Wednesday, February 29, 2012

It's official...

 The big day he's been waiting for is officially here...his last day of work! Yes, Don is retiring...and today is the last day he has to get up and make that long drive to work...
 They gave him a great party at work on Monday...he was a bit nostalgic  when he came home...but he's a little more up beat today!
Our youngest son called just as Don was walking out the door...he told him that Bengie Molina and Jason Varitek are retiring today too...so Don's in good company!
Until next time...enjoy the day!!!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

As if we don't have enough to do...

 We have ...or should I say...I have... been wanting a new bed for quite a while. Let's face it...our bedroom furniture except for the dresser is circa 1980...and looking back...the 1980's weren't that great as far as furniture goes...so while I was out at Costco of all places...I saw this bed and I really liked the lines....and the price was right...and the color...walnut...
 And so we got a couple pieces...we just got one night stand because I really want the small dresser that matches the big one we got a couple years ago from Ikea...I measured and I am just about positive that it will fit as a night stand...notice I said...just about...anyway...for now...it sits in the living room...we are waiting for some strong guys to move everything...they are coming Saturday before they go snow boarding...they don't know that the cost of our bed and breakfast is to move furniture out...and when they return...move new furniture in! The carpet will get shampooed in between! I'm so glad my sons have large, strong friends!!
On another note...I have been gardening because the weather has been really nice...like I need a reason...and I found these seeds at Home Depot...yes...they are zinnias...but the color is called "sherbet" ...and it's hard to tell from my lousy picture...but the colors remind me of orange and raspberry sherbet! So I planted them in the back of some of my borders...look at how tall they get...30-36 inches! They are going to make a fine addition to my flower beds and wonderful flowers to cut and put in vases!

I have been sewing quite a bit...I have several custom bags to complete...I'll show pictures  when they are delivered. I am also making a couple of doll carriers for a client...she wants carriers for her grand daughters' Baby Huggums dolls. I had never seen one of these dolls...they are pretty cute...I had boys and it's been a long time since I played with dolls, so this is pretty new to me. I am designing the totes myself...complete with little blankets and pillows. It's been fun! I'll show you those later too...as soon as I finish them. 
Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I'm back...again...

 Yes...I know I been away for a while...but I've really been away for a while! We spent a few days last week up in Central California...at Don's brother's house...we do this every year at this time...it's a family thing. His brothers and sisters who can make it come there and we eat and drink too much...sleep too little and play lots of games. I have been a part of this craziness for the last 32 years...it's a fun time! And of course this year I was very bad and took no pictures...oh my camera was there...but with all the fun going on...I just forgot...
 So I show you some traveling pictures...this is the drive back...
 It was very cold coming back ...33 degrees on part of the trip...but no snow...just clouds...we had left snow in the mountains by our house...the best storm of the season they said...none here though...
 It looked like it wanted to snow...not many people out ...and this was at about 11 AM...
I'm happy to say that we made it home safely...our oldest son and his fiance were waiting for us at our house...they made it back down the mountain in one piece...no more broken bones for Joseph! The weather has taken another turn...the winds are back and the sun is out...it is supposed to reach 80 degrees today! Yes I know it's still February, but the weather in my area doesn't really care about that...especially this year...it's been crazy!
With the nice warm weather...I am headed out to the yard...I plan on gardening this morning...there's a slight breeze now and as long as it doesn't turn into wind gusts...I'll be happy. 
Don is back at work...he healed so quickly...a real trooper he is...his foot looks pretty good...he wore shoes on both feet for the first time yesterday...I hope he does OK today...thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for his speedy recovery...they worked!!
As I sit here typing I see the wind is picking up, so I better get outside...
Until next time...Enjoy the day!!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

What's happening to my family?????

 Ok...I know you've seen this........
 but now there's this...what's going on here???
Here's the two of them together.......oh my...actually Don's stitches were taken out today...his crutches are gone and he actually can wear his slippers...so things are going well with him...but the other casted one is my oldest son...he fractured not one...get ready...but two wrists...thanks goodness that's all he has!! This is the left wrist...it has been put in a cast and the little button on it is a bone healing sonogram connection. The doctor sent him home with his own machine which he is to use for 20 minutes everyday. Once this wrist is healed and the cast comes off...then he has to have surgery on the right wrist...with a metal pin and everything...that one is in a brace right now. He actually fractured that wrist last winter, but never went to the doctor...he's 31...so my nagging only goes so far...now that he's injured the left wrist he asked for them both to be checked and there are fractures on each one...he injured them both snow boarding...and just in case you're wondering...he's up snow boarding right now...yes he is...complete with a cast...and a brace!! He assures me that he will refrain from jumps until he is better...just snowboard safely down the slopes.......like I said...a mother's nagging...I mean gently talking to him only goes so far.......
Until next time....enjoy your day!!!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

February in my yard...

 It is supposed to be a rainy few days in my neck of the woods...but so far...just a very light mist...just enough to water a bit...I'm looking for some REAL rain...and so is my garden! Yesterday I spent just about the entire day gardening...this morning I decided to take a few pictures of my wet garden...well...it's not exactly a FEW...so be warned...I went a little crazy and I am only showing you a small part of what I actually took! I won't bore you with a lot of blabber...so just enjoy ...







 This is a camellia...I know...its huge!! I couldn't even get the whole thing in the picture...it's the first one from the bush...
 my little doggie is filling in pretty well...


 the first signs of Spring on one of the birch trees....




 We have a ton of tangerines this year and they are so sweet!! I'm eating one right now too!!
 Can you see some tiny peach buds up there...
 apple blossoms....
 Birdies waiting for their breakfast...

The scrub jays hide the peanuts everywhere...this one is not very original...he's digging a hole in the bark beneath the apple tree and burying them there...I find peanuts everywhere in my yard! My neighbor 2 doors down says they put them in all her pots on her back porch...she says they always come get them later though...these birds are just too funny!
I hope you enjoyed mid February in my yard...it feels more like Spring here lately...well actually it felt like we went from late Summer to Spring...not much of a winter...even for us!
I want to thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers about Don's foot surgery...he continues to improve every day and next week we go to get the stitches out...we're hoping that the crutches will go on the same day. He still continues to struggle sleeping at night, but at least he can take a nap during the day. He has been reading a lot and just finished reading the latest Tom Clancy book I got him for Christmas...we requested a few books to be ordered from the library too...so he's getting lots of adventure through his books!
I'm off to my sewing machine...I hear it calling my name...
until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

What do you think??

 Well, the last couple days have been filled with doctor and dentist appointments, but I've still managed to get in a bit of sewing...my Etsy shop is in shambles and I need to really prepare for the not one...but two...craft fairs I plan on this Spring...so I thought I'd show you the last couple bags I finished. This is the latest one...I  have noticed how popular owls have become and I've made a few owl items...and when I saw this fabric I knew I had to get it. I also found some matching ribbon which I got and will use on a future project.
 I couldn't believe I had a piece of wool that was almost a perfect match to one of these silly owls...I just copied one from the fabric...
 The inside...my usual...pockets all around the inside...
 I finished this bag yesterday and boy did it take me forever to sew on all those daisies...I had started it before Don's surgery and with the lack of sleep and trying to make him comfortable...it just took forever! I really like how it turned out though...what do you think??? It's happy to me!
 Here's a close up of the daisies and the million stitches...or so it seemed I put on them! Don't get me wrong...I love every second of the work!
 Here's the back...a pocket full of daisies...well one daisy on a pocket!
The inside...even the lining fabric is happy to me! But then I'm partial to flowers...they make me happy!
I just finished cutting a couple more bags, so I hope to finish both of those in a couple days...Don is feeling better...staying awake longer...and the BEST part is...sleeping at night!! That means I can finally sleep!!

Today it finally feels like winter is back...we have been expecting rain...hoping and praying for it here...it is slow coming, but it looks like it has been snowing all day up in the mountains...I can see it from my porch. Rain is great...snow is better ...and boy do we need it!!

I have a pork roast in the crock pot...and I just finished making pico de gallo...it's carnitas tacos for dinner tonight...Taco Tuesday is popular at many restaurants here, so why not at home! 
That's about all that's happening here...
Until next time...enjoy the day!!

Monday, February 6, 2012

I'm back and I won too!!


 Yes, it's true...I have been for quite a while...I have been busy taking care of my dear husband, Don...he had his foot surgery...they didn't have to fuse the toe after all...that was a good thing...the doctor drilled holes to encourage more cartilage to grow. The problem has been sleeping...or shall I say lack of sleep! He has had a very hard time sleeping and therefore, so have I! But today he seems to have turned a corner and is much better...not taking any more pain meds...he said he doesn't need or want them any more...so I can start getting back to my regular routine...and go back to gardening and sewing! Yippee!!

I won a give away last week and look at everything that was inside!!I couldn't believe how much there was  when I opened the box! There were so many charts, kits and floss...I will really enjoy working on all of these projects!! Thanks so much to Autumn...you can visit her here...
Here is a pretty Valentine chart...can you believe I forgot to take a picture of the original chart that was on the give away...I will tribute that to the lack of sleep...but that's the first one I will make!!
I really like this kit too...such a cute pair...this one will be a fun one to work on as well!! I can't thank Autumn enough for all the goodies!!
On another note...the weather has been very warm here lately...today it looks to be cooling off...it is February after all! I hear talk of a possibility of rain tomorrow...I sure hope so...it has been so dry and windy here for such a long time and I am VERY over the wind!! I have gotten quite a bit of gardening done though...although ...then the wind picks up and blows all kind of stuff in my yard...the other day I went outside and thought I had a plastic bag tree...it was my tiny little Japanese Maple full of plastic grocery bags hanging from it!! Who knows where all of those bags came from...so calm air and some rain will be a very good thing!
Until next time...and I hope it won't be such a long time...
Enjoy your day!!!