What's New...

 

I haven't posted much because things have been busy!

But here is some good news:  my first tomato!

My husband thought I was crazy to buy 9 plants but it was the only way to insure we get some tomatoes.  The squirrels tend to eat them as soon as they ripen.  This year, I pluck the fruit as they begin to ripen and let them finish in the house.

The two on the far left are heirlooms.  One is Cherokee Purple and the other is Brandywine Yellow.

I'm on the hunt for a specific Salvia now.  The only hummingbirds I've seen this year are at a Red Salvia plant that looks like this:

Two weeks ago, I spent most of any free time in the garden.  The weather was good and perfect for weeding and clearing out.  Now it's hot again and I try to sew in the attic when it is cool enough up there.  

I'm assembling the Twinkle blocks now.  It will be a scrappy Christmas quilt.

I haven't finished the 18 large stars and I still have 14 of the small stars to complete.

I'm really enjoying making this quilt even though it's time consuming.  Whenever I make a project with the sew and flip method for triangles, I try to save the small triangles right away.  My can is getting pretty full and I have to start thinking about what I will do with these.

That's it for now.  What have you been working on?  I hope you are having a good summer.  Hard to believe it is already August!

Have a safe and happy day!

Flower Friday: July 31, 2026

 

Greetings and welcome to another Flower Friday!

It seems odd that it is the last day of July!

Sue sent these lovely photos of her perinneal amaryllis 

(AKA naked ladies):

Linda the cat also enjoys the amaryllis!

I think that Linda is as pretty as the flower.  She's adorable!

From Jim's Garden:

Coneflowers and Blanket Flower:

And his Fern Leaf Coreopsis:

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

Flower Friday: July 24, 2026

 

Happy Flower Friday!

It's that time of the summer when we are aware that the days are getting slightly shorter and autumn is around the corner.  Around here all the gardening is focused on weeding, watering, deadheading, repeat.

My perinneal hibiscus bloomed this week:

And the Swan Hydrangea is blooming now as well:

We are finally seeing some butterflies visit.  Just in time as the butterfly bush started blooming!

And the pretty cleome has begun to bloom:

Have a safe and happy weekend!

New Project

 

What are you working on these days?

I was inspired by Kris O'Neill at Sew the Distance and decided to tackle a Christmas style project.  She is doing a quilt along project that is potato chip Christmas quilt (here).  She also has a worksheet and instruction sheet for the project.  

I was thinking about doing that quilt but I went back to doing the one project I hoped to tackle this year:  Twinkle by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew.  I've cut all the fabric now.

Next task is to mark 256 squares for the triangles.  Once that is done, the blocks become easier to make.

It's a slow process.  I've been battling a kidney infection and am fatigued most of the time.  I'm hoping the antibiotic I'm taking will clear it up.

What have you been up to?  

Have a safe and happy day!

Flower Friday: July 17, 2026

 

Hello and welcome to another edition of Flower Friday!

This week I'm featuring some of my brother's flowers.  These are ones he put in my mother's garden.  I water them every morning so I thought I would photograph them.

Hibiscus:

 

Jim and mom are very fond of Mandevilla and he has them scattered around the yard.

Rose of Sharon:

My brother can find potential in anything.  He was helping a friend remove a pond fountain thingy.  The friend wanted to trash it,  Jim saw potential.

Hope you are all staying cool!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Flower Friday: July 10, 2026

 

Happy Flower Friday!

Nann sent two wonderful photos she took at Beach State Park.

Prickly Pear:

Turk's Cap Lilies:

In my garden, the phlox is beginning to bloom:

And the gladiola!

How is your garden doing?

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Happy World Chocolate Day!

 

Happy World Chocolate Day!

Years ago when the kids in our family were little, I had a special day for the children before the Christmas holiday.  I set up the attic as a little store for them.  The kids were the only ones allowed in the attic and they could prepare gifts for parents and grandparents.  The could make a picture for their family with the art supplies I left.  Additionally, I had sewed tote bags, mug rugs, and little wall hangings.  I purchased mugs and different kinds of wrapped teas and hot chocolate mixes and of course lots of candy.  The kids thought this was the greatest thing and were so excited to prepare a gift without adult assistance.  

The apparently liked the chocolate upstairs as well.  Little Lily came down and one point and declared "chocolate is medicine for women."

Lily and Gracie playing after their shopping spree.  Lily is on the right.  

Anyway, all this to say, Happy World Chocolate Day!  

Ladies, be sure to take your medicine today!