So I really can use the drill by myself!

Where does the time go lately? It is Saturday and Thursday will be Thanksgiving already. As Vickie of Christmas24-7-365 told us is 6 weeks until Christmas. If that is so, then year's end is almost here.
I may not be cross stitching much, and tatting has slowed but sewing has been my current project as has been the house and garden. Thanks to Don for his coaching on using the electric drill I was able to install the screening for the lanai.

We always have this screening across the lanai opening to help diffuse the sun and it helps keep the  dust from getting all over the furniture. It is the screening that is used on gazeebos. So, I had to re-drill the holes for the eye hooks and then attach the wire and tighten it taught before I could hang the panels. Now to be honest, it should be tighter but I could not get it very taught but it is fine. I used hooks to support the center area. So far it is working. Glad Don and I had lessons in using the drill! The picture makes it look darker than it really is....

During the day when the sun is not a problem they are tied open and (can be opened completely) then when the sun shines in filling the half way area they are closed. I am able to zip them closed during the windy times and keeping the powder like dust out is helpful. Of course it also help to keep the furniture from fading. Denny never got the chance to hang the new panels. We have been replacing them every 2 years. Last evening Honey (Keith) and Dear (Al) stopped by to bring me some homemade chocolate cookies and to pick up the shortbread ones that I made.....we do share our baking/cooking.... they gave me the pat-on-the-back approval. That is what my friends do, encourage me.  

I finally decided on the embellishments for the Swaddled Bay #2 so that is the project for today.  Hopefully I will enjoy the outdoors again. We did have some rain drops yesterday for about one minute. The day should be seasonal around 79 and still another cloudy day. I did manage some yard work yesterday, trimming the Fountain grass and getting cut up in the process! I also moved Denny's Lantana so it would be on the watering system. As a matter of fact it is about to come on so out I must go to be sure the water flow to the plant is correct. Nice to have you to chat with today. Thank you for your kind words and friendship. Have a good day my friends.

A nip in the air

A bit chilly today......temp is 56! Not to worry it will be in the 80s later today. The temp inside the house is 72 and comfortable. The doors were open last evening until 10 PM. Loving this weather.
Today our blogging friend Lynda Ruth from Purple Pixie Dust is in for shoulder surgery. This has been a task getting this far as it had been cancelled before. Let's wish her well that all goes according to plans. I know her hubby Dave will be taking good care of her.
I got as far as the Swaddled Baby #2 face yesterday

and her cap. She stands about 11 inches tall. Now to embellish her so she can travel to her new home. I decided to give her brown eyes and a plain white hat. I love sitting outside working on her.




Speaking of outside, my Hot Lips Salvia has almost tripled in size and this morning I found

This is just outside my kitchen window and the first thing I se when I open the verticals each day. The Hummer loves it and was upset just now when I took the picture. Look at that sweet blooms. I think I will need to get it a small trellis to support it. I am so pleased with how the garden is growing. It means a lot to me that it does.
I have to meet a friend this morning then back home to bake. The biscotti did not get made but yesterday Honey---aka Keith--- came by to help me with a printer issue. He love my shortbread cookies so that is what I will be making for him. Talking about the computer....Best Buy Geek Squad sent an email that they will not longer be servicing Kaspersky security software. So I need to go in to purchase another product today. Then I can come home to bake.
I will be joining a groups of ladies from here in Arizona for a stitch retreat to be held in Tucson in January. Hopefully enough will attend so it can go as planned. The designer for the workshop will be Linda Vinson with a special project for us. If you are here or nearby and are interested in the details let me know and I will email you an invite.  So glad you took time to visit. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

Gumbi in the garden

I went to a movie. What? You do not see the big deal? Well, I have not been to a movie since sometime during the 1990s...yes, you read that correctly. I can not even remember what I saw or what theater. The other day an email from Glenda asked if I wanted to go to see Victoria and Abdul. Initially I said no. Then I thought it sounded familiar so when I checked yes indeed I would go. I love Dame Judi Dench and all that she does. So off we went to the Harkins theater and after following Glenda through getting the ticket and then popcorn we sat to watch a very good movie. Through the years Denny went to the movies but not me. He really enjoyed the action movies. Another first to my list.
I decided to sort through more of my stuff...little by little I am tossing out this and that. I have some patterns to donate to one of the needlework groups but lots are just copies run off on the computer form various sites...you know the free offers. Next will be the magazines that are collected but not looked at again. We all buy them with the intention of stitching this and that but then we don't. I would rather pass them along.
Today might be work in the garden. There is another sprinkler head that probably needs to be replaced and I would like to add a few drip lines to some plants.  We shall see. There is a new cactus in the garden. It has been here now for a week or so

It is Opuntia Gumbi.  It gets the gumbi name because it feels rubbery...hopefully this will root. It is a cutting that was given to me. If in the ground they grow quite large so in the pot it will live.
Then there is the Swaddled Baby doll that needs last finishing and Alice and well, you see where this is going.
I have been awake since 2 AM and this morning could not fall back to sleep or felt lazy enough to just stay in bed. So, possibly my list will have some cross offs by days end. I may even get the walnut biscotti made. I am very good at making lists. Today's list keeps getting longer so maybe an early start will get things done. Thank you for visiting with me and for your kind words. Most of al thank you for your friendship.

A beautiful start to the day

I no sooner uploaded this picture and the morning sky has already changed to another beautiful  color. The first laundry is washing, and my plans for the day ae hopefully going to be busy. I have been a bit lazy of late. Maybe I should say thinking more than I want to. Today I will do and not think so much!
Yesterday I worked on

another Swaddled Baby and another gift. I really will get this finished as it need to get into he mail. It is a flannel body in light pink and white.

These Denny's Angels are ready to wing across here and there. I discovered I need a few addresses. When I had my email issue some of my stored addresses seemed to be "between platforms" as Cox said my problem was! Of course Keith found a way around the problem and now my email is working just fine. Then of course there were a few who emailed me asking for an angel and you know where that saved email is ...yes, between platforms!
I think it is time to change the irrigation day/time so later I will try to figure out how to reset the timer. ... or call Robert to do it. I do try to do for myself but there is always something I can not physically or mentally do. Frustrating.

The Plumeria  is planted using Dianna's directions so we shall wait and see. It actually can take a year before anything really happens. Just  as long as the rooting starts I will be happy. In the meantime, the Snail vine is growing like a weed and the tomato plant

is shooting up. I had to add a stake to the plant. I planted it on September 25th and it has doubled in size and now has many tomatoes. The beans are making good progress as is everything else right now. Very pleased with myself....I know I am being a bragger but remember I never have taken care of the garden before. As for the inside house plants, well I am down from 6 African Violets to 3 and one of the plants that Denny always took care of is quitting on me.  Oh well, it is what it is around here.
When I talked about friends caring, I did not intentionally leave anyone out. It would be hard to name so many friends. So please do not think badly that I did not list you.  Robyn and Dave, Keith and Al ..just to add a few .... you know who you are.
The second laundry is in the wash and the first in the dryer and the third is waiting ....in my feeling oh so me last few days, the laundry did  not get done so today is catch up day. The headache of the last few days seems to be gone. Not sure if the weather changing or just my mind talking to itself was the cause, but today seems like a clear head day.  I am thinking of making some biscotti later.
Your visits are so appreciated as are your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.
"A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation or being together. As long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends never part."
— Anonymous

I am lucky

I must say how lucky I am to have friends who really care. The friends who worry if I don't post to my blog. Friends that when they ask, do care about the answer and not just saying the words.  Sis Linda calls at least once a week to check on me and makes time for me to admit my sadness without brushing it off. Lunch with Glenda or with Dianne, yes I am lucky.  Of course there is The Brother Alan...it is hard to describe what he has and does do for me.
Today I have a headache and feeling scatterbrained. I think sitting out in the yard will help. Maybe work on the doll that I have ready or not.
Thank you for listening  and for your kind words. Most of all thank you for your frienship. I  am lucky.