Alan's new friend

 Another beautiful day. the sliders are open until the heat arrives later. Yesterday was the podiatrist visit. the decision at this time is to treat an Achilles tendon issue. Steroids for the week, 4% Lidocaine patch during the day and a brace to stretch the tendons at night. Not sure how I will be able to sleep with the contraption on. Also...no walking barefoot! what will I do? I need to wear backless with a bit of lift heel shoe so not to be flat to the ground. Sis Lynowl said she is going to order a bubble to put me in!!!  it will be interesting to see what Murphy will have to say about the brace.

Alan waited outside while I was in the doctor office. That is where he met this fellow. A young coyote who remained about 10 feet away while they chatted. The time of morning was 11:15...they are out at anytime at anyplace. 

Today will be a lazy day except for swishing and fluffing in the laundry area this morning. I may make a new travel pillow size pillowcase for my pillow on my rocking chair. Those pillows fit so nice for the lower back. the faeries still have not arrived to do the chores so off I must go. So nice to chat with you today. thank your for your kind words and for your friendship.

We are expecting!

What a beautiful day....sun is bright and warm and there is a light breeze. The garden is coming along nicely. Still have plants top get and fencing to finish but the corner is looking really good. I have not been feeling quite myself these past few days. So I think it is the virus...no. However, I plan to stay home when possible and relax.
Are you wondering about the announcement?

Did not realize the container was turned...but you can see what we are waiting for. Praying Manis babies for the garden. Yes, it does say 100-200 eggs but surely many will not hatch. There is a "nut"
type shell .. dark corner lower left... and it is sitting out in the lanai. I just had to have one for the garden!
A few weeks ago I told Alan that I wanted a Keurig that also steamed milk when we needed to replace the one he brought with him here. Sure enough, it was time last week so on line purchase from Best Buy and curbside pickup...

I am really enjoying making my coffee. It also has an expresso setting...Alan likes expresso, me just occasionally. The steam milk setting is for cappuccino or expresso. I love gadgets of all kinds.
For a time yesterday I was feeling less lightheaded so I decided to bake...

This is one of my favorites to bake....decadent for sure and hard to stop eating! Did I mention it went well with the mug of coffee in the above photo?
Time to get back to just relaxing as I have a headache and Murphy is already napping. Glad to chat with you today. Need to catch up on everyone's blog posts. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Be safe my friends💖

More Christmas here

Waiting for my coffee to finish brewing.... cup #1 was at 2 am. Did manage to fall back to sleep so that is a good start for the day.
If you stopped by last Christmas you may remember the Angel....

She tops my tree with lots of glitz and glitter. Since she has a direction, I am sure to keep her pointing into the room... don't want any special blessings leaving the house! The year I wrapped the tree with red sheer ribbon...in a continuous bow...

The ribbon is so pretty in the light of day and when the tree lights glow. A hummer came to the window the other day and hovered close to the window to peek!
Mr & Mrs. Fox are still on their bench...

They are in front of the desk with a gift box and an ornament waiting for Santa. And my Rudolph is perched high on the curio...

sis Lynowl gave him to me … he is with me about 25 years now. He is from a shop in Wickford RI.... a place we spent a lot of time visiting. Not sure if the place is still there but we sure did enjoy being there. It was a restaurant and gift shop.
Christmas is just about everywhere in my house...

Frosty and his gal will light your way in the main bathroom!
My coffee  aroma tells me it is ready for me to drink, so I will dash off for now. I may have some special ornaments that are on the tree to show you next visit.....
Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and friendship.
**special note...the mom, Eva P fell the other evening...nothing broken but very sore so please keep her in your thoughts. 

Santa and Reindeer food

This is the morning sky.... looks stormy to me! The hurricane off Mexico is going to affect our weather for sure. We go almost all year without any measurable rain and get zapped in October. Glad I have no place to be except right here today. Yesterday I visited with Dianna and we reviewed (for me) the how to for Shutterfly. I have started another book and seem to have forgotten a lot of the ways. Dianna makes so many she can do them in her sleep.

Another Santa beaded star is almost finished. Love making these cute guys. Just 2 more sections for him. It is getting near the time for Reindeer food packets to be ready and sent out to all he boys and girls who need them. Eli from Rhode Island actually reminded me that he needs a packet! So I will be sending one to his aunti Lisa (my niece) for him in time for Christmas. One is going to Natalia also in Rhode Island too. Do you know someone who needs one? If so, email me with the child's name and address to be sent. I will mail out in time for feeding.
Well, I know a few of you wondered where I have been... thank you for the emails . .. . I am fine, just having one of those days that lasted a few days. Thank you for caring. So nice to hear from you and nice that you take the time to visit. Thank you for your kind words and friendship. The aroma of fresh ground beans fills my kitchen … coffee is brewed and waiting...off I must go.

Santa earrings and the Moon and Mars

Now that may have your interest.... first the Santa things...

3 pair completed and one more in the tray. Two have blue eyes and I thought to do a few with black. I really enjoy beading....well, I do enjoy lots of things. With the weather so hot and humid and the garden must be ignored along with the pond something has to have my attention. I promised the mother Eva P a pair but I better wait until December to send them or she will wear them now proclaiming that I made them for her! She is delighted with all the mail she has been receiving and I cannot thank you all enough. I really only expected that  a couple of bloggers would send a card...but you have become what she calls her friends.
Have you been watching the moon?

Even with the clouds surrounding it, it was a sight to see. And while looking at the moon, nearby was the red planet...yes, Mars...

not too bad with just the camera and no telescope. We have a place not too far where My Denny and I would go and they set up telescopes so you can view the sky....I should check to see when they will have another such evening. Denny almost bought a telescope a few years back...not sure what happened with that idea.
The pond is pretty well dried and if only the heat would lessen I could get out there to clean. Of course my incision is still "delicate" with steri-strips and all. Hopefully they will soon be gone but until then I will follow the doctor's orders. The area is so dry and scaly...someone suggested that I use Vitamin E on the scar...any thoughts on this? Years ago after a surgery I was told to use Mederma and it did help a little. Times change and so do products. Surprisingly it is not itchy at all.
Went to Wal-Mart today for my Eight O'clock coffee beans and small filters  and there in the candy aisle was one of the motorized carts...just sitting there right in the middle of the aisle...I guess someone needed it to get to the candy but not to leave! I am probably one of the few who does not have one of those Keurig Coffee machines and fresh grinds beans for my Mr Coffee pot. Wal-Mart is the only place I can get these beans and filters.  Strange things happen there. There were so many parents with and without children getting back to school supplies. All of them with lists in hand. Here in Arizona schools let out in May and some are already back with most returning by August.
Okay, time to find something to have for dinner. The problem is that I am not at all hungry and have not eaten since 10:30 this morning. Something light so I will not starve later.
We are down to 51 days until....The Brother Alan and Lisa arrives. You did not forget did you ?

It's still dark outside

Here I am not only awake but up and out of bed at 5 AM and the washing machine is swishing . My coffee began with an issue...I should say that there would not have been half ground beans all over the counter if I had not lifted the grinder lid while the beans were still whirling. So it was start over and now I am enjoying my first cup of the day. I think my love of coffee comes from my dad who loved his coffee. He had a wood burning stove in the basement and would pour water and coffee (already ground) into the pot and bring it to the boil. Not my kind of coffee, but I do enjoy fresh brewed coffee. I tried tatting yesterday afternoon but I have a small cut on the index finger that got caught few times and do that ended. Instead it was back to the computer to ...well, let me start from the beginning. Friend Dianna makes beautiful picture books with Shutterfly. She offered me a coupon for a free 8x8 20 page book. Yes, I want to make a book. So yesterday she brought the coupon and gave me a crash course on how to navigate the site. We took a break and went for a hamburger and then I returned to ...let me just say it took quite a time to upload and scan photos. Guess what I will be doing for the next week.
The Sweet Memory is in bloom

Do you see him hidden in the blooms? Lots of blooms to enjoy right now out there. I think there is a tomato getting ready for me. Those beans...they are growing but yet to see beans.  Remember the fluorescent light issue? Late yesterday it was working just fine. Last night and this morning...back to only half a light. Just when I thought I would not be playing with it...I think (she says with a note of know-it-all) it is a loose connection. We shall see later today when I attempt to check it out. The residents in the aquarium are having a spa day...adding water and a shot of water treatment so it will be a later breakfast for them. Amazingly they are doing well.
Still have not gotten into the Christmas storage cupboard to find the village...right now it is take one wash out and put another in. So, hate to leave you but today is the maids day off. Thank you for chatting with me and for your kind words and for your friendship. 

Busy hands

I have indeed been busy. On Wednesday afternoon I had a few ladies over for late lunch and wine...just nice friendship and good conversation. We had Baked Ziti, Antipasti lettuce wraps, Shrimp with cocktail sauce and some Orange cranberry cake and of course Sparkling wine; Raspberry and a white. I think all enjoyed themselves.  Yesterday while out getting a few needed household supplies I bought another

small coffee maker. Mr H does not drink coffee, so this size is just right form me as I prefer to make one mug at a time. A few aisles away....this popped into the cart

they knew I had to have purple/lavender gems so I could make an Ice Drop for Becky....we worked together at Jo Ann's until my retirement and her moving to Texas. I did make another new one this morning...

The one on the right has LA Colors 3446 nail polish (glitter) painted on the front of the clear gem and purple beads and the one on the left is made with Recollections Rhinestone stickers that measure 3/4 inch. I stuck 2 back to back and voila, a pretty sparkly Ice Drop. These little tatted ice drops are very addictive. The possibilities are many. I have a couple of packages ready to go to the Post Office next week with ice drops ..... the fun is sharing them with others. Not everybody tats.  Another cloudy day here in The Valley of the Sun! Rain expected for the weekend. Mr H and I do not go out to celebrate but I do feel bad for those who do. Two last days before another year begins. I know many of you feel the same, this year has certainly passed quickly. For some of us there were ups and downs but we made it through. Most of all, I am so lucky to have your friendship and kind words, Thank You! I hope you have a wonderful day.....See you in the New Year☆