BACK IN TIP TOP SHAPE!

My home, I mean!  I have done a ton of cleaning and tossing to streamline areas.  I enjoy that kind of work! 

 This jade plant has a story;  I had one that was started from a leaf from my grandmother's plant.  I had it for decades but a few years ago it croaked.  I was devastated!  My Mom has a big plant from her Mother's original plant and so she started one for me.  As it grew, she gave it to my daughter to bring to me eventually....and at the visit last week, I finally received it! 

 I will be putting it in a special pot

 but for now it is in my bedroom window getting to know me!

I cast on for the new sweater and the 5" of garter at the hem is a slow go on #5 needles but I don't have to think at all (no increasing or decreasing or specialty stitches!)  instead I am just enjoying the pleasure of this very soft combination of yarn

 to slip through my fingers.  

Therapy! 

 I ended up leaving the two strands of yarn to feed separately because I didn't want to cake it up 

and have to have more breaks in the yarn. 

 It is working just fine much to my relief!

Look what came in the mail yesterday!  I don't usually manage to grab one of the deals from Fat Quarter Shop but his time I did-a Layer Cake at half price! 

 I am hoping to spend some time sewing today!   

JUST AT THE FRAME

Just look at this beauty! 

 I admire it every time I move through the kitchen.

Being home yesterday meant that I was able to finish the quilting on this cheerful quilt.  I will get to the binding today so it will be completely complete!

Then I loaded up the next quilt which I have to determine a design plan for it.  Sometimes it has to sit a while before I can start to stitch on the new palette!

The mail had a package from Quilts for Kids which contains two new kits to turn into quilts!  I am up to the challenge.  New quilter, Mary, also ordered two kits so we will tackle these together!

 

Alien?

Isn't this so pretty and yet unusual?!  

This is a sea urchin shell with an air plant glued to the bottom.  It is a birthday gift and just too perfect!

I have it hanging in the kitchen where it will get some humidity--I didn't want it to be hidden in the bathroom--maybe later on but I am enjoying it too much just now.

Bill has been doing a project almost every day--little things that need doing in the house;  here he is adding a timer to the hot water heater in my pantry.  

We will see if we save money by having the water heater turned off every night while we sleep.  I will let you know if our electrical bill goes down. 

See the contented kitty? 

I spent hours in the studio with her yesterday!  

I made hst's and trimmed and trimmed.....I prefer to trim after sewing it larger than needed to get accurate blocks instead of sized with a wing and a prayer!

so I could build some blocks for a table runner.

Soon I had two blocks sewn completely and the other four mostly pieced!  I will finish it today is the plan!

And I finished the other mitt--well, actually, I knit the other one again and made one to match--I used a smaller needle for a tighter fabric which works better.  Now I can send both pairs of mitts to youngest son and wife!

Two More

 Count is up to six now.  

It finally looks like I've used some of that yellow cone

 but weighing it shows it is only half gone!

 Look at all of the blooms on the African Violet!

I've moved it to my bedroom for two reasons;

it will do better in an east window

(it had been in the southern window and it was too hot!)

and it is in my viewing pleasure now!

 And speaking of viewing pleasure, Lena takes a bath....

and even did her toes!  

There is so much pleasure in the little things all around me!