Pink for Spring....

March has arrived and for us here in The Valley of the Sun the temps are wonderful...in the low 70s. It has been wonderful sitting outside with my coffee and a book. I have attempted to get back to doing something crafty.... but I see now that I will have to take it easy still.

It felt wonderful lathering up my hand with my Dragonfly soap. I love pretty soaps. Finally my hand feels clean again….It is looking good, still swollen and a little stiff, but I am massaging the fingers as well as stretching them. I am also applying the Mederma oil on the scar and soon my hand will feel soft.

Just the day before surgery I made this Spring wreath to hang at the front door. So far a few birds have checked it out and if they know what is good for them they will leave it alone. I also have taken my cotton thread and Hairpin Lace tool

and added an embroidery pattern that I found on Jacquelynne Steve's blog and voilà...I have a couple of projects. I thought I would start with the tatting project... or at least get part of a few ready but my hand began to really ache. Holding the crochet hook (size 2) caused my fingers to cramp up. So, only 2 are made. Do you know what they are for??? The embroidery pattern is adorable. When you print it, it has 2 sides...each gal is facing opposite/reverse.

She will be stitched on this towel for my kitchen. Originally the pattern is for St. Patrick's Day, but as Jaqueline suggested, you can simply make the clovers into flowers ad that is what I plan to do. I will grab my DMC color chart and decide on which colors to use. Usually when I make one of these towels I cut it in half as this is only for display ad I need only one side to show. I just may make one at one end facing one way and the other end facing opposite. I am having second thoughts about the fabric I chose for my March Origami Star so it is on hold just now. I am not a big fan of St. Pat's designs.... but still it is March. For me it is all about March 19th, Fiesta San Giuseppe, the feast of Saint Joseph.  In my Italian family it was to celebrate my dad's saint day...he was baptized Giuseppe but everyone knew him as Joe. We always had Zeppolas... a delicious pastry filled with cooked cream.
An update on the Doves.... there is now a pair but they are not nesting. They appear every morning in the garden and chat then disappear. I am asking for special thoughts for my friend LuLu back in Rhode Island. Her niece is under going a double mastectomy.... please keep her and the family in your thoughts. Glad you stopped by today. Thank you for all your kind words and for your friendship.

Rainy day bloom

Another day with rain... that started late the other evening and seems to be staying around. For the most time it is just lightly falling but the plants are sure loving it.

Remember that the Firecracker Bush was cut back....look at the blooms starting to appear. It may be December but that is what happens here in Arizona. It should fill out quite nicely this Spring now that it is thinned and dead branches have been removed. The Sweet Memory still has flowers but that will need a good trim in the Spring. In the meantime...

The Amaryllis has revealed that it is red and starting to open. There is another shoot lower on the stem that will hopefully grow to bloom around Christmas. The simple dowel support seems to be keeping it straight. This new idea of having the bulb in thick wax and not watering seems to be really working. I plan to try to plant it after it finishes flowering. Not that it has worked in the past, but who knows.
Earlier this morning I received a text with pictures from my friend Pam back in RI. She wanted me to see that she still puts the ornaments that I had made for her in the past on her tree..... including the two that Dennis had painted of the Grinch and one of Santa. It really warms my heart to know that she still hangs them on her tree and remembers our friendship.
Today will be a nice remain indoors out of the rain and nippy air and do.... not sure what but whatever I do or do not do,  it will be okay. I may do some tatting.... I am out of Denny's Angel's. The last one left here this past week.
Today is Pearl Harbor Day...77 years ago the phrase "A day of infamy" was started. As I have posted in the past, my dad was there on that fateful morning and was lucky to survive and return home at the end of the war.
Glad to have you stop by today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Tomorrow Reindeer Food will be also flying to the special children on my list...still time of you need some with notes included. Just email me with child's name and address.

A beautiful start to the day

I no sooner uploaded this picture and the morning sky has already changed to another beautiful  color. The first laundry is washing, and my plans for the day ae hopefully going to be busy. I have been a bit lazy of late. Maybe I should say thinking more than I want to. Today I will do and not think so much!
Yesterday I worked on

another Swaddled Baby and another gift. I really will get this finished as it need to get into he mail. It is a flannel body in light pink and white.

These Denny's Angels are ready to wing across here and there. I discovered I need a few addresses. When I had my email issue some of my stored addresses seemed to be "between platforms" as Cox said my problem was! Of course Keith found a way around the problem and now my email is working just fine. Then of course there were a few who emailed me asking for an angel and you know where that saved email is ...yes, between platforms!
I think it is time to change the irrigation day/time so later I will try to figure out how to reset the timer. ... or call Robert to do it. I do try to do for myself but there is always something I can not physically or mentally do. Frustrating.

The Plumeria  is planted using Dianna's directions so we shall wait and see. It actually can take a year before anything really happens. Just  as long as the rooting starts I will be happy. In the meantime, the Snail vine is growing like a weed and the tomato plant

is shooting up. I had to add a stake to the plant. I planted it on September 25th and it has doubled in size and now has many tomatoes. The beans are making good progress as is everything else right now. Very pleased with myself....I know I am being a bragger but remember I never have taken care of the garden before. As for the inside house plants, well I am down from 6 African Violets to 3 and one of the plants that Denny always took care of is quitting on me.  Oh well, it is what it is around here.
When I talked about friends caring, I did not intentionally leave anyone out. It would be hard to name so many friends. So please do not think badly that I did not list you.  Robyn and Dave, Keith and Al ..just to add a few .... you know who you are.
The second laundry is in the wash and the first in the dryer and the third is waiting ....in my feeling oh so me last few days, the laundry did  not get done so today is catch up day. The headache of the last few days seems to be gone. Not sure if the weather changing or just my mind talking to itself was the cause, but today seems like a clear head day.  I am thinking of making some biscotti later.
Your visits are so appreciated as are your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.
"A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation or being together. As long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends never part."
— Anonymous

Alice, White Flies and Snails

Another glorious start to the day. I love when I can open the sliders and the front door and feel natural air flowing in. The A/C will be off at least until this afternoon when the heat returns. Today they say again in the mid 90s, still above average for October.
The sprinkler leaks seem to be fixed as Don stopped buy to check them and adjust them for me. I obviously still need to learn more of what I thought I knew. There is however another issue that is not improving.

See the light colored leaves almost in the center of the picture? It is a White Fly infestation and it is on both the Yellow Bells and the Honeysuckle (same plant family). I have been spraying every other day and keeping it trimmed but they are not leaving. I think they may have to go...the plants that is and something else found to replace them. Always sad to loose established plants, but this is not something I want to spread to the rest of the garden. The Honeysuckle

which is along the wall (Yellow Bells in the center garden) is so large rooted as it has been here the longest, would just be cut down to the ground and kept at a short growth. The Yellow Bells can still be uprooted and removed. You can see the damage better in this picture.
The Snail Vine

is growing by the foot almost daily! Here it is attaching itself to the Fountain Grass. Everyday I convince it to attach to the arbor only to find it on the grass in the morning.  I am very happy it is growing so well. It may be called Snail Vine but it certainly grows quickly. Yesterday morning I sat outside on the front porch with Alice

and another motif is finished. I will be returning there soon to see how much I can stitch before coming back inside. I am planning to browse through my patterns and only keep some of what I have which is too much. I am sure I can find homes for what I will not want to keep. I think the magazines will be weeded out soon also. So, watch for the de-stashing. I find my interests are changing at the moment. I will always love cross stitch, but there are other areas that are calling to me.
This weekend I will gather and mail out my Denny's Angels. Just passed 4 months that he is missing from my life.  People have come and gone since those early sad days but I am lucky to have faithful friends who help fill the void. These angels are my way of saying thank you for the comfort and friendship I have from friends near and far. I told you about Debbie who has stayed by my side long distance, there are others...like Vickie. Here is a blog friend who has her own busy life but manages to visit my blog daily and always leaves me a comment of encouragement and kindness. Special people indeed.
Well, time to get dressed...do not think the neighbors will appreciate me outside in pajamas. I really want to enjoy the morning temperatures. So glad we had time to chat. Thank you so much for the emails and kind words. Most of all, thank you for your encouragement and friendship. 

The things you find in cupboards

Just when I think I know what it where in the garage I find something else. I found a Utility Pump...now that would have been ideal when I had to completely empty the pond! I thought we had one but I had not as yet cleaned the cupboards when I was working on the pond. Now it will be on the shelf where I can get to it for the next time. I did remember that I had a box with some drinking glasses. I have not yet emptied the upper cupboards so yesterday I poked into one and

here are 1977 McDonald  Burger King Star Wars glasses. Picture on one side and explanation on the back. There is Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2D2 and C3-PO as well as Darth Vader. Then there were some wildlife glasses and Ronald himself and also

Wonder Girl and A&W Rootbeer little mugs. This was when free glasses with a drink were the thing...real glass not plastic. Wonder what else I will find the next time I climb up the ladder? I know there are a set of 12 Betty Boop plates in a box. All will need to wait until a cooler weather arrives. We are in a heat advisory again today. Yesterday hit 110 and the same for today. The yard needs a sweeping and the pond could use a vacuum, but not today. Out to water a few pots and that is it. So glad the watering system is  reconnected and working just fine.
I have a light headache to start the day and it is probably the weather but I will take something to help it disappear and just relax for a few hours. Still working on my tatted Denny's Angels...before I know it Christmas will be here and that was the idea behind making so many of these.
Thank you for stopping by today and for your kind words and for your friendship. I appreciate all of you and feel very lucky to have you in my life. Did you know that The Brother Alan will be arriving soon?

The Umbrella mystery solved

Oh the day is still dark (5:30 AM) and already very warm at 85 degrees...they say it will be 105 today. Other that the 11:30 AM doctor appointment I have a "free" day with no plans. The weather predicts that the Monsoon will be returning with rains, winds and dust.
If the Goldfinch has anything to say, the red umbrella although faded but not going to trash, will be destroyed in no time~~~~

Do you see all the strings hanging along the edge? This appears on more than one place around the umbrella. I had been curious as to how this was happening. I happened to catch this guy pulling at them! I first I thought he was falling off the umbrella but then I saw him tugging away. Just what I need, Goldfinches!
The mail arrived and so did this

A lovely note card and a hand painted canvas of a feather, (She found this at a craft fair.) Jo
http://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/ sent me such caring words and the card has a sweet poem on the backside. In Jo's note she wrote, "the belief is that if you see a white feather it means someone in Heaven is watching over you". I now feel that she is also watching and caring. I value our friendship too dear friend.
I sat outside yesterday morning with my coffee and before I knew what was happening I began to clean and rearrange the lanai. All because as I sat listening to Michael Crawford, the sound of the waterfall and sipping the coffee, I thought about painting the shelves and removing 2 of them to use in the house. One thing led to another and I was washing the floor and moving things around. Well, now at least if I have the comfy weather it is clean and waiting. I thought about taking away the vases with the twigs but the little hummer came in and out and I thought better not...

as soon as I finished and came inside to clean up he appeared on his twig. So, it will remain on the shelf for his pleasure....and mine. Just a little thing but it makes my day to see him in the lanai resting out of the elements.
This week I should think about a few ornaments to make and tat more Denny's Angels. I will be sending them to friends and then will try to send if someone asks. Guess I should try to accomplish a few things around the house. Always a pleasure to chat with you and I thank you for your kind words and friendship. Let's have a good day.

Plan B Thursday

So, this is all that I could accomplish with the pond cover. Of course with friends like Dianna and offers from Sherry to help, it will be Plan B Thursday. We will I am sure get the task finished. Of course the guy I called to come and drain and clean the pond never called me back yesterday evening as he said he would, so I will move ahead with that on Thursday also. I am being careful to continue to run the pump and fountain head to help keep the mosquitos at bay. The fish helped with that. Pond donuts will have to do now.

Teddy has his stuffing but the seams have to be sewn. Today I will sort through the buttons to find the right ones. Oh yes, his ears have to be attached too. I will do some hand sewing here and there also. I also made four hairpin lace dresses for Denny's Angels. Today is starting very overcast. This monsoon weather messes up my sinuses and gives me light headaches. In a way it is a help...crazy to say I know, but it slows me down and recently I am moving with little rest. I keep finding this or that to do and have not been my usual organized self.   So today will be maybe the teddy, or maybe the angels or could be Alice. Definitely not yard or pond work! Maybe I will read a bit with some music for company. Glad that you stopped by today. I hear the timer telling me to remove the laundry form the dryer so off I go. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship. Let's have a good day.

A rainy Monday

The day is starting with light rain....and clouds. Finally the temp will not be in the triple digits today. The yard work I planned will be on hold which is fine with me. I did sew yesterday on and off

The ears are sewn after it is stuffed so it is ready for the stuffing. I remembered that I am not fond of sewing denim.  Probably using a serger for the seams would be good...I do not have a serger. I do have a few overcast stitches on the machine so before the next one I will try on crap denim. So today I will start to fluff him out and find buttons for his eyes.  If you click on the picture to enlarge it you will see that I used one of the pockets with the stitching on it for his face.
I just went out to check the pond as I do every morning and evening, and the fish have died. So I will have to dispose of them and call the guy and let him know that I only have the one. These fish are at least 8 years old...pretty old for common gold fish that endure the outdoors. I noticed the other day that the 3 silver and black fish that moved in are now turning orange.

That is correct, when Keith was here he noticed it too. Got to be something with me and aquariums. Or just fish in general. The idea was to have silver to reflect and not add more orange to the tank.
I also starched my Denny's Angels yesterday and now to start a few more. I am hoping to work on Alice too this week. I have ambition but only in my mind! We shall see, but I am at least planning. Well friends guess I best get the fish removed and call the guy. Never a dull moment for me. Glad you stopped by and thank you for the many kind words and hugs too. Most of all thank you for your wonderful friendship. Let's have a good day.
UPDATE: When I finished this post I went out to remove the fish and they were all dead. Already found someone to come and drain and clean the pond so I can have it simple. No more fish however. Simple and easy to maintain.

Seven Angels

I really need a push sometimes. Yesterday I finished the seven angels.... Denny's Angels

that is  a total of 9; one for me and Dianna has one and these will finds homes and I will continue to make several more. As much work as they are, I enjoy making them and each one is a reminder that Denny suggested this project back in March. There was a sprinkle of rain early last evening but no storm. The temps are not too bad low to mid 100's but this monsoon humidity is unpleasant. Today I will be meeting Dianna for lunch or a late breakfast-- all depends on when the air conditioning guy arrives and leaves. Should be a simple fix. I was too lazy to vac the pond this morning...or was I just making excuses? Actually no, I woke at 3 am but dozed on/off and decided to get up around 6 and by the time I had coffee and toast, well I got lazy. Still hoping to relocate them to another abode.
Today the word is Thankful.

To be honest, I was miserable stitching this word. What was I to be thankful for? Here  I was stitching this at Denny's bedside while he was dying. Then I relaxed my mind to better times. I was and am thankful for all the years we spent together. Denny's favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. A gathering time without gifts. A time to enjoy being together.  He once told me that he was thankful for meeting me and that I married him. The crocheted trim with the pearl beads was a practice piece when I was learning the stitch. He said it would look good someplace on the banner. I was the thankful one for meeting him and lucky that he married me. He took such an interest in all that I did. I know he will continue to watch all that I do.
Wonderful to have time to chat with you. Thank you for the kind words and most of all for your  friendship. Let's have a good day.

Ready for more Monsoon

The rain we had Wednesday evening did not amount to much but they say more "storms" for the weekend, so here is my boat so I can float! Okay, so it is only paper origami....it is always the thought that counts. My thought this morning is to thank Keith for sorting out my computer issue yesterday...good neighbor and friend are they; Keith and Al. I tatted on 3 of the 5 Denny's Angels yesterday but they will all need their halos before picture time. I also cleaned another of the cupboards in the garage....I own 7 fry pans...that is right and they are all different sizes. I also found a set of sauce pans (not needed) and the Waffle Iron and a Cool Daddy (also not needed)...guess there will be a Fall Garage Sale. I still have the upper cupboards but this is getting done slowly. A conversation with sis Lynowl earlier this week and she asked me what she could send me...I asked for and got my favorite Rhode Island biscuits..

Palmieri Bakery Pepper sticks....not one bag but 4! I will tell you that I can eat one bag a day easily...but I am behaving. They are not available out here in Arizona. I wish I had the recipe for these....wonder if they would share it? Be right back....
I had put a small wash in and it was ready to leave the washing machine..in this heat you can not leave clothes in the washer too long. The garage is not air conditioned.  Anyway., on to the Word for today is Caring

It can mean to feel love, feel concern and protection. I certainly felt al these with Denny. I miss his smile that said I love you....his holding my hand which gave me protection and his worrying about me.

He loved to plant roses. Back in RI we had several lovely bushes in our garden, out here he had little to no luck. His favorite was the Lincoln Rose....When we sorted through looking for embellishments he asked that I include this someplace...my tatted rose. I told him maybe  I should make many to hang in the garden...he rolled his eyes....but it is here. A rose for my Denny.
It is very cloudy out today, I think maybe I should make a fleet of sail boats! Glad to chat with you and thank you so much for the kind words and for your Caring thoughts for me. Thank you most of all for your friendship. Let's have a good day.

Being Kind

Well, it seems that things around Horton House are getting taken care of. Don was here yesterday to finish the sprinkler system drip lines. The only plants I need to water are those in the large pots and with the exception of one or two, they are not watered everyday. I talked  to a pond company and to our landscapers asking if they could find a home for the pond fish. I will be sorry that they will go, but I am trying to make it easier for me. Denny I know understands he himself some months back said that if anything happened to them we would not replace them. The little hummer continues to visit the lanai each day and stays for a few hours.  The new feeder remains popular with a couple of them. Yesterday was a bit of tatting

 5 of Denny's Angels got their dresses now to finish with the bottom row of tatting. These will each have colored beads....red, blue, southwest, green and gold. When I first made these in March, Denny thought they would make nice gifts to send at Christmas. Then while in hospital he reminded me to be sure to make them and send them; hence they are called Denny's Angels. I enjoy the process of tatting them and think of him with each one.
Today the word Kind....

The dictionary describes kind as being gentle. My Denny was a gentle man.  He was kind to me, sharing all responsibilities and spoiling me.  He loved his garden and was kind to all the creatures. If he lifted a pot and scared a lizard, he would actually feel bad. He especially wanted the hummer feeders to be full at all times and the birdbath kept clean for the other birds. He worried about the bunnies even though he loved the coyotes. So the word kind has a hummingbird and bunny charm. He was a very kind man. 
Today will be a tatting day and I still want to start a teddy bear. I want to do so many things but then my thoughts get in the way. So, I will sit and enjoy my coffee and waffles (no, I did not make them, they are frozen...although we do have a waffle maker). Thank you for visiting with me today and for the kind words and emails. Most of all thank you for your friendship. Let's have a good and be kind to someone.