It's the little things~~~~

A nice morning temperature wise. It is 71 with a cool touch in the air. Of course the full strength of the sun is not out when it may reach 95. But I certainly am enjoying this morning air. The garden has been watered and laundry washing. Good start. Yesterday did the errands; gas, Staples for printer ink but forgot the one black that I needed!, then a quick stop at JoAnn's for foam for the footstool which I changed my mind about but...

look what followed me home. I just love Tilda's books. I must have this little darling and so she is on the to do this week list. Oh, that is right, The Brother Alan will be here on Tuesday. It is fine, I will have some time  as I do believe we are not going to be running all over the place....well, maybe she will have to wait a little. No rush. I cannot believe Alan will call her scary as he feels about Tilly! I just  love how Tone Finnager designs her dolls. She refers to those protrusions on the side of the heads as "tuffs". They are optional but I do think they are cute. Oh... and the monkey is adorable!
My friends, I would like to clarify a few things....the little things that throw me for a loop. The little things like getting gas. It is not that I can not it is just a reminder that Denny is not here to do it. It is not that I can not water the garden, it is that this was his hobby. It is not that I can not drive but did not have to. None of this is really complicated, but I know that I over think things-- but this new normal for me is not what I want but will and do make the adjustments. A couple of the kitchen knives need sharpening...I do not know how to correctly use the sharpening tool that Denny di with precision , so I will get them sharpened by someone who knows how to do it. There is always a solution I just have to take a step back and not panic. I am a very strong lady and I can and will make all the adjustments that I must...just a little at a time. My head knows what is necessary but my heart is still quite broken and does not want to do the little things.
Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for caring enough to offer hugs and kind words that are felt from everywhere. Thank you for being my friend when I need you the most. 

Where did this week go?

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to have this week in the rear view mirror because it means .....The Brother Alan will soon be here...Tuesday as a matter of fact.

The Snail Vine does not look like much now, but I am hoping it will magically grow and once again cover the arbor. Poor thing did experience a bit of shock with the transport and then waiting to be planted. But ...

This blossom is looking mighty pretty. There are a few that were and a few that will be. The manual operation of the irrigation is moving along okay. Turn a switch on, put the timer in the house on and then wait to turn it off. The yard is doing well. The waterfall continues to trickle down with a nice sound, the established plants are looking good, now if this weather would only cool enough to be able to sit outside and enjoy it all. Yesterday the temp was around 99! Of course with the humidity it still is hot. Monsoon is almost over.

Finally the motif is finished...well just along the bottom which is on the next page. I do not know exactly why I did not enjoy stitching this one. It may have been so much of the back round color. Still lots of motifs to go but they are open and all different.
I found the fabric for the footstool..

It is not an exact color match but pretty close to the grey of the chair and the beige. I need to add batting and iron this piece and it will look really nice. I will fussy cut so the wide stripe is in the middle. I thought about getting something darker so it will not show soil marks but this was in my stash and it looks pretty good.
Thank you for the pats on my back for all the accomplishments I have made. I just want to be able to do this or that. I am not fooling myself that there are and will be things that I will need help with or to hire for. The car needs gas....I know it has been weeks but if I do not drive anywhere then The Brother Alan will have that task. I seem to get a month for a fill up...Friend and neighbor Al has offered to come along to walk me through it...I think am sure once I am standing there I will remember what to do. I detest doing it so it is easily pushed out of mind.  I have a few errands that really should be done before the day....you know...The Brother Alan arrives on Tuesday. I did remind you didn't I? Guess that about covers it. Time to get the laundry and fold it, to make the bed, to vacuum and whatever else. Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship. 4 days but who's counting?! 

I did it all by myself

Let's talk about yesterday. I thought this past week that the irrigation in the back yard was not working correctly. I was right. Somehow the timer got itself messed up and so the bottom line is it needs to be replaced. The landscaper showed me how to use the system manually so that is what I will be doing until I get the new box. Today he will return to plant the Snail Vine at the arbor because it would be difficult for me, I think in this heat. I painted the last of my shelves ( for now) and

the third shelf is mounted. You are reading correctly, and I did it all by myself. I measured, leveled, marked and drilled. I used the molleys and the electric screw driver all without injury to myself! Scissors and thread at hand for sewing. Of course all the credit for my ability to do this goes to my friends Don and Glenda who taught me how.  Now with the amount of nails and screws in the garage I can build something with confidence! Let's not forget the drills....
Less than a week for the arrival of The Brother Alan.
A few more stitches on Alice and another Denny's Angel yesterday. The temps hit 110 and it was a record for the date and very hot. Prediction for today is 107. I am so looking forward to some cooler weather so that I can sit outside. I still have not returned the hummingbird feeder to the window area for fear of the bee invasion. Once the temps cool down I will try it again. Plans for today? Well the pond needs a little cleaning before the heat of the day, Robert arrives around 8 am to plant the vine, and Alice and I will sit together for a bit. Not too much but just enough. Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship. I read this someplace but do not remember where or who wrote it but I like it....

Sit tall in the saddle. Make sure it's cinched up tight.

Busy weekend

I thought I was going to sit back, but there was still shelves to move

First they had to be painted, then a lesson from Don on drilling, how to put in a molley and then attaching to the wall. Glenda directed from the chair with coffee in hand. Poor Don a wife, a friend and tools. The people on the shelves are not exactly where they will be but it was time to get them out of the basket in the closet. I needed to stop as my hand is once again swollen and sore. So besides the right leg not the right hand! Did I mention the needle in the foot?

As I strolled through the living room a sharp pain in you guessed it , my right foot. This needle is what I pulled out. The problem with carpets is that sometimes when you drop something you do not know you did until... Not to worry, it did not require any tools to pull out. It will be added to my Festival of Needles.
A surprise package arrived on Friday and a new mailperson.

Cousin Janice in Rhode Island sent me these delicious cookies...oh my goodness.

Each cookie is individually wrapped and just perfect; not sweet but flavored just right. These are Sweet Olive Oil Tortas with anise. Their name is Ines Rosales. Thank you sweet Janice for thinking of me with this treat.

 I have been slowly stitching on Alice. I am not fond of this motif so it is taking forever. Not much more to finish it so I will push on today with it as much as my hand will allow. This represents the tea party.
I think I may have found the fabric to redo the footstool. Just deciding between two that I had in my stash.  Oh before I forget, did I mention The Brother will be here next week?
On Saturday morning around 10 am I thought I saw someone looking at me through the large living room window...I did ...it was a young coyote! I could not grab my camera quickly. The window is to the floor so he had an easy view in. The lanai hummer is busy already this morning patrolling the back yard. I had a restless night so I did not get out there early enough to sweep so it will wait until tomorrow. In the meantime, I will make the bed wash my coffee cup and cereal bowl then settle to stitch. Thank you for visiting today. Than you for the kind words and friendship.
Happy to report the friends I have in Florida are all safe.