What have we been up to?

We have been busy....enjoying one another's company and getting around. Alan and Lisa have their places to go and things to do. Thursday was one of those days. We did have the contractor come to measure the front porch area so it will be refinished to a flagstone finish. We began to chat and he is from Rhode Island, grew up in the same area as Dennis and of course frequented the same haunts as we did. What are the odds of that. The work will be done the first week in October.
Yesterday it was off to Carefree for lunch and shopping.

Meet Beulah. Oh my how Denny hated the "skull people" and he always said when I die you can have one in the house.....so here she now lives sitting in her chair and holding an empty pot. Alan and Lisa also found a cactus that we will plant today. Yesterday when I moved one pot in the garden I found

yes, a Praying Mantas and he is still in the same pot this morning. I wonder if I can convince him to move into another pot as I did have plans for this one.  In our yard the critters always have preference.  For now I will not bother him.
When Alan arrived he mentioned he wanted me to make some fresh baked bread. Okay I said, my recipe takes 18 hours to proof...he was not impressed and on Friday this arrived

and last evening we made a delicious bread and as you can see only a little is left. Today we make a French loaf. Tonight Alan will make a shrimp recipe and we will enjoy dipping the bread in the sauce. Plans for today...I am not really sure. We do have some planting to do. I just go along and enjoy the ride and the company.
Right now it is coffee time.......so, I will say how nice it is to chat with you and thank you for your kind words and most of all your friendship.

Happy Anniversary to my dearest friends Lu and Stan back in Rhode Island.....

A special day

Let me start this by saying, thank you for all the crossed fingers that Alan and Lisa's flight would take off on Tuesday. They even arrived on time. here in Arizona.
We did some catch up on Tuesday afternoon and they settled in after a long morning. Alan decided he just had to move the disco ball that has been in our yard for 12 years...

What a surprise he had when he tried to hammer the hook into the ground. The ground here is rock hard and you literally need a pic-axe to dig a hole.
Alan now knows and things moved smoothly after this.

It is now in it's new spot across the yard. You might ask why did it need to move? When sitting by the waterfall it now can be seen and also from the lanai. Whatever makes him happy.






Yesterday we went to Scottsdale which is a tradition that Alan and I have been doing for years now. Our first stop is always the Rusty Spur Saloon

for a drink to start the wandering and shopping. This year the journey had another purpose. I  told Alan in July that he, Lisa and I needed to find the perfect container for Denny and I knew we would in Scottsdale. I absolutely knew exactly what I wanted. We walked in and out of many places then we went into The Grey Wolf Gallery. Alan spotted it

Unbelievable!~ It was exactly what I had described to Alan in July and just what he pictured it would be! I can not tell you the feeling I had at that moment. So emotional that I had to leave the gallery and let Alan handle the purchase. It is amazing. The wood is Ironwood and it is so smooth and quite heavy. The carving of the buffalo is perfect. Denny loved the buffalo and he loved Ironwood. He is now in the perfect place. The Grey Wolf gallery sells beautiful Native American designs. When the store manager knew why I was crying and what the purpose of the box was for, they treated Alan like family. They were so respectful and offered a discount. My heart is joyful today on this the 3 month mark of Denny's passing. We stopped at our favorite restaurant for lunch and to raise a glass of wine in honor of Dennis. We completed our mission and it is a wonderful feeling.

This morning we have a contractor coming to give us an estimate to have the front porch area refinished. The day will hold some adventure I am sure. Tonight we go out to dinner with friends. Alan has been the chef and I am enjoying being spoiled. I must have my coffee and a bite to eat so I will say thank you for stopping by and for the kind words and thank you for your friendship. Thank you Debbie Burke for the special email this morning. Stay tuned for today's news tomorrow!

Just waiting

Early this morning I has an email from The Brother Alan with an attachment from American Airlines. There might be cancellations due to the hurricane! No, that would not do. I knew I would be anxious to read that he was boarding the plane and finally that email arrived. Right now  Alan and Lisa are on their way from NC and should arrive in Phoenix about 11:15 AM then about an hour later arrive here. All is ready: the lanai and yard are clean and the house is ready and most of all so am I. Update this week from either of us can be expected. Stay tuned my friends.

Flowers in bloom

Yesterday was work in the garden day. I took advantage of the milder temps and trimmed one of the Yucca plants and cut back another. Both have new growth so this will help revitalize them.

They are original to the property which means they are getting old. Denny frequently would cut them back so I thought I would  see if they will fill in.

The Snail Vine is adjusting well and already climbing. There are new buds waiting for their day to open and some which have

I love this flower. Not only is it lavender but so complex. It starts out looking like a green lima bean then becomes this lovely flower. If you look closely just to the back of this bloom you can see the "lima bean". So nice to have this back on the arbor.

The bunny has move to the base of the vine waiting to be covered by the leaves. It is always nice to move the critters around the garden. There are broken pots here and there for the lizards to have shelter and it still surprise me if I pick one up and out pops a lizard!

The Gaura is doing just okay. I think it needs a good cut back but it should have been done this Spring. Right now it is very leggy. I will trim it regularly removing spent blooms and then after the winter I will cut it back severely. the blooms are so pretty and sway in the breeze.
I have been spending some time with Alice. This morning I found that I am off by a couple of threads....but it will work just the same and it would be too much to rip out. Some might say why tell, I feel there will be that one person who notices it. Luckily the design lends itself to this mistake quietly so it will remain.
So you know what tomorrow is? Yes it is September 19 but it is The Day...The Brother Alan and Lisa arrive! If their flight stays on time they should arrive here at the house around 12:30. Just in time for their visit the temps are cooling.  they are leaving the New England area just in time as there is a storm heading up the coast. I have a To Finish list, the To Do list and time for relaxation list.
The second laundry is on and soon it will be light outside as the sun will be rising. I have a couple of errands to do then it will be time to stitch...maybe even outside for a time. Glad to have you visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and thank you for your friendship.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, your always a day away!

The footstool and sewing kit

I am getting pretty handy with the electric screw driver.

the footstool is finished and looks really nice and is more comfortable to the feet with the new batting . I also replaced the inside lining.  I think this was a good choice of fabric. Somewhere along the way of pins and staples and screws, I lost a couple of pins on the carpet and have not stepped on found them yet. Guess they will come out of hiding when I vacuum today. Someone had asked me what was inside the storage area...nothing...yet. I guess I could make it a sewing box/kit. It sure would be handy. Speaking of sewing/kit boxes----

I was given this small kit back in the 1980s and it has all the original pieces. The top of velvet is still in tact and there is the gold thimble and needle too. This has never been used.

The inside of the lid is a mirror which is also in perfect condition.

The case is metal of some sort and has a little decorative marking around the lid and bottom. On the bottom

It is stamped "Made in Occupied Japan". I hope you can see that clear enough. All items imported after the WW II (1945-1952) had to be stamped with this mark. The hat pins are from the 1950s or so . Can not remember who gave it to me or where they got it or how old it really is but I keep it with my treasures and now it sits on the new shelf.
I did a little stitching on Alice, not enough to deserve a picture, but will get more done today. I thought I maybe would do a bit of yard cleaning but I think I will just stitch instead. Tomorrow will okay for that. You haven't forgotten have you? Alan and Lisa arrive on Tuesday. Just a few last minute preparations to get things ready. the weather forecast is for great temps in the 90s. Better than those triple numbers and excessive humidity. Our week will be busy but with plenty of us time. There is never enough time when they are here.....
It is time for me to grind the beans and brew some coffee. Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. Most of all, thank you for your friendship.