Mushrooms and Blooms

My mushroom garden grows!  Note to self, when you make a short mushroom, it will be hard to reach in the small space to sand and polish! lo

(these are probably shitake mushrooms)

That's okay, the next mushroom will be tall and thin!  

We took a ride tin the golf cart so I could comb the woods for fallen branches for new mushrooms and snowmen.  

I'm glad to say, there is plenty to play with-

I have a wonderful supply and will get to learn what wood is which color!

This little branch is Live Oak.

The pond area took a hard hit from the freeze this week-see the banana grove?  Sad brown instead of lush green. 

 Yes, it will recover but it is sad to see it blighted like this! 

 In the foreground, it is a rubber tree plant that also took a serious hit.  

But there is one plant that likes a few cold nights--Ruby Red Grapefruits!  We shared one today and I am very happy to report that they are delicious!  I will take a pic of the inside next time-

I ate it before I thought of sharing the gorgeous color! lol

I did decide what to do in the border for the Christmas Hunter Star quilt--holly and berries!  

The middle is still a big question mark....  

I did add another star block.  

I will leave you with some plants that flourish in the cold snaps that might happen in our winters--Camellias!  

This is much redder than it shows here 

but it is a double, double and is a very large full bloom!

This pink is very large but mostly flat not thick like the red ones!

And the whites are bloom perfections;  don't you agree!?

For those of you in the northern regions, 

I will try to keep you updated with color in my yard!

 

Not Moss Just Mushrooms

I actually ws able to spend some time at the lathe today!  

It was so much fun!  I am not quite done with the first mushroom from the small branch of the magnolia tree. 

 I am going to make a merry little trio for my daughter

 from different woods and different heights/shapes. 

 It's nice not to be 'wrong' for a shape! lol

And I added a bit of personality to the snowmen! 

 I ended up just painting black dots with acrylic paint

 and then sealing it with the spray lacquer. 

 Now to find some festive narrow ribbons!

And I began the piecing for the top and bottom rows of stars-

only 9 more to go!

The latest watercolor card.  

Inspired by a recent post on YouTube by Ellen Crimi-Trent.

 

Pitiful Little....

Pitiful little has been done in the way of creative.  I would like a secretary to handle all of the mundane bill paying, correspondence to doctor's, etc--but for now, we do have one and it's me!  Late afternoon I did cut some piles of Accuquilt pieces for some LeMoyne blocks to go with this map panel Cassandra asked me to turn into a quilt.  I love it when my kids as for my sewing skills on their behalf!

I didn't get to paint the snowman faces/buttons but I did collect the supplies....

This is the other reason for slow-motion;  freezing temperatures that killed many plants including the bananas!  

Nasty winter that blows our way every once in a while!

I also knit a few more bells....

and some more stockings. 

 And I have written the instructions for the stocking in the round without a heel turn or gusset-very fast knit now without seaming!   

I am going to tackle making the bell in the round today-

it will take a lot more thinking and I couldn't do it last night! lol 

 Here's to embracing slow-motion!

(I am having lathe withdrawal....)

 

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!

 

December!

I was concerned about all of those seams but this top went together in a very straight forward way, to my relief!

A perfect way to usher in December!

 I will be loading it on the frame to quilt today; 

 I'm thrilled.

I couldn't wait to get to the lathe-

after turning the block of wood into a cylinder, 

I gave myself a bit of a map for shaping.

My tools are all laid out like a doctor's because

it makes it so much easier to reach one as needed for turning the wood.

And in no time, I have a snowman!  

It was so much fun, 

So much so, that in no time there were three! 

 These are all finished except for the screw eye to go on top 

because I want them to be ornaments. 

 I will try some more;  

Bill wants me to try to use the wood burning tool  to make faces and buttons.  I will need to do some digging to uncover my wood burner tool first! 

There was one more idea I had to try out-

can you guess what it might be?!  

I will have it finished tomorrow!

And I will end with another little stocking for the tree! 

 I've enjoyed bringing the vintage pattern to life again!

(this post is too long--I will make another stocking

 and post the instructions tomorrow;  sorry!)

 

Socks and Stockings

The re-used yarn has finally found its true purpose! These socks are for me and they fit perfectly.  #1 needles, 12 stitch cast-on at the toe and working up using a gusset for heel, leg over 64 stitches in a k3,-p1 rib.  Again, I like the way the colors pool instead of striping over the heel ;  it might drive someone else crazy and I admit, doing a simple short row heel would voids this but I like the crazy at my ankles!

And each sock has its own pooling pattern even though the rest of the sock matches its mate.

This is the other pattern from my Mom-a little stocking just big enough for a little gift to tuck inside!  This is two strands of Bare Hare from KnitPicks for the cuff and my handspun for the body of the sock;  the pattern calls for worsted weight. This is 4 1/2" long;  I will make a stocking with #1 needles and sock yarn for comparison later today.  

I will post instructions tomorrow just in time for December!

(Betsy you can compare patterns!)
 

Closing Down on the Weekend

Cassandra and I made some stepping stones today. 

 It is so relaxing, if messy, to play with grout!  

This will cure in another 24 hours and I will put it out with the other stones, I almost have a completed path!

 I also did a little bit of painting;  another winter scene card.  

I watched a tutorial about a different style of fir tree

 and had to give it a go!   

 My company has gone home, 

my house is quiet 

and the cats are out of hiding.

  I hope to finish that pair of socks today after church!

What's your plans?

A Day of Adventures!

Cassandra and I worked on step one of making a stepping stone. (applying tile adhesive and placing our tiles) 

Now we must wait to grout it.  Today will see it finished!

The tree crinum is doing it again (this bloom bundle is 18-20" wide).  The smell is delicious!

A lot of this happened today.  (pool temp is 82F)

In the pond out back, 

we saw this pattern in the water and knew this was around!

A water snake. 

 A permanent removal was necessary but it was not wasted-

because we hang it in the tree for a hawk or eagle!

  The camouflage is good-can you see it?!

The evening was perfect 

(except for the mosquitos which is why I am inside the lanai for the bonfire)

for fireworks!

A loud and beautiful end to a perfect day!

Such a Good Time

We spent the first part of the day preparing this meal.  Enjoyed eating and telling stories and then cleaning up!  

This is youngest son and family with Bill and I.  It was so nice to have a relaxing afternoon.

The kids did this a lot of the day-the had pirate accoutrement (I took the pic too soon) and their imaginations are alive and well!  

After the kids finished while the adults watched, we did some motorized fun!  Even I enjoyed this ride because there was no fear of falling!  What a blast! We finished out the day with a good movie (the Black Stallion) and snuggles-we all dropped into bed! 

Today will be some more relaxing and crafting for Cassandra and me, swimming for kids and some odd jobs for Bill and Caleb to share-guy style!  (meals you say--leftovers are on the menu! lol)

A Special Day

I have so much to be grateful for this year.  Yes, this year with its many challenges.  I survived Toxic Shock and pneumonia and recovered fully.  Bill was in a collision that totaled our car but he has only minor injuries.  My parents both had a trip to the hospital in the ambulance but recovered and were soon home.  My youngest son fell off a roof and had a car accident later in that month and was able to recover almost 100%. Those are just the headline kind of experiences...there are so many blessings daily I can't count them all!

It's been a good year for the artwork.  I can almost smell the horses in this barn....

This is a great reminder for my on the days when I have more pain than smiles!

I 'm working away on the second sock but I keep being distracted with the lathe zone!  See the bowl?  It's completed and the best one yet!  (5 1/4" wide and 2 1/4" tall.

I mean, look at this perfect bottom!  It is camphor wood with oil and wax for the finish.

I have family here-youngest son and family and middle son is here.  There is laughter and joy.  The essentials.  

And thank you to all of you who are faithful commenters;  the encouragement and inspiration you give are wonderful gifts that are also a major facet of my life!
 

Errands, Lathe and Knit!

We had to go into town but when we got home, I couldn't wait to head to the lathe!  I hollowed out the bowl in no time at all without a single mistake!  I almost felt like a real wood turner!

Today I hope to release the tenon from the chuck and turn the bowl around for the last time to remove the tenon and make a smooth bowl bottom!  Stay tuned!

I knit on the second sock while in the car yesterday but am being distracted with cute little bells when I take a break.  Mom sent the pattern for a little stocking, too, so I will give that a try and show you soon.  Family arrives this afternoon, I need to do baking first thing...I will most likely take a break from everything except knitting in the evening because my hands will be busy cooking or snuggling some grands!