This morning I got a message from another blogger...who said it had been way TOO long since I posted anything...very true! I have been away so long...I was quite overwhelmed this past few months...

 For starters...I went back to school last year and as I move on...the classes are harder and I need to take more time to study...then Don decided to go get a part time job...which turned into 30 hours a week...and my Etsy shop exploded with business!! That was a good thing...well...everything was...

But it lesft me very little time for things like blogging, sleeping, gardening...I was at my sewing machine at least 12 hours a day...7 days a week to keep up...I even had to hire Don! He was a cheap hire! We got through...got everything shipped on time...and some wonderful reviews from many of my customers...and I hope some happy recipients of their gifts....

 Funny thing is...I didn't even get a Christmas tree until 3 days before Christmas...and there were some sad trees by that time! But we had a wonderful quiet Christmas...and we took a couple days to recuperate...now I'm playing catch up...I do have a clean house...but my yard was really suffering...Don mowed and gave the most basic needs...but there is so much more than that to do...

 So I have been busy trimming and cleaning all the lovleys in my yard...and things are looking better than I thought they would...its been  a warm winter for the most part...some rain...not near enough...and  ALOT of wind...

 But as you can see...things are perking right up...

 But this is what my yard looked like a couple weeks ago...I know...hard to believe! We had a hail storm...and the white stuff covered most of my yard...it lasted almost and hour....it looks like snow in these pictures...

 Here's what it was though...crazy! There was a pile nearly two feet high that came sliding off the roof in the corner of my front flower bed...thankfully that's where my stepping stones are...so no one was injured! I did lose a few friends though...a peppermint in a pot...quite a few impatiens...everyone got a bit battered...

The rest that survived are back to this! We have been in the low 70's since then...chilly at night, but wonderful gardening weather during the day...in fact as soon as I finish my post I am going back out to garden on the side of the house and wash a few windows...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Season...I am going to take some time to read all your back posts and make a HUGE effort to catch up!

A very Happy New Year to you all!!!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!

Its that time of year again...

 Last year this day we were in South Dakota...on our way across the state...this year...I have been sewing like crazy!

 It started early this year...doll carrier orders for Christmas and many for Fall birthdays...

 I have a list going...and it is growing...

 But I'll keep sewing...as long as I can...

 Last year I shipped my last order out on December 20th...it got there in time...

 This year I can't seem to keep the ready made ones in my shop...

 And the custom orders are piling up...its a good thing!!

 I never dreamed that when I made my first doll carrier that this would happen...

 I even have Don helping me! He's quite good at stuffing pillows and ironing...who knew??

So if you're thinking about a special gift for a wee little one in your life...its not too late...but November is right around the corner and soon it will be!

I have a wonderful time making these...it doesn't really feel like work...even though I have been sewing and cutting out everyday for hours and hours...well...back to my sewing machine...these doll carriers aren't going to sew themselves...

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

Aren't they cute...

 On August 24, 2012, my son, Joseph married Selin...we are so happy she is a part of our family...although we have considered her a daughter for years...

 One of their wedding gifts was a gift certificate for a photo shoot...they decided to wait for their one year anniversary...and just got the pictures back...this is part of the pictures on the CD they gave me...

 I thought I'd share a few with you...I love them all...

 The photos were taken at Balboa park in San Diego...a few miles from their home...its a beautiful background for such a loving couple...

 Selin is a yoga instructor...so I thought this was a perfect shot... 

 I don't know what he was looking at...but I love my son's handsome face!

I hope you enjoyed seeing these...I loved sharing them with you.

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

Some little accomplishments...

 I made a few little candle mats last week...

 I added some wool touches to them...my favorite part...

 I'm not much of a quilter...my corners don't quite meet...so look beyond that! I tried...I think its the way I cut them...because I used 1/4 seams...I measured...I'm learning...by my mistakes...

But I was able to use up some scraps...and play with wool too! This last one looks sort of washed out in this picture...ugh...I need to practice on my photography too I guess!

Until next time...enjoy the day!!

I've missed you...

Its been WAY too long since my last post...there was a couple reasons...first off...my lap top had a few issues and I was too lazy to take it over to get it looked at...I could do my day to day things...but I couldn't type on my posts...weird...it was just the settings...oh well! I also was sort of in a funk...it seems like things just haven't gone the way I would like these past couple months...I so I have retreated and tried to search within myself to see what I am doing that I could change...and ask God for guidance...He told me to get back out there...stop feeling sorry for myself...and join the world again...so HERE I AM!!!

This is one of my favorites places near where I live...Oak Glen...its about a 20 minutes ride from my house...north east...at the base of the mountains...closer to Big Bear than I am...these are raspberry fields...

I love raspberries! This is a You Pick area...but there weren't a lot ripe...so I passed...I met my cousins, Aunt, sister, niece and great niece and nephew up here...fun time!

We spread some big quilts under the trees...had a picnic and enjoyed time together...it was nice. We don't see each other enough...so I enjoyed the time with them...

This tree is one of the oldest Chestnut trees up here...over 140 years old! The base was at least 12 feet around...it was so beautiful....

Here's the chestnuts growing...aren't they funny! When they dry out...they're ready...but you need to watch out or you can poke yourself!

Apples going to make cider...they have delicious ciders up here...I loved the apple-raspberry cider! There were 16 types of apples ready to pick or just buy this day...I am waiting until the end of the month for my favorite...Arkansas Blacks...or so crisp and sweet...just a perfect eating apple! Also...soon the Pink Lady will be ready as well...another couple weeks...I settled for Honey Crisp....

This reminded me of a Hobbit House...just needed a round door!

On my way down the hill I stopped at a produce shop I always have to go to...they have wonderful fruits and veggies...I stocked up...delicious dried fruits and even some great candies...since my garden has pretty much ended...except for all the peppers...I have tons...I got nice fresh sweet potatoes, squash, cabbage and other delightful veggies...I had a huge bag...for $9! Yes...I didn't mention they are really reasonable too...I just wish it wasn't so far...or I'd be there every other day!!

I anxious to get to reading about all you have been doing in my absence...I hope you will all come back and see me soon...I will not be gone so long again...

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

It never rains in California....it pours!

 So today started off just the same as any other hot August day...sunny and hot...we went for our morning walk and then Don went off to help a friend finish a covered porch...I went off to the post office and grocery store...then started my sewing...too hot to garden...then what happened..the room started getting dark...the TV flickered a lot...I listen to the news or Pandora when I sew...then I heard loud noises on the roof...

 I went out on the front porch to this craziness!! It was pouring...

 Yet when I looked to the west...I saw this!

 When I went to the back yard...I saw this!

 Can we say flash flood...

The good thing is... I don't have to water for a few days...the bad thing is...I called Don to warn him about the rain...had it started there yet?? He got soaked...and the framing job...all tarped over for now. And the flag pole you saw in the previous picture of the blue sky...I heard a bang and pop...its on the ground now...bent over from the middle...maybe the lightening hit it...not sure...I called my neighbor...no one home...I hope that's all the damage they had...or anyone else for that matter. 

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

Gardening thoughts....

 When I'm out in the garden alone in the morning...I have time to think and reflect on my life....

 how lucky I really am...

 I forget that at times during my day to day life...we all struggle...

 some more than others...

 Things have never come easy for me...

 or my sons....

 but we plug along...

 never giving up...

 always keeping the faith...

 and realizing...

 that we are loved...

 and needed...

 we all have gifts...

 and we are blessed...

 One of the gifts I was blessed with was patience...

 and sometimes it took a lot to complete this back pack! I have changed the pattern many times...but I think I'm finally happy with the results now!

 It's been hot here the last week...106 yesterday...not really too bad for my neck of the woods this time of year...but I thought my gals could use a cool loose dress...

And a hat to shade their necks!

It is back to school time here as well...I have no idea why school seems to be starting earlier and earlier...and getting out earlier...this is the hottest time of year here...well at least I can wear shorts to class! Although the air conditioning is so cold in class that I nearly froze yesterday! I'm learning more each day...and I can't wait until next semester because that when all the basics will be done and I can start on desk top publishing and computer graphics!! I just hope this old brain can retain all the knowledge!

Not much else happening around here...I garden, I sew, I go to school...and we are getting  ready for a couple craft fairs next month and October...I am looking forward to Fall...when the front door can be opened all day...and the breezes turn from hot to cool...and I can enjoy sitting out on the back porch during the afternoon instead of inside with the a/c on...but enough of me...I hope your days are full of wonder...

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