Arizona icicles

The mornings start chilly but by afternoon we reach the high 60 to low 70. Love Arizona winters! To be honest, I did love the early morning walk through freshly fallen snow and the glisten of icicles newly formed in the sun when I lived in Rhode Island. But--- and here is the thing...I do not miss the cold. So, if I did want cold and snow I could drive 2 to 3 hours north to the high country for it or just tat my own snowflakes and icicles

this pattern is by Carolyn Craig who designs lovely tatting patterns and I have a couple of her books. This is a fun pattern and quick with many beading possibilities.
Look at this beautiful variegated Poinsettia

I bought it just before Christmas and it is still looking pretty...just a small plant but lovely colors. I love having blooms in the house...we always had fresh flowers on the table. Today I will be tossing out the fresh greens that I bought just before Thanksgiving...they certainly lasted a long time and this will replace them on the table. This morning when I went to do the check the garden thing...

The alien Snail Vine has definitely grown some...the center is hanging almost 2 feet below the center of the arbor! It is everywhere. It does love this cooler weather rather than the 110 temps of the summer. Still waiting for more tomatoes...they seem to be at a halt. Meanwhile I did tie up the beans so they are not trailing across the pathway. Looks like a handful so far.
The little doll pattern has been cut out and now to find the fabric and get it made. My hands are in so many directions! I did find the outside wall hook for the Rain Chain so it will hang from the wall and catch rain...if and when it comes. For that I will need to ask Don for help...not sure about drilling into cement.
It has been so nice visiting with you but the bed needs making and the Bissell and Swiffer are waiting. Thank you for your kind words and your friendship.

I looked at the calendar this morning....there are only 3 days left to this year. So much to put to rest and time to try to move ahead. 

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering 'it will be happier.' " - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Beans and Pansies

A nip in the air this morning but if it is anything like yesterday it will be in the low 70s by afternoon. The coffee and Cream of Wheat are finished and the second laundry is swishing in the washer. the sun is still rising ever so slowly. But in the garden

there are beans sprouting! Yes indeed. Here and there they at appearing. I may get a salad from them. And new and waiting for a pot are these pansies

I bought them yesterday and have not decided where they will go. Probably by the pond as there is a pot that is lonely for color. I love pansies...they are the Ladies of the Garden. I am still amazed that here it is almost January and I have flowers in bloom. Vegetables growing. Fruit to pick.
I am still working on an tatted icicle pattern and think I just may try to create my own pattern. A break today while I think about it on paper. In the meantime there is a doll waiting to meet me so I will cut out the pattern and find some suitable fabric from the fabric bin and see who appears.
One of the packages that was mailed in early December finally found it's way through Canadian customs. Who thought I should have mailed them in November!
Yesterday I spent time completing my Shutterfly book. I should have it by January 13th. This is the first time creating one and it will not be my last. Using the coupon from Dianna saved me $30.00.....you just pay a minimal fee of around $14.00 S & H and tax. This is a special book for me. Ideas for others already forming in my head. I did complete another snowflake yesterday, this one without a gem in the center. Still want to make more so they can travel here and there --- wherever they may be wanted.
Time to make the bed and check on the laundry. So nice to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and your caring friendship. Hope you have a relaxing day.

Bread, a gift and tatting

I managed to tat a bit yesterday but got caught up with this and that but did make bread. The entire house had a wonderful aroma. A plain bread but the extra virgin olive oil adds a distinct taste. It can also be made using regular or light olive oil. Today I hope to at least try to tat the icicle pattern so I can figure out what beads I need. With all the beads I do have most likely they are not the right size!
There is another gift to show you...

this beautiful lacey scarf made for me by Debbie. Hard to tell but it is a lovely variegated yarn, and oh so soft. This was only part of the package....

A wonderful mug mat and ort catcher filled with delicious hard candies and a candy bar...I love chocolate and Lindt is one of my favorites. Thank you my friend....not only for the gift but for your continued daily emails...yes we chat everyday.  She has offered so much encouragement to me over these last 6 months.
So, today they say our temp should be in the low 70s....sorry for those of you out there in the snow and cold. I will just continue to tat snowflakes and icicles for the winter feel. I must work on my Shutterfly book as the coupon will soon expire......just as the year will soon change form 2017 to 2018. I make no resolutions for the New Year because I would never keep them.
I am off to finish my coffee. So glad to visit with you today. Thank you for your kind words and most of all your friendship. 

The day after

Today is Boxing Day in the UK....for me and many of us it is the day after Christmas and all through the house it is probably a mess. If not a mess it still is lots of holiday decorations and the thoughts of when to take them down and the thought of putting it all away. I have always waited until after New Year's Day and even though I have minimal decorations this year that is still my plan.
I received some lovely gifts this year

Dianna and Bobby gave me a Rain Chain...I love it. Of course with the new gutter system, there is no corner to catch the rain....then again we do not have much rain. It will however hang outside the lanai and possibly find some rain drops to channel. Dianna also found

These lovely "sisters" by a company we both have come to like...Blue Sky. Dianna also has the same set. She and Me. I enjoyed my Christmas Eve time with them and their family. Dianna and I sat outside chatting after we ate and it was a nice relaxing day.
Yesterday was a quiet day and I nursed a headache most of the day. Today will be a regular do the laundry and Bissell the house and take the Swiffer by the hand. I am half way finished with another tatted Snowflake and now, I found a tatted icicle to try. I need to find some beads for that. Oh I have toms of beads but they are probably not the right ones..... I think Jo Ann's is having a string bead sale.

Fresh picked Arizona Sweet Oranges from Al/Keith's tree and lovely lemons form Glenda/Don's tree. Just the fragrance is wonderful but they taste so good. Remember the chestnuts....not one of them is good so they will be going back to Safeway. They seem to be old and not edible at all. I am not returning them for the cost but that they should be made aware of a bad product.
I hope everyone had a terrific holiday and thank you for the caring emails for me. I am so very lucky to have you for my friends.

Christmas Eve 2017

Today is another first witout Dennis....but I choose to think about our first Christmas Eve  together.  That was in 1970. We lived in a very small house out of the city area.  We decorated our tree with multi-colored lights and ornaments and Hershey Kisses...that's right, Hershey Kisses.  Whenever we passed the tree we picked one.  At that time we had a wonderful mutt named Harry who ate all the Kisses from the lower branches...never got sick from the chocolate but had very colorful poop with silver paper. We did not play Christmas music but instead it was The Beatles and The Animals. We spent Christmas Eve at my parents home with my sis and her family and The Brother Alan. There was lots of Christmas music. Lots of Italian food.
Today I will join friend Dianna and her husband Bobby for an afternoon celebration. Later when I return home I will have a shrimp and pasta dinner. I will cook a lobster tail smothered in butter ...Dennis' favorite seafood. There will be cookies made by neighbors Robyn and Dave, and Keith and Al. I will toast the evening with Verdi Sparkling wine. My focus will be on the happy years not this one.
Whatever your plans for this Christmas Eve...enjoy and be safe if out there on the roads.