A GOOD START

I had a pretty slow day; a new p-b-n was started which was beach in stark contrast to the weather here right now!  The new year greeted us with 29*F!

Bill has picked the Glorybower berries (cleredendrum) for me before the frost got them!  I am picking each of those berries from the stalk so that I can make a dye bath.

It is slow going, I might add!

I finished piecing the four-patches and gave up on the diagonal layout because there were too many directional fabrics that looked silly sitting sideways!  I arranged them so that the  diagonal lines show up in the fabrics and not the blocks.  Much better.  I have two borders to apply after I piece the blocks to each other.

 

SEE WHAT FLITTING GETS YOU

I have so many plants/flowers outside but very few inside!  I plan on rectifying that over the next few months!  This is a Coleus Bill rescued from the clearance section at the end of Spring--it has done well outside and I hope it will like it inside, too!

I did a little bit of piecing--halfway through this little top and I worked at the quilting frame.

A lot of time was spent in the kitchen--not my favorite room!  

Bill had his second cataract surgery today and I wanted to make some soup so that he could eat whenever the mood struck him without having to cook or grill.  It is my friend, Mary's, recipe for Potato Soup and I added some chopped up ham to it. 

It was delicious coupled with two pieces of French bread toast, if I do say so myself!

 

DECEMBER DELIGHTS

The poinsettias are right on time!  These plants stand about 4' tall--we've had them for years!

The baby sweater crocheted in Granny Stitch is done and I even made a Granny Stitch beret to match!

I can't wait to gift it to the new baby.  This is the 3-6 month size so it will fit all winter here.

 

HERE'S HOPING!

I managed to finish the dishcloth my Mom had started , made another one and then did an old favorite, the corner to corner dishcloth yesterday.  

Bill bought two folding screens at Ollie's recently and made a change in the hinges to one section so I could have them as a privacy screen on the corner of the pool patio facing a long driveway on that side of our property.  There are new homeowners back there and I felt the need for some changes.  The large plant in the blue pot is a lemongrass plant--yes, each leaf when broken smells delicious!

The other plants from left to right ( I double-checked my words here for accuracy! lol) are a Plumeria, Buddha plant and ponytail palm.  The outdoor temp in the sun read 118F--not a day for hanging out by the pool !  I did go to the doctor's and am on a 'script of anti-biotic so I should be feeling better in a few days!!!!  I'm ready for that!
 

WORN OUT!

There has been a trend this week-of breaking equipment!  The on/off switch on the quilting machine stopped working-I had to order replacements for the front and back handles. They are supposed to arrive today-if it comes early enough, I hope Bill will be willing to help me install them!

The rock tumbler has died--I have ordered a replacement for this which will be here Monday--I have the 2 barrels of WA rocks that are not finished yet!

And  woke up to naughty footprints all over the newly loaded quilt!  It's a good thing I hadn't started any quilting yet!

Outside, things were progressing much better!  

I worked hard and after an hour or so, 

 all of the new flowers were planted!

I even planted this passionfruit from a friend--this is the fruit!

It is set at the base of the freshly painted trellis arch--the new plant is 5' high!  I can't wait for it to perk up and begin to climb! 

After a swim to cool off--it was 96* outside today--I sewed the borders to the last top.

I wanted to start a new project so I pawed through the Shop Hop haul and found these fat quarters!

I am playing around with some Churn Dash blocks I cut out on the Accuquilt!

WHERE I'VE BEEN!

Thursday I went with a friend to an absolutely excellent plant nursery!  We enjoyed the many garden areas and bought several plants to commemorate the day! All of the plants are started and grown by them for our planting zone 9 , all native plants , so they are all success stories!

This is an ever bearing cherry tomato plant--for Bill who loves them and will enjoy keeping this one alive for his own tasting pleasure!

I bought myself a Soap Nut tree-I don't know everything about it yet, but it grows nuts which are used as a soap-I've got a lot of learning to do before this starts to grow its fruit!  It will grow up to 30' tall-we will have to find the right spot for it!  

This little guy is a guava tree and will produce fruit next year!  It will be in the new grove we have started in our side yard!

And yestereday, Mary and I went to the Daytona Beach AQS  Quilt Show!  What a great day!

There were many quilts which caught my attention but this is one I will actually make!  A QOV, of course!  Today I will be home (phew) and will sew on the latest quilt to get it off the design wall and into a top!  
 

PUTTERING DAY

The baby sweater is finished-I will just add one button to the top.  I will whip off a hat this morning and mail it off with the quilt!

I wanted to wear the bottom necklace of natural amber but the elastic I had threaded it on popped--likewise the necklace on the top.  I guess that the elastic that is sold for threaded beads on lasts as long as rubber bands--just a few years!  I thread them both this time on silver wrapped thread.  This time it will last!

We repotted the Ficus tree;  it had outgrown its pot--the angle is funny here-the tree is over 6' tall and the pot is 2' tall. 

 This won't be tipping over anymore!

I had to go to the lab yesterday (it is located in a corner of WalMart) and when I was done, I bought some crochet cotton so that I could make the tote on the cover of this magazine!

It is made with a smaller hook to give the tote some firmness-

I might have to change that because it is harder to crochet 

but I am pleased with the look so far!  

 

PREPARING FOR THE FREEZE

 

No, I have not opened a Plant Nursery! 

 We would cover the sensitive plants if there was temps predicted for the 30's but since they are saying we will get three-four nights in the low 20's, we are trying

 to save as many as we can!

Bill spent most of yesterday moving plants in, covering the ones too large and trying to  save the fruit that is ripe on the trees-oranges,, tangerines and grapefruits!  

They can handle an occasional drop into the 30's 

but this will be a strain on the trees and fruit!

I worked on the lathe-putting the many layers of finish on the bowl and sanding between each.  Very calm work!

I knit a scarf with the little handspun leftover balls- (which I found cleaning out the yarn bins!)-it is 6' long!  

Thank good ness for the Sentro knitting machine--this is double-layered and going to be needed this weekend!

I also made some hats to send to family!

I plan on sitting in front of the fire tonight!

I hope you are keeping warm, too!

ACCEPTABLE DOGS

Lena says she will accept this pack of dogs in the house! 

 I am so glad I finished all four of the dogs-sometimes things don't work out but this was interesting and sentimental to sew.

I tell friend that I really do like to mend things;  a vintage decoration had suffered water damage while packed away for the year and the fabric had actually rotted away.  I was able to patch it and use some holly appliques to copy how it looked before.  Since this was printed fabric, I had to do the best I could.

The use of the silver glitter glue really brought harmony to the patch and the rest of the print! 

 I enjoyed the challenge and my friend was thrilled.  

(This used to be her grandmother's!)

I thought you would enjoy seeing the 'olives' of our wild olive tree.  They are edible to birds and not people!

The olives are the size of small marbles.

 

WARM HANDS

Since the dog is still here because every shelter is full and they can't take her in and no one we know is looking for a new pet...

...the cats are housebound! 

 Lena turned to tv like so many of us during a lockdown!

I played with the knitting machine and made a fingerless mitt.

The second one is well on its way.  

More stats when I finish it soon.

Here is that unknown plant so you can see where it is growing.

The seed pods are turning color--

look how beautiful the centers are becoming! 

 By the way, the plant has been identified as a Clerodendrum Indicum.  Fascinating read.  

The plant is grown in Asia, Hawaii and other tropical areas. 

 I think it is just incredible!

 

THE MONTH OF RED AND GREEN

I picked this from a 4' plant growing out back--isn't it amazing.  A friend said if I wait a few more weeks, the green seed pods will turn brown and it will be filled with seeds --for friends! lol

This cluster is about 8-10" long!  The flowers are about an inch in diameter--it's quite the flower but I have searched Google and can't find its name!  Feel free to search and get back to me!

I enjoyed a few minutes of coloring with pencil--

a card to add to the stack.