First weekend......

Already we have reached the first new year weekend..... seems that the days just move along ready or not. I finally have all the Christmas stuff away. I no longer can look out my living room window to see "across the courtyard" and see Robyn and Dave's tree lights. Finally we may have a break in the cold weather that arrived this past week.

The other cactus has bloomed.... pretty raspberry trimmed white flowers. So far only two but there looks to be other blooms waiting.  Outside...

a small pot of pink geraniums is doing well adding some color to the front porch garden.  Winter is still a time of blooms here in The Valley of Arizona. Today I will uncover the plants in the garden since the frost threat is over...for now at least. We expect rain this week... but, this is winter in the desert.

Also blooming out front is the Emu Bush, part of the salvia family. It is still small but will grow quickly once the Spring arrives. I planted 2, one on each side of the front area.

January's origami star is finished. The next one will be February.... one a month for me but since I will be making some for gifts there will be more to come. I hope to have a few for next Christmas made and saved for mailing.  I am organizing a sample box and pattern folder to work from during the year. I will also keep a "gifting box" where they will be at the ready when I need something. My hand is not cooperating right now but as soon as it does I have a new bead pattern to try called Russian Leaves. Gripping the thin small needle is the issue at the moment.
The doctor appointment went well, declaring me healthy the other day with the exception of the normal arthritis pains and hand issue.
Since the House Faeries have not reported for chores it is left to me.... thank goodness there are not too many. Glad you stopped by today. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.

definetely cold out here....

We are in a cold spell...the temps are about 10 degrees below the normal and I am cold! We had freeze warnings again last night and I did manage to cover some of the plants.... not sure if it was really necessary but I did anyway. Two of them I brought into the lanai as they are in pots that  are easily moved. I believe the last time we had serious frost warning was back in 2013. Dennis did cover many plants and we still had issues with a few.

The Amaryllis has finally trimmed off the last bloom and the remaining shoot is about 4 inches. I will let it go for a week or so to see what happens before storing it until September. The Poinsettia is asking to join the trash pile...I think I will cut it back and let that go for a week or so.

Getting the strips ready for the January star. Three prints...the blues are for the cold of January and the stars are because they seem brighter this time of year in the chill of the dark. There will be a full moon on the 21st so the lighter fabric covers that. More about that moon later. It will have to wait until later today or tomorrow...I have a doctor appointment at 11 so not much time to get anything accomplished. Goodness, I will need my sweater to go out in this cold!
Yesterday was an off day. I woke feeling as if it was my turn to be sick. I just stayed curled up on the sofa and did nothing. A few emails "across the courtyard" with friend Robyn and it was not too long before she delivered a bottle of gingerale. Just was finishing the last of what I had too. I think it all had to do with my cramming in all the decoration packing in 2 days. In and out of the garage (still have some of that to do) and up and down the step ladder and well, you know what it is like. I had told myself that I would slow down this year. Guess I should listen to what I tell myself. I am feeling quite okay today after all the rest and a fair nights sleep. Did I mention that there is glitter every place I walk? Did I mention that it follows me all around the house? I keep thinking the Faeries are here...maybe they are!
Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.

Happy New Year 2019

I actually was awake for the start of the new year...Arizona time which is 2 hours earlier that the East Coast where family and friends are. I can not remember the last time I was awake at midnight for the new year. I finished packing up all the decorations and put it up on the shelving unit. Just need to fir in a few boxes or find another spot for now.

The tree will be later today. Now to re-decorate the house. After a month of brightness and glitter, everything is now subdued...need to perk it all up. I have tried to clean up the glitter and the snowflakes but I am resigned to be doing this for weeks to come. It is okay, it is worth having it around all month and deal with it for a month...or so. It is so festive with it.
We  had rain most of the day yesterday and this morning is beginning very cloudy. I will not be going anywhere so it is fine with me. We are in a cold spell...at least 10 degrees colder than normal. I will need to check on a few plants and maybe cover them for the overnight lows. I will move them into the lanai for a few days.

Done to the last 2 blooms on the Amaryllis but this shoot is still very green...who knows, maybe another one yet to come? We will watch and in the meantime....

the long time cactus is getting ready to bloom! This has been around for several years and blooms when it feels like it. It look straggly but I just keep it on the shelf and let it be. The white one had tons of buds but they did not open. These plants are temperamental in my house. It also is on the shelf and out of the way so I just let them be.
Looking forward to starting my star a month project. Anyone else making these starts? I know Pattie is (no blog that I know of). She did contact me to see the link and may be doing one a month....
Okay, first cup of coffee is finished and a few things need doing as yesterday was decoration packing and nothing else. I look forward to a new year of friendship with you and maybe finding a few new friends. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.
 A new year, new beginnings.....🎉

Finally ......

Very little sleep last night but woke at 7 AM to see a beautiful sunrise. A lovely way to end the year. Yes, we have finally arrived at the last day of 2018. Tomorrow a new page starts in the year 2019. I will celebrate with my traditional late night shrimp and maybe a sip of sparkling wine. If tonight was last night it would be perfect as I did not fall asleep until 4 AM...but of course I probably will nod off before 10 tonight.
Guess what I learned yesterday. Everyday something new pops up around here. You may remember that I got my new car this past September. So for all these past 3 months I am still learning things. I figured out how to put the radio on rear speakers.... I finally drove one evening and had to find the correct headlight setting.... how to maneuver the drivers seat.... and that brings us to the steering wheel. Yes, the steering wheel. All this time I have been having trouble seeing properly over  the darn thing. I kept adjusting the seat and still was not 100% comfortable. Finally while out to get milk at the market...which I forgot and had to return for.... I discovered that the steering wheel adjusts! Who knew! Finally I am now able to clearly see better and have it adjusted to me. Of course all of this ends when The Brother Alan arrives this Spring...it will all be adjusted back for his comfort. He will be the designated driver while in town.

It is official...today I begin the pack up of decorations. Now to figure what will go where and how it will go and then to get it back onto the shelving unit....I think I will be busy all day! If you are looking for me you certainly know where I will be.
A note.... I wish I had a way to contact some of you … when you leave me a comment and you are new to my blog, and there is no email attached to you that means I cannot respond. I am not with Google+ … please be sure to leave your email if you want a response. You can also email me directly...on the right sidebar.
Okay, I must get a start here or I will be in a turmoil for days to come. Glad we chatted. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. If you will be celebrating this New Years Eve at home like me, I hope you are able to remain awake to usher in the New Year 2019. I will try but make no promises.

I wish you all a very happy New Year ….. 2019

Decorations and fabrics

I thought I would just stay curled up to keep warm yesterday..... did not happen. It was cold... darn right cold. The temp was in the mid 30s when I woke up and socks went on immediately and remained on all day. The temp only went to high 50s. Normally it is in the mid to high 60s. so many people are not well...colds, coughs and the like. The Brother Alan has a terrible cold.
I made one of the origami fabric stars...

using 2 pink prints. Then I thought, there goes my thinking again.... how about if I make one a month in a fabric selection that I think (that word again) is of that month.

here is my 12 month selection. Some will be 2 fabrics and a few will be 4. I am looking forward to this project. Has anyone else besides me and Vickie made these? Anyone planning on making them? Let me know if you will be. So, all my selections are in the shoe box waiting for the first week in January. Now, since I went into the garage cupboard to get the 2 bins of fabric to make my choices from I thought (there it is again) why not take in some of the decoration storage boxes....and begin that project.....

this is as far as I got...picking fabric was more fun!  There is always tomorrow to pack stuff. Anyway, my hand was hurting. Speaking of that, I call the surgeon on Friday and the soonest I could get an appointment to have it x-rayed is January 25th. I am on a cancellation call list. I rest it when I can and often. I am lucky that I can take it easy and do nothing at all if I wish.  So I just may get to start the decoration packing with the tree left to be last.
Just a few more days left to 2018. I plan on a quiet NY eve and probably will not be awake to see the first minutes of 2019.
 Glad you visited with me today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.