End of the week

Well, this week sure has been someplace but I am not sure where! Either I was busy or I just goofed off doing this and that. I know that I am enjoying the cooling temps and sit outside each day.

A rubber duck is now swimming in the pond. The garden is doing well and the irrigation still has that one leak. Each day I think about digging up the area but then I don't. At this point is not a major problem as there is nothing planted in the spot.
Yesterday was a busy day. I began at 8 am with grocery shopping, then to Walmart for paper goods and then to Barnes and Noble.

When I walked in the door there was an author signing and I stopped to chat. I really enjoy local writing and writers. Her book sounded interesting so I bought her first book in the set and she signed it for me. So far I am enjoying it. My purpose for going there was to look for a bread machine cookbook.

I bought this one. 300 recipes and 1 1/2 inches thick. I needed some new breads to try. Some will be completely done in the machine and there are some that are baked in the oven. Variety is what I like. The booklet that came with the machine is limited so this is a must. I am practicing for The Brother Alan's next visit. I should be able to find good breads in this book.
I finished the Swaddled Baby Doll

The pattern is from Mimi Kirchner and of course I did my own spin on the design. She is made of pale pink floral flannel and felt leaves and YoYo flowers with Ric-Rack stems. Some embroidery to highlight her. I am pleased with her looks. This doll will be a Christmas gift and I am getting ready to make another. The pattern has a couple of variations to try.
Today is the annual Litchfield Park Faire and I am thinking if I want to go. Denny and I always went  and enjoyed the music as well as the crafts. It is not much fun going by myself and especially without him. I will think about it and it is okay not to go. There are plenty of things I need to do around here.......no, no furniture to rearrange. I do have that shelf to still hang. There are Petunias to plant and the Swiffer needs to come out of the closet. It is still early to think about the day ahead.
Right now, I am going to sit back and relax and read for a bit. Glad you dropped by for a visit. Thank you for your kind words and friendship. The doors and sliders are open and comfy air flowing in. Whatever your weekend plans are, enjoy yourself.

"La dolce far niente"

Beulah says hello

Beulah is celebrating Dia de Mueros, Day of the dead , a Mexican/Central America holiday. Honoring the dearly departed. It follows Halloween and precedes All Saints Day or All Souls day in the Catholic religion.
House cleaned...bedroom back to normal. Seriously thinking of a monthly housekeeping service. Pond skimmed. Yard swept. The weather is beautiful and temps should be normal for this time of year which means in the 80s. You know I will be sitting outside and back to taking neighborhood walks in the morning.

I drew the Swaddled Baby face on the felt yesterday so I plan to embroider it this morning. I need to find an easier way to transfer the sketch to the felt. The fabric for the bodies are all washed and pressed and waiting to be cut later.  I have a shelf to hang in the kitchen. I will attempt this myself even if it is a long shelf. Remembering how Don taught me; drill hole, tape in molley, use the correct screw, oh right measure first and mark with level. I'll get it.
I am feeling a little dehydrated this morning so it will be cucumber and iced water for most of the day.
Robert, the gardener came to cut down the Honeysuckle Bush as I was loosing the White Fly battle.

So, we shall see how this regrows in the next few months. This bush is 10 years old. If not, then it will be removed. He also cut down the Yellow Bells

Same with this. If it does not come back then it will be replaced. this bush has been here for about 3 years. I miss the fullness these bushes gave the yard but a gal has to do what Robert thinks is best. It is obvious to me that when Denny was outside several times a day sometimes with a spray bottle he was taking care of business....I did not pay much attention. He kept ahead of any pest problems. I on the other hand never noticed until they were winning. Well I kicked them out. I did notice the aphids that moved into the tomato plant...I knew to watch for them so they are being sprayed daily.
Nice to chat with you today but I must get outside and enjoy the day and embroider a face. Thank you for caring and for the kind words. Most of all thank you for your friendship.

What is wrong with me !

I need a good time out. First I should say BOO ! It is Hollow's Eve. Then I should tell you why I need a slap. I have been awake since 1 am and I was in such agony with my leg. I did see the Pain Management doctor who decided it was time for injections. Okay. I made sure the Med Tech would remain to hold my hand. There was the first one just below my knee, not too bad. Then there were 4 along the hip/hip bone area. These were painful and I suggested that there should be a grab bar on the wall as pushing the wall did not really help. I left there with the plan to come home, make an antipasti salads and have it outside and read for awhile. The weather was gorgeous. This I did. Then I knew it would be best to just rest the leg. I did.
Fast forward to this morning. I told myself to have a cup of hot tea and maybe I would fall back to sleep. Not to happen. Problem...as I lay there in pain I used the gel medication and took a Naproxen. After awhile it began to ease the ache and I was no closer to sleep. So---my mind began to wander. I put a wash on (now 5 am) and when I returned to the bedroom I said, I think I can re-purpose this nightstand to a TV stand thus eliminating the large TV stand that I do not like or need.

the room is a totally disaster and I plan to organize it a little a ta time as I do not have much energy left.  But I gained some space and it is less crowded in the corner. Now to get the old stand out of the room. Finally  at 7 am it was accomplished but not without difficulty. I had such trouble taking the screws out for the draw runners (there are 2 drawers). Once that was accomplished I had to unplug the cable box, the combo DVD/VHS player and then the Blu-ray layer. Of course what is unplugged must then be re-plugged....oh my goodness what was I thinking. Now Alan, before you scream at me----especially since we talked and you were happy about my relaxing more and having days-off, I know. I will probably regret this all later. For now I am proud that I accomplished this task. I promise not to do anything strenuous for the next few days at least!
My intentions once I was up early was to post about the Snail Vine...

Just look at how fast it is growing: #1 is today, #2 is September 17 and #3 is October 17. I love this vine and the many blooms of snails.
Are you still in the mood for more stuff? If not I understand. If so....
I sent for a new Teneriffe kit from Gina-B Silkworks in the UK

I have another kit but this is an updated one. I know the basics but these directions are baffling...I will enjoy playing with it I am sure. Thanks to USA Customs it sat in LA from October 17th and just arrived Saturday...what were they inspecting it for??? Glad it finally arrived. So, that is my story and sad to say I am crazy.
The laundry is finished, I need must have my morning coffee and I think a Pizzelle would be good. I am not even going to look at my bedroom for the next few hours. I will get dressed and sit outside and read for a time. One task at a time. Sorry it is a long post, but hey, I had to tell someone what I did. The Brother Alan is going to be short with me, but it will pass. Just when I think there is no more to move I see something. This is finally it though...it is!
Thank you for reading all of this and it is okay if you did not. Thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. Time to relax....

A more seasonal temperature finally

Well, today is really more "normal" for October finally and the month is over! There is a nip in this mornings air and today should be in the high 80s. I have doctor appointment this morning but I just may get to sit outside this afternoon.
Decided to try to make dinner rolls yesterday....

and it was easy and they were very good...okay, they were not uniform in size but hey, I did not divvy the dough evenly. In the end it was the taste that was good. Just as I had put them to rise and wondering what to enjoy for dinner with them, the back bell rang and special delivery from Keith and Al

a small casserole dish of lasagna. So, I had a great made from scratch dinner. Keith and Al live in the next courtyard over and I affectionately refer to them as Honey (Keith) who is my computer pal and Dear (Al). They have been very good friends before and since Denny's passing. When the roll were hot from the oven I delivered some to them as well as Glenda and Don to try.  We are a sharing group of friends!
Yesterday I dug into my fabric stash to look for some material to start the Swaddled Baby pattern. Mimi uses wool but I have some lovely cotton

Freshly washed and dried,  waiting to be pressed, these are the four I will start with.  I love how she made the dolls but I always like to put my own spin on things.  Still have to get to Joann's for some stuff but I am hoping to start them this week.  Easy enough to make 4 at once as it is to make one---right?
With the weather cooling now I will be able to dig out the area of the irrigation leak and see where the pipe is most likely broken. Then get it fixed...oh I understand how to do it but I know that I cannot myself fix it.  Never ending.
Now, off to finally have my first coffee of the day and then get things done around the house before my morning appointment. Always nice to chat with you and thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.

I do wish everyone who leaves a comment also leaves a way to contact for response. Note to Kris from yesterday.....I think you misread my wording. The Pizzelles are indeed made with a special maker. The are not bread. The bread  I was making was referring to the rolls. There are no bread Pizzelles.

A new week, new month

Wonder what will be in this new week.....this new month? Still thinking about the fact that it will be November in a few days! So far there is still the matter of the irrigation leak. You are reading this correctly. It seems the sprinkler head that we thought was fixed is still leaking.. This time however, because I did not bury it from when Don worked on it. It is plain to see it is below ground....so....does that mean a broken pipe? Just when I think I have it all together.
I have been enjoying sitting outside in the mornings until the temp rises.
Many of you know Donna Bayliss from By The Bay Needleart. Well she has not been feeling well and had a hospital stay but it finally home. Her designs are always so calming and lovely...stop by and offer some cheer. Then there is Mimi Kirchner... a doll designer extraordinaire.

This is just one of her fantastic designs which I purchased from her Etsy shop. The one problem was that Etsy did not acknowledge that I did buy it so the link for the instant download did not arrive. Mimi was kind enough to check it for me and she sent the link....thank you Mimi. You must stop by to visit and see her designs.....she thinks out of the box!~ So, now that I have this pattern you know that I must make one or two or.....I think I know a little girl who might like one for Christmas.
Yesterday afternoon Keith came by to fix the email stuff and give me a lesson in files. He left with his bag of Pizzelles. I made them earlier in the morning and if I must say so they are delicious. When I make them I share with a few of my friends or I would devour them all. I would like to try to make some dinner rolls. The bread maker has the recipe for the dough then you just form and bake in the oven.
I have one laundry finished and another to put in to wash. My coffee is ready to enjoy. Thank you for chatting with me and for the kind words. Thank you for your friendship. Have a great day.