JUST LIFE

Bill met this pair at the pond the other day--they are Black Bellied Whistling Ducks;  they are a kind of tree nesting ducks but they don't quack, they really do whistle!

This guy was sunning on the driveway one morning warming up after the rain!  It is an Eastern Racer, one of the best snakes to have in your yard because while they startle you, they are good guards against rats and other vermin!

Inside, this has been the progress in the bathroom's renovation!  We are waiting now for the delivery of the glass shower doors!  Imagine, waiting for an order.....We are thrilled with our contractor's work-it looks just like we imagined!  

And if you haven't smiled yet this morning, you will now!  This is one of the early morning chats between father and son!

 

PLEASURES

Lena helped me set out the knitting--one top done and the second one (in a smaller size) is well begun.

I bought a new flag and put it up on a bamboo pole.  The old one was faded and tattered;  kinda like our nation's leadership.

Look at the footprints I found on the driveway--any ideas ?  they are about 2 1/2" in size.

I played with some watercolor, too. 

 I find it very relaxing to play with this medium.

(I also note the desire for cooler weather-well, mainly weather without humidity!)

 

Being Home

 I spent a good part of the day piecing the elements I've been making for the mystery QAL.

They are pretty and very different than what I would've done all on my own 

which is why this kind of participation is good for me! lol

 Lena didn't leave my side today (she doesn't like it when I am gong all day like the other day!)

Most of the time I was sewing, she was laying on my units 

so I had to move her or dig under her to get the segment I needed!

 When I needed to stretch, I stood up and finished the vintage paint brush quilt on the frame.

 In no time, I was finished and as I unrolled the quilt to take it off--I discover these nests underneath!

I had to walk away but later did begin the job of picking them out and then I will have to try and

sew these areas again.  I did find the old machine did not like the slick thread I chose.  Sigh.

And then Bill called to me to see if I could get a pic of these visitors-

gopher tortoise in the foreground, eating some of the pig plums on the ground

and the sandhill crane family in the background;  

they had been eating from the corn crib until I disturbed them!

An Oasis

 My last crazy scheduled day for a while...

I started it out by giving Lena a good brushing....

 she can't hold still while I brush her-she has her own aerobics act...

play biting at my hand and the brush included

 pushing against me to roll and stretch

 and then to give a very contented sigh.  A "10" for the dramatic performance!

 After dropping Will off for Art Camp, I stopped to admire the Egret nesting ground on the shore of Lake Stella.

In the afternoon, instead of running errands.....

I sat. In the shade. And knitted.  What a perfect choice to wind down instead of winding up!

Beauty in Danger

 When I woke up this morning, it was to a beautiful foggy sunrise.

But when I stepped outside for a picture, I realized it was smoke!

Heavy, acrid smoke-smoke that means the fire is close.

I googled it and found that it was just 2 miles south of us.

It has been hot and dry for the last two months

 and so foolish decisions usually cause these fires.

And there you will find a good analogy for life........

Last Day Savor

 Lena enjoyed our slow start to the day and helped with the knitting occasionally.

 I'm ready to begin the crown of Mendia Hat #2;  much easier this time!

 The Dee's Sock is moving right along and the Top Cat yarn is so luscious to work with!

 Today was the first day Abigail felt like getting up and joining us in socializing-she has spent all week sick with the bug that has permeated our group!  (David and I are the only ones to escape!)

 Even though Bill felt rotten, he took David fishing with Linda's husband, Chuck .  They took Chuck's boat and headed out on different waterways then we have explored so it was a double good time.

                  They didn't catch any Tilapia as they hoped but they did spot these manatees!

                                             We had a wonderful, crazy and precious week.

It's That Time of Year!

Alligator turtle! 

He brings 'snapping' turtle to a whole new level!  He came through our yard recently!

One of our resident gopher tortoises.  He is an adult with a  14" shell.

Yesterday, while some children came for a visit and we took a walk, we came across this young one with a shell measuring 2 1/2" !  It is the first 'baby' we have seen.

We brought him up to the house for Bill to see (and photograph) and then we returned him to his own territory again!

Spring has everyone on the move!

Windmills and Turkeys

We have been having regular visits from this flock of turkeys-23 is the most we have counted so far!

They are beautiful visitors.

Mom and I did some sewing today; we began a new quilt called a windmill block.  (Mom's blocks)

So nice to work together!   (My blocks)

A little quilt for Millie on the frame.  (small Christmas wall hanging)

Hot but NO Complaints!

 Yes, this is what Florida does well........summer temperatures already!

 If you are going to work outside, it happens in the morning when it is still in the 90's!  This is the project this morning-picking up the area where the shed used to sit.

 It picked up nicely, we are going to sell the old windows and they will be out of here soon, too.

 Bill worked on spreading some more mulch, the plants really hold the moisture so much better when you water in the morning so the sun doesn't steal all the water first.

 We had a visitor today, one of the yard's gopher turtles; this one is close to the house and not way out back like the others we have seen.

 We followed him to his burrow to see where he was visiting from....

 Then we noticed that part of the tunnel had caved in so he has a back door!  I think we will be interfering and adding a board and covering it over so it won't be open here-there are no footprints going in or out this side so I think it was an accident.

We would be in big trouble after working out in the heat if we didn't have this to cool off in!

It is just what a heated, overworked body needs!

Another shawl I have on the needles, this is the tricolored yarn I spun.......I will continue enlarging the shawl until I get near the last color change and then I will knit the edging!  It is A Slice of Autumn/Spring by Kay Meadors, available on Ravelry.

Oh, Yeah.....

I had a lot of help this afternoon.  I was so close to finishing the binding but how do you wake up a tuckered out kitty?!

Here it is on the bed and I am sure I will sleep better knowing that color is all around me!

I will try to get a pic with Bill holding it up tomorrow but it is big so I don't know if that will work this time!  (King-sized!)

I wound a warp this afternoon.........I wound each ball of yarn until it was gone.  What freedom not to have to count!  I did have a plan for the color arrangement but that was based on how many skeins of each color so that was easy, too.

The warp went right onto the loom-I did learn the meaning of the phrase 'sticky warp'.  This single ply yarn really loved on its neighbors!

  I finally tired out my helper and got so much more done when I did!

This was going to be the double weave project but I did not have enough yarn to do that so I am just weaving up the Malabrigo because it will be pretty.  Nice to weave without constraints or restraints. (This will be the perfect project for having a house full of family-yup, soon my quiet haven will be full of visiting children! )

I had a nice conversation with this guy on the way back from getting my mail.  He was eating weeds so is a very welcome guest.  (Gopher turtle)

The front yard is full of color like this!  So nice to have hibiscus back in the garden.