Tomatoes are growing!

A nippy start to the morning. Goodness it is 60 degrees out there! The house is chilly but I will not complain...no indeed this is nice because it will still get to the 90s today. I looked out the kitchen window...

yes, my first tomatoes. There are 4 of them. Then I looked around and felt proud that all that I have tried to do is working...plants seem to be growing well. Bees are buzzing and feathered friends are happy to visit.
Yesterday morning was lovely. I sat out on the porch for a couple of hours stitching and relaxing.

I finished the upper motif ...with the raven... and then the lower motif...with the cat... and will now move to another page of the pattern. Neighbor and friend Robyn came across the courtyard to sit and chat for a bit...both of us enjoying the lovely temps. The only issue I had was that sitting out front my leg was not propped up and began to ach so it was time to return to more comfortable sitting and a cup of tea.
I also sat with my art project

I know what you are thinking...where are her words and what is this?! Well it is all about layering and the words....well they are a way to begin. A way to anchor yourself to the project and give you the feeling of what it is you want to collage. In my minds eye it is all planned out...well, as planned as it can be because there are no specifics only thoughts.
I would like to mention another friend who has visited and emailed and well, just cares. It is Lynda Ruth from the blog Purple Pixie Dust. Lynda and her hubby Dave live in New Brunswick. My sweet friend is waiting for shoulder surgery but still finds the time to visit and comment. Keep your fingers crossed for her upcoming surgery and stop by to visit her. I hope you have had time to visit with Vickie and Debbie too.
I should be outside skimming the pond, spraying this plant or that one, doing laundry or whatever. Instead this is my day off. Day to do nothing or something as it comes to mind. I will write my thoughts in my private Dennis journal but other than that, I have the day off. Whatever your plans are I am sure they will be grand. Glad to have you visit and thank you for the kind words and concern for me. I am doing okay, as okay as I can be. Your friendship is what helps so thank you for being here from wherever you are.

Alice, White Flies and Snails

Another glorious start to the day. I love when I can open the sliders and the front door and feel natural air flowing in. The A/C will be off at least until this afternoon when the heat returns. Today they say again in the mid 90s, still above average for October.
The sprinkler leaks seem to be fixed as Don stopped buy to check them and adjust them for me. I obviously still need to learn more of what I thought I knew. There is however another issue that is not improving.

See the light colored leaves almost in the center of the picture? It is a White Fly infestation and it is on both the Yellow Bells and the Honeysuckle (same plant family). I have been spraying every other day and keeping it trimmed but they are not leaving. I think they may have to go...the plants that is and something else found to replace them. Always sad to loose established plants, but this is not something I want to spread to the rest of the garden. The Honeysuckle

which is along the wall (Yellow Bells in the center garden) is so large rooted as it has been here the longest, would just be cut down to the ground and kept at a short growth. The Yellow Bells can still be uprooted and removed. You can see the damage better in this picture.
The Snail Vine

is growing by the foot almost daily! Here it is attaching itself to the Fountain Grass. Everyday I convince it to attach to the arbor only to find it on the grass in the morning.  I am very happy it is growing so well. It may be called Snail Vine but it certainly grows quickly. Yesterday morning I sat outside on the front porch with Alice

and another motif is finished. I will be returning there soon to see how much I can stitch before coming back inside. I am planning to browse through my patterns and only keep some of what I have which is too much. I am sure I can find homes for what I will not want to keep. I think the magazines will be weeded out soon also. So, watch for the de-stashing. I find my interests are changing at the moment. I will always love cross stitch, but there are other areas that are calling to me.
This weekend I will gather and mail out my Denny's Angels. Just passed 4 months that he is missing from my life.  People have come and gone since those early sad days but I am lucky to have faithful friends who help fill the void. These angels are my way of saying thank you for the comfort and friendship I have from friends near and far. I told you about Debbie who has stayed by my side long distance, there are others...like Vickie. Here is a blog friend who has her own busy life but manages to visit my blog daily and always leaves me a comment of encouragement and kindness. Special people indeed.
Well, time to get dressed...do not think the neighbors will appreciate me outside in pajamas. I really want to enjoy the morning temperatures. So glad we had time to chat. Thank you so much for the emails and kind words. Most of all, thank you for your encouragement and friendship. 

Slow start to the day

Just a lazy morning. If I did not have a doctor appointment I would still be in pjs and no attempt to leave the house. But, the appointment is for 9:30 am and it is not an office that I have been to before so I will need to leave a bit earlier to find it. The morning is quite cool at 64 but they say it will rise to 99 by afternoon...when will we get to normal temps?
I began the art project that I mentioned

This is my creative space...a card table set up in near the computer for easy access. I finally decided that my theme would be the garden and this will be a tribute to Dennis. I am thinking of how my collage will be and gathering a few elements to add.

So far I have written on my blank canvas as the artist/teacher suggests. It most likely will all get covered with possibly a few words peeking out. Once I wrote the words I did feel that it is an inspiration to help create this piece. The words in my mind are now written and I will se where they lead me.
I have not had my morning coffee or breakfast yet. I was told to make sure that I am very hydrated so it has been water all night and so far this morning. The time is moving along and it is time I stop dilly dallying and get myself ready to go. Thank you for email of concern because I had not posted...I am okay. Each time the 21st rolls by it causes me to reflect on Denny and how much I miss his voice and touch. But I am doing okay as I have great friends that keep me focused....Debbie, Lu, Glenda and Vickie and others. Thank you. I am able to move on because of you and your visits in person and on line.  Thank you for the kind words. Thank you for your friendship.