Snowflakes

The weekend is past..... a quiet weekend. The boxes were sorted, sort of. I merely moved some to one area and a few others to another. The Village boxes are ready to unpack and will be set up in a new place this year. That is what happens when furniture is rearranged and not available to use the same way. The table in my bedroom is ready for the small tree that will be placed there. The front porch area will need a furniture move for the tree that will be out there. And so it goes...I seem to always be moving things. The living room window has been washed in and out and the sheers are changed.

I now have a silver trimmed snowflake to go with the gold one. I think they look nice together and will hang on my beaded display for the holiday. My felt tree will have all the tatted snowflakes. The trees will need to be unpacked and vacuumed…. yes vacuumed to be sure no hitch hikers moved in during the summer spent in the garage. So this will be a busy week.
Are you ready for Thanksgiving? You do realize that it is this Thursday! This year I even have chestnuts which I really feel are a must. We always had chestnuts for Thanksgiving in our house. Dad would cut and roast them and then peal them for us. I love them fixed all ways even raw.
I really enjoy having you visit with me and now I am off to get those chores done … those house fairies still have not arrived to do the deeds. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.

Birthday cards..... if anyone has a card hanging around and would like to send it....Eva P's birthday is coming...December 9th.

An Elf in the garage

This crazy Arizona weather! Oh I know, many states are having crazy weather issues. One day it is quite warm here with the AC on in the car and then the next day the heater is used to get that chill out. Doors open on one day and not the next....short sleeves  then wearing the long sleeve shirt. This week should be around the low to mid 70s...but who knows. Sorry for all those who are having the early snow storms…..be careful out there!
Yesterday an Elf showed up in my garage.

There are 20 boxes here which means I would have climbed the step ladder 20 times up and then down and back up again.... well let's just say too many times. A few of the boxes are not so lightweight (but not too heavy). The phone rang with the offer to come and assist me.... and voilà! a few minutes later and ….
Thank you Glenda for coming by and lending me a hand. I will rethink my storage at the end of the holiday this year. The trees are in the lower cupboard so they are not an issue. The garage storage has already been rearranged once but I see anther day or two of moving things. I can start with putting something else up in the high cupboard and having the decorations in a more accessible spot. Yes, I think I already have it figured out. One last container to get down...the outdoor stuff and I will be ready to work after turkey day....Wow, I just looked at the calendar....Thanksgiving is Thursday!...this Thursday!!!
Yesterday was supervising the finishing of the courtyard transition from grass to rock and then I started another beaded snowflake with white and silver. Today will be washing the window to change the sheers in the living room and that will be ready for the tree placement. The laundry will soon be swishing and a second cup of coffee brewed. The Bissell and I will take a walk and the Swiffer will follow along. That is what I will be doing today....hope your day is not too busy. Nice to chat with you today....thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. 

Getting holiday ready

We have had a few cold days/nights. This week they predict the temps to be in the low to mid 70s.... I am amazed that I am not sick! When I am out and about, if I even hear someone coughing....I avoid them. Crazy up and down temps this time of year. Yesterday was get the turkey breast for Thanksgiving…. and a few of the fixings.
I am looking forward to getting Christmas up and around the house this year.... I told Glenda it will be starting early here! I will start getting the "stuff" down from the cupboard in the garage and not all in one climb of the step ladder. The trees are in a floor cupboard so that is one break. Yes, trees...there are 3 of them. Living room, kitchen and bedroom.

Speaking of decoration...I bought this ornament hanger at Pier 1 when Glenda and I went out shopping the other day. They had them last year but I never picked one up. It is perfect for the large glass ball. I may get at least one more. The beaded stars will look nice displayed with it. I already have played the music.... George Winston's Winter CD and Hallmark Sirius in the car...I want need some holiday cheer. I decorate the 3 lamp posts in our courtyard and that will be done right after Thanksgiving.
Getting my haircut today... had to change my appointment form last week so I am stuck with an afternoon time.... might stroll the mall a bit before then. Still need a couple of gifts. That is about it from here.....glad you stopped by today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Snowflake just in time...Brrrr

Well I thought yesterday morning was chilly...this morning it is 49!!! How many of us are not sick with this quick weather change is unknown. The afternoon is only expected to be in the high 60s. Guess I better get the long sleeves and a sweater out when I meet up with Glenda this morning.

I finished the beaded snowflake.... and although it is not perfect it looks good. I think I have the hang of the Brick Stitch and look forward to making this one again. I did not have the silver Delica 11 beads so I used the gold and I do like the look. There are 4 more patterns in the bead along... one each Friday. I will be off to the bead shop this week to get the beads needed. The next one may be a little more than I can do but I will try. I may try to find someone who can sit with me and coach me through this new method. The bead group for this project lists many Sun City gals so I will reach out to them to see who would be willing to help me.
Little sleep last evening, about 2 hours so later may be nap time here. Did I mention that I have the heat on?! Did I mention it is chilly... better word cold?! Guess the shorts and short sleeve tops will be going to the other side of the closet as well as the sandals. On that note I will sit and finish my hot coffee. Maybe a second cup will immediately follow.

A bright spot out in the garden with this yellow daisy and the bright pink Gaura in the back round.
Glad you stopped by. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.
Special request: Sis Lynowl is not feeling well again with a nasty cold so send those virtual good wishes her way. 

Keeping busy with help

Our Arizona weather is finally much cooler. I actually am wearing socks this morning! I know in comparison to other places I am lucky. Anyway, a couple of texts with The Brother Alan the other day and then he actually called me to emphasize his comments and the decision was made...hire a landscaper to take care of the garden … at least for now. So yesterday they arrived at 9:30 am and as Alan made it clear "you supervise" and I did.

The Firecracker that was in lovely bloom (at the top) had reached almost 10 feet high and was becoming top heavy...so it is now 6 feet high and I can actually see the lovely Fairy Duster bush..

love the fluffy blooms. It now has more light and room to spread a little. The Fairy bush is at the left and Firecracker in the center against the wall. To the far right is a Yucca plant that was completely hidden by the Purple Fountain grass...

Now the grass has been cut down so it will regrow and be stronger and more controlled. Even the disco ball can shine better! It all looks so drastic but very necessary to allow the plants to grow better. Dennis always cut down the grass by the pond as well as at the back door....

The nice bell was unable to sing and the area very messy. Of course when the grass here was cut, out ran a large lizard and he stood his ground for a brief second until the rake appeared and he scooted across the path to another plant. As soon as the movement ended he moved back to his home in the now sheared grass. I found myself looking out several times.... it will take a few more days to get used to it all. The hummer was also upset with all the garden activity. It won't be long before it all grows again and a bit more control this time. The garden is finally ready for winter.
Than you for the lovely comments on my book. It was made with loving memories of some wonderful years of my life.
Once all the garden stuff was completed I sat and began a new beading project...

I know...what is it? you ask. It will be a snowflake. The suggested beads were white and silver but I have no silver so this  will be gold/white until I get silver. This is new for me as I never did the brick stitch before and I had to start this one 3 times! It is worked from the center to the edge then picked up again and worked in the other direction. It will be around 2 inches.. Hopefully I can do this...it is going to be a long weekend trying.
Here it is 5:45 am and I have been awake since 2:30 am...the day is already feeling long. I think I will curl up on the sofa and find something to watch on TV. Glad you visited...thank you for the kind words and for your friendship. 

I am feeling chilly....

When the temps fall after many days of high 80s and even the high 90s I find there is a chill in my air. It is only 55 right now and that is chilly. The sun is still very low so there is no warmth coming from it yet and the high today should be around 87. Hopefully the winds have quieted down. I have thought about getting the leaf blower out.... that really is  task better left to the pros, believe me.
Last week Glenda found me another footstool....

I could not believe my eyes! It is exactly like the first one we found! I have added a thick foam top with new fabric. See, it opens up....now I do not have to take the one from the bedroom out to the living room when I sit in the rocker.
I was asked if I am okay....I know, I have not posted since Wednesday. I am doing fine. I am just on the roller coaster as Glenda refers to it. I have kept busy with this and that. Last Wednesday I was visiting with Dianna and Bobby and he made us hamburgers on the grill... and yesterday Glenda and I went for lunch after we bought my area rug...

this is in front of my bed. I love the soft colors. The room rug is a beige so this gives me a pop of color. I was lucky to have a 15% off coupon so I saved a bit too. The walls will be repainted when I find a color and the temps are not hot so that means this winter.
I did manage to tat.....

this is Gillian form Jennifer Williams snowflake book. I thought this time I would use blue for the beads. It is one of the small ones measuring only 1 3/4 inches at the widest point. My hand felt rested enough.  I am accepting that the hand will be more of an issue than before....why? I have no idea, but I will adjust and if this is just one of the few limitations I am experiencing, then I am luckier than some. The hand embroidery using sewing needles is a little more difficult at times. I am not complaining just stating a fact for me. For so many years my over all health has been just fine so with these little problems I need to learn to make adjustments. Do what I can when I can.
I made Pizzelles the other day and today I will be making what we Italians from Rhode Island call Spinach Pies...which are very much like a calzone and not at all like a pie. Always wonder how foods get their names.
So, that is what I have been up to. It is time for that second cup of coffee and some breakfast. A few chores then time to read and maybe work on a project. I once again want to thank you my dear friends for the caring words you send to me and advice too. Thank you so much for your friendship.

A box of Wheaties found!

Laundry done, coffee drank and now I am tatting a new snowflake

This is from my newly purchased book and I hope to make them all! I love using beads in all my needlework so this is a plus that there are a few in the book. I enjoy a challenge and tatting with beads can be just that.
I am still in the re-arranging of the craft closet. So, yesterday I decided to find a new place for all my photo boxes to a place I had not moved items on a closet shelf that essential was Dennis' storage area.

This was behind a binder....an unopened box of cereal with the NE Patriots on the box from Super Bowl #36 in 2002. I had forgotten all about this box. When he bought it I thought I would get to eat the cereal and (he does  did not like wheat products) his response was ---  I am saving this box as is and maybe one day Tom will sign it for me ----. Well, now what? Guess it will sit on a shelf someplace else --- unsigned. Still discovering things.....
I have given up on controlling the Alien Snail Vine...

It is everywhere...and even stepping on it does it no harm! It is almost impossible to walk under the arbor s it is almost 2 feet deep and reaches out everywhere! Truth be told, I love it's wild look. The blooms are delicate and pop out here and there.

Yesterday I also cut out the body for a Tilda doll which I will work on this weekend. Now to pick out fabric for clothing....as difficult as it can be to go out and buy new clothes.
Finally made it to the post office yesterday. The package will arrive (hopefully) on Friday at it's destination.
Time  to get more than tatting done around here. Another cup of coffee and a bagel too. Thank you for your kind words and your friendship. It is so nice to have you stop by.

A special project...

Red Panda Beads is part of the Snowflake Project for the children of Sandy Hook Elementary School. The plan is that the "new" school will be decorated with snowflakes. I signed up with Red Panda and received my wire form and got to work.

This is my snowflake...What a privilege is is for me to help these children on their first day back to school. Can you imagine all the different snowflakes they will see. Other groups will be donating paper flakes and other crafted flakes. This goes in the mail tomorrow and the generosity of Red Panda Beads is making it possible. I had not used the wire forms before. They sell them in a variety of sizes and several to the package. I plan to order and make these to make for my home. I can see them hanging in  a sunny window glistening in the sunlight. Maybe a few for RAKs!
We are finally in our winter mode here in Arizona's Valley. The overnight temps have been around 40 and the day around 60's. Still, it is lovely. Flowers are still in bloom and my tomato plant has a few on the vine.  Mr H can't seem to locate the little fish in our pond, but I think because of the colder water it is hiding at the bottom or along the top under the rock edge. Since I have never seen it, I will take his word that it even exists! Getting ready to finish up my first RAK for our exchange group. I do not make New Year resolutions...but I have told myself this is the year to finish try to finish some of my WIPs. I seem to have a few!
So glad you took some time to stop by. Have a great day....