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.

Technology ....

A lovely morning except for my telephone conversation with Cox Communications. Last evening the TV in my bedroom displayed "no signal" and resetting the cable box and unplugging/plugging did nothing to fix the issue. So I called them this morning. First I wanted to give them my new phone number then I wanted the box reset. Cox conversation: "you do not have phone service with us"....yes, I know but this is the number to associate with the account. "There will be a $25.00 charge to change your number"....no, because I do not have phone service with you but do have a cell number to use for the account information. "Okay, there will be no charge." I am showing you have no cable service to your home"....no, I do have cable service in my living  room just not the bedroom. "Well I am showing no connections at all" I will send someone out to you". So, that is how I have started the morning.
The temp is nice at mid 60s but the plan is for a hot mid to high 90s and yes, the air was on yesterday for a short time as the inside temp was hitting 85.
So many like the Bottle Brush Tree that I thought I would show you a closer look...

Each brush is about 5 inches long and very fluffy. They are also very sticky when they start to fall off the tree. The pink blooms separate from the branch.

I love the intricate bloom! I have sent blooms/seeds to a few friends but no one has let me know if they are able to seed them to grow. The birds like the tree and the blooms look pretty swaying in the breeze from the ends of the long branches.

The Sweet Memory is in bloom again cascading over the wall. One of my favorites...actually I have lots of favorites in the garden.
I was back at the stash clearing yesterday.....seems like this will take forever. I will get this accomplished!
Thank you for the concern regarding me and the rug and the lights....I do plan on asking for help with both projects....well at least with the rug. The lights I can do and will be extra careful with the task. Right now I think breakfast is next on my to do list and another cup of coffee. Then the garden to be swept. then there is a new footstool in the house that needs some TLC.
Glad you stopped by today. I hope to have some stitching and tatting to show tomorrow. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

****special note for LisaW....I will get out for the horse fabric tomorrow.... this is going to be a fun project!

Friday and the Doves

Here it is Friday...another week passing by. This weekend I will be joining many gals with the
International Hermit and Stitch Weekend  -- takes place every 3rd full weekend of each month, from Friday till Sunday. In our very busy and hectic lives, IHSW is a chance for us to squirrel some time away for ourselves and "Hermit and Stitch." It is a time set aside to take care of us and our love for stitching.
Hosted by Jo  http://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/. You can see the emblem on the side bar that we will display. For me I will work on

a Tilda doll yet unnamed. She will be about 16 inches tall and so far I am still not sure about clothing fabric. This is the first time I will be participating in this event and hope to join in each month. All types of needlework are included which is nice.
Yesterday my footstool

I noticed it when I took it from my bedroom to use with the rocker in the living room. It will need some care very soon. I guess I am not the only thing in the house with a leg problem! I think I will be on the look-out for another one...footstool that is.
I was asked where do I keep my snowflakes and Icicles....

They are hanging on a tree branch that Denny cut for me a few years ago so that I could display whatever. Right now it is the snowflakes. I do have my felt tree that has my other tatting. I think I will make "nodules" here and there to hold them in place better.
News to share...The Doves have settled into a place to live...back to the clock...I prefer them there as it is a better sheltered spot from the hot sun and we can avoid walking by them. So for now while they are settling in I will block off the path in front of the construction zone.
Yesterday was my PCP appointment...she is not pleased, sort of. My blood pressure is high again. So, I will begin to keep a record and upon my next visit ( with lab work) we shall see. I really like her and her staff. Where else does a doctor hug you upon entering the room and tells you to call the office at any time there may be an issue and where the office manager Debbie greets you with a hug and cares about you and misses Denny. We have been going there for almost 14 years. When Denny was ill they both called me frequently to check on us both. I am lucky to have them for a care team.
Well, I should get the bed made, take the Bissell for a walk around the place and invite Swiffer to join us then I can relax. Thank you for your kind words and your friendship.
Today a package is suppose to arrive someplace....!

The footstool and sewing kit

I am getting pretty handy with the electric screw driver.

the footstool is finished and looks really nice and is more comfortable to the feet with the new batting . I also replaced the inside lining.  I think this was a good choice of fabric. Somewhere along the way of pins and staples and screws, I lost a couple of pins on the carpet and have not stepped on found them yet. Guess they will come out of hiding when I vacuum today. Someone had asked me what was inside the storage area...nothing...yet. I guess I could make it a sewing box/kit. It sure would be handy. Speaking of sewing/kit boxes----

I was given this small kit back in the 1980s and it has all the original pieces. The top of velvet is still in tact and there is the gold thimble and needle too. This has never been used.

The inside of the lid is a mirror which is also in perfect condition.

The case is metal of some sort and has a little decorative marking around the lid and bottom. On the bottom

It is stamped "Made in Occupied Japan". I hope you can see that clear enough. All items imported after the WW II (1945-1952) had to be stamped with this mark. The hat pins are from the 1950s or so . Can not remember who gave it to me or where they got it or how old it really is but I keep it with my treasures and now it sits on the new shelf.
I did a little stitching on Alice, not enough to deserve a picture, but will get more done today. I thought I maybe would do a bit of yard cleaning but I think I will just stitch instead. Tomorrow will okay for that. You haven't forgotten have you? Alan and Lisa arrive on Tuesday. Just a few last minute preparations to get things ready. the weather forecast is for great temps in the 90s. Better than those triple numbers and excessive humidity. Our week will be busy but with plenty of us time. There is never enough time when they are here.....
It is time for me to grind the beans and brew some coffee. Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. Most of all, thank you for your friendship.

Where did this week go?

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to have this week in the rear view mirror because it means .....The Brother Alan will soon be here...Tuesday as a matter of fact.

The Snail Vine does not look like much now, but I am hoping it will magically grow and once again cover the arbor. Poor thing did experience a bit of shock with the transport and then waiting to be planted. But ...

This blossom is looking mighty pretty. There are a few that were and a few that will be. The manual operation of the irrigation is moving along okay. Turn a switch on, put the timer in the house on and then wait to turn it off. The yard is doing well. The waterfall continues to trickle down with a nice sound, the established plants are looking good, now if this weather would only cool enough to be able to sit outside and enjoy it all. Yesterday the temp was around 99! Of course with the humidity it still is hot. Monsoon is almost over.

Finally the motif is finished...well just along the bottom which is on the next page. I do not know exactly why I did not enjoy stitching this one. It may have been so much of the back round color. Still lots of motifs to go but they are open and all different.
I found the fabric for the footstool..

It is not an exact color match but pretty close to the grey of the chair and the beige. I need to add batting and iron this piece and it will look really nice. I will fussy cut so the wide stripe is in the middle. I thought about getting something darker so it will not show soil marks but this was in my stash and it looks pretty good.
Thank you for the pats on my back for all the accomplishments I have made. I just want to be able to do this or that. I am not fooling myself that there are and will be things that I will need help with or to hire for. The car needs gas....I know it has been weeks but if I do not drive anywhere then The Brother Alan will have that task. I seem to get a month for a fill up...Friend and neighbor Al has offered to come along to walk me through it...I think am sure once I am standing there I will remember what to do. I detest doing it so it is easily pushed out of mind.  I have a few errands that really should be done before the day....you know...The Brother Alan arrives on Tuesday. I did remind you didn't I? Guess that about covers it. Time to get the laundry and fold it, to make the bed, to vacuum and whatever else. Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. Thank you most of all for your friendship. 4 days but who's counting?! 

Resting my feet

The weather here is still hot...and I do mean hot. At 8 PM last evening it was still 105 and the overnight was 90. Today may be around 109. Just too hot to trot my friends. But--- yesterday Glenda and I decided while having our morning coffee that we would go foot stool shopping.

 I knew that I did not want to try to find a new style and so off to antique shopping. Glenda spotted this gently used footstool and it is perfect!
Just the right height and size for my stitching chair and look.....

it opens with a storage area. It is in great condition and only needs some bees wax to clean it up and at this point I do not plan to recover the gently used padding. A good friend a good shopping time and a good find. What more can a gal ask for.
I have several Denny's Angels waiting for their halos then a starching so that is my goal this day and I really must make some Pizzelles...got to have my Pizzelles for the week. I have the air conditioning people coming at 7 AM to replace the circuit board in the unit and here it is 6 and greeting Brent in my pjs is not a pretty sight. So, as much as I would love to sit and chat I need to get dressed and ready for my visitor.  Thank you for the kind words that you send and for your wonderful friendship.
Tomorrow is September 1st...and that means only 18 more days to The Brother Alan arrival!