Blessed rain !

The rain has come, and I am so thankful !

My dryer has been out for a couple of weeks, but I haven't been concerned, as it's been so dry, and I hang out most of my clothes regularly anyway.  I only dry jeans and towels to avoid the horrible stiffness that they get from drying on the clothesline.

Well, yesterday I hung out a load of clothes and it started raining !   I rushed out to get them, but not quickly enough, so I wrung out the most of the water, and left them to dry overnight.   When they were even wetter this morning, I ran them through a rinse cycle and returned them to the line.  Before they were fully dry.......you guessed it, right?........it started to rain again.  Well, this time I took down the nearly-dry clothes and put them in a basket to wait.   I had called the dryer repairman earlier in the day, thinking that I would replace the dryer, but quickly deciding that it would be more prudent to repair it instead.

He arrived about an hour after taking the clothes in, and replaced the thermal fuse.  Now she's running like a a top again, the clothes are dry, folded and put away, and mama's all happy !  I enjoyed an entire afternoon of slow, soaking rain, and praised the LORD for his bounty and blessings.

The little room

I got up and started refilling the little bedroom this morning.   

There aren't alot of options as to how to arrange it.  

I've tried 3 now, and came back to this original one for now.

I really like this green.  

 I wish that the room had baseboards, but it's not something that I want to tackle right now.

 If you look at the pillow in this second shot, you can see through the pillowcase. 

 It's a new pillow, and I left the labeled plastic cover on it to remind me which one it was. 

 I didn't realize that you'd be able to read it through the case.......ha !

I'm moving as slowly as my computer.......

..........but, I'm feeling pretty contented.

Yesterday, bored with the too quiet, and really hot Fourth of July, I decided to drive out to Walmart and see what kind of flowers had been clearanced due to the drought/heat.  I was disappointed to find slim pickings, so I moseyed in to check out the paint department.  I like to look through the "oops" cans, to see what paint is there that someone rejected when it didn't mix up to the color that they were trying for.  I've had it in the back of my mind, ......slowing inching it's way forward, daily........that I wanted to repaint the front bedroom, and possibly the bathroom.

Blessedly, I found a rejected gallon that was a really nice shade of green.....just what I've had in mind.  At half-price, I decided to pick it up.  Well, let me tell you, these iron pills I'm on must be making the difference in my energy level, because exactly 24 hours later, I had a freshly painted bedroom in a beautiful shade of medium/light green......(and knees to match !)

So, I'm tired but happy.  That room is SO SMALL, but I think that it'll be cozier now with the green paint behind the antique white headboard of the little four-poster twin bed.  I'm waiting until tomorrow to reload the room, so pictures will have to wait also.

If you like the flowers in my header today, that is a HARDY Hibiscus that my neighbor, Rose, gave to me when it got broken in half during a storm last August.  It didn't bloom again last year, but this photo shows what I found on it yesterday morning,......... FOUR blooms, all around the top of the plant at once.  The Hibiscus that you buy at Walmart and most garden centers are only hardy down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, then they freeze !  But this variety stays in the ground over the winter and comes back bigger and better each late Spring.  I just love this deep pink one.  She's given me two others, but this is their first year, and I don't know what color they are, as they haven't yet bloomed.

HAPPY 7TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY to my daughter, Kelley, and my son-in-love, Tim !

May you have atleast 40 more !

Something quilty.........finally !

My camera was not working during the months that I didn't have internet access, but I did get a couple of quilt-tops pieced for my friend, JoAnn.

The first one was this red and white Ohio Star top.  As you can see, I worked the border in by adding pieced blocks of a different design.  I drafted these up in EQ4 today since I have no photographs, and I'm not sure how many blocks wide/long I made it, but as I recall, the top finished around 81 x 99 inches.

The second one was a blue and white quilt based on a block called the Lawyer's block.  Yes, it is another use of the traditional Delectable Mountains block, putting four together to make the Lawyer's block.  I went another step farther and put FOUR of those blocks together, 9 times, with a wide sashing and border.  This one finished around 88 x 88 inches.

No MALWARE hopefully

I'm no longer receiving the warning not to enter this space, so I hope that the problem is gone.  I apologize for anything that was/is beyond my computer savvy.

Today's flower-share is the basic Morning Glory, the true vining one.

This solid blue one is named "Heavenly Blue" quite appropriately, I think.  It is from a seed packet purchased at Dollar General Store.  The blooms are quite large, and gloriously beautiful.

This second variety is named "Flying Saucer", and Rose gave me the packet.  We're not quite sure we remember where she got them, but maybe ALSO Dollar General.

They took quite a long time to reach the blooming stage, but were well worth the wait.  No two blooms look alike, ranging from striped, to nearly all creamy, to paint-speckled-looking.  I have them growing up the lattice work of my deck and in my outer flower bed around a couple of dead hibiscus stalks, as well as here in this photo around the mailbox.

Speaking of the mailbox, it is one that I recently purchased at our second annual SummerFest, a craft fair that is situated around our Courthouse Square.  I saw it last year and loved it, but didn't own my own home, or even think that I ever WOULD.  When I saw the crafter this year, I mentioned the box, and she said that she still had it at home and that her husband would bring it to us if I liked............well, YEH !   That's beautiful purple Irises and a Mocking Bird on each side of the box.  I'm thrilled with it.

Meet Lottie Dah

Oh, and by the way.........here's the baby I've been waiting for for months and months and months !
It took so long to get my kitten that this one is from a second litter.  The first kitten reserved for me was named Opal, for the month of October in which she was born.  When my daughter didn't get to come visit while she was really small, she decided to keep her for her own family.  Then the mama kitty, Cleo, had another litter, and my daughter picked this one for me.  She was born in Lawton, Ok., so she's named "Lottie" (Lawtie), and I added "Dah" as her second name, just for the fun of it.  Imagine me out in our neighborhood if she wanders off, calling, "Lottie-dah !  Lottie-dah !"

Back to real life

We had the best visit we've ever had !
The kids are so healthy and bright and sweet.........and they pick at each other constantly as siblings will do.  Kelley and Tim seem really comfortable and happy together and doing well.  It was sad to see the hail dents in their nice hybrid car, but insurance is going to take care of that, and make lots of nice changes on their home as well, so the hail storm was actually a blessing in disguise, as often happens.  Thank you, LORD !

Moonflowers

I've decided to post a few pics of my flowers again.  Tonight I'm going to start with a plant for which  my favorite neighbor, Rose, gave me seed.  It's called Moonflower, and is supposed to be a member of the Morning Glory family, but is not a climbing plant.......it's a small/medium, bush-like plant.  This specific one I grew here, from her seed, by my mailbox last year, and part of the stem remained all Winter.  This Spring, it began to regrow.  The blooms open in the evening around sunset and go away when the new day's sun starts getting high and hot.  They put out a round, prickly seed pod that dries just full-to-bursting with seed.

I adjusted the light on this photo for clarity.

No sewing or quilting right now, as the guest room precludes use of the sewing paraphernalia.  But Kelley and I did spend time refreshing our minds on the beginning basics of crochet.  She wants to make an afghan for the couch at her home.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the best news.  Tim's deployment has been cancelled........WE THINK !

Please pray that it's true and not a fluke !

Talk-free Tuesday---GRANDBABY ENJOYMENT has begun !

Time waits for NO man.........

........and my grandbabies are no exception.

See how they've grown !

Zoe, now 8, informed me yesterday (or today).........I'm sortof senile lately,........ that it's only 14 more days before they arrive on my doorstep for their yearly nana and papa visit !  Hoorah !

I know, Zoe, I can hardly wait either !

Well, I'm back online at home again !

But, wow, this page for posting a new post looks really strange ! 
This could take some re-learning !
Anyway, just saying hi for now, as I'm being reminded what a time-sucker these  'puters are !~  I usually get quite a bit done during a day's time, but NOT TODAY !

Hello again, post happy valentines' day, all you sweethearts !

We're still over here in our little corner of the world, blessed and highly favored, saved by grace !

Jodie, I got your package and will call you soon..................LOVED the long, long letter !

Wanda, I'm thinking of you, too !  Thank you for posting the picture of our quilt on your blog.  I've linked to your blog there, hoping the photo is still up !

Gotta hurry home, talk to you again soon....................SPRING'S COMING,  -----------  HOORAY !!!!

Getting to sew a bit....

...I gave up the spare bedroom in exchange for making it a full sewing room..........I'm much happier, though I wish I could have both at once !

I finished hand-quilting a challenge that I had accepted from Wanda Gayle.  She sent me some finished blocks in the Jacob's Ladder pattern, and some already cut-out flowers along with a pattern.  I assembled the blocks together and used the appliques in a little bit different way.  I hope that she will post a photo of the quilt, as I don't have a working camera right now, nor internet access at home. 

I also pieced a quilt-top today and yesterday, from batiks and Fossil Ferns that JodieAnn sent to me over time.  I used a mottled cream fabric as background and it came out just beautiful.  In fact that's why I'm in  town right now.......on my way to purchase a batting with which to put it together.

Hope everything is blessings with all of you !  Love,

catching up

Hubby had left and right eye cataract surgeries.  Left eye doing wonderfully.  Right eye must be redone by specialist on Nov. 18th........prayers welcome !

Staying busy and trying to make improvements on new home.   Glory to God, I repainted our 14 x 14 foot shed all by my lonesome, and HE made it come out right and kept me safe midway up that extension ladder, PRAISE THE LORD.    Looks good.........khaki green with dark chocolate trim !

Next court date for me, Nov. 21st.......trusting always, whatever the outcome.

Not alot of quilting going on......the hubby always has something else to suggest that I do.......but I'm trying to finish a little pink scrap triangles baby quilt with big-stitch, for an expected grand-niece, Eva Klaire, due in early December.

Started a new pair of socks to have something to work on during hubby's doctor visits.........trying not to do all the easy stuff before I find myself stuck in a waiting room and starting a heel, for which I'd have to have refresher instructions !

Love and hugs and kisses to you all.........enjoy this beautiful changing of the seasons once again !

Dolly

Oh, I forgot to mention........my beautiful China (black and white kitty) disappeared and has not been seen again, since Sept. 1st.  I miss her so, but fear that something in the woods got her.  Kelley's Siamese had kittens, and she's trying to hold the one kitten that came out looking like the mama, for ME, but I don't know when she can bring her from Oklahoma, and of course, they can't hold her indefinitely !  Just incase, though, I've already named her.  She's OPAL, and I found a little figurine to satisfy me of her until she's in my arms.   Let's hope !

BOY, am I home?

Things have changed so much in my life since I was last able to post. 

Hubby and I were led by GOD, I am quite sure, to a little home place that we could afford to purchase.  This is our first property and we got moved during the month of July.  We are blessed and happy, settling into our new nest.  It has a very good heating and cooling unit which worked wonderfully during this past month's excrutiating heat, and we even tried out the heating last night, with the onset of our first cool -pre-Autumn evening. 

I'm currently enjoying planting the yard of our 1 1/3 acres with Crape Myrtle shrubs and Irises......I've even been promised some Rose of Sharon trees by a new neighbor.

Well, I have to run, so I'll cut this short.  Hope all of you are well and blessed.

Dolly

We're being invaded !

And I don't know what these bugs are, but they're making a mess of my beautiful Zinnias.

They're also eating up the Hazel Nut bushes that my husband enjoys seeing on our walks.  I saw groups of them on these bushes yesterday evening, and then when I got up this morning there were about TWELVE of them all over my poor babies at the mailbox !

I hope they're short-lived and move on quickly ! 
I know that everything has to EAT, but they've had enough now, and SO HAVE I.

Working with Jacob

Best galpal, Wanda Gayle, sent me a project that she had grown tired of.  She did SO MUCH of the tedious work, ........ piecing the blocks and cutting out tons of applique pieces.



In this layout, the ladders formed echoing diamonds.



I trimmed down the blocks today and lay them out on my sewing room floor.  I have the windows covered to keep out the heat from the sun, so these colors are not true.  I tried several layouts, finding each one had it's merits.......

With this layout, the ladders formed echoing X's.



I even found a layout that replicated a zigzag pattern !

But, ultimately, I went back to the original layout, which forms 4 X's.........although I did wind up piecing them into color blocks.

4 X's, separated into blocks of yellow, tan, red, and green

I'm going to do a little bit of studying before I decide where to go from here.  The original pattern, called Jacob's Garden, has a 2 1/2 inch sawtooth border, followed up by an eight inch black border which is filled with appliqued floral vines growing from baskets in all 4 corners. 

Here we go........

........pink, and purple seem to be the colors of this packet's flowers !

And I love it ! 

Pale pink, medium pink, hot pink, and even a salmony pink were the first flowers to open up. 

Now there are two flowers coming that appear to be purply pink.

SQUEEEEEAAAALLLLLL !

Gardening news........

I am still having trouble adjusting to my lack of ability to grow a yard full of flowers here.  I look back at my flowers from my yard in Oklahoma and wish that I could get those results now. 
Don't get me wrong......the area I live in is SO BEAUTIFUL.  The trees and foliage are SO LUSH.   But this trailer was placed on a hill and apparently the yard is based on rock and 'chirt' (do you know what that is.......it's a term that I grew up with), and I can't afford to supplement my flower beds with potting or top soil.

Having said all of that, I am looking forward to zinnias blooming around my mailbox this week.  I planted one packet of Zinnia seed, and one packet of mixed flowers. 

From the mixed flower seed, the only thing that I recognize are several Moss Rose seedlings.  And they don't yet have buds on them, but they're looking pretty good, too. 

I also bring home every wildflower that appeals to me, from our walks.......if I can get them to come loose from their place with roots attached. 

  I brought home LOTS of daisies and have planted them and golden flowers that are similar, along my back fenceline.     These are now dying out after blooming all of their buds, but hopefully they will return next year and beyond. 

My sister-in-law gave me seeds from her Wisteria bush/shrub and I have 3 of them coming up in this pot.  I think that I also have a Rose of Sharon tree started in there too.  I have planted seedlings from my Oklahoma Rose of Sharon trees several times, but have never recognized when they come up.  I think that they tricked me by looking like young Maple tree seedlings, and I pulled them.  I have never grown the Rose of Sharons from seed before, as I always found young ones sprouting out of the ground around my bigger trees, and I used those to spread around my yard and share with my deary, JodieAnn.   She planted three of them together in one hole, and after a couple of years, when they were big enough to bloom, she had 3 different colors, seemingly on one tree !   It was amazingly beautiful !
You can also see more of the moss rose seedlings in this pot.

Here at the end of the trailer, I have my few Irises, which finally bloomed for the first time this Spring, their 3rd year since moving them.  Jodie sent me some from Oklahoma two different times since I moved here to Tennessee, and I got them planted there this year too.  They are growing but won't bloom this year.   There are a bunch of wild Violets spread in there along with the Irises.  I forgot to photograph the other Irises that I planted in a few odd places.   A lady at a garage sale gave them to me.

In these photos you can see Blackberry bushes that I accidentally wound up with in my flower bed.   The Sprng that I moved here, in 2009, I dug up what I thought was a wild white rose bush, and transplanted it to this bed.   It bloomed for two Springs, and then this Spring, it bloomed again and then the blooms became berries !   I have been so confused, because there ARE white wild roses all up and down our road and behind us, and the blooms look exactly the same as the blackberry blooms.

  Anyway, these berries are just little nubbies, not lush-looking like the photo makes them appear.   But the bush has sent up more bushes in 3 other places in the flower bed, so maybe eventually there will be a nice little stand of blackberry bushes here.  It'll probably turn out to be the bane of my flower bed's existence, taking over everything with briars ! 

Anyway, that's my gardening news for now.  I'll try to get photos of the blooming zinnias this weekend, Lord willing !

Fruits of Fall--sensing a theme here.......

.........could we say that I'm working well ahead of schedule?

I've finished another Fall-themed quiltie, but, truly, I'm definitely NOT working ahead.  This poor little wall-hanging was started way back in the '90's sometime.  The pattern was contained in a calendar featuring a different wall-hanging for each month of the year.  I can't remember who the quilt artist or company publishing the calendar was.   It's amazing that I even held onto the project for this long, but, the point is, I finally finished it. 

The top is machine-pieced, and hand-appliqued.  It was hand-quilted in  small q-snap frames, employs cotton batting, and measures about 28 inches square.  I used a bright plaid fabric for the back of it.

Remember the SWEATER I knitted for Lissy to wear

I got to"help her" try it on today.

It was a real hit.................as pants !

Ha !