Do you see it?

Do you remember the searching activity "Where's Waldo?"

You looked at an extremely busy picture and had to find Waldo.

(image from Yahoo)

We would spend hours looking for all the different images.

(Have you found Waldo in this example?)

We had a pretty nice, pleasant, relaxing weekend.

Honey Do and I got to spend some quality time together while Newton exercised a little freedom. (He's 15 now, doesn't need us and feels he can come and go as he pleases - just for the record:  NOT !!)

Anyway . . .

While we relaxed in the backyard, Honey Do on the hammock, I in my chair, the dogs here and there.

We had some interesting visitors.

Can you find him?

How about now?

Here he is . . . 

He'll probably be easier to spot in the original photos once you know what you are looking for.

I was in awe of him - I'd never seen a dragonfly that looked like this. Gorgeous.

 

Speaking a out gorgeous . . . 

Spotted these two at my house and mom's last week. It's been pretty warm, so we are starting to see butterfly and hummingbirds. Very excited about both visitors.

I was blessed with more quilty mail. A box of scrap fabrics arrived last week. I finally got some time yesterday to sort and organize. These two cute bundles were also included. Don't you just love when quilters clean house? :)

I'm working on 9- patches then we'll see where it leads. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with countless blessings.

Sunday Respite . . . or not

My day started as it usually does on Sundays . . .

I'm up about 7 . . .

I take the dogs out . . .

make coffee . . .

go to church.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

Sunshine . . .

temperatures in the mid 70s . . .

nice breeze.

I've spent the last two days catching up on the finally preparations for Vacation Bible School.

It's all done until I get to church Monday and spend the morning with first, second and third graders.

I haven't spent much time on anything else. I caught up the laundry on Saturday in between cutting out shapes. I should be good until about Tuesday.

After dinner and dishes, I did some preparations on a new project.

Yes, another one.

This one actually started in January. I saw a post on Facebook and fell in love.

These are called Calendar Girls and I have a monthly subscription from Stitches of Love.

I have been receiving some other "quilty mail".

 

I ran across this pattern and kit last year in an email advertisement. I thought about it for too long and it sold out. The vendor was wonderful and shared information with me so that I could still purchase it. I finally did. It was horrifically expensive in my opinion. First, the designer/vendor wanted a minimum purchase of of $20.00, the pattern was only $11.00. 

So I decided to get the accessory kit - it was $20.00 !!!!

On top of that they charged me $10.00 plus for postage.

When the package arrived, the postage sticker said $3.21.

After going round and round with them and not having the difference refunded to me, I have decided not to purchase from them again.

In the meantime, I've gone through my stash and pulled my fabrics. I managed to gather everything I need to complete the project, except time at the moment. Hopefully it will get done before the holidays.

Have you heard of Fort Worth Fabric Studios?

Every Friday they have a new fabric bundle on sale for as little as $20.00.

This is my most recent acquisition :)

I have a design for the quilt top chosen.

Another favorite subscription is called Sew Sampler from Fat Quarter Shop. Lots of fun and interesting items. There's always a fabric bundle (this one is from Crayola) and a pattern to use with it.

There were some tool items (a two inch square ruler and quilt labels) and some extras (ribbon and a pen).

I saw this fabric and fell in love with it. I don't know where I'm going to use it, but I had to have it.

 

**

Anyone that knows me, knows I am totally and completely in love with penguins. I found this free pattern and started searching for the fabric. I found 99.9% of it and made adjustments for the last piece, but it's still in the same range. I had to purchase the black from another company, but I got it and that's all that mattered.

It's flannel, not cotton. So it's going to be a fun little quilt to sew up for myself. I love all the quilts I make for my home, but this one is just fun and whimsical.

A few weeks ago, Honey Do repaired a little chair for me on Saturday.

I rummaged through my fabrics and found this pretty, embossed upholstery fabric that was gifted to me from my sister.

Total cost of the update:  $ 0.00 :)

I'm planning it for my guest bedroom.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with countless blessings.

What a difference a few days makes

 

July 4                                      July 8

I can't believe the growth over the past month. We haven't had all that much rain, and could definitely use more, but we've had temperatures in the mid 80s into the upper 90s. 

That hot-house effect is affecting my garden and I'm not complaining. I'm doing my best to keep up with all I'm responsible for and the temperatures.

My diligence with the deer repellent is paying off.

 

The palmera vine is thriving.

 The hostas are blooming even after some serious munching.

 

The coneflowers are blooming and budding even though the deer have nibble here and there, the plants are fighting back with my help.

This is the $5.00 clearance rose bush. Absolutely thrilled  with this beauty.

Gladiolas are deer resistent, so they haven't had to struggle.

Our winters have been so mild that I haven't even dug up the bulbs to preserve them. I'm thrilled with the multiplication of the plants. They will be moving next year to a new location, but I love how beautiful and filling they are. I've got enough that I've even been cutting them and bringing them indoors.

Vacation Bible School is finished for another year. I managed to find some time to work on the scrap box of fabric.

 

I've sorted through everything and made various piles.

I have my first batch of 9-patches begun. With the temperatures in the 90s over the weekend I should be able to get quite a bit done from this box.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with countless blessings.

We got a rainbow :)

It's been less than a week and we got another shower and a rainbow for good measure. I'm not one to complain about rain - I've always loved a good thunderstorm - and if I do, at least these days, it's because we don't get enough. We actually could use about a week's worth of slow, steady rain so that it can soak into the ground. I've got cracks every where and now that I've mulched some of the flower beds (and I know this helps) it seems harder for the water to get through to what's underneath. We are expecting more over night and tomorrow. Here's hoping.

Maggie's First Dance - Block 2

I have to tell you, again, how much I love that Jacquelynn has us cut all the pieces before we begin. I was so exciting to pull out a bad that said "Block 2" on it and start assembling. Rocky was pretty demanding of my time yesterday, so I didn't get the stitching done around the applique, but the block is assembled. One more night and it will be done for the month.

It's not too late to sign up for this free block of the month. Like so many of the designers we follow, this is a free design with more than one option. I can see doing this quilt again with either an embroidered center or just plain.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with countless blessings.

July 4th weekend

My weekend preparations began a while ago. I worked hard for the last few weeks trying to get my gardens done so that I could enjoy not just the weekend, but the rest of the summer. Not finished yet, but much closer to that eventual goal.

 

I had a gorgeous visitor to my vegetable garden.

This butterfly is called Painted Lady. It's the first time I've seen one. Honey Do tracked down her name for me. She's enjoying the marigolds that border the garden.

 

Things are growing beautifully, although we could use a lot more rain.

On the left, zucchini (down the center), bush beans (right), radishes are blooming and going to seed (far right), parsley (foreground).

Lettuce is coming up (right photo) along with cucumber.

 

At the beginning of the week, I purchased a set of obelisks at Aldi. The pair were only $8. This is the smaller of the two making residence in my front flowerbed. On the porch, I have a pot of geraniums that were clearanced for $1.00 !!! There are no blooms yet, but lots of new growth. 

 

More clearance plants. One the left, zinnia's. Pink and yellow. They were 6-packs at a dollar each.

On the right, lantana. They were also clearance for $1.00 :)

It was a good week at the garden center :)

We did get rain on Thursday. Rocky wasn't too impressed.

I was hungry for cake. So I used a box mix and made my version of a "firecracker" cake. It hit the spot :)

 

I really wish they wouldn't grow up to be so destructive to my gardens because these two little princesses are just adorable !!!

These are the "twins".

I've named this one Miss Curiosity. As I was snapping pictures of them, she just kept getting closer. She wanted o know what I was about. We converse almost daily. She's not too afraid of the dogs until Mama comes closer and warns the dogs to back off.

I have done as much as I can do for Vacation Bible School for now, so I was able to pull out some stitchery. I really didn't want to start anything new. Honey Do wanted to go out and lay in the hammock. We promised each other that we would take time to relax this weekend. So between loads of laundry on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, I did some stitching on Mountmellick. I started this about a year ago and never finished it. The whole purpose of this project is to learn new stitches. Progress is slow, but at least I'm working on it again.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with countless blessings.