Birds and beads

Hot again and getting hotter...into those triple digits. Here it is Friday, where did this week go? Still have not planted the herb seeds...maybe later this morning, or tomorrow. Did some floss sorting...but not too much else. I have been easily distracted lately. Start one thing and then I hear myself saying...oh, look at this or what is this...you know, then getting back to the original task gets lost. Focus, I need to focus.... what was I saying?

On Wednesday afternoon I began beading on the needle case. The directions I was following called for 2mm crystal beads to be used with the 11/0 seed beads. Well all my crystals are larger so I improvised and changed the design to suit what I had on hand.

Thursday I finished it. I painted the bottom and the lid with gold Sharpie. Beading the cap was not an option for me. The beads would eventually wear and loosen when removing and capping the top. I am pleased and see more of these being made... would make a nice gift. The beads are a no name dark blue and of course the gold.
The phone rang yesterday afternoon...a number I did not recognize. I usually do not answer and wait for a message to be left. Instead I automatically picked up. It was a neighbor. Could she stop by.

When she appeared at my gate she handed me a gift bag. "This is a little something for you. You are always so kind and helpful and always so nice. I wanted to say thank you".
Well, I was surprised as I have not known her and her husband very long. Of course, you know that I love chocolates.... all chocolates. Just the other night I was craving a piece of chocolate and there was none...not one chocolate in the house.
Did I ever mention that I am superstitious, very superstitious? Oh I am. Don't  get me wrong, I do not worry about the black cat crossing me or the open umbrella. There are other things...things that will bother me. Like yesterday...the Doves. The first incident was at the living room window ..the bird flew into the window.  A short time later a bird, a Dove, did the same thing to my kitchen slider in the lanai. Later again at the living room window. I may be hanging the rosary beads up soon! Stop snickering and giggling. I could hear Debbie all the way from Canada! I have been this way since childhood. I was told by my maternal Grandpa that his wife for whom I was named was very superstitious. He was such a sweet loving man. Anyway, it is me and no changing it now at this late date/age. A lot of Italians are this way. Like the Maloke...the evil eye. Let's not go there.
Nice to visit with you today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Movies and floss

Tuesday was a hot day .. a reminder of what is yet to arrive. Today is starting at 75 and going to the triple digits. Monsoon begins the 15th so we know the winds, Haboobs and rains will begin. The AC kept me comfortable while in the house. The one errand I ran to the Hyundai dealership...a wasted hour... was all I did. Part is on order and waiting to return. I decided to do some "cleaning out" of a closet shelf. I found some letters and cards from when I first moved here! All had lovely notes in them, so of course I reread them and some brought smiles and a few even tears. By the time I finished I was feeling overwhelmed. That task is now complete. Next will be to go through the many movies and CDs that Denny had. I have my favorites so those I will keep.

 This shelf has a double row of movies, some are sets like the Bruce Lee box set.

These two shelves ae CDs.. about  200+

These shelves have DVDs.... the top shelf is double row and as you can see, some are sets. The bottom shelf are Disney DVDs... and other movies...Denny was a movie buff. Does anyone still watch movies and listen to CDs besides me?
Still have much to do about closet/garage/storage organizing. My goal is to completely empty one of the large garage storage units. I need to get to Lowes to add to my wall rack in the garage. Later today I plan to get at the floss... remember the boxes of floss?

This is what the inside of those colorful boxes looks like. All the floss is in numerical order, in individual floss bags, on a large ring and kept by category number... for example: all the 100s, the 500s and so forth are together. Always able to find what I need. Since I am not doing any (at this time) cross stich, I will be de-stashing all these, all 5 boxes. A good sit by the TV  in the cool of the house and pick what I want to keep. Unlike sorting the letters/cards this should go quickly... no nostalgia here. I have a few months to get organized.
That is about it... I am taking a mental health day.....
Glad you stopped by. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. 

King of the Fountain

Okay... it is hot this week. Morning temps have been in the low to mid 70s when I wake.  After a week of comfortable below normal temps, the hot is here. I did a walk about yesterday morning and came back into the AC ASAP. Then took a quick ride to the market for a few needed items and right back inside. My Plumeria is doing so good. One of Dianna's plants is getting ready to bloom. I do not see that happening here...yet, but I will cross my fingers for a bloom.

Today I learned to bead a Puffy Triangle Drop. I just grabbed colors without too much thought and it looks okay. Not sure what I will do with it, but always eager to learn new things.  My next new beading will be a beaded needle case... thanks to Catherine who sent me the wooden needle case and link to learn. I still want to make the bumble bee bead but I am still not fond of the technic in the directions....my bee just did not look very neat. I can be too fussy but what can I say. I will try again.
The Dove nest is still empty...but...

here he is, the King of the Fountain.... the other day one was sunbathing in the bottom tier and one in the top tier... this one is sitting on the top bubbler! The Hummer feeder is still not back in the tree. The ants are still so many. I may try spraying the branch so they cannot or will not cross it to the feeder. This is the first time in 15 years that I ever had an ant problem in a feeder.
Today I have an appointment to have a couple of minor problems with the car fixed. Usually when I am there for service it is only an hour so I just read. It has been good having you to chat with. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Sun-less-day

Ready for the day....almost. Seems like it will be a  s l o w  day today. Right now the sun is partly here... it is almost 80 at 8:15am and should reach the mid 90s later but at the moment the sliders ae open but that will probably change soon. Did someone ask if … yes, all is well in the garden. I need to change one of the sprinkler lines in the pot that will be for my herbs. I usually just buy herbs and this time I thought why not plant seeds. I did pull out the Rosemary plant which was quickly dead. Part of it was that it was not getting the needed water when you replant so I will get another next time out to Lowes. I also need to get more rock to finish the planting area in the garden.

June Origami Star is finished. Look, the little ladybug is peeking out. I love the bright red and yellow in this. I guess I should have or could have fussy cut the ladybug fabric so it would be more prominent, but it is cute this way.
So, I took the 2 eggs out of the abandoned nest. I felt bad but with no one sitting on them they were doomed. I would think it was an inexperienced pair... it does happen... that hopefully will do better the next time. In the last few years there have been at least 10 nestlings and never an issue.
Today my plans are simple. Work on the SW Mill Hill project. There are some things that I should be working on, specifically in the garage, but today is not a work day. If I get up and going early enough one of these days I will be there. It will be an all day task when I do start it so it will require ambition and that is not me today!
The Quails have been scoping out the garden...not going to let them nest here. Funny that they know the Doves are not nesting... speaking of the Doves, a pair was sun bathing in the fountain yesterday like it was their private jacuzzi. A coyote left me a deposit in the driveway.... they drop it anywhere. It's a jungle out here! In the meantime, a few things to do before settling into my stitching spot.
Very nice chatting with you this morning. Thank you or your kind words and emails. I appreciate the time you take to send me emails. Thank you for your friendship...