Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Excuses I think up

Reading a good book instead of watching the news helps you sleep better. If you like Civil War stories like Cold Mountain or Widow of the South, you will like this one. Her first novel. (not a romance).
I need to weed between the garage and the fence, but I have been watching Ms. Spider get bigger and bigger for a month and I would have to tear up her web that goes all the way to the ground. Look closely, she has a patchwork quilt design on her back, or maybe it's rabbits or stars. The weeds have to wait.
The garage needs painting and the garden tools need to be stored away. However, a squirrel has stashed his walnut on top of my hoe that hangs on the garage. The sign says "this is where I belong". Guess so.

I just wanted to post something today, however trivial. I am working really hard.
Best wishes to y'all. Hope you have accomplished much today.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Designs by Crows Roost Prims




I made these little signs from scrap pieces of barnwood and painted osnaburg. You can get the little ghost pattern from Crows Roost Prims. Also used some dragon vine and dried flowers from the garden. And of course rusty wire and rusty bells.

I hope we are all looking at a good week. I'm taking Hines Drive today out to the craft mall to check on the fall colors this last Monday in September. We'll be watching for pictures from Kentucky Lake on Kynda's blog. It will be a good week.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Cowboy Candy

My presentation is a little sloppy but oh well, I already ate them. I made this Wednesday while I was doing some salsa with jalapenos. Just happened to find the recipe on a first-visit to www.picklesandcheese.blogspot.com. Lisa and I tried it at 11 pm and it was hard to stop eating. Lisa told me she had it for breakfast; maybe she didn't stop.

Be sure to visit picklesandcheese (also Lisa) here.

We used sesame seed crackers. Try it --you'll really like it--and her blog! She's going to the Mayberry Festival this weekend and she also has some beautiful farm market pictures. Happy Friday everyone.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Proven Winners Garden Petunias





Many new varieties for 2011 if this flower grows for you. Mine usually flitter out. Bet you never heard that expression.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Coffee Cups




These impressive plants were at the Proven Winners Garden at the Four Star Greenhouse in Carlton that we visited in August.

I have a suspicion that these plants are three or four years old, wintered in a greenhouse, which they have many, many of. I don't believe they could possible get that large in one Michigan summer. They were all at least six feet tall and almost as wide.

Coffee Cups is listed in the 2010 Spring catalog of Plant Delights Nursery in North Carolina. Maybe you could have one in your zone. Good Sunday to you.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Mid-September Flowers

I have never had so many butterflies as this year. I think I owe it all to this plant, milkweed.
These are everblooming iris.

Sweet Autumn clematis are everywhere. When they are small, they are prettier.
This is the big white butterfly bush which is not really at its best right now.
And this is my stick fence made out of butterfly bush limbs which sprouted and now I have a new plant to be moved.

Heavenly blue is heavenly.

That's it for the Saturday garden tour on this drizzly day. Bye now.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Friendships

We are growing a friendship on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He listens to my stories and has some of his own, only right now they are in his own language. Here he is saying, "So what you're saying is....."
A cover from an old discarded book....
A flower from my garden.....
Some vintage trims from my sewing basket...
A copy of an old photo of two friends...

While I was putting this together, I was thinking about how many friends I have. I don't know these girls but I like to use their picture often. It would be nice to know the story behind the picture, but as it is, I just make one up.

Happy Friday everyone.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Forget-Me-Not Thrift Store Visit

For the lady with long, thin feet......
A piece by Heather Goldminc, Canadian artist.....
Two pillows and a chair......
Joan Crawford would have bought these.....

A beautiful Wednesday it is, and we're having dinner at Blessed Hope. I'm taking apple and peach cobbler and green beans from my garden. I hope you have a nice dinner also, sharing makes it taste even better.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Mammy and her Church Collage

Note to family members: No rolling of the eyes, first part of this story.

I woke up really early this morning and did a few "morning" things, went back to bed and slept for two hours, something I don't usually do.

When I did get up, I kept thinking of all the things I would like to do today, but none of them seemed right, so I just drank a lot of coffee.

I kept remembering a dream I had during those two hours. I always try to explain my dreams, finding a logical explanation for them. Yesterday I dropped off my neighbor girls for cheerleading and my car was full of "stuff". Rachel had to move everything and Sherry did too. One of the things was a big frame that PJ had given me.

Anyhow, the dream was that I had made a picture and used the frame for some of my grandmother's "church" stuff. I'm sure I have thought about that before but today is the day.

In the lower left corner is her certificate from the Women's Society of Christian Service, a lifetime member she was, and her little emblem pin she was awarded.

The fan in the center was our "air conditioner" during those hot summer services and kept the bugs away too. We would giggle to see them buzz the hats the ladies wore.

In the right corner is a page from an old tattered Bible. Folks like her wrote down important dates there. I love it that she says "married June 17th, 1909, went to keeping house, Dec. 23rd."

Upper right corner is the little church she loved so much at Easter and one of her bookmarks. Upper left were some cards she always had ready to give and a letter from a young man that she baby-sat during his growing-up. He writes "You helped to make me the Christian man I am. Your continued prayers that God will let me be worthy of the love of others." He wrote this after he had grown up and moved to Ypsilanti from Kentucky.

Lastly, in the center is a little card that she wrote. I have carried it in my purse for years. If someone tried to take my purse I would probably give my life for it. It is from Joshua, Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with you, whithersoever thou goest.

Of course she would add something--"Read your Bible daily and talk with God. He is always there to guide you if you only ask, believing and give Him humble thanks."

I am often accused of trying to be a "Life Coach". Well, I come by it naturally, only she did it better than I ever could.

Friends and family, sorry for the long post. I hope your day is reflective and hopeful.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Pumpkin Sisters


I just finished these up last night, fabric from PJ's find. I've been using the Alpine Wool at Joann fabrics for hair on some of the fall dolls. It was a nice day for me today, hope yours was as well.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Home, Sweet, Home

Kynda already posted these on her blog . I am looking for some bits and pieces to make another set. Wouldn't you like to know the person who did this beautiful work that I used? I always wonder what their daily joys and worries were as they made these pieces.

Everyone could use a prayer today, back to work and back to school. Special thoughts for Maribeth this week, and my friend in Metropolis, Maureen. And for you too.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Waltz Week

Joy, left, and Rosie, napping, we pretty much got acquainted during my week at their house.
I made some golden corn. The crop this year has been especially good for the farmers.
It was nice to hear my Grandmothers clock ticking away. My dad bought it for her when he got his first job. That would probably have been 1925 thereabout.
And except for one more that I gave to John Michael, this is my entire pumpkin crop. Pretty good, since I only planted one. Each one is colored differently.

I enjoyed my week away, hearing the news that Jordan is back in the USA, sitting on the porch reading, swinging and rocking. I had a visit from John Michael, Rachel and Johnny and they brought pizza hut for me and Barb came out and we went to that fabulous Proven Winners garden. Then on Saturday, a visit from Jacob, (from Maryland) and I had him all to myself for a day. Jeff and PJ had a safe trip back to Waltz and Kynda and Mark , and Vi and Warren celebrated anniversaries. (look at that fabulous cake on www.canadagarden.blogspot.com). But never mind the birthday cake that I had for PJ.

So much can happen in a short time, and there was sadness too. I lost another good friend of many years, Ronnie Walter in Metropolis, Illinois.

I missed everyone here and it is always good to be back home but it was a good week. I hope Rosie and Joy will want me to come back sometime.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Hydrangeas

There were lots of hydrangeas at the Proven Winners Garden. Mostly Pinky Winky and Quick Fire. I have a Quick Fire which I like and it is growing nicely and blooming.
But this was the largest one I think I ever saw. We had a downpour yesterday downriver, but only a bit for my own garden.

I'm missing reading your posts, I will get caught up next week. Have a nice holiday weekend.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Two more Dress Pictures......

This is the wooden frame that the flowers are attached to. You could make one.
Barbara in her red carpet outfit...
and now I promise to shut up about the "Dress".

I am still hanging out with Rosie and Joy and yesterday Jordan (our Army guy) got to be home in the USA. We are so grateful. Enjoy your week...can you believe it's September?