Pizzelles and the bunny is back

Yesterday was a good day. Went to the Hyundai dealership to have the new seat release installed and was told that it needs just a gentle pull. I assured them that that is what I do. Of course you get the "look".

Finally made my Pizzelles; the aroma filled the abode! and they taste delicious too. Sent some across the courtyard to Robyn and Dave. Sharing is a good thing. Did not do any stitching yesterday.... I was frustrated to think that I had to take out so many Xs the day before. Today I will put them all back. and add more just because.
A quick check of the garden this morning...the pond garden area was very wet... not sure why. It could have been a few Doves or the Grackle came by for a bath and splashed. I am not going to do anything about it today. No. My hand is less stiff and my back is better and my eyes less blury, so I will not do any manual labor. This will be a stitch kind of day.

Also I have a new magazine (not a craft one either!) and will make time to read an article or two. I began reading at the dealership yesterday and a customer asked  to have it when I was finished. I replied that it was my personal magazine and somehow I do not think he believed me. when the gal called my name she asked how my magazine was. The customer looked sheepishly at me and nodded. I enjoy tales of the West and have several books on the subject.  I wish the temps were better. I love to sit outside when reading.... going to be around 108 today, so indoors is the reading place.

This little guy is back. He tore off a long piece of my plant took a few bites then decided to wash his face and off he went! The least he can do is finish the meal.He is too cute to get really angry with. I just want to whisper in those big ears and pinch his bright white tail!
I had a comment about the scissors in my last stitch photo...they are from Singer and I got them from Jo Ann's. Love my scissors.
Oh, there is a new blogger from Italy.....Marula, stop by and say hello. She has the translate button so it is easy to read and she is offering a cute Lady bug pattern...free.
Okay...off I go. Glad you had time to chat today. Thank you for your kind and caring words and for you friendship.

Feeling accomplished

The irrigation seems to be back on track.  I did go to Ace Hardware and one of the guys suggested that I try hardware cloth...which is a galvanized mess for the pond. So the plan is to allow water to evaporate these next few days and with the heat is not difficult. The temp will be around 112 for a couple of days and then by Wednesday to the end of the week possible storms again. Ideally it would be good to get this mess in place before that. Again they say we are in a heat advisory...like we do not know this?! Once the water is low I should be able to get this in place..... without falling in.

The magazines eliminated from my collection are now up to 19.... this covers beading, quilting and cross stitch. I had already started on patterns and leaflets so this is an accomplishment for sure. Still have more to peruse. Problem is  that I start looking and then reading something and before I know it I have taken too much time.
I have a quick 2 errands then I hope to have need in hand or maybe the shuttle.... it has felt good not to think that I have to be doing something. Relaxing is good for the soul as well as the hand.
I do need to trim back the Firecracker and Memory bush but unless I can get out there at 6 am it is not going to happen. I borrowed Don's long handle trimmer. Saw one in Ace  that I may purchase. Dennis would just use the ladder and we know that I cannot nor will I get on the ladder. They have reached around 8 feet in height.  The winds have picked up as they seem to do each evening sounding the chimes and buoy bell. Too bad it is hot air. With that I will say adios. Nice to have a chat with you. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.
Are you keeping count? There are 44 days until The Brother Alan and Lisa are here..... 

Just another problem....

When I woke this morning I had the irrigation system on my mind...I think it has not been working and the reason why healthy plants have died. So, out I went to check and sure enough it was blinking. A week or so ago we lost power during the night and I never thought to check the system. Stupid on my part....so, after several tries of doing what Don had showed me a couple of times, it seems to be working. Of course I will be out there early in the morning to be sure it is still working. I feel bad that I was not thinking and because of this I lost 6 beautiful plants. I will replace them as soon as I can in a few weeks. Just when I though I had a grip on the garden this is where I failed. On a positive note, the pond issue may be working so that is good. I really try to accomplish these tasks on my own and not bother or have to depend on others to do for me. I have been lucky with the help of Don and Bobby with the house and garden but they have their own to do. I thought I might try to replace the smoke detectors on my own...seems like it is not too difficult except I may need to drill new holds for the mounting plate. That will require more thought. For now they remain in the box.

Right now I am so frustrated and so very warm from being outside with the humidity I think it is time to rest my brain and back. The recent wind storms have caused the lanai to fill with debris so I did sweep that out...I will leave the rest of the cleaning for another day. Yesterday I did manage to remove 6 beading magazines from my collection. Now on to the quilting and the cross stitch magazines. This I can do while I sit with my feet up and an nice glass of iced Gatorade Rain drink and the tv set to watch Father Dowling Mysteries.

Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you also for your friendship.

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. 

Stuck in the middle~~~~~~

that is how it feels, stuck in the middle of the week! Wind, dust storm, rain and the sun came out to make it muggy. That was yesterday afternoon. Today it is very cloudy, dark clouds hanging overhead and muggy.

A slight streak of pink clouds but overall it is gloomy. And did I mention muggy? The monsoon brings the muggy air that we are not used to having. If we are lucky we will get more rain. What we have so far has not really amounted to very much. Ideally it would wait until after we return from the doctor this morning....so maybe an afternoon rain storm. Would be nice if we could order it so!

I managed to finish punching sunflower....

just need to think of how to complete it....suggestions welcome. It measures approximately 4 x 5 1/2. I have my next project picked out but need to get the floss for it. Hoping to get to Jo Ann's in the next day or so. I have my shopping list at the ready as well as taking sample projects to choose threads. Mr H has a doctor appointment today so not sure if it will be today.I just subscribed to Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher  (PNPS) magazine....I chose hard copy but have been enjoying access to the archive issues. I have also started a cross stitch angel ornament but not enough to show yet.  My new tablet---seem to be having issues deleting my emails. Of course when I stopped in Best Buy the other day it worked fine. It worked when I returned home but last night, well.... patience with it I do not have. Well my friends...glad to have you visit today....I thank you for your friendship and kind words and hope you have a wonderful day.

Out to lunch and the Rabbit thing

Thursday I met up with Sherry, a coworker...yes I still think of the gals that way. She invited me for lunch. Before meeting at Applebee's I did a little shopping at Jo Ann's. While getting my prepackaged batting, a customer came up to me and commented that she hadn't seen me when she has been in...I explained my hand issue and she told me she missed me. She then said, "oh, you just gave me a white rabbit". Of course the look I must have given her! The explanation  is; on the first day of the month the very first thing you should say is----  White Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit. This will bring you luck and something pleasant and totally unexpected will happen. Josephine said meeting up with me was both so I gave her a white rabbit! Did you ever hear of this??? Then around the corner came another lady who said she missed seeing me at the cut counter.....then another one appeared. It is ladies such as these that I miss. Very nice feeling. Sherry and I had a nice chat while we ate. Early this morning I began the stitch in the ditch for my wall hanging.

this is a first for me. I do not think it is easy...but I do not think it will look bad when I complete the other 3 sections.
Some of the supplies I purchased Thursday are for my next cross stitch project....

lots of colors, specialty Kreinik threads and ribbons. All set and ready for today. I will tell you more about "her" later. Oh and there will be feathers too. Of course while waiting in the queue I found a magazine...
Every so often I pick this publication up because it combines beading and cross stitch.  Do you see the ornament up in the left corner....I would love to make that. It does look complicated, but I think I can---I think I can....
It has been so nice to chat with you today. Thank you for all the kind words and most of all for your friendship. If you have plans this Labor Day weekend, please be careful but do enjoy yourself. Have a great day.

Magazines part one~~~~

I decided to continue the clean out with magazines. They are just sitting in the closet taking up space.... some already have a home to go to but there are more waiting to be claimed and here they are:
New Stitches---October 2006
Celebrations in Cross Stitch---Aug/Sept 1999
Crafts Beautiful---October 2014
The Cross Stitcher---February 2009
The Cross Stitcher---October 1992
For the Love of Cross Stitch---February 1992
Cross Stitch Sampler---Spring 1992
Just Cross Stitch---November 1995
Cross Stitch & Country Crafts: Angel Ornaments
Leisure Arts Magazine February---1995 
I know some of the dates are pretty ago, what can I say.... I save things. I still have several to sort through. I worked on Red on/off these last few days...stitches here and there to do then she is complete, finally. Sun is shining and there is a breeze, problem is the air is hot so the breeze is not comfortable at all. I really miss sitting outside. Having this time off work and not being outdoors...bummer. I am finding that my mouse is doing it's own thing today...I think it might be getting ready for the dust bin along with the keyboard. It is a wireless set up that I have had for about 3 years. Have you noticed that electronics tire around 3 years?! They do at The Horton House. Anyway, that is about it for now. If you are interested in any of the listed magazines, please email me and be sure that I have your address. Glad to chat with you today...enjoy your day.
How about a rose for the day...Mr H brought home these gorgeous yellow roses...