Making new dolls and a paper hat.....

It's a beautiful day, this last day of June. My garden doesn't need me quite as much so I am making some new dolls to take to Town Peddler. I can never remember how to make a paper hat so I usually have to google it every time, thank you dear internet. It's a double rectangle, fold down two top corners to meet in the middle and fold up a brim, back and front, and it's done. Make one for yourself from newspaper and have a good Wednesday.

Centaurea macrocephala

I have a problem remembering the name of this plant, which is so cool. Before it opens I think it looks like a brain. The common name is American Basket flower .

It is native to Europe and the Middle East, and has been grown since ancient times. It may have been used in medicine, and legend has it that it healed a wound in the foot of Chiron, the wisest of all centaurs and mentor of Hercules. It is a perennial, the stems grow about 5 feet tall and they don't flop over, which is why I grow it. The flowers in my yard know not to flop over, they will get whacked off.

Happy Monday, everyone. I finished a witch yesterday and two Uncle Sams just in time for the Fourth.

A Perennial Pair

Happy Anniversary, Jeff and PJ!

What's in your garden?

Almost two weeks early, the rains and hot days make them larger but don't last as long. Also the canes grew so long and so heavy with the fruit that some are breaking. But they are so good John Michael ate his with both hands.

I like them like this, with a little milk and sugar but Neen makes a great cake. She crushes a layer of raspberries and tops with dry cake mix dotted with real butter and bakes it. My grandmother always made any kind of fruit into a cobbler and sometimes we had ice cream, no cool whip though, it wasn't dreamed up yet.

Have a nice Saturday everyone!

A Book from Debbie at Goat Creek...

I have a new book to read in my break time. It was a gift from Debbie at Goat Creek Bakery. She has a blog that I enjoy so much, she has recipes and crafts and book reviews and best of all, her Italian phrase of the day.

Right now, she is away at Girl Scout Camp, but keep her in mind for when she gets back. It's www.goatcreekbakery.blogspot.com. Check out her older posts in the meantime.

Thank you Debbie, and everyone have a good Friday.

Family time today.....

Today is Tyler's birthday, he is SIXTEEN and how can he be sixteen..but he is and he is a super kid, a good driver and a Marching Band member...Happy Birthday Tyler....


Two weeks ago, Jacob and Lauren visited... and Jake brought his new guitar and sang a song for me.
John and his uncle Jeff on father's day, just swinging.....

John with Mom, Rachel and Great Grandmother, Mary..... Rachel had a birthday too...
Kynda, and John with me...you can see we were happy...but it was too short. I got lots of cards and Facebook happy birthdays and TWO birthday cakes...

Happy Wednesday everyone. Picking out some good news for today, I hope everyone saw Kevin Costner on Larry King last night. Of course, he has always been my favorite movie star, but he will be one of my favorite persons now for his machine to clean up the oil spill.

Paper or Plastic?

This is just the coolest thing...a shopping bag made of shopping bags!!!! From my friend Barb, who comes up with the latest of things. Thank you Barb! Now I don't have to make that dreaded decision at the check-out counter anymore.

I'm adding a funny excerpt from an email from Barb L... for those of us who are in a permanent befuddled state from all the new stuff we are bombarded with.... read on

"The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every
time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on
something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I
check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth
reusable bags to avoid looking confused
but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just
say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to
stare at me with a blank look".

I'm having a special guest this weekend, my canadagarden daughter. She gets here today on the Amtrak. I hope you will have a happy Wednesday too.