Farmer's Market delivery

A beautiful morning but I know it will be a hot day. The temp at 5am was 70 and the forecast is for the low 90s. Just got a text from neighbor/friend Al..."are you up?"

For the answer yes.....he came by with this bounty. The string beans are so snappy fresh and the zucchini is just asking to be made into a salad and a frittata. Look at the tomatoes... nice and firm....yum for this weekend.
Went for lab work yesterday along with half the neighborhood, but I sat and read my book and was finally called and out in a few minutes. I should have made an appointment but at least it is done.
Today I am posting the first of My Stash Must Go

This book has never been used...I think I breezed through it twice.... and it has full patterns included. It is still new! Please email (email located on the right sidebar at the top of blog) me if you are interested and I will draw for it mid week. I am trying to spend time each day sorting the stash stuff. While going through this and that I found this project that I started last year around May 9th.....

there are a few projects that got put aside while My Denny was ill so now it is time to finish them. It is French Boutis Scissor Case from Averyclaire Needle Arts. There is not too much more (I think) of the stitching to do. Who knows what else I will find in my stash!
Well, the garden is calling me and I need another cup of coffee....so off I go. So nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Early morning darkness

One of the  things I like about the early morning is the solitude. I look out to the garden and  the spotlights shine here and there. Then I wonder...are the lizards out for a walk? Where did the birds spend the evening hours? Are all the bees sleeping in the Snail Vine? All this while sipping my coffee. Then I simply put all that aside and think about the day ahead. I know, too much thinking! It is quiet and the tick of the kitchen clock is the sound as I sit here and type.

This is special to me. Dennis and I found it about 25 years ago while still living in Rhode Island. It is a watercolor on canvas clock painted by John A Simonetti titled, Main Street, Wickford, RI. It is the actual shops along the street...not sure if they are still the same but at the time one was a bead and knit shop where I enjoyed going to. A reminder of days gone by.
Yesterday was out to the bank, the jeweler and shopping for groceries. Then I sat out on the lanai and read for awhile...until I felt too warm to stay outside.

While I sat outside I baked a basic country white bread....it was so delicious warm with a slather of butter.  This is the new slicer and knife that I bought while The Brother Alan was here. It certainly makes slicing the homemade bread easier. Later, in the early evening I managed to clean the garden and put the sweeping out with this mornings trash. When the temps are in the 90s or more chores outside are at early morn or late afternoon.
Today will be more of the organize the stash stuff. I will be posting some of the must go stuff this weekend. I also came across a few things started but laid aside while Denny was in ill that I really need to work on. I have been thinking of what to do with some of the things I have stitched....give them away or store them... you can only have so many things out of display. Now that I do not have the extra room for display, I need to decide. Oh well..... to much thinking for this early hour. That about covers my early morning. It sure is nice to have you stop by. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship. 

Accomplishing....not much

Yesterday arrived and left.... other than laundry and housework I did nothing...zip.... except the bread.
I thought I would make a Cinnamon Bread.  The option was to complete it in the machine or in the oven. Either way after the dough was made and first rise it had to be taken out of the machine and then the cinnamon and melted butter added then put bake in the machine to bake, so I decided to just keep it out and bake it in the oven. First of all it was easy but I will not be making it again. It is just okay. I think it had far too much cinnamon and does not hold the roll well. Not bad in the toaster oven. Much better to just buy it in the market. Later I will make a White Country loaf.
I picked up the tatting a few times then for what ever reason it was laid down and nothing done with it. Right now laundry is swishing and I forgot where I laid down the phone! I will try using the tablet to call myself. The weather is going to be in the low 90s again today so outside early to sit but actually I have errands to run so no time to do that.
The Bottle Brush tree in front of my window is in full bloom

 It is a large tree that is lovely when blooming. Once the flowers fall it can be messy but I still love it.

I am hoping to post this weekend a few books/patterns that must leave my house....right now I should make the bed and put a brush to my hair so I can leave the house for quick errands. The sooner I get things done the sooner I can sit outside and tat and read. Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship.

Moving right along

Are you surprised? Yes, I am posting early...it is just beginning to have light. I have not been sleeping very well lately. Waking early and then just not getting out of bed for a few hours. I know, I do not have a busy agenda but feeling tired is not how I like to start my day. Today I decided to just get up and get a laundry in to swish. You read that right.... I went to Lowe's on Monday and bought a washer and it was delivered yesterday. So, finally getting use to no land-line phone, learning my new cell phone and now a washer. Certainly not a dull household. As for the cell phone I still have to remember to take it along with me to the garden and into the garage so I can hear it if it rings, but I have almost learned the number!

Yesterday I received a lovely air-plant  from Glenda and Don. This one is in a mini greenhouse and looks just right with my other two. Love these easy care plants... although I did manage to kill one a few months ago! I picked two more of my mini strawberries yesterday and Glenda said they were delicious. Still getting a couple of tomatoes now and again.
I gathered some blue beads to start another tatted snowflake so that is on the agenda today. I will be indoors this afternoon as the temp is expected to be around 90, but right now it is nice and cool. Really is a perfect housework morning..... unless I get sidetracked. As if on cue there is the single sound of a finch in the garden... with that I best be getting the laundry in to fluff and make the bed and ....
Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.
"Life is hard as it is. Too many rough roads to travel. Too many chains to untangle. But no matter how cruel the world may be, life becomes less hard when you got a good friend."...unknown

A cloudy Sunday

Happy Easter to all and yesterday was Passover so Happy Pesach.
The sky is cloudy and the forecast for today is low 90s and I do see a hint of the sun. There are so many pretty blooms and colors in my garden so with or without the sun it is a pleasant place to sit as I plan to do shortly.

Today is International Tatting Day and I have finished Helen but not yet starched and blocked. I enjoyed working with beads for this one. I used soft teal beads. I am eager to start another of Janet's patterns. I was asked if I have given up cross stitch...no not really but I do enjoy other needlework and tatting is easy on my hand. I am still de-stashing also so soon I will be posting my Spring Clean out.
Something I ate yesterday ... although delicious...caused me lots of grief last evening so today I am quite tired and plan on having a lazy day. I will start a bread soon and this week I guess I will need to start to look for a new washing machine. I really do not want to get caught with a wash that cannot finish. Yesterday it sounded like it was going to definitely give out. A visit to Lowes and Home Depot is on the Monday agenda. I am sure one of them has the right deal.
Whatever your plans are for today I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for visiting with me and for your kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship.