Oh Bunny!

A lovely day yesterday. First there was the invite to join Robyn and Dave across the courtyard for breakfast.... cinnamon rolls and coffee. I also had an invite for a luncheon with Glenda and Don and you know that I accepted. We enjoyed our ham and potato salad outside on the patio. The breeze was lovely. Glenda sent me home with  helping of ham for a couple of meals. Yum!   Good friends all day!
But first....as I was leaving my house to take the long walk

this was hanging on my front door..... so there really is an Easter bunny out there. I am sure it travelled from across the courtyard! but no one is admitting anything.

I thought she was cute while in the bag...but she is adorable....and made of string… some kind of string….

Excuse her backside but I wanted you to see.... and she is so soft. She is wearing a knitted vest and carrying violets. Too darn cute!

Currently growing on my kitchen counter is Basil, green onions and white onion and romaine lettuce. They will be soon planted out in the garden...definitely in a tall planter so the visiting bunny will not get to eat them before me. Yes he is still in and out leaving me deposits to clean. Before they can go out there I need to decide if the planter is going to be moved.... that will be Tuesday when the landscaper comes to remove a plant for me from the garden. (It is a Yucca that I am constantly getting cut on.) You did not think I was going to try to move a 36 inch high ceramic planter full of soil did you? Ok, I did think about it.... for a quick moment.
On Saturday evening at 5:30 I went for my MRI and should have results by Tuesday. Finally, maybe, hopefully, then I can start or get treatment for my aching back.

Thank you for the kind words about my latest beading project. Now that I have been looking at it I like the colors.... this is my beading cabinet which I am outgrowing! The top shelf is containers 3 deep. So I do have beads but never the combination that I want.  Or the amount or size...you know how it is for those of us who craft.... no matter what materials we use.
The weather has been in the high 90s and will continue. For now the AC is not on but soon, very soon; unless there is a nice cross breeze in the house.
Well, I hope all of you had a lovely day. I am getting ready to just relax and get the Tylenol. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Sunday update.....

As I sit here drinking my first cup of coffee I wonder what my day will be like. One thing for sure, there will be no garden work!

This is where one of 2 very large Fountain Grass have been cut back and the Firecracker bush secured. It has grown so big, at least 8 feet tall. I am not ready to trim it back yet. The birds are enjoying the berries. The sun shines brightly off the disco ball.... "Parkles" everywhere now without the grass so tall.

The Snail vine has been trimmed as it was really sending lots of vine toward the house. Now I do not feel strangled when I pass by. Walking under the arbor is another thing. Here  the second grass has been cut back and I found the Penstemon is actually growing well.
I picked 5 cherry tomatoes for my salad and 4 beans...not much but enough for me without wasting them. My hands and arms are feeling better. I had trouble holding the shuttle for tatting! and wrapping the thread around my left hand with all the little cuts was near impossible. So, I decided to work on my Shutterfly book. Well, I discovered that I am working on the wrong set up...they will think I am very incompetent when I call for help. By the time I finish this book I should be a wiz. Thankfully I have Dianna to guide me and get me back on track maybe averting a call to Shutterfly.
The weather is predicted to return to the 70s and maybe hit 80 today. Doors will be open and sitting outside is a maybe. First a laundry should do the swish thing and a few chores around the house need attention. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.

Has it been a week???

Goodness me, where has this week gone and where was I while it was on it's way? Thank you for emails of concern, but I am okay. I know I was with Glenda one day and dinner one night (made a delicious chili), I know there was a doctor appointment and I know that I was with Dianna yesterday for breakfast and lessons...and I do not have any needlework to show for the week....I did no yardwork but the house has been cleaned.
The replacement Shutterfly book arrived on the 23rd --finally--- and it was not corrected, in fact they changed the cover color. This first project has been off to a bad start. Dianna (who is very experienced with them) helped me yesterday and she spoke with them for me. So now I will await their email then re-submit the book and it will cost me nothing. I also have extra pages and it may be that I have another free book coming, not sure so I will once again contact them to clarify. Dianna really gave me lessons yesterday and I am confident that I will make better books in the future.
The mail arrived yesterday with this....

A birthday gift from Debbie. Knowing the mail delivery service and customs, she sent it a week early but I had to open it now! The cheerful butterflies called out to me....

The back round you see is a perfectly fit for my table, table topper of Sugar Skulls! There is a color yourself notepad, and some labels in a sheer pouch and a beautifully made pouch with tea bags.

Debbie and I still email everyday. She mentioned that she was sewing and that she was doing this or that....and it was for me! Thank you so much Debbie and Laurie for my surprise package! I love my gifts. I would never have believed that I could feel close to someone who lives so far away, who I have never met in person, ...in another country even! I am very grateful for her friendship.
Today I must...... repeat must work in the garden. I have a few plants that need extra attention and the pond for sure.  I also have tomatoes to pick and beans. Forget the "alien" Snail Vine...it is still crawling everywhere.  The Doves are still under construction.... very slow to accomplish anything out there. I really have a job to do out in the garden.
My tatting has been an issue. Lesson: if feeling distracted, do not tat. Simple as that. Nothing more to say on that subject.
The doctor visit on Tuesday went well. The first vein procedure will be February 1st and then at least 2 more after that. Still trying to keep my blood pressure in check, so far it is good.
Well, here it is almost 4:30 and I definitely need a cup of tea and I think some toast. Having you visit is always so nice. Thank you for your kind words and your caring friendship. 

Today is my day off

I was very busy yesterday...housework, beef stew, pot pies and laundry. So, today is my day off. Well, that is after I change the sheets on my bed and the laundry is done. Then it is ****"La dolce far niente" for me today.
Thank you to those who emailed me to tell me you were interested in my give away....I chose Lynda Ackerson. She plans to stitch this lovely sampler for her younger sister who is a 5 year breast cancer survivor. Congratulations to your sister for this milestone. It will be in the mail this week.
The footstool is fixed! I still would like to find another footstool to use with my rocker and leave this one in my bedroom. The hunt will begin!

We had some light rain late yesterday and of course winds. The garden looks quite shabby today. It will take some time spent to get it back to my organized shabby. I love the wild look of plants but this is more than that. I am glad I thought to pick my beans yesterday morning

and a few tomatoes. I am glad I planted the beans as I have enjoyed them in small pickings so nothing is wasted. Those tomatoes will be in my salad today along side the beef stew.
The laundry is ready for the dryer, the bed needs making and time to have some toast with my coffee. Thank you for taking time to visit with me and for the kind words. Thank you for your friendship.
****Italian for Sweet idleness

Just tatting

Today is starting with a very cloudy sky...tomorrow is a forecast of rain but the temps will still be in the 70s. Medical test this morning then maybe out to lunch with Dianna and Bobby. This morning started at 6:30 AM for me....can not believe that I slept until such a time! So, instead of doing laundry I picked up my tatting

which looked like this yesterday and now looks like

The outside edge is half done. It is not perfect by any means, but the pattern is new for me and there are stitches that I have done before but it has been some time and definitely could be better. The next one will be much better.
I looked out the window and what did I see....

Ready to pick they are. So many more on the plant too. The beans are looking good too and I will not even discuss the Alien Snail Vine. Yesterday since it want to join the outside light at the back door, I gave it a garden twine to crawl on instead of hanging out in space. Amazing how this plant is growing. Don came by to attach the wrought iron hook to the wall for me.

Now the Rain Chain has a perfect home. I will get a chance to see it work if we get the rain on Tuesday.  I love having this in my garden.....thank you Dianna and Bobby!
There is a new blog, but not a new blogger in town. Deena AKA Parsley, from http://parsleyandthepack.blogspot.com/ is back in town. Her former blog was Seasons of the Mind. Parsley's life took some turns and she decided to start a new blog to better reflect who she is. I have been a follower since way back when so I am happy she is back. Stop by and say hello.
That is about it for me. If I continue to doddle about I will forget that I have a 10 AM appointment to get to. I think I have a little time to get more tatting done.....
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Most of all thank you for your friendship. 

Oh beans !

So sorry for all my family and friends along the East Coast. I remember well the winter storms! The Brother Alan had to leave work early yesterday due to the train schedules and the off chance that he would have to overnight in Boston. Took him quite a time to get a train and then to get home. Alan would always call Denny and me on his way home whenever the weather was bad, *Hands free calling* and this way we always knew where he was in case of an emergency. Of course he managed to get stuck in front of his house!
Went into the garden this morning to check on things

I found beans! Okay, I know it is only 6 but I will add them to my salad. Plenty more out there but too small to pick. The Alien Vine is still reaching for the back door

It is just about 4 feet from the door and as you can see from the picture, it is spreading across the path of the arbor and along the ground every which way! Four tomatoes are almost ready and then there is this vibrant spot

Wow is my thought. A few other plants look a bit tired but I will leave them for now. the over night lows have been in the high 30s and then the days are in the high 60 to mid 70s, so the poor things are not sure what to do.
I spent hours yesterday trying---unsuccessfully--- to tat with adding beads with a particular method and after a few  &*^$#*  I gave up. I will not get myself in a tizzy over it. Today will be to relax and tat a snowflake and to read the book sis Lynowl sent me.

Don't forget the giveaway in previous post   https://needlespinsanddragonflies.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-special-giveaway.html. Glad you could visit with me today...always a pleasure to chat with you. Thank you for your kind words and friendship. 

Beans and Pansies

A nip in the air this morning but if it is anything like yesterday it will be in the low 70s by afternoon. The coffee and Cream of Wheat are finished and the second laundry is swishing in the washer. the sun is still rising ever so slowly. But in the garden

there are beans sprouting! Yes indeed. Here and there they at appearing. I may get a salad from them. And new and waiting for a pot are these pansies

I bought them yesterday and have not decided where they will go. Probably by the pond as there is a pot that is lonely for color. I love pansies...they are the Ladies of the Garden. I am still amazed that here it is almost January and I have flowers in bloom. Vegetables growing. Fruit to pick.
I am still working on an tatted icicle pattern and think I just may try to create my own pattern. A break today while I think about it on paper. In the meantime there is a doll waiting to meet me so I will cut out the pattern and find some suitable fabric from the fabric bin and see who appears.
One of the packages that was mailed in early December finally found it's way through Canadian customs. Who thought I should have mailed them in November!
Yesterday I spent time completing my Shutterfly book. I should have it by January 13th. This is the first time creating one and it will not be my last. Using the coupon from Dianna saved me $30.00.....you just pay a minimal fee of around $14.00 S & H and tax. This is a special book for me. Ideas for others already forming in my head. I did complete another snowflake yesterday, this one without a gem in the center. Still want to make more so they can travel here and there --- wherever they may be wanted.
Time to make the bed and check on the laundry. So nice to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and your caring friendship. Hope you have a relaxing day.