More art and a rose

 Goodness..... I just went out to the garden to take these pictures and what a windy mess. the clouds have rolled in too. Alan hung the other sculptures we bought....

Alan chose the cactus with its bright colors and I fell in love with the lizard also bright and they add cheer to the side of the house. 

While nearby Mr Lincoln has opened its first rose of the season. I never pick the first one but I am anxiously waiting for the next one. I mentioned before that this was Dennis' favorite rose. The bush is full of buds!

 Alan and I just had to  have this once we spotted it. ... and we knew just where she would go. Is it not just.... wonderful. She and her 4 birds are rust treated metal. 

the cut out areas bring dimension to a flat piece. Sprinkles are starting to fall. The wind is starting to whip things around. Leaves and tree droppings from everywhere. Music from the chimes sounds wonderful.

Alan and I have a quick errand then it will be back home with my foot elevated. Yes, the pain in my right heel/ankle is going to be checked tomorrow morning.  I was glad to find a podiatrist close by and get an appointment so quickly. 

There might be some activity around the craft/sewing table later. So nice to have a visit with you. thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

What's new

 It is so nice having the days become longer. Oh it will not mean that I get more done, no. Just having more time to enjoy the garden.

Look what Alan and I found in our travels on Monday.... could not leave him there. We went to check out a new to us Pottery garden place. a few other things made it to the car trunk....

  Yes another sculpture flower. Bright blue and a  yellow   hummingbird hovering at the center. the other friends are not hung yet. then there is a special lady but she also is waiting to grace her spot. Our Mr. Lincoln rose bush has many buds just waiting to open. Still have to get our Kitchen Garden started. Soon....

 On the crafting table...

 

Next up for sewing....t is completely ready to go. Once sewn it will fly away as a gift. Just fell in love with the fabric..... lady bugs!

 The weather has been wonderful, well it is Arizona. A cool down for a few days; temps will be in the 80s. so nice to have the sliders open. Murphy loves dashing in and out of the Magic screens. the afternoons usually have a strong breeze which at times becomes windy but he still enjoys sitting on the glider in the sun. 

At the moment Murphy is requesting  demanding attention. So it would be easier to rub his belly than to keep stopping typing. Yes, he is indeed spoiled. Glad that you had some time to spend with me today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Meet Angela~~~~

 A beautiful day in the neighborhood.... it is Arizona so everyday is just about perfect. May reach 80s today then they say may a day of 90?! Alan and I added a new "plant" to the garden

Fits perfectly in the corner. Bright raspberry color really adds to the area. A hummer actually checked it out. We really like these metal sculpture plants. Soon Alan will be on the look out for some annuals to pot up which will bring more color to the garden.

Here is Angela. She is a Tilda doll from the Toy Box Book...love the Tila collections. Said to Lisa, now for a name...she responded Angela so it is so.

The pattern calls for a headband...not fond of it, but I made it anyway. Tone, who is Tilda  creations, wear her hair with side buns, so off course her dolls have them also. Instead of a stuffed piece, I tore stirpes of cotton and stitched them in place to form buns. Just love making dolls and critters. Speaking of critters, just was speaking with sis Lyn and she love Honey Bear...so he will be moving to Rhode Island very soon. 

Happy you took time to visit. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

The visit so far....

Well hello friends. No I am not among the missing....just having a good time. Alan and Lisa arrived on Tuesday. I received an email very early from him saying they missed the flight!~ Luckily they were able to catch the very next one and honestly they still arrived around the same time....and of course missed the East Coast storm. Now we hear there may be a new storm brewing for Monday/Tuesday....gee, they may have to stay another day longer...awwww.
Wednesday was our day trip into Scottsdale and yesterday we visited the Botanical Garden.

This is a Chihuly sculpture as you enter the garden. There were many more pictures taken but this will do for now.
Did I mention that on the first evening here Alan and Lisa and I went to Best Buy

I am now in the correct century with my cell phone! Going from the old flip no test to a Samsung yes I can text you now has been fun. I am all set up and since it is very much like my tablet I know lots of the in and outs.
Today I will be relaxing while they go horseback riding. I also will be making bread for us to have with the beef stew that I am also making for tonight. Alan cooked Shrimp Mozambique...delicious.
So that will be it for now as I have a few things to do like packing them a small cooler with extra water. The temp will be around 80 today. Glad you stopped by and thank you for your kind words and always for your friendship. You will no doubt be hearing from Alan soon.

A good day

Did you remember to change your clocks? We do not here in Arizona....but now it means that family and friends on the East Coast are 2 hours ahead of me. Not that that is settled....
Yesterday I finally decided to go to the Litchfield Faire. The weather was perfect. I knew that if I did not go this year, the likelihood of going anytime in the future would be out. I have to do these first time alone things or I will be doomed. I must say that I was disappointed that some of the usual artists were absent. I did make my purchases from a few favorites.
From Curliosity Metalworks I bought Spinning Wind Sculptures....

This spinner hangs in the archway to the living room along with another from last year. Pounded copper and verdigris metal along with lovely semi-precious stones, these are favorites of mine.
Walking around I looked for Greg Kyle, an artist from Tucson who we have been visiting these last few years. He remembered me and looked around for Dennis.

I chose this of the Pueblo with lovely bright colors.
As we talked and I explained why I was alone this year he hugged me and told me to pick a print in memory of Dennis. He even remembered which I bought last year....Hopi Roots....so this is what I chose

Starry Night. It is a 9x12 print that I will frame this week. How thoughtful this artist was and caring.
Of course I had to buy a bag of kettle corn and then as I continued to walk....I stopped to chat with James Bell of Knotworks. He carves wonderful walking sticks and Forest Spirits. This particular one wanted to come home with me...

These are carved from the knot of a tree limb of Ponderosa Pine  and will "brings the spirit of the forest into your home...to ward off evil and reward good deeds with luck"...I love him! I am glad that I did go and have another first completed.


Did I mention that I am trying a new hummingbird feeder?

Well, here It is and the hummers are not too happy. It is suppose to be bee proof and ant proof. They are so fussy! I will see how long it takes them to drink form it.
I have a few petunias to plant today and then it will be to tat for awhile as I sit outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. I hope to try a new bread recipe later today from the new cookbook.  So many to choose from! It was nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and your friendship. Have a great day.

another snowflake....another sculpture

Oh my have we been having hot days...the temp yesterday was 110 at 3:30 PM when I left work and it is 85 now and expected to be 108 later. Imagine that we think we are in a cool spell when the temp is 90! This is Arizona and it is summer... so the air conditioner in the house and car are always on and I am comfortable. Every place you go here is air conditioned so. It is just the getting from the car to the building!
I finished my 2nd snowflake....

I* had lots of problems with this one. Debra stopped by to help me. It appears that it is the way the directions are written... or better, what was left out. So going forward, I will really plan out the directions and more or less follow the picture. Mr H thinks it is perfect so that is all I need! I want to do something with beads. Debra advised me to order 2 new shuttles that are better for that and when they arrive ( should be Monday) we will meet so she can show me the how to. In the meantime, I will be starting a tatted top for a pincushion. I still have not begun the Alphabet doll...because I am stitching away on an exchange piece for Angela due for mailing in July. Maybe today....
I have started to see the baby fish more. For a time, I thought Mr H was dreaming or seeing things. It is changing color from all black to orange now making it more visible. With the pond being very dark at the bottom, black was the perfect camouflage for it. I will try for a picture....but until then how about another sculpture...

This is called Leading the Way, the cotton farmer. It is at The Glendale Library Garden and is by Ann La Rose from New Mexico. Again, the detail is wonderful. The woman's shoe laces are perfect. I so enjoy finding these sculptures. I hope you enjoy seeing them too. I need a cup of coffee, so off I go. The house is comfy and the Sunday paper has been read. Thank you for the kind words and email...they make my day. Have a good day.....

One of my favorite sculptures...

All around Arizona are beautiful water features and sculptures. Some are very western and then there are the others...

I just love this one.."The Valentine"......it is at the Peoria City Hall Complex. The detail is wonderful. Look how she rests her head on his shoulder and the smile on his face. The shoe laces detail of the shoes. The artist is George Lundeen from Colorado. Just wanted to share....
I have started Snowflake #2...almost finished too. Thank you all for your sweet comments on the Candle stand Violets and snowflake #1. I have decided to stitch one of the Alphabet Dolls from The Needle's Notion But I will leave off the letter C....and add a few beads here and there. Well, my friends, that is it for now. Work today...it is Inventory Day at Jo Ann's...and it should be over by the time I arrive at noon....then the return bolts to the display mode....hope we get a good result. In the meantime, so glad you could visit...thanks again for the kind words and emails. Have a wonderful day.

2 almosts and a garden

Last night Mr H and I visited the main Glendale Library to listen to a stargazing talk and view Saturn through a telescope. First I do not hate children, but I do wish parents use common sense when attending these talks and leave the little children who have no interest home. The gentleman presenting the talk was interesting as were his slides. Then we were able to go out to look through the telescopes set up. After the show we walked through the garden....

a  pleasant stroll. We will return as they have  it set that you can "listen" to the garden with the interactive recording... like you would in a museum. At the front of the library entrance, there is a memorial to the USS Arizona....

It is amazing. Designed by Joe Tyler, a native of Arizona who still resides here, it is sculpted from bronze, copper, sandstone, steel and concrete.

The trees leaves are individually wired to the trunks....really a beautiful tribute to the men and women from all branches of the service. It was a very warm 104 when we headed home around 8PM.
I did manage to almost finish Violets...

just the ribbons and then the outlines here and there. I really like this piece. At first it was just doing to then mount in the Candle Stand.... now I am glad I did this one. I was thinking that maybe I could use this Candle Stand seasonally... making a few to swap in/out. A thought anyway.
I finished my first Tatted Snowflake Motif... well., it is starched and being blocked....

I have more confidence now... this was using 2... count that...2 shuttles. I can see where I need to improve and also see where I have improved. A nice feeling. Mr H said after they hang on the Christmas tree, we should put them in a frame... not away in a box. I should tell you about the outing with Debra to Mesa and lunch...but I think tomorrow would be better. My stomach is asking for food and the laundry is ready for the dryer and I want to get some stitches in on Violets before going to work today....
So glad you stopped by and thank you for the kind words and emails....you really know how to share hugs and encouragement. Have a great day...