A Journal To Cheer A Friend

I so enjoy crafting and making cards!  One of my DAR Sisters fell and fractured her ankle and was hospitalized a few days, now spending time in a Rehabilitation Facility to help her get back on her feet a bit faster.  I made this pretty little Journal for her.

I thought a journal would be nice for her to be able to write daily notes, keep track of visitors, cards and flowers or gifts!

These flowers are again from Wild Orchards and are two toned with a deep rich burgundy while the rose goes from dark to light pink

Thought it was pretty, but needed a kick of color - when I used the burgundy velvet it was too little, when I used the big pink it looked too plain BUT together Wallah!

Threw in some pearl sprays, a bit of gathered lace along the edge of the journal a row of pearls on top!  So pretty!

Hard to see here, but I also added a nice long piece of ribbon as a book mark or place mark.  I glued it in by bending both front and back covers together poured a bit of glue down the books middle behind the binding.





I wish you all cooler days, breezy nights!


Blessings,
Donna 

~ ~ ~ How Does Your Garden Grow?? ~ ~ ~

Well pretty darn good right now!  Hot weather is supposed to be coming - a one of these days! The last two weeks the weather guessers have been saying, "Winds will be dying down and the weather will be warming up 10 degrees tomorrow, 10 degrees the day after and we'll be in triple digits in a few days!"  Still not happening, but our garden is doing pretty good in spite of only 80's (all of the plants we put in are for hot weather!)

Here's what we have so far - and we're happier than can be with it!

Do you see the pea pods!?  There's about 6 Snow Peas and Snap Peas!

Butternut Squash - 3 bushes - and so far I've counted about 40 babies like this and a ton of flowers!  We just enjoyed our last one from last year's crop!

Spaghetti Squash!!  It's growing like crazy this year!  Remember last year, last Spring when it stayed so darned cold and Spring just passed us by?  Nobody had much success with this plant because we had so many late frosts, it killed them all!  I quickly counted this evening - hold your headbands ladies - 25 already with a ton of flowers and this is the first wave!!

Zucchini Squash!  Yeah!!  It's been growing like crazy!  We've been enjoying stir fried veggies now for a couple weeks, given a few away - and can't wait to grow a couple of boats for bread.  Looks like we'll have another bumper crop, which is a good thing - we're down to the last 10 or so loaves and that's the family favorite!

Yellow Crook Neck Squash - well of the two plants, one is straight, one is crook neck!  Planted together in the same pot - love them both so no matter!

Our first baby Bell Pepper!!  Think this is a red one.  The one on the left isn't making it so I'll need to take it off, but I hope you can see the one in the middle?  These plants are small and not growing vigorously - they need the HEAT!!!   We are still finishing up our peppers I froze last year!  So, these will be ready just in time!

Last but not least this evening, our tomato plant.  We chose a Patio Tomato because it stays a bit more compact. Only one plant this year.  We've found more than one produces so many, we thought we'd stick with only the one this year - and it's already been providing tomatoes.  I hope you can see it even has tons on it already and it's still a baby.

If I get adventurous next year, maybe I'll plant my Yellow Pear and Beefsteak Tomatoes, some Jalapenos, and the herbs needed for salsa and can some for the year!  We'll see - we're just at the beginning of this season!  I forgot to take photos of the beets and carrots!  The tops are about 4" high already.  Probably should thin them out, but I hate to toss out those babies!  Those are growing in large pots this season - a new one for us!

So ~ that's how my garden is growing, so far!  With 3 Butternut, 2 Spaghetti, 2 Zucchini, 2 Yellow Squash plants (last year was not so proliferating as this year has even started out!), 4 sets of Peas in two mounds (again, last year didn't yield but 10 or so ALL SUMMER!!!) 3 Bell Pepper (red, yellow, orange) - always great to freeze, and 1 Tomato, along with the Fruit trees Blueberries, Beets, Carrots and Herbs so far- we should have a fair crop.  Lots to put up, lots to give away and share with friends and family!

If you have a garden, please let me know so I can pop by and see how your's is growing!

Have a wonderful weekend, Ladies!!

Blessings,

Summer Canning Begins ~ ~ ~

Today was the first day of our canning!  Mmmm ~ strawberry season is right on track this year to be spectacular!  We live half way between Santa Maria and the Salinas areas where most strawberries are grown.  Which means great big, sweet berries are plentiful and very inexpensive!  Four pounds for $5 of giant, sweet strawberry's!!  

These are 4 pound packages, so you can see how large they are, no green, even on the very bottom tips.  They are field ripened and just as sweet as can be.  The eight pounds we put up today we had 2 berries that spoiled, 7 that were a bit too bruised for the jam, so we just ate them, and the rest - well they cooked up to 7 pint jars, and 1 half pint jar!

I thought there would be more ~ you too?  Well, I forgot a pint does take a pound of fruit. We got to taste a bit left on the bottom of the pot - oh yummyness heaven!!

Today we made a double batch at once.  Holy strawberries did that take a long time to bring to a boil!  Normally I do half pint jars because I gift so many (one year I even made 1/2 CUP sizes - total waste of a good jar and time!)  So tomorrow - I have 18 half pint jars to do!  

I'll make one batch at a time to speed up the process.  I know - it does sound backward.

So, what about you?  Do any of you can your own veggies or fruit?  Do you make jams or jellies?  I'm growing lots of beets, hoping to can those this year!

Oh my gosh!!  I just remembered!!  For Christmas, our youngest son and daughter in law bought us a food dehydrator and I think it's time to crack the box and learn to make fruit roll ups, or dried fruit!  Oh yum - now I can hardly wait for mangoes to come in to season!  Dried mangoes are just soooo, so so good!  As a matter of fact, mango jam, roll ups - frozen. 

Oh my, I'd better get going - I need to get the dehydrator how to book out and read it in bed tonight!  So, nightie night!

Blessing to all!

Hugs,

Donna

Crocheting And Knitting And Tatting, Oh My!!

Last weekend I held a 'Let's Learn Together' for some of the ladies in my Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter.  I crochet, and one of the ladies said she'd love to learn.  I'd love to learn to knit. Our knitter said she'd be happy to teach me to knit as well as show tatting. Before I knew it we'd set a date and time for a get together in my home for Crocheting, Knitting and Tatting.

So what does one need?  Yarn!!  I keep mine separated - Acrylics, Wool, Cotton, Ribbon, chenille.  I also keep it stored in plastic bins until used.

And, you'll need to pick out a good hook !

The size of the hook depends on the yarn the pattern calls for.

Sharon wanted to learn to crochet and finally learned to make a chain - which as we explained is the foundation of all patterns and learning to gauge, was second on the list.




 

Or a set of knitting needles!






A REALLY good Learn How Book is also very helpful!

By the time I got to row three with my knitting, Alice had to take over and try to make mine look rectangular again, as I'd done something incorrectly right smack dab in the middle and had a perfect pair of lips!  Like Lucille Ball's upper lip for those who remember!!

We had a ton of fun, and it's easy to see how it looks so easy to do when some one who is schooled in the art is doing it and quite another as I felt I had two left hands!!  We'll be doing this at least once a month, maybe twice.  But, here's the real treat -

Alice brought this over to share - this is a 'Tatted' baby bonnet that her mother or grandmother had made for her older brother, so it had to be AT LEAST 93 years old!  It was amazing, as was tatting - she gave us a 5 minute lesson on how it is done.  It's this silver pincher thingy that looks almost like a strawberry corer, except pointed with an ever so tiny hook on the end of it and a spool, like a sewing machine bobbin in the middle.  See how thin the thread is by the 'O' shapes?  This is the size of the thread, the 'O's' are actually 20 or 30 knots all around in a circle - there must be 1,000's of knots in this little cap! You have to find some one to show you - it's AMAZING!!

Oh, one other thing I really needed, so I went out and got this for myself to help me learn how to learn knitting a bit better - with this little book, I can see sweaters in my future!!!

Week's almost over, and we're coming up on Memorial Day weekend!

Stay safe,
Blessings,
Donna

My Secret Dove Arrived All The Way From Vietnam!

I have a made some of the most wonderful friends here in Blogland. I met Love Stitch early on in my blogging and she and I have become such very good friends.  You all may remember, about a year ago, her father had a horrible stroke and the recovery was grim. Both LS and I believe it was all of prayers offered by our friends in Blogland all over the world who prayed for him, for his health and determination to get well, that brought the miraculous healing to her wonderful father.

Many months ago, I sent to her a package of items I felt she might enjoy, bring her a bit of happiness and joy, and kindness from across the Pacific Ocean.  We lovingly call it our "Dove."  She sent it back to me last week or so and when I received the knock at the door from the Post Man this morning, I said, "I hope this is my Dove from Vietnam!!"  He looked and sure enough - there was our Dove!

I felt like a little girl, jumping up and down, ran and got the scissors out and opened it up - I'd love to share these heartfelt and hand made gifts that LS sent to me that she made herself!

I was so excited!  I knew she had made some very special items because she asked me about colors, but I had no idea it would be this much!  LS is self taught in all of the crafts and sewing I will be sharing with you!

This is the very first hand made card she has ever made!  LS, you did such a lovely job on this and I will treasure this forever! The note she wrote is a very special message and is all hand written to me!  And, on the very last page, oh my goodness, look at this beautiful hand crocheted heart with a motif in the center.  This is crafted with a thin cotton thread, like we use to make doilies!

Hand embroidered handkerchief.

She made me this beautiful Cowl (knitted I believe) scarf to wear when the winters get icy cold again - and I just adore the colors, the design, the softness of the yarn!  I wish you could each reach in and touch it ~ it is so soft and so beautiful!

Enclosed was this beautiful ruffled scarf, also made for me - it feels like cotton - so soft and will be perfect for adding to our cool Spring or even Autumn evenings as just a neck wrap.  The detail is gorgeous!

Three cute bookmarks hand made in Vietnam!  They are beautiful!

A total surprise was this cap for my Sweetie!  He was so touched my LS's generosity and love!  It is knitted and is very soft!  And, while it has a design, it is very manly!

Can you believe this small Dove has no bottom!  Gift after precious gift, kept appearing!  This is a set of four absolutely wonderful dish clothes!  And, look closely at the ribbon - it too is hand crocheted!

This scarf is the most special to me!  First, they are my favorite colors!  Pinks and Lavender, Purples, just love, love, love the colors.  This was a very exquisite skein of yarn, very expensive, I know, because I gifted it to her.  LS, living where she does, doesn't have the same opportunities for shopping for the multitudes of yarns and threads we do, so I sent this as a special gift to her.  What a wonderful thing she has done, to turn around and make something just for me and send it back with all of the love it took to make it.  LS~I will treasure this forever and think of you with love every time I wrap it around my neck!

So, all of these gifts flew across the Pacific Ocean from Vietnam to California, United States.  Each item made with love for a friend.  I have already started my Dove going back to Vietnam in a couple of months.

Each one of these crafts she has taught herself - crochet, knitting, embroidery and now paper crafting.  This young woman is so beautiful inside and out.  We have become such wonderful friends.  If you have a moment to visit her, please do ~ compliment a self taught Artisan on the beautiful items she has made.  She goes by Love Stitch - there's love in every stitch, too!

Thank you all for taking a peak at my gifts of love.  And, Love Stitch, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and love.  You are an amazing woman.  May God continue his blessings upon you, my friend!

Love,

Donna

A Whirl Wind Week!

Oh my goodness, I can't believe it's almost dinner time on Thursday already!  Where in the world did this week go?  I mean, my Heavens, one would think I'm still raising wee ones and working full time outside the home!  Blink, blink and the week is gone!   I've had lots of appointments, meetings and house guests this week (special friends we adore!) and haven't even had time to visit my blogging friends.

I would love to mention June over at Dezinaworld again because she's doing something new I thought some of you creators might just want to partake in!  If you make cards or create art work using her images (a couple of posts back I wrote about all of her wonderful sites she has where you can both buy and get free images June has put together!) you may unload them to her, and she just might select yours to highlight on her new blog!  How fun would that be - to see your creation being praised and singled out as something special!? June, what a wonderful way to show off other people and their work! See, didn't I tell you she was a great gal!?

Well, after looking at the current creations listed, I saw the most beautiful card you ladies simply must go and see!  This card is one of the most beautiful cards I have ever seen!!  I would love for you to take a look at Sassy's Secrets who has incredible blog candy available, too - but you'll need to go visit to find out more.  She's an exquisite artist!

See!  I told you this was beautiful!  The image is from Dezinaworld, the card is Sassy's Secrets!

The weekend is coming - yea!!  What are you all planning to do?  I'm finishing up my garden - yes, I'm still working on it!  I have tons of crafts to get finished, cards to make!  What ever we do, let's all have a great time, get lots of projects completed, see our friends or loved ones, see the beautiful flowers blooming!

Blessings to all!
Hugs,

Donna

Introducing A Wonderful Friend ~

Many of you already know June, to some she may be a new friend ~ What I would love to do is introduce or reintroduce her many fabulous blogs!  This woman is so talented, and such a wonderful friend to all!   And there are tons and tons of new things to share with you about what has been happening in her Art World!!

Dezinaworld

Many of the items on this Website are free, some are $1, $2, $3 ... for tons to use as you please, as many times as you please!

So who is she?  June is a wonderful and creative woman who found images old and new of every thing you could ever imagine wanting to use in your creative art collection!  She has taken images, post cards, photographs and the like, cleaned them up and made them new.  Some have color added to them for interest and beauty!  

Now, this is a very simplistic explanation of what she does, because I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble just taking a photograph that is perfect, copying on to my computer and inserting into a work of art, much less taking something maybe 100 years old and making it look both old and new at the same time - hard to explain - so head over to Dezinaworld  Olde Curiosity Shoppe where you will find hundreds and hundreds of images ~ Vintage; Backgrounds and textures: Fashion, Flowers, Plant, Trees; All things French; Steampunk; well ~ starting to get the 'picture' here? June literally has almost everything, and if she doesn't, she will venture to try to obtain it for you!  Oh, did I forget to mention all of these beauties are free?  Yep - June has done a ton of gorgeous work, and it is available for free.  (You can of course make a donation to keep this kind of work available, and new work coming.)

Do you make cards?  Scrap?  Altered art?  Jewelry?   Make collages?   Love to incorporate old with new? Take a look at what some of the other designers have done, along with June's own work and let me know what you think?

As if she's not busy enough, here's another Blog ~ and WOW ~ gorgeous work here!

ARTY RETREAT

June's talent has also been tapped at a new Blog as a member of the Design Team of "The Game"  This one I can hardly wait to see the work done, for most of these ladies on the design team are disabled in one form or another - but they are going  to teach the world what I try to do each day too, is that they are ABLE!!!  I cannot wait to see what they design!!!

So ~ there you have it!  My introduction, or reintroduction, of a wonderful woman, excellent artist, and a something of interest for everyone!  Join me in following all of June's ventures, and learn from someone who loves what she does and shares everything she can with fellow artisans!

Blessings to all, may you all have a wonderful and Happy Mother's Day!

(((HUGS)))

Donna 

Feeling Better And Back To Gardening!!

First, thank you to all of my well wishers who sent me such nice little notes of concern.  This last bit of Oral Surgery knocked me on my hieny!  Until today, I couldn't bend over without my jaw throbbing (the old keep the wound higher than your heart) or blink without falling fast asleep.  I guess our bodies know what we need and if we don't listen, it just takes charge!  Can't even remember how many naps I took in front of my computer this week!  This afternoon, I actually got a burst of energy!

This week, between naps, my Sweetie took me to Lowe's and I picked out some additional plants.  Three Hydrangeas, which are already planted, and 4 English Lavender plants.  They already smell heavenly!  We also ordered some additional plants.  This is what I have to plant, along with my veggies and seeds!

So, why are these still in the pots and not planted?  Well, last week when I had the gardener plant all of the other 40 something plants, I always have who ever works on the yard use my hose, nipples and connectors, that way I don't have 20 brands all over the place.  And, we buy the ones that are ergonomic and easy to change out.  Costs a bit more, but we can at least handle the repairs if need be.  I forgot to check my supply, and I don't have enough to plant anything until tomorrow when we run down to the supply yard for them.  So I painted a couple of planter stands!

This green one has 3 shelves that fold down and it closes flat!  I needed a fresh coat of paint.  I bought it at an Estate Sale a few weeks ago for $5.

I stayed conservative on color on this one.














Oh, but my other corner stand.  This was a hand me down (or up - my daughter gave it to me many years ago) and it had been painted black. We - yes my Sweetie and I, picked out this beautiful grape color.  I can hardly wait to place it this week!


I also found I will probably need to freshen up the paint on my other yard art.  Funny, the stuff I painted myself, with my grandson, Jeff, about 12 years ago, still looks pretty darned good.  The white on his hat and treasure chest is from my flash!

I bought these guys last year and throughout the summer, I'll paint them.

   

This is one of my favorite pieces in my garden.  This stepping stone was given to me by my daughter several years back for Mother's Day.  The artist used stained glass for the hummingbird and the flower.  It's much prettier than the picture shows.

Thanks for taking a look my friends.  Tomorrow, I will at the very least get my herb seeds planted, purchase all of the items needed to keep all of the new plantings and seedlings watered, move the planters into place - and ... maybe I should get this part of the list done before I run it around the block!

Have a happy and wonderful week my friends!  And, thank you for mentioning Google Chrome.  I love, love, love using it!  It has so far been the easiest program to run.  Knocking on wood quickly!!! Photos go where I place them, don't disappear, text is where I type it. Several suggested it, and I thank you all!!!

Blessings, and gentle hugs,
Donna