WHAT'S HAPPENING?

I had my last one of these--an iron infusion, #5, which gets followed by 250ml of saline solution.  As things go, it was a memorable time because this vein almost blew and so we had to try 3 other locations.  A ton of fun but other than a blood draw today, I should be done with the pokes for at least a month!

When I get home from an infusion, 

this is all I can do--rest with Lena!

I do enjoy a few sessions with a new water coloring book!

And I can make a dishcloth every other day.

Outside hasn't been to hospitable because of the heat wave!  

This was pulling into our driveway after the last treatment! 

 Last week was filled with doctor appointments, labs and an ultrasound on my parotid glands--just too much fun. 

 After the lab work today, 

the rest of the week is a clean slate-hooray!

 

ROUND AND ROUND

Some more baby hats are being made--using two colors and the helex method of color changing.  They go pretty quickly. 

 #3 needles, baby yarn, 66 sts.

All around the house Bill placed blankets to protect against the frost threat!  The sun came up at 38* so I am hoping it didn't actually hit 32* or below!  The yard will remain blanketed until tomorrow morning because tonight should be the last night of the threat of frost.  Each day it is sunny with a high of 67*

 so it promises to be another nice day.

SLIPPERS!

Another idea for slippers;  single crochet a square, seam up the heel, divide the other end in thirds and gather 2/3 and fold the other 1/3 up at an angle and stitch in place.  The pom-poms are not only decorative but also help close up the top of the slippers!   I wear a size 8 shoe and through trial and error, I figured out I needed only 32 stitches for length and 32 rows to wrap around my foot to give you a starting place. 

 I used a #4 Worsted weight yarn and an H hook.  

Bill managed to do the cement!!!! 

 It poured again until mid-day but he caught a few hours of dry-ish weather and got it done!  In a few days, it will be dry enough for me to paint it.  Once I get the two coats on and dried, we can put down the patio rug (which matches the other side with the sectional) and arrange the table on this side of the lanai!

  Now all we need is some sunshine to enjoy it all again!  

 

The Power of a Storm

 A storm blew through last night it was as powerful as a hurricane! The power was out for over an hour. Bill was home so he started the generator which was a treat! Unfortunately, we have no Internet and it looks like it’s going to be a while before it’s back! in the meantime, we will be cleaning the yard! No major limbs or trees down, which we are grateful for. 

IDALIA PREPARATIONS!

Yes, we are in the cone of the next hurricane.  We spent yesterday getting ready for it to hit and importantly, ran the generator to be sure it was all ready, too! 

 (If you draw a diagonal from Tampa to Jax, we are on that line, closer to Jax than Tampa.)

I finished the quilting on the rail fence quilt

 and cut out the binding.  

Today, I will have two bindings to apply!

Before I left the studio last night, I loaded up the girl's quilt, picked out the panto and threaded it with yellow thread and bobbin! 

 All is ready for me today while the rains move in!

Look at the orchid again! 

 She bloomed from January to July and already pushed out a flower stem in the beginning of August.  And it opened yesterday!

I put it in the dining room but already I miss it; 

 I love waking up to this in my bedroom window!

 

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!

TORNADO RAIN!

I pieced the last five rows which now have to be sewn to each other!  I hope to do that today.

Early yesterday, it became as dark as night when our phones and even Alexa called out a tornado warning!  We headed to my room with the storm closet!  We watched windows for a funnel while the rain came down and the lightening and thunder crescendoed!  After 20 minutes, it went so quiet, it was eery!

Bill had cleared the driveway of debris but after the rain...

...the storm had downed a ton of the Live Oaks' seeds!

  What a mess!  Wait until tomorrow to see how the 10+" of rain has done to the pond!

 

UNDER WRAPS

Yesterday Bill covered several of our sensitive plants to protect them from the frost that was coming!

And it hit us hard with 29*.

My front porch plants were pulled from the edge 

and huddled near the house for protection.

It's a bit cramped but it did protect them.  The plants we didn't cover were all hit pretty hard but most of them come back in the warmer temps without being killed.  We have mild temps now until Sun morning so we will be doing this again on Saturday!

 

SAFELY LANDED

I'm safely arrived at my parents-I had dark or storms all the way through the skies so no photos from the airplane!  But this is what I woke up to this morning!  

And some knitting for another hat done yesterday.  So nice to be here with family!

 

Weathering the Storms

We woke up to 27*F temperature yesterday morning 

and by 2 in the afternoon, 

I could still do this---tap the frozen water!

The Turk's Cap is completely burned back to the ground.

The croton plant which is 4' tall is trying to hang on

 but the bad news is that we were that low again last night! 

 Two nights in a row is killing not just burning.

And yet the Camellias just keep smiling.

I did a lot of knitting yesterday-it was too cold to work in the woodshop

 in the garage so I finished the hat. 

Didn't the yarn make a cool pattern?! 

 It stayed consistent like this all the way around

-not just pooling in only one place! 

 I'm pleased!

And I thought I better get going on Bill's socks;  he is down with Covid.  While he has been sick for several days, 

it wasn't possible to go to get a rapid test until today.

  He is sick;  the way you are with a bad flu.  

He is trying to stay in his own space, I follow him around with Lysol when our paths cross--

I found the last can of aerosol spray 

 --just in time.  

 

A Smorgasbord

I slept well and no more spasms in my back 

so I was much more mobile yesterday! 

 So grateful. 

 I began the day cleaning out the bird feeders of their 'seed-soup'  because the sun was shining;  

within 10 minutes of finishing, 

Hurricane Eta did this again! 

 Sigh.

I noticed that the Cornstalk Dracaena is blooming again! 

 The flowers are actually closed up during the day 

and very open at night when it releases its incredible aroma! 

 Moths love it, too!  

I began the last finished top from that big pile a few months ago. 

 When this one is finished,

 I will look forward to piecing some new tops in Christmas colors

for the donation pile!

I am using a pantograph for this quilt 

in a large Baptist Fan continuous line design.

I also did a little bit of work on the lathe-

I turned the 2 x 2' block of wood into-

this so that today I will be able to turn it into two more bells!  

I'm using a different kind of wood 

so I am hoping for a better quality of wood for finishing 

but that it will still have an interesting grain! 

 The thrill of the wood hunt!

I didn't get to work too long (which was probably good) 

because another band of rain/wind came through

 and you can see when I work with the garage door open for the light, 

I am also in the splatter zone from the rain! lol

Indoors again, I worked on a new pair 

of fingerless mitts for my daughter, 

this yarn is from the discontinued line of SilverSpun fingering weight from the Feel Good Yarn Co but I found this skein online 

from the Jimmy Bean company.

And I worked on the second sock-I am increasing for the gusset 

and in a few rows, I will begin to turn the heel. 

 It was nice to be home and putting my hands to all 

of the creative outlets that make my heart sing!

 

Returned

I had to rip out the sock and extend the spot where I needed to begin the gusset because the sock was too short for the pattern I have,

but I nailed it the second time!  

Now to begin the second and move on confidently 

using the notes from the first one!

Just because watercolor subject--I do love a good dead tree!

And look who's home again! 

 Nice to have the king on his throne!  

(He has been working in New Orleans 

restoring electricity to the city after the last hurricane.  I'm hoping Eta fizzles out for all of our sakes!)