Lost package

 the weekend is here...again. ..this week flew by. The temps have been starting to climb. Days of 90s and even low 100s. Indoor time for me. The 9 foot umbrella in the garden is not working...the pull rope broke. the Arizona heat dries out cording really quick. Lucky to get a couple of years with umbrellas. New one coming soon. I have been living here in Arizona 17 years this summer. In all this time I have mailed many..many packages to sis Lyn back in Rhode Island. This time, last week, the package was sent and was delivered on Monday. It is very unusual that I do not get a happy call from Lyn ... she always likes what I send. Anyway, she did not get the gifts/package. Someone in her complex has it.... or it got delivered elsewhere. I am very unhappy as besides her bought birthday gift, I included a couple of homemade gifts as well as a family photo and Honey Bear! Yes there is insurance on lost packages but now I will go to the post office here on Monday and start a process to find the package. Insurance does not replace items made with care. Poor Honey Bear and Lilli  are living with someone but not Lyn!

 

 

I will update soon. Thank you for visiting today and thank you for your kind words and friendship.

New treasures ....

Did you go outside this morning to watch the moon?

Starting with the large picture which was taken at 6:05 AM and going from top right down and around, the pictures ended at 6:39 AM. Where the moon was after that was an area of too much light for me to capture the red moon. It really was nippy standing out there in jammies. Came right in and had my hot coffee.
Yesterday Glenda and I were out and about and I found this adorable chair

It is about 18 inches tall and the seat is about 9 inches wide. Who will sit in it? That is the question not answered ...yet. We enjoyed stopping here and there and I bought a replacement for the red umbrella with this one...

Royal Blue. The House Finches better not decide to line their nests with strings from it! Just happened that the disco ball sent parkles up under it.

I found this for the garden ....a bell in the sphere that has a gentle sound when it rings. Eye candy for the garden! About the garden, the Doves have not returned.....not sure why or where they have moved. I will leave the egg in the planter and just wait and see. I already miss the cooing in the morning and evening.
The washer has stopped swishing so I better get the laundry hung to dry. The house needs picking up so ciao for now. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

This also came home with me...a glass bubble. This is considered the large size with one a little smaller. It is about 6 inches wide...and for now the bright orange flower sits inside with sphagnum moss. I think a bright yellow or pink might look nice. I do not usually keep any of the artificial flowers from year to year. They are used outside and get pretty soiled and occasionally picked at by the birds. I will be o the lookout for something to put into the bubble.
Today will be a quiet day...no excursions. The temp is once again going to be in the low 80s so it will be nice to sit out in the garden and read and tat. I think I should tat a heart for February.

Lazy days

These last few days have found me in a lazy mood. I  think the most that happened was going to Fry's and Safeway food groceries. Other than bread, milk and eggs I should have all that I need for the month of meals. I am so far successful with my quasi planning of meals. This morning has been laundry and coffee so far. Plan for the day is making Pizzelles and some Almond shortbread cookies. I think I will leave the yard until tomorrow morning. See what I mean about the lazy part? Oh and the pond needs some attention. Tomorrow for that too.

this is what I found when I went out to open the umbrellas yesterday morning...one of the supports has disconnected itself from he fabric. Guess this week it will join the blue one and meet the trash guys. I now have one semi-functioning umbrella and that is not long for this yard. I was hoping to get through the rest of this monsoon season before getting replacements.

This teddy that I made from Denny's jeans is now living with sis Lynowl. She called to say it arrived safely and as she did not know she would be getting him she was very excited. The other special package will arrive on Tuesday in Rhode Island and I hope it will be accepted with as much joy. I will be mailing out the Denny's Angels soon.
I was asked what size my footstool is. It measures 15x11x9 high. I think I will add some padding and for now keep the original cover. I found a staple gun and staples in the garage and have some batting so this should be a quick task.
The hummer is busy this morning chasing away any other hummer who comes into the yard. I need to make more nectar for the feeders. I did try a different feeder at the window and again some bees started to drop by so this is it, there will be no feeder at the window. I had it there for a couple of weeks originally with no problems and now it is like a magnet.
Have I mentioned that in 2 weeks The Brother Alan will be here? I have saved a few tasks for him. there will still be time for relaxing and enjoying the weather before he returns to the New England Autumn weather.
Time to unload the dryer and make the bed and do some chores. So happy to have you visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and most of all your friendship. I am a very lucky gal to know you all.

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.

Let me explain

Are you ready for the Solar Eclipse?  I am very interested but not to the point that I would travel to another state and battle crowds and traffic to view this.  No thank you, I will catch the TV coverage and at the same time be sure of safety to my eyes. Yesterday I baked a bread (could have turned out better) and made an apple cake. Today I am trying to find relief with the pain in my right leg and knee. I guess it is time to call the pain specialist. About that Gelato jar....thank you for all the tips. I did try tapping the lid, running hot water as well as using a rubber grip for lids. This was just a case of the gelato company really did not want me to enjoy the gelato at that moment. Well, not to worry as it is gone...and it was delicious.

I am pleased with the Library Bookcase. Fits perfectly against the side wall and completes the area.  the closed door section is great storage for the computer/desk things that I do not need to have out in view. All things tidy now. At some later time I may add a light inside the shelf area. I just want to change out the plug outlet on the wall now that it visible.
I am down to just 2 outside umbrellas and thanks to Keith, the too tight screw is out and now the not so green umbrella is in the stand.

Just to show you what the heat and sun do to the umbrellas...see how pretty (on the right) the blue was? This is just 2 years sun and heat. The red and green umbrellas, although pretty faded still have some time left.
The pond is looking good and working well. I did not want the water to be clear...no pond is clear, and I did notice it a bit green. Okay, there is and always will be some algae, but...remember the patch of green that I bought to add to the water lilies? I decided I liked it so I bought 2 more to fill in space. I just happened to read the tag...did not on the first one...and it said for indoor use only...will bleed green color if wet!

Guess that accounts for the green water! But, I like it. Slowly adding some features around the pond so the frog will not be the only thing there. Soon I will be able to add some annuals as we plant them in the fall and winter here in Arizona. I will be getting my tomato plants next month. Denny would be very pleased.  Our yard was his hobby and enjoyment.  I am learning to care for it as well as the house. Today is 2 months since his passing. I have accomplished a lot and learned a lot and have had the help of dear friends.  Staying strong and brave is not easy. I thank each of you for your love and encouragement and your kinds words. 

Off color

~~~~and I do not mean me! All of a sudden blogger changed my blog colors and I can not get them to reset. Therefore, you are looking at a blog that is under construction. What to do?  In the meantime....we had a bit of rain, not really much at all from the tropical storm Newton. Out came my Monet Water lilies umbrella when I had to go into the garden to adjust a few things...

I love my special umbrellas. Of course  they were used quite often when we lived in Rhode island, but here in Arizona....The Valley of the Sun....it hardly rains. It is a cause for celebration when I can actually open one up. So they remain in their stand but the front door...

I have 2 Monet, a Renoir and one with the Sistine Chapel inside and then the fancy edged one that was a gift years ago from my niece Tonya...they sit in a large pottery urn that we found when we moved here. Of course I could use the lighter ones when walking in the hot sun (some people do) but they only know the rain.  I have finally finished the punching on the couple walking but have not decided how to complete it yet. I really need to spend time with the sewing machine to get some of these projects to completion....on my to do list. I am forever making lists: for the kitchen, for the desk, for the market...on and on it goes. The older I get I need reminders so I write it all down with hopes of reading and doing!
The Brother Alan recently received a Leadership Excellence Award at work...and a letter: ..."Your hard work and dedication....your outstanding commitment to customer service." "Thank you for stepping up to the challenge of your demanding position and embracing our culture of responsibility and accountability." He is a director in a department for a large company and is well respected. I am so very proud of him. Well my friends...thank you for your friendship and kind words. It is always nice to chat with you. Have a great day.
NOTE~~~~~I think blogger will keep these changes...let's hope....