More from my garden...

 Wow! Two day s on a row I've posted...I'm on a roll...actually I had a few minutes between finishing up  my gardening in the front yard and starting to sew...it was so pretty outside...I wanted to show you a few things from the front yard...it still looks pretty bare out there...but its coming along...I have two camellia bushes out there...both pink...but different...this one is blooming now... 

 This one has much bigger blooms...huge, in fact...and heavy...it is full of these!

 This is right before you step up on my front porch...I have had this big bucket for years and last year it was orange...I sprayed it turquoise in September...and planted succulents in it...I like it like this...for now...

 Some of the succulents are having babies...I like babies...

 This pot was my inspiration for all the turquoise...I got it on clearance last year...70% off...$3...its big and so pretty...

 So I sprayed a few pots the same color...I'm even thinking of painting my front door this color...can I have too much turquoise...I don't think so!

 I decided to add a little love to the front porch too...you can't have too much love either...but bear with me...there's more love but somehow...the pictures got out of order...I still can't figure out how that happens...

 One of the roses in the front has a few blooms...I love yellow roses...so happy!

 And I found this nice surprise out in front too...some dwarf phlox have come back and are blooming! I planted these last Summer...I planted red, white and blue together...just these have come back...some red in the back are up though...

 Here's some more love...I made this little mat a couple years ago....it brightens up the little table on the front porch...I got the heart one sale last year...it is stone and very heavy...so I decided to put it on the table instead of hang it by the door...we get bad winds here sometimes...I don't want it to blow off and break!

 I'm making doll carriers this week...getting ready for the flea market...

 These carriers are my best seller in my shop...they are so much fun to make...I can really bring out my little girl in me! I had sons...so anything girly is fun to make!!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Pretties in my yard...

 It has been cold and rainy here this week...today it is much warmer...its really pretty outside. I went out to feed the birds this morning... I noticed a couple little roses blooming...this is a miniature rose...from Trader Joes...I have these all over my yard ...I don't know much about roses...except that I like them...and a little of their care. These guys don't have to be trimmed down as much as big roses...some of them have big bunches of flowers on one tiny stem...right now...this one has a couple blooms...

 Right next to one of the bird feeders is this lilac...a California lilac...it grows on a trellis and blooms all February long...I just noticed all the buds...well...its almost February!

 Here's a picture of the top of it...it will be so pretty in just a little while!

 I also noticed that chives are starting to come back in the pot I grow them in...I have had these chives in this pot for years...over 10 years I think...its a good sized pot and they die back every winter...then start coming back up...I let them seed themselves...one reason because the flowers are so pretty...another because then I don't ever have to plant them again! It will be nice to have fresh chives again. 

I have been working on this wool Valentine mat since Saturday...I started it at my sister's house as a fun sewing project with both of my sisters and a friend...I changed mine a little...I have just one more block and then sew all the blocks on and then back it...I have been doing this and other projects at once...I better get this one done...its almost February!

We went to Road to California and I had a nice time...but can you believe...I didn't take one picture! I guess I was having a nice time...it was a rainy day...really crowded...but fun! I got a couple new patterns...I guess I should take some pictures and show you what I got...and a few fat quarters and half yards of a couple fabrics I just HAD to get...not sure what I'll make...but they're here when I am ready...I also bought a few ribbons and buttons...I have been sewing every day...gardening when the weather permits...trimming our huge apple tree...all sorts of excitement here!! 

Sunday we will have a booth at the Pasadena City College flea market...our second time...we will be in booth 384 if you happen to be in the area...it is supposed to be a nice day in Pasadena on Sunday...70 degrees and partly cloudy...we are in the parking structure...just in case you drop by!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

I've been gardening a bit...

 While the rest of the country has seen major cold temperatures...in my neck of the woods we've had a warm spell...totally normal for this time of year...temperatures have been in the upper 70's the last few days...and blue skies...today is supposed to be the end of the warmth...rain coming our way...I take advantage of the warm weather to garden...well...here in my area...I really pretty much garden all year...but I really love it when we have a warm spell in January...so since most of you are bundled up tight...I thought I'd show you some of what coming up in my back yard...This top picture is one of the tea cups I use to start my succulents...they sit out on the coffee table on my back porch...the small size of the cups make them the perfect starter pots...

 There's a ton of Stock flowers in the yard...they smell so wonderful...the colors in my yard range from this pink to bright dark pink...I love them all...Oh...I have purple and white ones too...in the front...

 I did something this year I never have done before...I bought a couple pots of daffodils...I have bulbs planted everywhere...mostly the normal yellow ones...some of the white and orange ones...King daffodils...but these are the miniature ones...hard to tell in the picture...but the flowers are so tiny...I have never seen them in bulb form...so I splurged and bout these at Lowes...I know they won't last too long...but I will have them for years to come!

 Iceland Poppies are another favorite of mine...I planted seeds in the Fall...there's quite a few plants now...and some are just starting to get blooms...but a few already have flowers! I love these delicate flowers...so bright and cheerful!

 These daisy like flowers are actually mums...snow something...the name just slipped out of my head...crazy brain...anyway...they start coming up and flowering this time of year...they don't get too big... anywhere form a few inches to a foot tall...and tons of little white flowers until about July...they don't like the heat...they die back...but the seeds get blown everywhere...so I get them every year!

 I have these everywhere too...in many shades of pink and some white ones too...a couple red ones in the front...but for some reason the pink and white ones give the seeds...I just sprinkle them everywhere...they grow like crazy here...don't know the name of them though...I knew once...

 Strawberries are starting to grow now too...these are wild strawberries...they are small...but tasty...if I get them before the birds...but I don't mind...the birds planted them I think!

 Here's another little gnome that guards the yard...I have an army of these guys in my back yard...

 I have been raking and raking these...apple tree leaves...it feels like it is raining leaves...and they multiply somehow...for a couple months I have been raking...we have one 90 gallon green can to put them in...every week I fill it up!They're pretty though...that's because we had some very cold temps before this week...

Lastly I wanted to show you Don's latest coat rack...he has made several of these...this one he added way less turquoise to it...what do you think?? I like it...but I'm not sure...he has sold quite a few of these this month...I knew he would...

I have really rambled on today...sorry I'm so yacky...lots to say I guess...tomorrow I get to go to Road to California...I can't wait...I'm so lucky its close to home...only 20 minutes away... I am going with my sisters and a friend...I hope to get lots of pictures and get inspired to make some of the things I see...and design some of my own from the goodies and trims I find!

I've rambled on enough...better go get dinner ready...

Until next time...enjoy the day!!!

A great day...

 Friday we went down to San Diego for the day...we didn't do too much...everyone but Stephen was working...but they all got off early enough...we walked to dinner from Joseph and Selin's house...I like that about the city...there is so much within walking distance...we decided on a Mexican Bistro called Ortega's...its not your typical Mexican food...

 First we had to have some Margaritas...Don had Scotch...there were so many kinds to choose from...I had a Pomegranate and Lime...blended...Joseph had a Jalapeno ...he said it was spicy but good...Anna had Strawberry Mint...Stephen had Prickly Pear...Selin had Pomegranate...I was the only one who had it blended...I'm not really a drinker...once or twice a year is enough for me...

 I decided on a salad...and this one was really good! The dressing was awesome...it was huge too...but the kids helped me finish it!

 Look at this plate...Anna said it was yummy...it was a mushroom dish...3 kinds of mushrooms...Yum!

Don had the Spiny Mexican Lobster...I tried a couple bite...oh...delicious!!

I didn't get such good pictures of the other plates...everyone enjoyed theirs...this was our first time there...the kids have gone for breakfast and it was good...we'll go back there again!

After dinner we walked back ...stayed and visited for a while and then took the long drive home...it wasn't bad though...since we left later than normal...no traffic. We had a nice day...I always do when I'm with the kids...I miss being so far from them...but we visit often as their schedules allow...and they come here....especially during snowboarding season!

Today was the warmest day we've had in a long time...I gardened in my shorts today! It was nice feeling the sun on my skin...I basically cleaned up after all the wind we've had...it was a little breezy...still is...but nice. I think most of the leaves that are coming off the trees are off...helped by the wind...of course! I trimmed some of the apple tree too...it grows so fast! Don was working on his wood projects...he's sold quite a few since joining my Etsy shop...I knew he would! He makes some really nice pieces. I think I have rambled on long enough...so...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Staying busy...

Been busy in my sewing room these days...just finished this bag...

 I wanted to add a little something to it...but the fabric is pretty busy...not too mention so darn cute...I thought a flower in a pot would do the trick...its on the pocket on the back of the bag...we can't forget the back...

Here's a peek at the inside...I really like the way it turned out...the funny thing is...so did someone else...I listed it in my Etsy shop and it sold in record time...under 10 minutes...I was flabbergasted! But I thought I'd show it to you anyway...it's such a happy fabric!

Tomorrow Don and I are heading down to San Diego to spend some time with our kids...the weather has warmed up a bit...its warmer out...windy though...it won't be windy there...so it should be a nice day to spend outside...with the sun on our faces...maybe see the ocean...I love to watch the water...so little of it here...I could stare at a body of water for hours...maybe we'll take in a museum...at Balboa Park...and my daughter-in-law told me its restaurant week in San Diego...sounds interesting...I like to eat! Not much else happening in my neck of the woods...except...next week is Road to California Quilt Show...can't wait! My sister bought the wristbands for us...I live 15 minutes away from where it is held...so I can enjoy it all I want! My younger sister is coming with us too...and a friend or two...should be lots of fun...if you live nearby...and are going... send me a message...I'd love to meet you!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Isn't she a beauty...

 Just look at her...isn't she a beauty!! I can't believe she's mine... yes all mine! I have always wanted one of these mixers...never wanted to spend the money on it though...never asked...just looked at them...and drooled a little...now I have one of my very own!!

 She is colbalt blue...I got to chose the color...and boy was that a tough decision...I went from blue to aqua to pear to apple green to tangerine and then back to blue again...I wanted to make sure I had it right!

Now I just have to read the instruction book and see what this baby can do!! I already know what attachments I want...the slicer first I think...meat grinder sounds awesome too...but first I am going to get the flexible spatula...I saw it on sale at Macys and I just happen to have a gift card that will pay for it...oh happy day!!!

Today it is crazy windy here...we read in the paper 35mph...that's the constant...gusts to 80mph...and its a very cold wind...my computer says its 36 outside right now...I think I'll just stay in and play with my new toy!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

A couple projects...

 I thought I'd show you a couple projects I have been working on...in addition to the sewing for my orders and Etsy shops...these are what I do in the evening when I relax ...

 They are all a bit wrinkled...but they are works in progress...you know how that goes...this one goes with one I finished last year for the Fourth of July...I'm not sure if I will make a walling hanging for the front porch...or a table topper...

 This one I have been working on and off for a while...I started it on our vacation...made a couple smaller ones in between and now back to this one again...its for my cousin...a surprise...she doesn't read my blog...

 Its pretty big...it will fit over a twin size bed...so you get the idea...I make these for Project Linus in smaller sizes for kids and babies...I have made quite a few this size too...they take a while...my cousin saw the one I made for my great niece and wished she had one too...so I thought I'd surprise her with one...

It's very relaxing to work on...I can do it anywhere...and I have...cars, airplanes, hotels, out in the yard...the perfect project...and these blankets are wonderful to snuggle with in front of the TV or with a good book...since the fabric is cotton...it wears like a pair of jeans...just gets softer and more comfy as time goes on...anyway...I just thought you might like to see what I am working on right now...I have quite a few projects ready to go as soon as I finish these...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Today was a nice day...

 Today was a good day...anytime I can get outside is! The weatherman kept saying this was going to be the warmest day of the week...it got to 70 today! It is supposed to be back in the 50's by Thursday...so I thought I would garden for a bit in the sun...the only problem was the wind...it has been really blowing the last few days...today was no exception...but our house blocks the wind a great deal...so we worked in the back...we had some visitors...a whole bunch of Mourning Doves..

We always have a pair in the yard...but there were about 8 up in the tree in my neighbors yard...just sitting there...coming down two at a time to feed at the bird feeder...

 I picked some tangerines too...and ate a couple...yum...nice and sweet and juicy! There aren't as many as last year...probably due to the very warm winter we had last year...but they are a lot bigger! 

 Here's a friend that keeps me company back here...there are lots of violas blooming right now...but it only seems like the purple ones came back...I collect seeds and planted a ton...but I don't separate them by color...I just put them in one bowl and see what happens....this year looks like only the purple shades grew...

 A few Gerber Daisies are blooming now too...

 And this too! I'm not really sure what type of lettuce it is...I can't remember...but it came up on it's own and is doing quite well...it's from a salad mix seeds I planted last year...they were all good...this one must have sent some seeds out...lucky me!

I am still making more of these...I had some special orders for birthdays in February...I finished all my orders ...this was one...now to add a few to my Etsy shop!

We have been pretty much home bodies this new year so far...I have finished 3 books...easy reads from Lilian Jackson Braun...there's about 24 in her series about a man who has two Siamese cats who help him solve crimes...fun...fast and no gore...more like old fashioned mysteries...I have 4 left to read and Don ordered them for me today from the library...we went to the movies...saw The Hobbit...liked it, but it is a bit different from the book...artistic leeway I guess...yesterday we went to Mimi's for an early dinner...they have the unlimited soup and salad on right now and we had a gift card...gee...we lead a pretty exciting life...don't we!! Actually...life is good...I'm very blessed!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!