Whew...we had a busy weekend...

We knew we were going to have a very full weekend and we were ready for it. First thing Saturday morning, the gate was installed. Isn't it wonderful!! Now I can get out there and start spreading those plants around. The new wall gave me about 2 more feet of space on that side and I want to move a couple of the bushes. I already moved a tiny lavender that was getting crowded out and a pink salvia that was hovering around the ornamental garlic. It's nice and cool this morning and is only supposed to get to 80 today, so it will be perfect for heavy gardening.
Here's a close-up of the gate. It even has a door handle and a dead bolt. It will be so much easier to use than the other gate. It swings out too, which should be easier for taking out the lawn mower and trash cans. I love how you can sort of see through it into the back and our wonderful white birch trees! After the gate man left, we got ourselves packed up and drove down to San Diego. We were staying in a hotel with Don's brother and wife so they could be close to their son who attends San Diego State and the hotel just happened to be in La Mesa. Being in La Mesa I just HAD to stop in The Country Loft, which a wonderful quilt shop there.

They were all dressed up for Fall! My favorite season is Fall. I love the colors and I was admiring everything when I ran into...

Tammy and Janine! Tammy has a blog, Ginger Patches, and is a friend of my sister's. I actually met her once down here when we were on a quilt run with friends of my sister's. It was so funny because I was standing over in the wools...my favorite part of the store...talking to another gal who was just starting out with wool when I saw this face that looked sort of familiar. I found out she was trying to place me too...after all...we had only met once...and there it was...she mentioned her blog and I, mine...funny what a small world it is!

I loved this Autumn angel...she was very prim and all decked out for Fall. The rest of the gang were getting restless...and hungry...so I said farewell and we headed to downtown San Diego to Buca di Beppo...

They have wonderful family style Italian food. The egg plant is my favorite!

I love how this place is decorated with all the old pictures on the walls...

Cans of sweet peppers line a ledge...it was a great dinner...but we weren't through eating too much this weekend...

We ended our visit the next morning at The Original Pancake House. We like going there for breakfast. They have so many kinds of Pancakes and when we left, we swore we wouldn't ever eat again...I forgot to take pictures of all the different ones we got...I guess I was too ready to eat!

As you can see...it was beautiful weather...wonderful companions...and a trip to Country Loft...now that was MY kind of weekend!!

How was your weekend?

My newest bag...

Here is my latest bag. It's hard to tell...well, face it impossible...but this is the best fabric. It is so soft...while I was sewing, I had the urge to cuddle with it...no really...I'm serious.
I took a close up, but you still can't tell...

It sort of feels like the fabric was washed a zillion times, except it's not faded...

Here's the inside...the usual amount of pockets. I do love a lot of pockets. The fabric is Waverly by the way, in case any one out there wants to know.

It has been so hot here lately...I think the heat has gone to my head. I have had trouble focusing the last few days. It also could be that I had to turn my glasses in for repair because of a defect and I am wearing my old ones. I can't see too well, and I think that affects my brain too. I don't think I'm making too much sense today.

Tomorrow, we're off to San Diego to spend time with family. Don's brother, and his wife, are down from Central California to visit with their son who attends San Diego State.
Have a great weekend every one!!

Outdoors Wednesday and Baby it's hot outside...

We are officially melting here in my neck of the woods, so I thought I'd show pictures of a place much cooler than here. Actually, this week, even here it is pretty warm. This is the beach at Lucadia. It is located about 30 minutes north of San Diego and is a very cute little town.

The tide was very low here and it was a perfect day to pick up rocks. I love rocks. That may sound strange to some, but they are all so different and beautiful too.

There were pelicans and sea gulls all around and it was cool and breezy..not like here right now. Today it is hot and sweaty....the kind of day that makes you lazy. I went out this morning early and found that it was the perfect day to pick flower seeds. It seems as though I'm always collecting something for the yard! I was happy to collect quite a bit of viola seeds. I will sprinkle them in a different area of my yard in another month or so.

I think right now sounds like the perfect time to have a cold glass of lemonade and read a good book, but there are chores to do and I better get to them before that thermometer strikes 100 and that will come too soon!

Enjoy your day and visit Susan and all the other wonderful outdoor places!

Almost finished...

The wall is getting close to done...
Just a few more bricks...

Isn't it pretty...

Yippee!! The wall is complete...now we just have to wait for the gate. We are getting an iron gate made. Last year at the Rose Bowl flea market, I found an old piece of an iron gate and I painted it white and had it hanging on the fence. I asked if it could be used on my new gate and they said it probably can! That will be so nice to have my own find made into the new gate!

Once it cools down a bit...it is supposed to be 106 today...I will go out and move some of the perennials around and plant some new things too. I want to add a little curve to the grass and maybe put in a green Japanese maple tree . We'll see...my yard is always changing...
Have a great day!!

Work continues...

Another day of work on the wall along the side of my yard.
It is amazing how much work goes into this wall. It is 51 feet of wall along the side of my front yard. First they took out everything, then dug a deep trench which was partially filled with gravel and cement, re barb and cinder blocks...and that was all below the surface.

Putting these blocks in takes time...they spread the grout on each one and level them one at a time as well. I'm amazed at the work that goes into this...and remember it's 100 degrees outside!Don and I are all about do it your self, and we work hard when we do projects around the house, but this is so much work and I appreciate all the hard work that goes into it! I will keep you updated as time goes along. I am told the wall may be complete by the end of today!

But now for something more fun....I got the privilege of watching Stella on Saturday while her parents worked. I got lots of help this day...

Cousin Joseph came home from San Diego for the weekend, and was happy to play with Stella.

Selin was more than happy to give many hugs and kisses...

And of course Uncle Don explained pre-season football to her....all in all, a wonderful time spent with our gorgeous Stella. Debbie and Chelsey came home from a hard day at work and enjoyed Don's great barbecue with us before heading home. We were exhausted by 8PM after a full day of Stella watch...it's incredible how playing with one wee one can tire a whole family of adults out!

Front yard update...

Yesterday I shared with you how much I hated all the upkeep on this hedge along the side of my front yard...well...here goes...
The hedge is gone and this is the ugly chain link fence it covered...actually, my neighbor who is doing the work was able to save the plants and he will use them at one of his rentals. See, no plants were killed during this renovation...they also found 9...count them...9 baby fan palm trees growing under there! Gifts from the birds I imagine. He dug those up too. I really am not too fond of palm trees in my yard so I was up for giving them away.

Here it is rather naked right now...

These are the bricks that will make up the wall...it's hard to see here but they are rather rustic looking and I am all about that! They have a nice rough texture on them. They are made of concrete and we have lots of concrete makers around here. Anyone with any knowledge of this area knows it's built on rocks and sand!!

Victor brought in the big guns this morning to dig and help get things going....they are such nice men even if I don't know if they understand a word I say! I understand some Spanish and they understand some English and in between, Victor translates, so it has gone smooth sailing so far.

While they were out there working, I was inside sewing...I have to pay for that wall somehow...Here is my latest bag for my Etsy shop. I am hoping for an early Fall and this bag will be perfect for Fall. When I found this line of fabrics I bought 4 of the different fabrics. I wanted it all, but I had to restrain myself. I used 3 of the patterns on this bag.

Don't you just love that button...It was unfinished when I got them and Don stained it a nice walnut to match the fabric. I love how the wood grain comes out after he applied the stain. I kept this bag pretty simple because the fabric is the star. Just some nice big rick rack and that awesome button. It's quilted inside and out.

Here's the polka dot fabric that is part of the line. I can never resist polka dots! Once again there are a ton of pockets going all around the inside of the bag and a key hook too.

Today is going to be a hot one once again...I think it is supposed to be 98 degrees. I have no idea why I picked the hottest time of the year to have these guys build a wall, but ...that's the way I roll sometimes...by the seat of my pants...

Have a great Friday!!

Some changes to the yard...

This is the side walkway to our back yard from the front. Years ago, my old neighbor put up the ugliest chain link fence ever between our front and his, but only along the side. We came home one day and there it was...I hate chain link fences, the are so ugly, so I went out and bought several jasmines to cover my side of the fence. The jasmine are pretty about 2 months out of the year when they are in bloom, but the rest of the time they are a pain. They grow so fast and we constantly have to trim them...and the sap inside is like Elmer's glue...it is so sticky! Yuck! Well, this weekend, Don and I were trimming them...he was trimming, I was cleaning up...and we thought to ourselves...why not get rid of this unsightly area and put in a new block wall or something like that. We have new neighbors now and they won't care, in fact, they cemented in their whole side to make a bigger driveway....so...today out will come the hedge and all the trimming and work for us...and in will come a nice new wall, complete with a new custom made gate! Oh this is going to be fun! I will take pictures and show you the progress as it moves along. My neighbor across the street is a contractor and I use him for everything we can't or don't want to do. He is doing the work for us. He has a friend who is the metal works business, so it is a win for us!! I can hardly wait to see my new wall!
Now for something I completed...a new bag for my Etsy shop! When I saw this fabric a while back, I just knew it would make a fun bag. Those big polka dots are just too cute! The damask print is one of my favorites too and the color is just so much fun! It's really more of a pumpkin color. The pumpkin and cream are really fun but not in a loud way.

I don't think this picture came out that great but here it is anyway. I love a ruffle too, so I put one on there for a more feminine look. There's patch pockets on the front and back and I put ruffles on the pockets too.

Here's the inside...I just realized that's not the greatest picture either, but it shows the inside. There are pockets all around the inside. I do love a lot of pockets. I put in a magnetic closure too. I like the way this bag came out. I have already cut out and started quilting another one. It is too hot to play outside, so I am sewing!

Hope your day is wonderful and filled with happiness!!

Outdoor Wednesday Maple Street style...

I wanted to get outside early this morning because the heat has returned and I needed to mow my lawns today. The sky looked very pretty, so I thought I'd snap a few pictures.
No, sadly, these clouds won't bring any rain. They are only teasing us. They are on their way to Arizona for the monsoon season.

It is a very rare thing to get rain here in the summer. It would be nice though. They did block out the sun for a while while I mowed and I was thankful for that.

These morning glories are taking over my back fence. This time of year you need to go out very early to see the flowers open. They don't like the heat at all!

As I was trimming, I delighted in all the flowers in my yard. The flowers bring joy to me. They are the fruits of my labor.

Black eyed Susans are a wonderful flower. It's amazing to me how long this flower lasts on the stem. I cut them for vases inside too and they stay so nice longer than any other flower I bring inside. I had a vase in my bathroom that kept for 2 weeks before they started to fade!

These miniature roses are one of my favorites too! The color is amazing and the camera really doesn't do it justice. Would you believe I bought these at Trader Joes...that's a small grocery store in my area.

These are so sweet...a little hot right now, but still lovely. They look just like tiny tulips.

These two are on succulents. They grow and flower like crazy this time of year. They are a great summer ground cover, but they will go away in the winter.

Of course, it isn't summer without zinnias. I take a lot of photos of them I know, but I never get tired of them. There are so many styles and colors of this wonderful flower. When I dead head this flower, I always save seeds for next year. I mix up all the seeds and I never know what I'll get. That's the beauty of gardening my way...

And who is this little flower you ask....this is the Stella flower! She is the most wonderful of all the flowers...I had the privilege of spending Saturday afternoon with her while her Mommy worked. She is a joy!!

I hope your Wednesday is a great one...go over and visit Susan and the others for more Outdoor Wednesday treats!