Cacti in the garden and rocks too!

 The weather has been delightful. We have enjoyed sitting out in the garden often. 

Lisa and I got this lovely piece last week. The colors are so pretty. We also got another...

The little barrel cactus fits just right in the clay pot.  We are very happy with out cacti garden.  Lisa told Alan she wanted rocks for the area. Alan always accommodates us (remember he found me my tumbleweed!). 

Not only did he find the right stones, he was able to make the stacks too. All balanced just right. 

Today was a busy day. First it is Fiesta San Giuseppe...Feast of St. Joseph. After we left the Cardiologist we drove straight to the bakery to buy them and immediately sat to enjoy. Not to worry, I bought extra for later! I know my diet....I will skip the ice cream tonight.

About the Cardiologist..... I have a leaky Mitral Valve but nothing to worry about---yet. Something to monitor. My blood pressure was actually perfect today.

This is Lisa's latest project. She chose a lovely batik and solid pink to accent. The embellishments are a work in progress.  Did I mention that she is learning to sew  some by hand? After lots of ouches and "I can't find the needle" she did rather well. I think they are getting used to us at the Quilt Shop.

Speaking of a work in progress.....It is not ready for a full debut.... can you guess what it will be? It has been a finicky project. I will be happy to have it completed. Time to put something comfy on and relax. Tomorrow is swishing and fluffing day. Always so nice top have you stop by for a visit. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Where do the days go?

Good afternoon..... I know..... where have I been and what have I been up to. I am still right here and not doing too much. I have been out of sorts lately… actually for a few months. A visit to the doctor with Alan and things are getting back on track. I am touched with the emails from some of you checking on me.... I could feel the hugs wrapping around me. Thank you.

We had 3 days of rain storms last week and now they say we will get more this week. Just look at the first tomato! The kitchen garden is growing leaps! The Mr Lincoln roses have been wonderful to pick and have in the house. The fragrance is lovely. There are more buds on the bush. Here it is end of November and the Prickly Pear Cactus is blooming...

I love the feel of the flowers....they feel waxy. Of course taking a picture requires being very careful...

The pads, or Nopals are eatable... not that I have tried them. They should post a warning:
Spines and tufts of barbed bristles (glochids) can cause significant allergic skin  reactions... not to mention painful when pricked!

The red fruit appears once the flowers finish and they make the best jelly.

The Fairy Duster plant is also in bloom....the hummers love it as do the bees. So nice to have color in the garden at this time of year.

On Satrday, Lisa and I went to a faire in Scottsdale... not as good as the Litchfield one, but we had a nice day. While we were out, friends across the courtyard, Robyn and Dave, told me that a large healthy looking coyote walked up to the birdbath in the front and stood there drinking. He could each without difficulty. I would have loved to seen that!

Hopefully my desire to get back to creating will return soon. In the meantime, thank you for the lovely caring messages. I will make more of an effort to post as I always did... often. Thank you for your thoughts and kind words and most of all for your friendship.

Beautiful bloom and an earring

The weather seems to be returning to more normal temps...so the freeze is over. I think the garden fared well so far. As The Brother Alan said, they are only plants. The indoor plants are doing well...

look at this beautiful flower.... so far 2 of them. This cactus plant is about 3 or 4 years old and always gives at least one flower and it chooses when to do so. Every so often I think it may be time for it to leave but then this happens. A lovely double flower.
In between pain in my hand I managed to make a Russian Leave..

It is a nice pattern to follow now to order the stiffener for the earrings. They do not have to be stiff, but the shape holds better. I see more of these being made once my hand is better. This one took what seemed forever!
Woke with a headache so taking it easy. I have an appointment at 1 today then back home to relax if this headache remains. I did plan to work in the garden later this afternoon; it can wait. Need to food shop but that too can wait. I am limiting my driving as my thumb locks at the worse times while driving.... not a good thing.
We are into week two of the new year.... these days just seem to float by me. Things I want to do and hope to do are written down with good intentions. Right now, it is time to relax so this headache clears. It is always so nice to chat with you. Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. Thank you for your friendship. Chat with you soon.

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.....🎉

Gumbi in the garden

I went to a movie. What? You do not see the big deal? Well, I have not been to a movie since sometime during the 1990s...yes, you read that correctly. I can not even remember what I saw or what theater. The other day an email from Glenda asked if I wanted to go to see Victoria and Abdul. Initially I said no. Then I thought it sounded familiar so when I checked yes indeed I would go. I love Dame Judi Dench and all that she does. So off we went to the Harkins theater and after following Glenda through getting the ticket and then popcorn we sat to watch a very good movie. Through the years Denny went to the movies but not me. He really enjoyed the action movies. Another first to my list.
I decided to sort through more of my stuff...little by little I am tossing out this and that. I have some patterns to donate to one of the needlework groups but lots are just copies run off on the computer form various sites...you know the free offers. Next will be the magazines that are collected but not looked at again. We all buy them with the intention of stitching this and that but then we don't. I would rather pass them along.
Today might be work in the garden. There is another sprinkler head that probably needs to be replaced and I would like to add a few drip lines to some plants.  We shall see. There is a new cactus in the garden. It has been here now for a week or so

It is Opuntia Gumbi.  It gets the gumbi name because it feels rubbery...hopefully this will root. It is a cutting that was given to me. If in the ground they grow quite large so in the pot it will live.
Then there is the Swaddled Baby doll that needs last finishing and Alice and well, you see where this is going.
I have been awake since 2 AM and this morning could not fall back to sleep or felt lazy enough to just stay in bed. So, possibly my list will have some cross offs by days end. I may even get the walnut biscotti made. I am very good at making lists. Today's list keeps getting longer so maybe an early start will get things done. Thank you for visiting with me and for your kind words. Most of al thank you for your friendship.

Blooming cactus

Mr H was so excited to see this cactus bloom!~ This is the first time in 2 years...... worth the wait for sure. So far the garden is looking bright and so cheerful.... until the triple digit days arrive. Even my small herb garden is thriving. Speaking of thriving...

I know this is not a great picture, but the dad has been here twice already for feeding.I suspect because they are growing quickly. So as not to cause them stress, we are keeping our distance and this was taken through the screen door from the garage. Oh how the chat to one another when he appears to feed them.  . Yesterday one of them was flexing it's wings! Mr H thinks they will be gone by next week. Sadly the Mom had not returned. Happy that the dad is taking good care of them. The Dove nest is quiet. The momma never leaves them that we can see....but the other day she did...

and I captured her eggs...just 2. I never see if the male stops by. She quietly lays in the nest all  day/night. I think next week will be hatching time. This garden nursery yard has been very busy this year, two nests at once! Happily the Quails have not moved in.

This is the new part-time project that I started. The colors are really pretty. Stitching on 28ct linen and using the listed DMC threads. Something fun to stitch. The May SAL is almost finished.  Three projects going here....I like keeping busy! I guess that about covers it. Glad you could spend some time with me. Thank you for your wonderful friendship and kind words.....have a wonderful day.

A different needle in hand

I decided that I could not decide on what to stitch next... my dilemma of looking for a project. So I found this yarn in a bag on the top shelf of the craft closet...

It is Interlacements Rick-Rack yarn and the pattern is Fan and Feather Shawl. I bought this yarn years ago and forgot about it. It is a rayon blend. I do enjoy knitting every now and again. The pattern came with the yarn and I am not sure of the name of the color way..... but it is bright and pretty to me. Somewhere on that same shelf is another lace project...might look into that one of these days. My oh my did we have strong winds yesterday and last night.... Mr H was sure to secure the yard things. Today is beginning with lots of clouds and the temp will be cooler today. Mr H has an appointment today with a spine surgeon to check out how much change has occurred in his disc issues. It sometimes seems like a never ending cycle. Sorry, did not mean to sound complaining....maybe it's because the sun is not shinning this morning...maybe another cup of coffee....Let's change the subject, shall we? On Saturday Mr H and I visited a Rose Garden ...

many pretty roses. We have been there many times. We looked, we stole a sniff here and there and found a few that we really liked like this one...

The softness of it's look and gentle color...there were missing name placards so I do not know what this is except very pretty. We also stopped by the garden nearby at the library.....

where we met up with this fellow...I had hoped he would display his magnificent tail feathers, but no, he preferred to stare at me. There were many hens around but this was the only male that I spotted. They were resting under various bushes so I am sure they were there also watching us. Not to be out done with the blooms...

the Prickly Pear Cacti are just so lovely this time of year....I love how they have that waxy look and full of pollen for the bees. This display is at the end of our street...

there is a  bunny hutch beneath this massive planting. The Quail also hide inside and occasionally the Roadrunner can be found there. It is a generally safe haven for the bunnies against the hunting coyotes. Well my friends, and I do thank you for your friendship and kind words, that is about it for today....glad you stopped by. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Looks can be deceiving

Today may be the first day of triple digit weather here in the valley...forecast is for temperature of 100 by 4 PM. Guess this means we are officially on the way to summer.... just pass Spring.... or did it closely follow winter. Spent time yesterday finishing the embroidery part of the quilt and laid it out. So far I have changed the arrangement of the blocks 5 times. I think I have it now.... maybe another look....
Tomorrow is our Tatting Meet Up. I am looking forward to spending time with The Debra and maybe some new tatters. Four ladies have contacted me about meeting us at Jo Ann's. I have not been tatting as much due to the other projects. That is what happens when you do more many needlework projects. I bought my even-weave fabric to start my Round Robin.... hope I do not regret starting this adventure. The Doll is ready to have the backing stitched and then you can meet her. I think Monday will be a very busy day with the sewing machine!

How can such a pretty cactus flower live with such a devil of a plant? Yes, this is the mean cactus that bit my butt not too long ago. Now it is beginning to delight us with flowers. Every time I look at this plant I think how throwing a 2 inch or so piece on the ground grew so quickly.  The original plant is still in the pot and by comparison is so small and offers no blooms.

Another Sunflower opened in the garden and a few roses have appeared...they better do it now before the heat of the summer arrives. Mr H planted so many seeds and yet they only appear here and there and not all reach height and bloom. But when they do, the shine like a bright smile. Still, after 10 years of living here, I continue to enjoy having one flower or anther in bloom year round. Of always having bushes that are green in December.
It has been so nice to have you visit and chat.... have a great day my friends.

All for a picture

First let me tell you I have been too busy for my likes! I still have not been able to finish my Thistle tatted motif, did a bit and I do mean a bit of stitching on Alphabet Doll, and I made a stuffed bear. None of this is part of the busy things. Anyway, while doing this or that I made a few attempts at Needle Flower making. Remember the book I bought...

beside the fact I do not seem able to do this, I have now lost interest in even trying ...so it is up for grabs....that's right. One of you may want this lovely book... if so, please leave a comment on this post saying you would like the book. If more than one of you ask, then I will draw for the winner.... on Saturday.  I do not want this nice new book sitting in my bookcase looking pretty.....
Now, let me say that I know many of you, like me, will try really hard sometimes to get just the right picture. We try this angle and that angle and sometimes the stupid angle. I fit into this this last category this morning.  Over the week-end I sewed a lovely floral bear for a gift.... so, before mailing her off today I wanted a picture.

Do you see these prickly barbs on the cactus.... do you see how they protrude from the tip of the paddle end... do you know what happens if you should back-up into them.... well, trust me.... it is very painful and very difficult to remove this type of fine barb. Are you wondering what I did? I positioned the stuffed bear in the garden and then squatted down to take the picture and ouch! I let out a yell and discovered that I got a lot too close to this cactus and my butt was full of barbs! I found my self trying to get up and only could feel the barbs rubbing into me. Did I mention that I am in thin cotton pajamas?  Did I mention that although this happened about 20 feet outside my bedroom slider and Mr H did not hear me yell so is still asleep. What to do.... First, how to remove the pajamas and and underwear. That done, I thought of packing tape and proceeded to stick pieces to my butt and gently peal them off. Most of the barbs came off in the first try. I have repeated this now several times and I have a feeling there are still some very fine prickles still there. I have washed till I am water logged...all I know is, take my advice...do not try this picture taking method at home! In fact, if there are cacti in your garden do not back into them! Did I mention that it will be a very long day at work if I can not get them all out?
This is not the post I had thought of for today, but then I did not know I would have a close encounter of the painful kind. If you have stopped laughing at me yet, enjoy your day...I am not sure about mine.