Relaxed but was busy

Yesterday was the day to do nothing to allow the injections to do their thing. So far so good. Well, I did sprinkle flower seeds in the pond garden and gently sprayed them. For now this will do if they grow be there. I also checked on my Plumeria... I spotted some sprouting. I am so excited. This may be the year I grow one. I did manage to stiffen the earrings twice...

They look great. The gold tone ear wires look perfect.

I also made the May Origami Star...

Little blue flowers on pale blue and dark blue flowers on lighter blue..... April showers bring May flowers. No Robyn, you are not loosing it. I decided to make this instead of the pink...well I made that one also. Enjoyed having you over for muffins and coffee. Hope you are rested after the long walk!
I spent an hour trying to locate 2 special Swarovski beads to make a turtle... not such an easy task. I want them from the same company to assure they are the same color. I wish my LBS had them. I will keep looking.
We are having warm weather with lots of clouds today and tomorrow will be hot again. No wonder my sinuses are going crazy. The AC is still cooling me off.... I know, some people will not turn theirs on. Me, I like comfort. As mentioned, my sinuses do not like what the air can bring in.
So glad to chat with you today..... are you counting? 18 days from today.... Do I have to tell you what is happening???? I do not think so. Thank you for your kind words and emails. Thank you for your friendship.

There was a storm

Monday night I had to secure myself in the bedroom...verticals closed tightly... why? There was a storm. Did I tell you that I hate nighttime storms? Did I tell you that I am afraid of lightening? Now you know. The wind began to really toss my chimes. Then I heard it...thunder in the distance. Then I heard it again this time closer. When it was just above the house I rattled.Then the rain started to get everything wet. Then it was over. Whew.... I really hate nighttime storms.
I am fully recovered. Yesterday I began to make a Russian Leaves earring....key word began. I changed my mind so many time...like 3.

First there were the blue and clear beads.... then blue with dark blue beads... and finally I chose bronze and copper. Of course this has not been stiffened yet. I will do that after the mate is made. I will surely get a better picture when they are both done. So, if you think I am doing nothing here.....For those who wonder about my not stitching. This year I just lost interest but found other ways to be creative. So far I have mailed away many patterns and linens. I have donated to a local school many patterns and threads and linen and aida cloth. I also donated fabric. I also donated my old sewing machine.When school starts back up in August I will have more for them. I most likely will cross stitch again and still have many patterns, threads and linen still in my stash for then. Thank you for saying you miss seeing that part of my creative juices. I hope you can like what I do now too, and still can enjoy my blog.
I caught a glimpse of the baby doves. I did not want to startle the parent by running back into the house for my camera so I will be sure to have it in hand tomorrow when I go into the garden. I was on my way out to get groceries. Do you shop with a list? I do. I also have the Safeway app on so I can remember to get the sale and free items. Just once I would like to go in and come out with only what is on the lists. While there I spotted Gladiolas...I love Gladiolas. Dennis bought specific vase for when we buy them...

A tall clear vase that will support the long stems. Just look at this color! Everywhere I was in the market someone admired them. Today is May 1st...May Day. Don't have a May Pole but I could organize the courtyard neighbors to circle one of the lamp posts. Anyway, I plan to finish the earrings today. All is ready for the May Origami Star....
Thank you for stopping by and thank you for the kind words.... and for the encouragement. I really think of all of you as friends. Thank you for your friendship.
By the way...… the count down has started. For what? Do you really need to ask! Alan and Lisa will be here May 21st! 

Flowers, beading and needles

I can not believe it is almost May. These months seem to be disappearing so quickly. It is not that I am so busy...although at times lately I have been busy. I just went out to the garden to check on the Dove...still no sightings of babies. What I did see was another mess of debris. Last night the winds rang my chimes.... haha.

The Prickly Pear Cactus is in bloom...in our courtyard. Actually this is in front of Robyn and Dave's home. Living beneath this large cactus is a bunny warren...that is what it is called. Soon there will be Prickly Pear fruit appearing.

My Guara plant is so pretty... love this shade of pink.... and delicate looking. It is a very overcast day with 50% chance of rain today and looking out to the garden makes up for the lack of sunshine.
Yesterday I decided to sort through beads to make a pair of Russian leaves earrings...

The one on the left (green) is the one made with the Delica beads as recommended and the other is made with regular seed beads. The difference is about 1/2 inch in length and once stiffened will be about the same width. At this size it makes a good pendant as well as an earing. I like big earrings. So now I have to decide if I will make it as an earing. While I am deciding I will go ahead and make the pair I was going to make. I plan to make a bumble bee bead but must get the beads...I now, but I do not have what I need in the cupboard of beads.

These are some of the recent beading needles that I have put to rest. I save them for the February 8th Hari-Kuyo… Festival of Broken Needles:
Hari-kuyo （針供養）is a traditional Japanese festival where people pay tribute to the old and broken needles that have served them the past year, and at the same time pray for better sewing skills. 'Hari' means needle and '-kuyou' means memorial. Most needle-workers are women. The reasons for sewing and praying were given deep thought.
I keep a lot of needles on hand. Either they bend by the end of a project if not sooner or the eyes break. It does not matter what brand or the cost I am very tough on needles.

This is my Plumeria from Hawaii that Dianna and Bobby brought me back this year. I think it just may be growing! The last one died. The very tip is showing "leaf" growth. Dianna checks it when she visits…. hope she is reading and seeing this! It is getting lots of sun and water and misting.
I had a fairly good night sleep and late start (for me)  this morning. I do remind myself that I have no commitments for anything earlier than 10 on any day. This week is clear except for Wednesday when I go for more injections. Now about that...I feel very lucky to receive all your kind words and encouragement. Understand that I do know that many others have more issues than I...   and also that I am not the only one that is working through a loss. I truly am lucky to have a place to speak my mind and heart without judgement. This is my place to record not only my crafts but my thoughts. I do keep a daily diary where I can really put words down to express my heartfelt thoughts. Once someone ( along time back) asked why I do not just write about my crating. She no longer follows me once I told her that this is my blog and I can write as I wish. Oh well. For those of you who visit regularly and comment here or in email, thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your valued friendship.