Don made me more good things...

 Spring is full speed ahead in my neck of the woods...time for more planting of veggies...we have a gopher problem in our yard...we live close to a huge wide area that is part river bed...lots of sand and all kinds of critters...this time of year...they seem to start making their way closer...I don't mind the raccoons and squirrels...bunnies and gophers...I'm not fond of...don't get me wrong...bunnies are cute until they eat up all your hard work...and gophers...they don't even have the cute thing going for them! So Don built this for some veggies...see...chicken wire on the bottom will hopefully keep them out. We have seen them literally suck young green bean plants down...just like the cartoons!

 This one is 3x3...just the right size for this area...we have another area going strong already...but it is pretty full...so we needed this...

 And here's another one drying...Don put stain and water sealant on it...

 Oh dear...my pictures are all out of order again...I swear I don't know why that happens...this is society garlic...an ornamental...it smells just like garlic...gophers don't like garlic and this will stay all year long...

 Now back to the planter...I planted radish seeds and a sunshine yellow tomato and squash in here...

 This is making me crazy with the pictures...back to the garlic... I dug it up from another area in the front and split it into 6 plants...I sure hope this works! We also bought these vibrating noise makers that are supposed to make the gophers stay away...you can't hear them unless you're really close...like when I'm weeding...

 More garlic...there's also a little spinner thing we put in a wine bottle that we buried...the vibration is supposed to keep them away...didn't really work so well...

 I do like these visitors...they are here year round and are very curious...and not afraid at all...they just move to fast to get good pictures!

 More mixed up pictures...this is a bag I finished for a client to give to her daughter for Eater instead of a basket...

 Back to the yard...you're probably getting dizzy with my mixed up pictures...I know I am...I was going to delete and start over...but what the heck...its interesting this way!

Here's a view of part of the back...a few people mentioned that I don't show large shots of my yard...I guess I like taking closeups...you can see where we put the bigger box...the other one is on the very right with the green wire trellis...it is full of cucumber seeds now...

 And...back to the bag...craziness here today...this fabric is so cute...I couldn't resist...I know the girl who is getting this very well...she loves Hello Kitty...

 I made a little pin for it too..it can be removed...

I am still making doll carriers like crazy...I have a couple more orders for custom sizes...these are fun to make! I am in the middle of trying out a design for a new style back pack...I actually bought a pattern last week...hate the directions...and some of the design...so I'm coming up with my own...its easier that way...I work from head to hands...so patterns sometimes just slow me down.

I hope all who are in the path of all the storms are safe...its hard for me to grasp all the weather that goes on everywhere else...we have such a mild climate here...people always ask about earthquakes here...but they are so rare...the last big one that I remember doing damage has to have been over 15 years ago...and not near here...so I'll take my chances with the ground moving every once in a while over tornadoes and hurricanes and blizzards...I'm a California native and I don't think I could deal well with that stuff...anyway...stay safe and warm...you are in my prayers...

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

Happy Spring!!

 You can tell it's Spring here in my neck of the woods...all the Springtime bulbs are popping up and there's lots of flowers on them now...plus the weather starts to get a little gloomy in the morning...today it has stayed that way ...cooler...but still very nice...good weather for our morning walks. Don and I walk about 4 miles every morning...today we heard we might get some rain...we have been hoping for some...

 This guy was ready with his umbrella out...but just fog...

 Our apple tree is showing us Spring ...this side of my yard is not though...it is in the shade most of the day...that's where all the hostas are...but I did notice some popping up...soon it will be pretty over here...

 Loads of apple blossoms...

 and tons of tiny apples...look how cute and fuzzy they are now...by mid-June I will wish they were all done...that's when I have to start the chore of picking, freezing, canning and trying to give them away...

 Freesias are blooming...these smell divine!! 

 Lots of primrose is blooming too...these all come back year after year...I know in some areas they are a annual...but not here...lucky me!!

 King daffodil is blooming too...I wanted to get a close up of this pretty bloom...it has so many colors in it...from very pale yellow...to darker yellow and a bit of orange...I want to plant more of these bulbs in Fall...they are so pretty!

Don made me a Spring present...I think she is beautiful! He found the cast iron base at the flea market...sanded it...sprayed it and then made a top from reclaimed cedar...our house is a little bungalow that we bought new in 1983...I love cottage style...but not cluttered...and not fussy...so this table is a perfect corner table between the two sofas in the living room...it replaces a very dated one that screamed 1980's...

 At the same flea market I found this...hand made from Holland...I got 4 different ones...soaked them in Oxi Clean...my favorite...it gets out everything without bleach...I love it!! The woman who was selling these...she had a ton of European fabrics said she thought it was done in the 1950's...I'll show you the rest when I iron them...they are all so pretty and in great condition...someone took very good care of these...and so shall I!

I thought I'd show you a bit more Spring decor...this is a shelf in the cabinet in my kitchen...the bunny is a creamer I also got a couple years ago while at a flea market...the bunny plates I got at Kohl's last year on clearance...$1 each...they are small...but I like them! The cupcake stand is Martha Stewart I got on sale...a splurge for me...I filled it with plastic eggs...the egg cups are Cost Plus...clearance a few years ago...more plastic eggs...those eggs bring so much color to a space...and custard cups...I've had them a loooong time! 

We are on Spring break for 2 weeks from school...I have been gardening and sewing...walking and more sewing...we finally decided on a couple trees for the yard...we got a fruit cocktail tree...I know...great huh! It has plum, apricot, white babcock peach and pear...it is tiny...I took a picture...but I just realized I forgot to post it! Silly me!! The other one has been a comedy of errors...we got a cherry tree...brought it home...I was so excited...but then I found out...luckily before I planted it...you need at least two cherry trees to get fruit...we decided that wasn't going to work for us...so...Don took it back...came home with a peach tree...but it was a white peach...I researched...white peaches don't bake or freeze as well...so today...he is out taking it back...and getting a Red Haven peach...we decided on peach because although we have one already...it is looking a little sickly...it has the same thing our plum tree had...we figure it will only last a couple more years...by then this other little tree will be producing just fine...at least that's what we're hoping...I am not an expert at this...an amateur who likes to have her hands in the dirt! So we shall see!

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

A day in Big Bear...

 Monday we drove up the hill to Big Bear to visit our friends who live up there...notice the lack of snow...it has been warm up here since Sunday...so all the south facing areas have just patchy snow...funny thing is...on Friday...it snowed all day and they got 14 inches...that's the way it goes this time of year!

 This picture is facing the other direction...

 You can see there's still quite a bit of snow...but I'm afraid its melting fast! Joseph and Selin spent the weekend with our friends and went snow boarding all weekend...Bob skis with them...Michele works at the resort as the book keeper...but she was off Monday...so we headed to the village for lunch... 

 We had a nice time visiting...now to dig in...

Yum! I got flautas with black beans and rice...it was really good! People always laugh when I take pictures of my food...but it is so pretty sometimes...I just have to!

Things are moving along in school...we are now on Spring break for 2 whole weeks! I am enjoying the class and getting into the routine of school...funny how just going out 2 days a week changes things...my tooth has continued to bother me...I went back 2 different times to get more sanded down...I have a cross bite on the left side of my mouth...I guess it makes it hard to get things lined up properly...but today was minimal pain...so I think I may be on the mend. My dentist says I should get braces...at my age...really??

The weather is really warming up around here...I've been in shorts at home all week...bare foot of course...I need to go get a pedicure soon if this weather keeps up...I need pretty feet in sandals!

I have been busy sewing bags and doll carriers for special orders...I enjoy that but I need to get some more things in my sad little Etsy shop...plus we are going to be in the PCC flea market again next month...whew! So much to get done...and all I really want to do is play in the dirt in my garden! But it was my big idea to start this little business...so..

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

Look what Don made me...

 Here's what Don made me last week...pretty cute! I have put it on my window sill in the living room...but the pictures from there didn't turn out well...too much reflection...I love it!

 I planted it with babies of succulents that I have growing except for the little tree...my daughter-in-law Selin started the purple striped succulents for me in January...they rooted really fast and the moss...

 I got this little lamb at Hobby Lobby for less than $1...

 Its pretty shabby chic...just the way I wanted it! Thanks to my wonderful husband...I got something new...and its far better than I could buy! He decided that he is going to make some of these in different sizes for our booth at the next flea market...as long as I do the planting...I have lots of babies growing right now and I am rooting them to re-plant...succulents are so much fun...and easy!

 While I was sprucing up the window...I decided to put out some Spring and Easter decor...I made this pillow cover last Autumn...the throw is one I made ages ago...I wanted to lighten things up for Spring...

I got these guys on clearance last year...I have the parents...or I like to think of them as the parents...and the baby brother...so now a whole family! You can't really see...but they have glitter...just enough to make them sparkle...I filled a metal basket with plastic and glitter eggs...I've had these forever it seems...I like the way it looks...simple...but festive!

Daylight savings time has hit me hard...I feel so tired...except I think part of the problem is that I cracked a tooth...don't know how or when...my dentist noticed it when I went for my regular check up and told her that one of my molars felt rough...she put a crown on it to protect it...but my bite was off a little so it caused so much pain! Yesterday she had me come in and I got it sanded down a bit...she wants me to call her daily with an update...she will fix it more if need be...it is a little less painful today. It has made concentrating difficult...

It is really warming up in my neck of the woods...really warming up! On Friday we had storms and 14 inches of snow in Big Bear...we went up yesterday...I'll show you some pictures tomorrow...and the snow is rapidly melting and I was in capris for class...Don in shorts...its supposed to be in the 80's the rest of the week! But that's how it goes here...we have yo yo weather...especially this time of year! All my fruit trees are blooming...and we decided we want to plant another one...we are just trying to decide what...I'm rooting for pear or cherry...Don is thinking lime or avocado...hmmm...knowing us we'll come home with none of the above!

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

Look what I won...

 Look what came in the mail yesterday! I bundle of wonderful Spring fabrics...a prize I won from Irene at Hilachas ...she had a wonderful giveaway on her site and I was one of the winners...lucky me!! I just want to say thanks again to Irene and send you guys over to her...she has a wonderful quilting site...I love reading it!

 I can't wait to make something out of all these pretty Spring fabrics...i have something in mind...I'll show you all when I get started...this top print is my favorite...I love these colors!

 Looks at these cute buttons she included in the package...Oh, Irene, you are so sweet! These little buttons and the fabric brought a smile to my face when I opened the package!!

 I've been really busy around home...making many more doll carriers for my Etsy shop and quite a few special orders...

 These are fin to make and I can't believe how many orders I have gotten...I thank everyone for their support  of my little shop...business has been wonderful the last few months...I love sewing...and to know that I put a smile on someone's face when they receive something I made brings joy to my heart! I don't make much money...but then I started this business to do something I love!

 Speaking of someone I love...see how I did that...Don has been working in his work shop...well...he doesn't really have a shop...more like the back yard...but what a wonderful place to work...full of song birds, flowers and trees...I wish I could bring my sewing machine out there...but...its too dusty when he starts his sawing and sanding...I love this piece...its a shabby chic necklace rack...and these knobs are so pretty...and...Yes...I picked them out! I just wish I had a place to put all the wonderful things he makes in our house...

Here's another piece he finished...this iron piece is heavy too! All the wood he has collected is reclaimed cedar...each piece of wood is so pretty...I often think a whole wall of wood would be wonderful...but then I'd be using up all his wood...but I think it would be awesome to have a feature wall in this cedar...Don did make me a present last week...I just haven't taken a picture yet...I will when the sun comes back out...right now it is very stormy in our neck of the woods...it has rained the last two nights, but not much during the day...just cold and cloudy. This morning the sun goes in and out of the clouds and when I looked outside I saw a lot more snow on the mountains just north of my house...so pretty! We are planning a drive up to Big Bear on Monday to visit our friends who live up there...Joseph and Selin will be up there all weekend snowboarding...enjoying the new fallen snow. We are going to the Rose Bowl flea market on Sunday...can't wait for that...it's been a while since we were there...class is going well...I am learning things...that's the idea...keep the brain thinking! All in all we stay pretty busy...it has been a year since Don retired...hard to believe...time went by so quickly...

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

Visiting Tom...

 I would like you to meet Tom...he runs Carol gardens...we visit him on Friday mornings at the farmer's market by us...he grows lots of yummy organic herbs and vegetable plants...the tasting is free!

 We met Tom last year here in Victoria Gardens...I bought quite a few plants last year...now its time to plant ...so Don and I came out to visit Tom and see what he has ready for us...

 He did not disappoint! Look at all this wonderful curly kale...we got some of that! We find that its easier and less waste for us to get our plants here...years ago when we had a really huge garden...we grew everything from seeds...but with just the two of us...we use plants...I got 6 plants from one pot of kale...that's plenty...we add it to salads right now...and sandwiches...

 Here are some of the plants I got...I took this before I finished shopping...besides the kale...there is a big beef tomato...and an Amish tomato...this will be the first time we tried this one...I can't wait til it fruits! Anyway...if you live anywhere near...you need to visit Tom at a farmer's market...he's really great, friendly and taught me a lot! Go visit his web site at Carol Gardens...you won't be disappointed! 

 It seems as though my pictures got all messed up again...does anyone know how that happens?? I see them in order...then hit select and sometimes it jumbles them all all...oh well...when I was out planting my veggies and herbs I got...I spotted this...

 And this! My peach tree is starting to bloom....yippee! I have been a little worried about this gal...she quite old and last year seemed a little sickly...I read that fruit trees have a shorter life span than other trees...I lost a plum tree a few years back...I was very sad! Hey...can you see the trap that the county left in my tree...they set those every year to make sure bad bugs don't make their home here...California grows much of the country's food...we can't afford to get pests. They come to my yard because I have many different types of fruit trees...don't worry...they asked nicely!

Here is a small shot of some of my veggies...with a flower or two mixed in...this area gets the best light...nice amounts of sun with the hot afternoon sun blocked out by my apple tree. Can you see the plant that's going to seed...I let it...it was a volunteer in that little pot...the flowers are really a treat on your salad! Can you see the lettuce coming up...I transplanted them from the seeds I started...I have more seeds started to add later...there is romaine and red leaf....there's the big beef tomato...and look how well my chives are doing! They grow best in that giant pot. There is also some Thai basil trying to come back from the cold weather...I wasn't sure if it would make it...but it looks like it will.

The weather is yet again changing here...it had been warm...perfect for gardening the last 4 days...it is cooling down once again...supposed to get some rain this week...so glad to hear that...so I took full advantage of the warmth and gardened ...and gardened...and gardened...my yard is really starting to wake up!

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