Inside Creativity

While the men were outside working, I pieced the rest of the fat quarters I had in this pack to make some more disappearing nine patches-all ready to be pieced into a top--lap sized at 40 x 48".
I want to start a new project on the loom but couldn't bear to just toss the little bit of warp leftover from the lavender weaving, so I ripped up some fabric (3/8" wide) and made a mat with it-16" x 24"-all fringed and ready for use and I didn't waste the warp!

Pretty, isn't it?! I hadn't used fabric strips yet on the loom and did find I had to beat it quite a bit harder than any other weft I have previously used-but it was a good first-time project and I would like to explore this some more in the future. (The plan is for the new project, which is on the warping board, to go on the loom tomorrow!)
On my way to the mailbox, I discovered this fruit all over the ground under one of the palm trees. I had been told it was a date palm but haven't seen any fruit since we have been here. I came back to the house to get a basket and picked what was edible on the ground and asked the contractor (who is finally making progress) what they were. He took one, wiped it off and popped it into his mouth! Well, he said it was so good I tried one. Delicious! I mean it was the sweetest fruit I have ever tasted. Ever. As usual I went to the internet and looked them up-it only comes on a mature tree where there are both male and female trees in proximity. I guess they finally grew up! (The taste is a blend of peach/plum but sweetened 10x. Now I understand why the Bible describes dates as a treat. It is nothing like those brown things they sell in the store! )

In fact, when Bill came in from working out back with the tractor, I asked for help and he cut down the whole branch of dates for me. I washed them off, manhandled them to get the pit out (they are slightly smaller than a ping pong ball in size) and made some jam in my Breadman machine. It smelled so good while it was cooking! I will save most of it as a treat to share with other brave souls who are ignorant of this delicacy! If you are curious, just come and visit!

He's Back.........

The contractor surprised us while we were gone and tried to fix the finish on the arches. It didn't work..........I mean he surprised us by showing some initiative, but the actual work on the arches was bleak. They were obviously patched and looked 2 toned in color-in a word: awful!

Today gave way to a new game plan after a visit to the stucco store! Their recommendation was to cover the whole surface of the arches again and refinish. So $200+ later we are doing just that!

Back into the Swing of Things

I conquered all the post-vacation piles and began the hunt for a hairpin lace tool because Mom and I planned a project for this winter. I did not find the gadget but I did find my bin of papermaking supplies. So I made some paper. I have a cardmaking friend so I am going to gift it to her. I bought some new sock yarn (when shopping with Mom) to go with a new sock book........

one down and moving onto the next!

The Pi shawl is growing so much that it no longer can be spread out to view. This is a good sign of progress! (When it gets this large you need every little bit of encouragement you can muster!)

Home is Where You Lump!

We slept in this morning........it is so nice to be out of the car! The traffic was light and the company was great! The cats did wonderfully but were so glad to be home to their own territory again, too!

To recap a few highilghts of our trip...
Friday-hugs on arrival and then we went to watch my neices (count over from the left to the third and fourth soccer players) play their final game of summer soccer (they won!)....... Saturday-We had a family picnic and some of us swam. Sunday we went to church and had the pleasure of fellowship with old friends......the cats adopted my Dad's chair to sleep in all day-and the biggest surprise is that he let them! No one ever sits in my Dad's chair but my Dad-yes, you are mellowing, Dad, no matter how much you try to deny it!!!

Monday-sewing with my Aunt and Mom- who combined their stashes and we were able to make 4 large lap quilts for the women's shelter in Oswego.
Monday evening we enjoyed a boat ride at my brother's......we made it to shore just before a huge rainfall hit!
Tuesday-Bill went fishing to Geneva with a friend-not too many fish but a sunburn and lot's of good conversation! I spent the day with Mom/Dad and we sewed. (Thanks to Charleen for the disappearing 9 patch inspiration!) Tuesday evening I borrowed Dad's car to go and meet a soul-mate of a friend -I was told to be careful, not to speed and be home by 10 o'clock-talk about a flashback!
Wednesday-visited a neighbor who had recent knee surgery; took the neices to drs appt, shopped 'til we dropped and met my sister for lunch! (We went to Gino & Joe's which is my favorite pizza shop!)

The guys had a field trip, too, and bought 7 old mowers for my Dad to 'fix'! He has had a hard time finding any this summer but they made up for it in one trip! (Thanks to Bob,the packrat, who parted with some of his treasures!)

We played cards, dominoes and talked and knitted and laughed..............thanks Mom and Dad for a great week!

On The Road Again.......

We are heading to NY for a week's visit with northern family!
Cats are with us....which means that little knitting will get done on the trip 'cuz Mama's lap will be full of felines!

(No, I am not packing the tv remote.........I was watching a gardening show while I packed the essential like books, fabric and yarn!!!)

Weaving Smells Good!

I was gifted some beautiful lavender from Marsel's garden.

I used 10/2 cotton in pastels for the warp (120 ends).

No shuttle used -just lay the dried stalks in place and change your treadle (simple plain weave.)

I wove it into a lovely mat for the table...........it smells so good!

I swept up the droppings and leftover blooms/leaves and made a little sachet.
And speaking of smelling good........our neighbor gave us some of her Sand Pears. They are not only ugly to look at but the skin and flesh are too hard for consumption fresh but when you simmer the fruit (skinned) for a few hours it yields a delicious and aromatic pear sauce!

House 99% Finished!

View as you come up the driveway. (Yes, the peak over the porch is not finished-hence the 99% not 100% finished-the contractor is delinquent in his return visit, again.)

Another view of the front.

Beloved garage.

South addition from the backyard view.

View of the backyard. (Sometime this Fall we will add a pool/patio!)

Easy Weekend

Bill brought in some fresh ingredients from the garden and I put them in the pot-fresh spahgetti sauce with onions, banana peppers and tomatoes from our garden. I wish I could waft some aroma onto this picture for you!

Marsel shared a Greek Dressing with me and this idea of tossing some cucumber chunks with feta cheese for a wonderful dish. (I can spend time in the kitchen........it just isn't the highlight of my day. I do like a meal like this because it takes care of the next day's meal, too!)

I am speeding along on the shawl for Marsel...............440 stitches on a round now. (Actually it does move right along if you just keep knitting one stitch at a time!)

I have a new quilting job set up on the quilting frame!

A Qucik Beach Visit

We had to go to Daytona Beach to have the oil changed in my Yaris (free oil change) and so we did a few errands as long as we were in town.

We went to the beach! Always a restorative walk........there is a bit of controversy over this pier/ house-the renters had promised to do upkeep and improvements and they haven't kept their end of the bargain. They face eviction soon and in the meantime , it deteriorates more!

We went underneath to appreciate the waves and Bill checked out the underpinnings! (Guys!)

We visited JoAnns, where I bought a handle for this purse Marsel passed this on to me-the bamboo handle that came with it had broken beyond repair.
Harbor Freight finally had this tool chest in stock-Bill has had a raincheck for a few months! What a nice garage accessory-no garage should be without one! We have been cleaning up the yard because this remodeling mathematical equation still holds true:

building + contractors = ditritus

Life

Yup, Monday set the pace for the rest of the week........

I finished the ribbon yarn shawl (8' x 20" of silky deliciousness);

making progress on the pi shawl( it is now 14" across);

and finished up four more plastic totes:

We are even making progress on the arches-(we wanted curves not angles on our arches-think spanish style) so now just one more finish coat and we are completely finished!