lighthouse. The card with it says:
"A lighthouse is a welcoming structure, a reassuring sign of steady ground ahead, and an optimistic symbol of hope for all looking to move forward safely. It is an emblem of strength located at the edge of unpredictable tides as it provides navigational guidance and bright light in a storm. Resilient and immovable, this shinning beacon encourages perseverance even in the darkest times."
When I got to the boutique and spotted the next one, it came home with me also...

Live A Happy Life! I simply fell apart. This is also a charity charm with 20% of sale going to Up Beat Cancer. On May 24th during one of our conversations, Denny said these exact words to me. The accompanying card says;
"The path to living a happy life is inherently paved with hopefulness, and the journey offers no shortcuts. Hope cannot be fabricated or counterfeited - - it is manifested in only those who first believe in its existence. You can find hope and you can give hope; we must always remember: as long as hope exists, the road to a happy life awaits."
I can not say more ....time to sit back and sip a cup of tea even I on this very hot 100 temp day. Time to wipe my tears.
Thank you for visiting and the kind words and most of all, your friendship. 💔

Horses, a bear and a frog

Prediction is for a 107 temp day but it is quite nice right now at almost 7 AM. I will grind the beans and brew some coffee and sit at the sewing machine

and sew Glenda's teddy bear. I really enjoy creating these bears and always loved to make cloth dolls. There is that special satisfaction when you make something and then see the smile it can bring to someone. Speaking of cloth dolls, the doll is refreshed and back in the rocker..

pig tails all fluffed out and smelling of Downey. I was asked for the measurement of the rocker...at the high point of the backrest it is 19" and the seat is 7 wide and 10" deep....just enough for a little body.
When I bought the chair and then the curio, the furniture place gives you a stuffed critter for spend $100 or more....

The small horse is about 16" high and came home with the chair and the taller at 20" came home with the curio. You get to choose from a few different animals that change throughout the year. There was also the gold or white tigers but the horses were my choice. The brown one is sporting one of Denny's bandanas.
The pond needs some finishing landscaping but this guy has been sitting here for 12 years and before this he sat at our pond edge in RI

Each year Denny would paint him to bring him back to life and he has sat at various places along the pond edge. Somewhere along the years he lost his left foot...but still poses comfortably.  I will need to paint the trim at the top of the wall before I can add plants and such around the pond. Most likely I will head to Home Depot tonight or tomorrow for paint and a new nozzle for the hose.  Yesterday morning Dianna and I spent time roaming around and then lunch. I started not to feel too well so I came home early and sure enough my blood pressure was a tad high. Feet up and plenty of iced water. I hadn't really drank much all morning.  I am feeling much better today. I had thought about early yard work but no, inside and sewing will be my task. I am so glad we had this visit. Thank you for the kind words and most of all your caring friendship. Lets have a good day.

Waterfall

I was going through one of the garage cupboards... again ...and came across a calendar with beautiful roses...as I flipped the months I came across this......

Denny the artist tracking his haircut on the 4th and recycle on the 11th....it brought a smile to my mind this morning. Just another moment and memory to cherish.
Ta-Da...the waterfall is working

With much thanks to Don and Glenda for all the help. However, I think there is just one more spot to secure. Oh, maybe I am being paranoid...but I would rather take care of it now. So the water is not falling today to allow the area to dry out. This  feature was put in when the home was built so there is expected to be weak spots in the cement after all these years.

I have cleaned the area best as I can and will now think about the landscaping around the pond. The turtle planter is back and the wall pieces will remain. I need to take the frog in to repaint.....Denny did that every year. I will need to reposition the spot light also. Not sure what I will do about the Yucca plant which has gotten spindly. It has been there since the late 70s I was told. I may cut it back and hopefully let it regrow stronger. A few pots of annuals soon will add some color. I just need the weather to cool down before trying to work out there.

Yesterday this rag doll got a shampoo and laundered clothes....now back in the rocker. I will be off today to get a few supplies for a special teddy bear that I was asked to make and I am still looking for a foot stool for my chair. My list of ~~~To Do~~~Must Do has a new addition...my cell phone. Seems for everything I  can cross off, there is a new item added! The cell phone does not seem to keep it's charge as long as it once did. Just a simple AT&T phone that Denny got in 2012. Guess it is upgrade time. Since I do have a land line it is not an immediate need. Then again, I think it may also be time to look at new land line phones...just another item for the list. Well, I have had my coffee while we visited and some toast to start the day. Need to vacuum and Swiffer here and there before heading out later. I do appreciate the kind words and emails. Thank you for your friendship....let's have a good day.

What time is it ? !

It is 2 AM...that's right...what am I doing up and drinking a cup of tea at this hour? I am sure me myself and I will be very tired later today.  Thank you for those who wondered where I was...last post being on Thursday. I have been who knows where....Friday was a lawyer's appointment midday which pretty much was my day. Saturday I had coffee with dear Glenda and then

her hubby Don came over to work on the waterfall. We had discovered  a few weak spots on the top causing the water to disappear so Don figured what to do and today...later today I will turn the water back on and hope that it all works. I made Pizzelles in the morning and shared them and of course will be making more this week. I usually get about 36 from the recipe. I had topped midway and found that the batter did not like being left unattended so not that many this time, but still had to share with a few friends or I would eat the entire batch.   Last evening Dianna invited me to join her and Bobby for Shrimp Scampi which Bobby cooked for us. And that brings me here.....to now where ever that is at this hour. Poor Tilly...some have found her to be, shall I say a little strange. She is certainly different and I smile when I look at her. I should mention that Dianna is the gal behind her outfit (I did the rest!). Dianna makes such lovely doll clothes for 18" dolls if anyone is interested in ordering and she will ship anywhere. Let me know and I will pass the info to her. There are two new bloggers I would like to introduce you to. The first is my neighbor and friend Keith. His blog is Last Bite and it is showcasing his embroidery by machine quilting. You will also find that on occasion he will talk about his trips and food. The other is LaShawn who can be found at Boutique Stitches. Be sure to stop by and visit. So no that we chatted and my tea cup is empty I will return to bed and maybe fall off to sleep. My head is full of "I want to dos" but we shall see what happens later today. I still have my Water Sangria

  in the fridge for later today and a dish of Pizzelles for snacking. For now I say thank you for the kind words and for stopping and for missing me these couple of days. Thank you for your wonderful caring friendship.