The fix-it morning

This morning is starting out "cooler"...only 90 but we are still in heat advisory mode. So they said do it early if you need to go out. I went to check the fountain and to top it off...it was empty. The heat yesterday was 114 so evaporate it did. I decided to finally do the cleaning it so needed. It really was quite simple. Only took about a half hour … okay a bit longer but still easy. Now it has clean parts and is full again and so is the front birdbath. So on to the shower...yes I did get a short one in the garden but this was the real one. Must get a bath rug for in front of the sink...powder on tile makes for a slippery floor. Time to turn the computer back on...no internet was the message! Now this was impossible because the tablet is working and the TV is also.  The quick earlier post is now happening a little later than planned. All is working now, inside and outside.

This is the star made yesterday. Robyn and I chose the fabric when she was here...good choice Robyn! I enjoyed our visit.
I finally put gas in the car...yes, the first time since The Brother Alan did so at the end of May! He already knows that I will not be doing this once he arrives..... he already figured this out I am sure. Then since I was already at Fry's for the gas I went in to get laundry detergent.... found out that I ran out when I attempted to do some swishing early yesterday morning...now swishing.

I plan to sit in my comfy chair and stitch on Santa....
Not very much to show but there will be the next time you see it. No red velvet hat for this cowboy! I think I will be adding beads as I go along instead of waiting till the end. In between working on this I will be making a few Christmas colored beaded bauble ornaments. Once I order beads I will get back to a couple of pods too.
Right now I must feed my growling stomach and start the fluffing in the laundry area. Happy to chat with you today. Thank you for the kind words and for your friendship.

Star progress

Oh my but it is still very hot out here...the last few days have been 109 and today is already getting there. Glad I do not have any outside things to do. Well I do but they are not getting done now. I am practicing my patience and waiting.... for the most part it is working. There will be last minute cleaning on the lanai before Tuesday.
I was asked about making the beaded stars... yes, the beads are tiny...very tiny and can be costly so I try very hard not to loose then on the carpet. Really need to put in wood flooring in the house.

When working with just 2 colors I just lay out the sections and work it that way. When working a pattern, I take a different approach. I lay out strips of felt on my bead tray and then sort each row out in order and then bead. The pictures shows a one row plan.

I have 2 sections of 5 complete and just started the 3rd one. These are in position to zip (sew) together. I love the colors combination.
My next one; yes thinking of the next one already, will be a yellow combination. The black back round is for effect....it is a stain-glass look. This almost looks like a butterfly and there is a pattern for a butterfly...just have to remember where and who.
The car needs gas, I am at the 3 line rule. I know... but I am much better now at going to the gas station. I am just holding off so that when I go on Wednesday to the dealership I will not be bringing it in with a full tank. The Brother Alan will be talking with them about a new lease. I will have him put about $10.00 in when he arrives on Tuesday. That's right my friends, they arrive Tuesday late morning. Arrangements have been made with the shuttle company to pick them up from the airport and bring them home. I doubt this trip will have a delay return as there will be not snow storms to cancel flights.....maybe a hurricane!?
That is about it and the beading is calling to me.... glad we had time to chat. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

I want to be tech savvy

Finally up and having my cup of coffee.....finally thinking about the day ahead and things to do. Need to go to the bank, need to get gas...the dreaded go get gas! I still hate doing this task even though it has been almost 1 year that I have been driving to the gas pump and staring at it for a minute or two before it all kicks in. Maybe part of the issue is that I only need to get gas once a month...this is the same tank of gas that The Brother Alan put it the day he left (March 17th). I can not help it, putting gas in the car and I have a mental block. Gas rant over.
I wish I could be more tech savvy. Using a computer or tablet or cell phone does mean you know what you are  doing. Example....last week as I was thinking ...when did Denny change the batteries in the smoke detectors.... the one in the kitchen began to beep. Great. I was having another "first to do". I climbed on the step ladder, ( holding my breath as this is right next to the tea cup display) after a brief tug and pull, got the battery out inserted a new one and then what? nothing happened. So I tried another battery and I heard a beep but the push to test button did not work. After a half hour I thought I think it is time to check with Son. After a brief conversation all was  well. This morning.... the living room TV remote did not work. Funny as it was working up to bedtime last evening! New batteries inserted and still only the volume worked. A call to Cox and Bridget talked me through the solution. Why am I re-setting the remote after a few months? "It can happen" was the reply. Okay, now I know what to do the next time. Why can't they just give instruction booklets anymore?
Moving along now that I am tech savvy for the day.

I managed to get more tatted and have only 2 more sections to complete. Seems that I had a few too many distractions yesterday. Wish I could remember what pulled me away...oh well. Today is another day.
I did think about this project

not revealing too much about it yet. It is for someone.... so, this is all I will show right now and not any of the fabric yet.
The days are back into the low to mid 90s...and maybe high 90s by the end of the week. Limited outdoor activity in the garden unless I can encourage myself to get up and out there early. Seems very unlikely at this point. I do need to get a few things taken care of out there.
Well, I feel hungry and think hash browns would be good.... and since the Fairy Chef is absent I guess I will make them myself. It is always a pleasure to have you visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. 

It's the little things~~~~

A nice morning temperature wise. It is 71 with a cool touch in the air. Of course the full strength of the sun is not out when it may reach 95. But I certainly am enjoying this morning air. The garden has been watered and laundry washing. Good start. Yesterday did the errands; gas, Staples for printer ink but forgot the one black that I needed!, then a quick stop at JoAnn's for foam for the footstool which I changed my mind about but...

look what followed me home. I just love Tilda's books. I must have this little darling and so she is on the to do this week list. Oh, that is right, The Brother Alan will be here on Tuesday. It is fine, I will have some time  as I do believe we are not going to be running all over the place....well, maybe she will have to wait a little. No rush. I cannot believe Alan will call her scary as he feels about Tilly! I just  love how Tone Finnager designs her dolls. She refers to those protrusions on the side of the heads as "tuffs". They are optional but I do think they are cute. Oh... and the monkey is adorable!
My friends, I would like to clarify a few things....the little things that throw me for a loop. The little things like getting gas. It is not that I can not it is just a reminder that Denny is not here to do it. It is not that I can not water the garden, it is that this was his hobby. It is not that I can not drive but did not have to. None of this is really complicated, but I know that I over think things-- but this new normal for me is not what I want but will and do make the adjustments. A couple of the kitchen knives need sharpening...I do not know how to correctly use the sharpening tool that Denny di with precision , so I will get them sharpened by someone who knows how to do it. There is always a solution I just have to take a step back and not panic. I am a very strong lady and I can and will make all the adjustments that I must...just a little at a time. My head knows what is necessary but my heart is still quite broken and does not want to do the little things.
Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for caring enough to offer hugs and kind words that are felt from everywhere. Thank you for being my friend when I need you the most. 

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?! 

A new week

Yesterday I actually stopped for gas...I know so what. It is a big deal for me as this was my second time. There were three guys at the next pump; they had a truck towing a boat and a car. One of the guys noticed my hesitation and he stood with me to make sure I was doing okay. He said, "we live in a crazy world but there are good people too" He was indeed a good and caring person. I am lucky to always be around good people who care. The first time and the last, was June 17th...so, at this rate I only have to deal with gas once a month. Today is clean the pond day...I wish there was someone I could find for this task.  I hope to get out there real soon before it gets any warmer. Right now it is partly sunny but no rain expected....just heat and humidity.
Today I will start with the Words explanations...

I stitched all the words in the order of release but laid them out my own way. The first was Love...just right for us. I embroidered the date of our wedding on the patch, and added two pink hearts. Pink was the color for my wedding. I truly fell in love at first sight and he with me. We were fortunate to have a caring loving marriage for 47 years. I put our wedding picture in a tatted heart. and hand wrote our names . That is a Token of Love charm next to the heart. Dennis thought I should add the crocheted flowers with seed beads someplace on the banner....right at the top.

In the crocheted circle I attached our original wedding rings...again with a pink ribbon. I am on my 4th ring...and last.

Denny really hated to take his off but due to the edema had no choice. He asked me to take it home and put it back into the box and in my jewelry box where it has been. He told me how happy he had been being married to me and that the ring reminded him everyday. When I started this banner Denny helped picked out some of the embellishments and thread colors. This truly was a project of love for me.  Donna has since the start of this project released other words and just this weekend 2 more. Tomorrow another word and embellishments. Today a little more Denny's Angel tatting and maybe poor neglected Alice will sit with me. Right now, I think it is time to get outside and clean the pond. Thank you for visiting with me and for following my new journey. Thank you for the caring and kind words and most of all your friendship. Let's have a good day.....