Garden and Dining projects

The weather has been so cooperative for us to work on the garden make-over....

There is no trace of a corner pond. The brick work has been extended and the wall painted and the fence looks great. We still have some planting to do but for now it is lovely.
Murphy is still enjoying sunbathing and he is getting used to the fence. One thing he does enjoy is sitting on the stool in the kitchen

where he can look out into the garden. Beside the garden work, we have finished the dining/kitchen area.

We have added a hutch. 

Behind the two glass doors we have Lisa's mother's china. The pale green pattern hand painted pattern is called Green Thistle Arabia. It was their first china when they married and was bought in Finland by Jerry, Lisa's dad who travelled the world.

The center cubby holds some of my tea cups and a tea pot which will change periodically

Lower bottom center hold wine and a few smaller tea pots.

The stainless steel counter top holds a Demitasse coffee set and in the corner a tea cup, a gift from Lisa that is from the "Grace" collection.

Across the room is the dining table and sidebar. Lisa brought with her a lovely cabinet...

 Lisa's dad Jerry made this cabinet and her mom Carol painted the design.
On the top we have started an "air head" collection.

That is what we have named them as they hold an air plant on top of their heads. We are quite happy with how it all looks.  We certainly have been very busy around here.  

I had a nice surprise yesterday. Lisa informed me before leaving for work that a Fed Ex package was arriving. When is did I sent her a text and she told me to open it to get a gift for me!

It is a heavy canvas tote, 21x23x11. Huge! It is stamped the Boston Public Library on the front and inside it says; "The Commonwealth require the education of the people as the safeguard of order and liberty." It can carry 27 pounds of books....or lots of crafts.... or Murphy! Some of the proceeds from purchase benefit the Boston Library. The library still uses these to ferry books from one branch to another.

So although creative hands have been idle, things have been on the move around here. So nice that you had some time to visit. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Change in habits

I am noticing that I have slowed down...you heard it here first. I actually do not rush to get out of bed now just because I am awake. I dilly dally. I am trying to settle in to this new normal finally instead of out do it. Either that or I am as old as I feel most days!
Look what I "found"

Pinocchio plastic glass from Burger King 1994 and it has the box. A difference from the glass collectibles from 1970s to plastic in the 90s. I have several of the Disney movie mugs too.
While in the cupboard

these were from Maxell House coffee. They were $1.00 each with the paper seal from the instant coffee jars. When we were first married Denny drank only instant coffee and it was Maxwell House. They date to the early 1970s. Maxwell House coffee dates to 1892 and the name is from a hotel in Tennessee. Good to the last drop!
Now about yesterday. I was unable to pick up and knit the shawl that was started so long ago. Fist, there seems to be yarn missing...and secondly I could not get the pattern to work out! Frustrated, I put it away. But, I pulled out another project...no... no, not for me to do. When I bought it some time ago at a knitting show I wanted to make it as it is lovely. Now, not interested and want to find it a good pair of hands to knit it.

shades of blue lace yarn.
So, if you are a lace knitter and would like to have this, please leave me a message and it may be yours. If more than one is interested, I will draw a name....1 week from today.
Swept the yard earlier this morning and decided it is still too hot to be out there so I will be inside with iced water and cucumbers with lemon slices today. Alice and I will watch a movie and stitch. Poor neglected Alice....I am taking a tatting break.
14 days to The Brother Alan. My email from him this morning is that he is planning meals!
thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship.

~~~and more from the cupboard

It has been so hot....again. What I mean is that we had those high triple digit temps then it cooled a little and now we are back in heat advisory with 110 temps. Really too hot to do anything outside. I may not be able to sit by the pond and listen to the waterfall that took so long to accomplish, but

sitting in my room in my comfy chair stitching, I can look out though the sliders and pass the lanai and see the pond and watch the occasional bird stop by.

I have started to add "things" around the pond edge and hopefully will soon be able to add some plants if this heat ever cools down.  All my hard work and help from Don, Dianna and Sherry really shows.
The same box that had the Star Wars ( Burger King, 1977) glasses had a few others

I have 2 of each of these: The Hamburgler and Ronald Action figures ( McDonald's, 1977) and the 50th Birthday Bugs Bunny glasses. Amazing how the gave these with a drink purchase....and glass not plastic. Not to be left out, Burger Chef issued

Endangered Species 1978 of which I also have 2 each. I checked on line with eBay and Etsy and these are selling for interesting amounts. The Star Wars ranged from $60.00 to $84 for the set of 4; McDonald Action series were around $5 to $7 each and Burger Chef for around $6 each.  Who knew?!
Tatting and tatting is what I have been doing. My aunt Angie would be proud that I finally learned to do this. I still have one that she made from the 1950/60s. Right now it is my preferred thing to do. I find it relaxing and easy to pick up and put down.  Later this morning I will be off to the Post Office to mail 2 packages and that will be the extent of my outdoor travels. Even though the car and stores are all air conditioned, it is still the effort to get there in this heat....walking from the car to place and place to car is like walking into a wall of heat. Smacks you right in the face.
It is so nice to have you stop by and thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. Counting the days ~~~~The Brother Alan will arrive September 19th.

Maybe it is Autumn

What a lovely start to this morning. The temperature is around 72 and a lovely cool air. Of course the sun is not shining yet and then it will be around 95, but it is still a nice morning. There were a few triple digit days last week so it really is not Autumn....yet. I started a new project from Niky Creations Christmas Contest.  I thought it would be fun. Each entry will receive a number and then there will be a drawing on November 30th. How about an update on mom EvaP....no results no idea what is the problem. You would think with all the tests and technology they could come up with a reason. EvaP tells me she is feeling fine but do to becoming dizzy often she has been advised to use her walker all the time. Gee, I thought that was decided long ago which is why I bought her one of those fancy models  so she would be more apt to use it. She had told me it is so nice that it does not make her feel old, this from someone who will be 89 in December! I had mentioned my Burger King Doll....

How about a Ronald McDonald Doll. Haven't located the Burger King guy yet....maybe one of the other boxes. Anyway, he was $1.00 purchased from McDonald's in the late 70s. I was always picking up specials. When I was a child we never got the cereal with the freebies in them...mostly had hot cereals or toast for breakfast. I am a Cheerios gal so now if there is a special it's mine. Mr H likes the Kellogg cereals so what they add in is also mine....still a kid sometimes. Why do we collect these things? Anyway....thought I would share McD doll.I need my second cup of coffee, second laundry in the washer and the newspaper is waiting to be read. So nice to have you stop by today. Thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. I hope you have a wonderful day.

~~~the table is topped

Finally after all these years, the Star of the Orient squares are finished...

I decided on a blue bias trim and voila, it is on the table. I forgot just how much I enjoyed my learning to quilt....I wish Beatrice could see that what she began with me is finally completed. I plan to pursue more hand stitching and quilting ... not that I will abandon my cross stitch, but as a change.

There is something gratifying for me to hand stitch. Most relaxing. I would not mind making this pattern for a bed top..... well maybe not just yet to go into a project that big. I always wanted to do a Cathedral Quilt for my bed. Time will tell what I will accomplish. Mr H really likes how this looks which made me feel good.
Oh, I decided to straighten out the kitchen drawers...lots of time now that I am home full time. Anyway, way in the back of one of the draws things materialize from who knows where---I found

Mickey, Pluto and Donal came to lunch! These are from the seventies....just love that I found them ....I did not know what had become of them. I will be sure they do not get lost again. the things that I save.... do you remember the Burger King doll, Eskimo Pie doll? I have them, yes indeed. Somewhere I have coffee cups from Maxwell House's 25th anniversary. Also a set of Campbell Soup drinking mugs. I was always sending for special offers. Well, today I need to find a project to work on.... nothing at the ready yet even thought there is a basket of to do. So, glad you came to visit and thank you for your kind words and your friendship. I want to say thank you also for those who plan to send a surprise to Cindy....,thank you for extending friendship to her in this unsettling time. Have a wonderful day.

Another find...

I think I must look into more places...

These Campbell soup mugs are from 1972..... special offer $1.00 each and soup labels. One side is the girl the  other side the boy face. They are so cute.... I have another Campbell mug set someplace... different than these.... I wonder where the Maxwell House mugs are? I always sent for specials. I should show you the other specials I have one day. These type of offers do not appear much anymore. Anyway.... I must tell you that my hand is doing much better. Still swollen, but not so much pain. I actually have finished the 6th block of the Star of The Orient squares and made this..

This is showing you both sides of one pillow.  All completely by hand. I am pleased with how it looks. I tried not to over stuff it.... usually I make pillows very firm.... this has some squish to it. The other four may become a wall hanging.... not sure yet. We had quite a rain and wind storm Thursday evening. But last night I caught the moon.....

hiding behind very dark clouds.... it was full and so bright one minute, then lost for a moment. I am always fascinated with the sky. I love clouds. Just went tout to water the potted plants and fill the hummer feeders and it is hot out there. Temps today are going to be around 110. Guess staying indoors will be good.  Must tell you about Thursday morning. I met up with a blogger, Vicki. We are neighbors, of sort.  Vicki lives maybe 5 miles from me. She had wanted the Flip Its that I was giving away so we thought meeting would be nice. So glad we did. She is delightful and I do hope we can manage to get together again. This is the third time I have met a blogging friend in person. Stop by and visit with her. Well, I hear the washing has stopped so I best get to it. Chores and then some stitching today. Thank you for your kind words and friendship. Glad you had some time to stop by. Enjoy your day.