IT'S BLOOMING!

Getting near the end of this quilt.  That's a good thing because the panto I picked for this one is getting boring! lol

Look!!!!  Two blooms are open!  This is the Starfish Cactus--the flower is about 10" across!

They are hanging down at the end of the long branch so I tried to take a photo like a selfie--the skin of the flower is translucent! It is in the family Stapella and related to the lifesaver cactus which has 1" bloom.  Some call it the Carrion Cactus because of the terrible smell of rotting flesh which attracts flies, etc. 

 So far, I didn't smell such an aroma, to my relief.

 

Green/Red and White!

The snowmen received their carrots 

and the mystery item on the lathe yesterday is a Gnome! 

 I had fun making the beads for his nose and hat tip,

 well , every part, in fact! 

 I found the wood burning tools

 but not my assortment of tips

 so I am going to have to wait for that to happen.

As soon as it warmed up a bit, 

I went out and refilled the birdfeeders

 and then 'planted' the latest stepping stone.

I'm also changing out my hanging plants

 so I can put my blooming Christmas cactuses on display!

I also loaded up the Hunter Star 

 but now it will sit until I am inspired!  

I don't have a lot of time to languish over this decision!

 

Looking Ahead

The binding is one-I hope to have another quilt in the same position soon

 so I can toss them both in the w/d.  

Nice to see this one completed. 

The Noah's ark pictures in the fabric are cute 

and I think it will be fun to play an I-Spy with the images!

Look what it starting on all 50 of our Christmas Cacti!!!!  

They will be in full bloom for December for sure!

INKTOBER DAY 26--HIDE 

  A common enough site in my back, backyard-

-a gopher tortoise who pulls in when he realizes he can't take cover anywhere else!

 

Lifesaver Cactus Blooming!

Isn't it unusual but beautiful?!  The bloom is about 1 1/2" across ; 

 there is no aroma whether sweet or sour!

There are no prickers on this cactus and it is extremely easy to grow!  

A win-win succulent!

See how it stands out from the lobe with a 3/4" stem.

  What an amazing plant!

Look what I am going to make today! 

 It has been too long since I have made a stepping stone!

And since I spent some time being chauffeured to an eye appointment yesterday,

 I was able to knit quite a bit on the Pimpelliese shawl;  

I've only messed up once but it is easy to rip out to the beginning to the last 'tooth' and begin again!  

 

Cereus Sighting

There are at least 10 'pipes' ripening on several Cereus plants....

I am hoping it won't be raining on the night they finally open!

Happy Solstice.

Ogre's Ears!

 Isn't this a pretty succulent?!

It is called Ogre's Ears!  What a great name.

It is a gift from my neighbor;  

I hope it is hardy because I would really like this one to make it!

 I enjoyed building my honeycombs yesterday--they go together more slowly because of the Y seams but at least they are going together very accurately!

And Gladys about did me on on that foolish heel!

Give me a toe-up sock any day!!!!!!!!

The heel and gusset gobbled up much more yarn, it was thick and clunky,

and the numbers didn't work out over and over.

I ripped it out and did a short row heel and now I am way down the foot!

Knitter, know thyself!

I might just knit the other sock toe-up and see how it turns out! HA!

A Grand Christmas

We took a trip up to Fernandina Beach to see youngest son's family

for an early Christmas with them.

Ella had just had her tonsils out this week so she was a bit droopy

 but a real trooper about the pain.

Eli loved having us to himself for a change!

We played all kinds of three year old games!

And here is a plant trophy from me-I have been tending this cactus for 10 years;

it was a gift from a friend starting out at 8' and now  it is 28" and for the first time ever-

it is blooming!

They are waxy thick flowers and there are buds all over the plant!

I am so excited!  

This is a Euphorbia cactus of which there are tons of varieties, a crown of thorns is a more common one.  It is cold hardy which is a good thing because we woke up to temperatures in the 30's!

Silk and Spikes! Yikes!

If you remember the silk I received for the DarnGoodYarn project for the first month, 

the project was to knit or crochet a plant hanger.  

(I did the knitting version.)

I finally present you with the final project now complete with plants!

I bought the colorful cacti that I envisioned to set off the colors in the silk!

It is hanging in the corner of my dining room;  way out of reach 

and yet it is sunny enough to let the sun bounce off the yarn.

A unique way to bring plants into my house!