A couple visitors...

 We had a couple visitors to the yard yesterday...the first one seems to be a regular these days...we see him a lot...he's a juvenile Cooper's Hawk...or as Don calls him...Gary Cooper...he's a real beauty...

 He was playing peek a boo with the birds...well...not really...they knew he was here...we knew he was here because it got very quiet all of a sudden back there...and it's never quiet in my back yard...except when we have company...can you see the wood pecker holes in the apple tree...I took these pictures through the window...Don tried tip toeing out in the back...but he flew off...before these pictures we watched him consume a mocking bird...yes...I know so many of you are thinking...why did you have to say that! But the fact is...hawks are predators...just like us...only they have to hunt to stay alive...I am just always amazed to see them up close...they are beauties!

This guy came later on...a lousy picture I know...it was late in the afternoon...I was inside...and yes he caught a bird...he was there for about an hour...we don't disturb them...anyway...he looks a lot like the other one in some ways...but he is much smaller...we're pretty sure he's a Merlin...because of the size...he's pretty small. He looks a lot like a Peregrine Falcon...and there  was much confusion about this...but size says Merlin to me...we get a lot of activity in our yard...especially this time of year...so many birds are starting to migrate...it seems like they all pass through here...we live 5 houses from a dry river bed...which right now has a small stream through it...lots of large trees and shrubs...and most of the neighbors put out food for the birds. 

Today it was really windy again...it gets that way here...so not much to see...I was planning on gardening...too windy. The temperatures are climbing again...it also does that this time of year...it will cool down again...at least I hope it will!

School is going well...took my first quiz today...got 100%...yeah me!! I am learning things...using my brain...that's a good thing!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!! 

Bulb and flowers...oh my....

 It's been quite chilly in my neck of the woods this month...but the last few days have warmed up a bit in the afternoon...it got to 65 yesterday...so I ventured out to plant some Summer bulbs I picked up last week...Gladiolas!! I have a lot of these in my yard...or should I say the front...the gopher ate most of them in the back yard...evil little devil...well....needless to say...I planted them all in the front...55 of these beauties...I like to get the mixed bags...so I never know what color will pop up. The funny thing is...some of the older bulbs are already popping up...I found a half dozen or so about an inch or more up out of the soil...that excites me! I forgot to take pictures of all the daffodils that are starting to bloom...they are so pretty...I have several varieties in back and front...it seems that gophers don't like daffodils...thank goodness!

 I have these little violas popping up everywhere too...and while I was planting bulbs...I moved a bunch of these around to different areas...this if the most popular color in my yard...I have trouble getting the yellow and orange ones to grow from seeds I collect...I will keep trying...I was able to collect quite a few seeds yesterday too...I just sprinkled them all over...I don't store the collected seeds until it warms up more...that way I always have lots of these little gals...

 I have these everywhere too...they are actually part of the mum family...and soon there will be little white flowers everywhere! I spent time moving some of these around to bare spots too...these will get quite a bit taller...they will reach up to about 12 inches tall...they are another of my favorites...and so easy!! They re-seed themselves every year...now what can be easier!!

 I also noticed that one of my Camilla bushes is loaded with blooms... this one always gives huge blooms...and sort of ruffled flowers... 

A bunch of them were hanging upside down...so I cut them for a vase...this is just 5 blooms...each one is about 5 inches across...no wonder they're so heavy!

This morning it is chilly out again...we have had frost warnings for overnight...but it is supposed to warm up to the mid 60's...I will go out after lunch and do a bit more clean up...I also have sugar snap and snow peas to plant...I got the seeds a couple weeks ago...just now getting around to planting them...I also need to plant more lettuce seeds...I just plant the loose leaf type...it seems to grow the best here...our apple tree is starting to flower...the lavender too...the bees are keeping busy in the yard...you can hear them buzzing if you stop and listen...and the birds quiet down for a minute...they are pretty noisy! This is a nice time of year in our yard...we get so many migrating birds through here and things are popping up all over...the bare spots in the yard will soon be covered with life...the mountains are still snow covered...and there is a chill in the air...the sun feels good on my skin...it's like we're getting a fresh start...to do things again...hopefully better...I like that!

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

Some blue work fun...

 I started this bunny bluework this past weekend while I was up in Central California...the thing is...my great nephew, Jake, was really fascinated with it...he's 7...and super smart! 

He wanted to help me...of course he could help...I was delighted to show him...yes it's not perfect...that's the beauty of it. I am going to make this into a table runner...and I will always think of the time I spent showing Jake how to work on this every time I use it. The wonderful thing is the encouragement that all the adults gave Jake...both men and women...I was so happy to share this time with him. These times are precious...it made me think back to when my sons were small and how my very wise Mother -in-law told me to spend all the time I could with my boys...they are only small for a while...they only need you for such a short time...Jake was not only learning how to embroider...but patience and sharing...my only regret is that I can't spend more time with him.

Until next time...hug the wee ones in your life...and enjoy the day!!!

What a weekend!

 What a weekend! Don and I drove up to Central California...to have some family time and do our taxes...we fondly call every President's Day weekend...Tax Weekend...we all get together...eat and drink way too much...play board games...this year the kids put on a play...take walks along the St. John River...eat and drink even more...stay up way too late...and my SIL does our taxes...she owns her own firm...we are lucky that way!   Here is a couple of the cheesecakes that a friend who joins us made this year...this one is apple crumb...

 This one is lemon...he makes them from scratch...the New York style...he is from New York originally...these were awesome...the lemon was my favorite...the best cheese cake I've ever had...don't get me wrong...the apple was fantastic...but the lemon was perfect...and light...or as light as cheese cake can be!

We took a group picture...Don and 3 of his brother and one sister are in the picture and I bet you can pick them out...and Tim...who made the cheese cakes...is even starting to look a bit like them! Christopher was napping...he is 4 and was very tired...

Of course you can see all the wine glasses...there was a LOT of wine consumed this weekend!!

Don and I got home yesterday late afternoon...got up this morning for our first day of school...boy the alarm ran early! I am used to sleeping later than 6:30 since Don retired...not any more...at least not on Tuesdays and Thursdays! 

It was warm when we left for the weekend and came home to cold, rainy weather...a great day to sew!

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

Some Valentine red....

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day...I thought I'd show you a bit more Valentine love in my house...I'm not really a "red" person...blue is more my style...but in honor of the month of love...I thought I should have some...I wove this blanket last year...I think it's a perfect blanket for this time of year...comfy and warm...and full of love!!

 A few heart peanut butter cups in a heart bowl...I'm just surprised there's still some left!

 I always change the pillow covers on my couches...they are easy to make and its fun to have a different look...the red and white one I actually made for Christmas...but it works for February too...

 And what's more fun than a set of polka dot stacking bowls...not much!!

Except maybe a canister of white chocolate peppermint M&M's....

Don and I will be leaving bright and early tomorrow to spend the day in San Diego with the kids...a love fest with the boys and girls!! Wow...that sounded weird...but I can't think of where I'd rather be on  any day than with my husband and our boys and girls. 

Since today is Ash Wednesday...I thought I'd ask you to include in your prayers the people who have lost their lives the past week or so due to the mad man who has been on the loose in our area...there is a funeral today for the Riverside policeman who was ambushed while on patrol ...and another sheriff was killed yesterday...from the end of my block I can see Loma Linda hospital in the distance...it was a sad day there yesterday...yet another sheriff is recovering there as I write this...all of these men sacrificed so that we could be safe...we think it is over now...but one can't be certain until the authorities confirm everything...we have friends who have a vacation cabin just yards away from where the last gun battle took place...I will have a hard time visiting that area again....as will others I'm sure...many will need our help and prayers to get through this tough time.

Until next time...spread your love around...be safe...and enjoy the day!!!

How do you organize??

 As I've mentioned before...we have a small home...we like to think of it as cozy...but its small... running a business from home can be a challenge...so I am always trying to find new ways to organize  my sewing stuff...that can take over the whole house if given half the chance! 

 I use a lot of clear bins...I do mean a lot!  This is the area above my sewing machine...everything I need is just a reach away...

 I keep the smaller pieces of wool in these smaller bins...larger pieces are in big bins in the closet...

 I keep the thread I use most often on a little shelf right behind my sewing machine...with the bobbin on top...other colors are in a shelf in yet another clear case...you see a pattern here...yeah...some people think its an illness...but these people live in giant houses...

 Fabric is separated by color and type...except the flannel...I use a lot of flannel in my doll carriers...so I keep it in a bin by itself... 

 Ribbon is on spools beneath the thread shelf... 

 I keep zippers and other things in these...I am lucky enough to have a wall unit across the whole one side of this room...with lots of shelves and drawers and closed cupboards...

 Yarn for my current Swedish weaving projects goes in here...and as I finish a tote or carrier...I put them in yet another clear carrier in the garage...I have a giant stack out there...that way I can store them until they sell in my Etsy shop...or until I take them to a craft fair...it works for me...I like things neat and tidy...but most of all I want to find what I need when I need it...how do you organize?? I'm always looking for new ways...

 I am working on doll carriers again...I sold all but one at the flea market...I have been getting a lot of messages in my shop about them...so I got busy...here's a couple I finished today... 

These have been my best seller in my shop...I have had a lot of people say they are buying them to use as Easter baskets...what fun!!

This weekend was a great time to sew...no gardening here...too cold!! The snow level was down to 2000 feet...it was in the low 50's here...too cold for this gal!! What can I say...I'm a baby when it comes to cold...I love it...when I'm nice and cozy inside!!

I almost forgot to tell you...I am going to adult school starting next week...pretty exciting! We got the catalog in the mail and there were a bunch of web design and computer graphic classes...so Don and I went over and signed up...we got text books and everything!! Now to figure out what to wear on the first day of school...not really...I just thought that sounded cool...I haven't had the first day of school in quite a while!

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

My take on those candy hearts...

 I wanted to show you a little more Valentine love around my house...these are some little wool hearts I made a while back...right after I was at the store and saw some of those candy hearts we all loved as kids...well...I did anyway! I put a couple love birds in front of the basket...it looks a little plain...I think I need to look for something else to put here...

 I embroidered little sayings on some of them ...

The nice thing about using wool...I didn't have to finish the edges...just left them sort of rustic...sort of like me...a little raggedy around the edges!! All the wool was from old wool jackets I picked up at the Salvation Army...that's where I find so much of my wool. It was a fun way to add a little love to the house for very little time...and about $2! 

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

Look what I found...

 One of the things I like about having a booth at the flea market...is the shopping!! Yesterday I was able to walk around a bit in the morning and I spotted a couple things I HAD to have...this is the first one...

 The gentleman at the booth spent time in Japan in the early 1970's and brought back a few water colors...this was one...since I absolutely love birds...this spoke to me...aren't they cute! Don hung this one on a wall in our bedroom...it looks perfect there!

 Here's another one I got...sorry about the reflection...I didn't notice until I loaded them here...it has a sort of sage green mat...not sure where it will end up...but I love it!

 Both of them had this symbol on the bottom...

Here's the close up of the other birds...naturally my pictures got out of order...I have no idea how that happens...I loaded them in order...anyway...we took them out of the frames and they are not prints...they are the original water colors...they were pretty dirty and grimy...the first frame is really a nice one...the bottom one not so much...just thinner I guess...I have no idea who the artist is...I just like them and at both for $20...I couldn't pass them up...I buy for enjoyment...not value!!

We had a pretty successful day in our booth...Don sold a number of his bigger pieces...and a table he made...he sold quite a few smaller ones too...my tote bags went well...as well as the doll carriers and zipper bags...I got a lot of requests for little girl purses and more back packs...I'll have to work on that for next time. It was nice getting out there and talking to people...we met so many nice young families ..petted quite a few dogs and puppies...and so many other wonderful vendors. I also came home with more new tiny succulents...different from  ones I have here...and that gave Don an idea...he is now outside making succulent holders out of some of the smaller pieces of reclaimed cedar he has out back...that man doesn't throw anything away!!

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