Category Archive: Life
New Friends
As I was going through the door, I bumped our name sign that was setting by the front door. And look at the new friends who just happened to have their little family there.
One of these parents resided their last summer and now has brought a partner and is raising an adorable little family. Aren’t they just adorable?
Lab Visit
This 4 hour glucose tolerance test had me really nervous as I remember having this test about 50+ years ago and it being nasty. Of course many changes have happened in that time. I think the worst part of it was that they also wanted us to take a tiny bit of blood each 15 minutes during that time and record the number on a glucometer. No, they were not looking for diabetes, but apparently there are a number of other health concerns they can find by reading that test. Anyway, it is done and in two weeks, I should know the results.
I took my knitting along, although, with having to lay it down every 15 minutes to take a snippet of blood, I didn’t get as far on these socks as I had hoped. They are just straight stockinette stitch, so will have them as a car and waiting project.
Another finish
On our short walk in the park, we noticed these trees. Is this natural, or were they bent that way?
The second bee box is on each hive. All those spots on the white are bees, though a bit difficult to see. It is amazing how wearing the bee suit takes the fear out of working with the bees. Even though they are swarming all over, knowing I’m not going to be stung gives me confidence.
And yes, that is me in the bee suit.
Do you see the signature embroidered in the binding at the bottom of the photo?
The koala quilt is finished – signed and bound! I gave it a bit of a push to be able to count if in April’s finishes.
Craftsy
Have you been to Craftsy, yet? They have a multitude of classes on different topics. They even have some mini-classes that are free so you can try their classes and see if you like them. Look here for the list of freebies http://www.craftsy.com/classes/free?_ct=sbqii-wqbbuho-ikrdql&_ctp=free.
I have taken the pizza making one and just now enrolled in the one on knife skills. I have also signed up for several that have been on sale and still have not finished all those classes, but am working on them.
Once you sign up for one of their classes, you can take it as many times as you want until you master the subject they are teaching. I’m delighted with these classes as sometimes it takes me seeing something new a few times before I really retain it. Class subject are on food, gardening, painting, drawing, sewing, quilting, embroidery, etc. I know I missed some, but I think you would enjoy having a look.
Koala quilt
It was cool out today, but sunny. I love to sit by the window and spin with the sun coming through the window on my back. Tomorrow by 4, the temperature is forecast to get up to 75 and maybe up in the 80s late in the day on Wed and Thursday. You people in the sunbelt have no idea how wonderful that sounds to those of us with webbed feet. I will take my knitting outside (when it warms up) and soak in as much sun as possible.
Here is the Koala quilt that I quilted today – It is only 48″ square so wheel chair or child sized. It has been waiting it’s turn.
Here is the back, perhaps, if you enlarge it you can see the design of Australian wildlife. This back is the same dark brown as the front, but the flash changed the color. It still needs trimming and binding.
I have been asked how I get so much done. First, it doesn’t seem to me that I do. But I do push myself with lists and stern talking to get something done daily.
Today, after spinning most of the morning, then winding two hanks of yarn into balls, we ate a quick lunch and went to get some more beekeeping supplies.
We came home and I did the quilt which took 4 hours (but a lot longer working up to getting it done including deciding on the pattern) . Then a quick trip to gather eggs and pen the animals (no choice there).
I convinced myself that whatever spray paint I could find in the garage would work just fine for the bee box I need tomorrow. Chalkboard paint was the only thing I could find, so used it. I now have several white bee boxes and a black one. In this case, done, was better than waiting to buy white paint as I need to give it to the bees tomorrow after it warms up. There are 3 more to paint and I will buy paint before I need them.
Supper was left overs from other meals this week, so just had to warm them.
As you can see, I do what matters carefully and the other as quickly as possible. Tomorrow, I have a morning appointment, after which I absolutely must fertilize the plants in the greenhouse. (Many things get done out of last minute necessity) If I get up early enough, I’ll get some sewing in, but I’m not counting on that happening.
I will attend to the bees in the afternoon which will take an hour and then enjoy knitting a new pair of socks in the sun and taking a walk.
Housework is only done under duress or when company is expected. Unless, it really gets to me, then I’ll take the time to take care of the issue that is bothersome. Most things get done on the way to doing something else – such as taking laundry to the machine on the way to breakfast. A couple mornings a week are spent preparing food for the week.
Now it is 9 PM and I’m collapsing. At 6 I’ll start this all over again. I’m never bored and I hope you enjoyed this small look into my life.
Pouring rain and gardening
It rained so hard today, I am ready to share with those of you in Texas who are wanting rain. However, I am not complaining, because it is much easier to get out of the rain than to get rain when it doesn’t exist. Today, I spent considerable time spinning the dog’s wool that they are shedding like crazy. Then I planted some tomatoes – but only about 1/2 of them. I still need to put the others in larger containers to grow until we can plant outside in another month.
These 30 tomato plants were volunteers in the greenhouse
And these 39 I planted from seed. The volunteers are winners so far.
This is the banana plant that I so feared had frozen to death in December
These are the cultivators or shall I call them seedling destroyers.
And just for fun, I thought you’d enjoy seeing this tiny little egg laid by one of our large egg layers. The larger egg is a normal sized egg and the little one is more like a love bird egg.
On Grandpa’s Pond bom started
Today I was scheduled for the dentist. I tried, honestly, I did. But the rain was heavy enough that there were many accidents and people weren’t getting anywhere. After an hour and a half trying to get there, I gave up, came home and rescheduled. So my nerves needed calming and here we go.
“On Grandpa’s Pond“, applique pattern uses a double stick fusible web where one draws on the paper side of the web (the other side eventually is peeled off and the web gets stuck to the back of the fabric).
After drawing, the pattern is roughly cut out and pressed to the desired fabric which is then cut out accurately.
I remove the back paper on these roughly cut pieces and then press them to the WRONG side of the fabric I’m using for that piece.
Sometimes as on the red one, I pressed it to the right side, which meant, I got to cut out another pattern piece and another fabric piece. The green one is correctly on the wrong side of the fabric.
Many pieces overlap slightly. When I have them laid out to my satisfaction, I press in place on the background. I then zigzag with a small stitch around the pieces. (not yet done) I like to use a polyester invisible thread for this. It holds nicely and unless you really examine it, it isn’t that noticeable.
This is the boat that is also part of January’s pattern. On this piece, it has me do stitching before adhering the next piece.
So until next time, I’ll stop here.
Need entertainment?
Today brings us a guest blogger – or at least photographer – and here is his “selfie”.
He and his mom, our daughter, Lisa are here visiting for a day. Of course all the animals are extremely interesting to him and he loves visiting with them. So here are a few photos he took for the blog.
The new bantam chicks
The hens laying eggs behind the fountain by the front door.
Another hen actually setting on eggs in the coup.
Then it was lunch and shopping time. This is a character from Mine Craft and a diamond that interested him.
Back home to the animals, it was hoof stock time and he loved that they would come to him if he had a bit of grain in the bucket. Nana tired out, but tomorrow we will be out there with the bucket once again.
Now if you need entertainment, I know a 10-year-old that can keep a person busy most of the day.
