April Fools Day!

Tomorrow is April 1st ~ March came in like a lion and out like a lamb!  Started the month with storms, rain, winds, freezes and now ~ boy, things are sure warming up!  We uncovered our citrus trees, gave them a good dose of water, God is providing the warmth and sunshine and every one of the trees is taking off ~ growing like crazy!

The Mandarin Orange has 6 oranges that are almost ready for harvest - YUMMY!  Plus is has several oranges in various stages of growth, from a fingertip size to the size of a ping pong ball.  And several new flowers.  The Lemon has one almost ripe, and many in various stages as well, and hundreds, I'm not kidding - hundreds - of flowers!  The other two oranges have flowers this year!!!  Yeah!!  First year for blooms!  And, our problematic Key Lime actually has a few blossoms, too!  This is the most critical time for the citrus here.  One good cold snap or heavy winds and all of the blossoms fall and no fruit for months can even try to form!  They usually bloom heavily twice a year.  So, I'll be praying over my little trees for the next month or two!!

The weather has gone from 50's during the day to 88 degrees today.  Oh my gosh, it was beautiful!  Tomorrow it is supposed to cool down to low 70's.  But, no rain and lots of sunshine is wonderful!   I even get to start seeding our garden tomorrow.  Yeah!  And, hopefully, our nurseries will have some tomato and pepper plants soon.  Hmmmm, maybe I should just start my own from seed.  I did buy some last year.  Maybe I'll do that tomorrow to in small pots, that way if we get a cold spell, they can be rushed in to the garage!

I bought the prettiest material yesterday to make aprons, rice packs, and some other miscellaneous projects I have have under my cap. 

I've made a lot of progress on my latest afghan project, too.  Four rows, of 15, completed and all of the middles of the hexagons are done, it just needs one final row which attaches them together.  I'm hoping by the end of April!  That way, I'm not putting unrealistic goals up!  The slippers I started - well, I pulled the yarn and rolled it back up.  Did not like them at all once the soles and tops were on - so I'll look for another pattern.  Then they'll be great!  Started a scarf for my son's birthday in late April. 

I've also almost completed 4 pages of a really cute layout I won from Monique Griffith Designs.  It was originally a 2 page 12x12 layout, but I prefer 9x9, so I've managed to cut it in such a way that I'm getting 4 9x9 pages!  Pretty creative if I do say so myself!  I've also managed to complete 4 or 5 cards for special people in my life.  I love crafting and feel so blessed when someone makes something just for me, so I just love giving to those who I care about and are special to me.

I've also been baking up a storm with my King Arthur bread recipes.  The Sourdough Bread came out wonderful!  Looked just like the picture!  I then went on these past couple of weeks making Rustic Sourdough Loaves, Chocolate Sourdough Cake.  Oh yummy - it was great!  And, a White Sandwich Bread - oh it's like heaven on earth ~ right in my kitchen.  I'm having a blast!  This Easter, we'll be having fresh rolls, homemade!

My Fibromyalgia has been really bad - 5 weeks for this latest flare.  I so want to have an afternoon pain free.  Oh, let's be honest here ~ I was this monster would just walk out the front door and drop in a hole, never to be felt again!  It will be better soon, it always does subside some, so I'm just praying it gone!

That's it for tonight!  Wishing everyone a wonderful warmer month, full of sunshine and new flowers, gardens in bloom, lots of new projects to start!

Many blessings to all of you!  Be as bright as a flower and let others be a flower in your life!
Donna

Spring is Coming Soon

I am so ready for Spring to arrive!  It's been a very cold and rainy Winter, and I can hardly wait for warmer weather, sunny days, walking the neighborhood and just generally getting back in to the swing of things.  I feel so much better when the weather isn't so chilly and damp!

It looks like the temperatures and real feels will be above freezing now, so we'll be taking off the plant blankets and get ready for Spring plantings.  We had our two planting areas filled with a soil amendment as well as the small green house and rototilled.  This year we want to remove some of the lawn areas and plant our citrus trees.  We've been babying them for four years now and we finally have fruit on the Mandarin Orange and Meyer Lemon trees.  The lime and two other orange trees haven't produced yet, hoping this year.  But, when we plant them in the ground, we will need to make a tent structure to cover them during the cold winters.  They are all dwarf trees and we plan on them staying under 8' or so high.  We may also put in a second, and bigger, green house.  It's easy to talk about what we want to do and harder to get them up! 

I can hardly believe my blog will be 2 years old this month.  I do plan to utilize this more this year and start getting photos up.  There's always so much to do and it's easy to forget writing here!


I'm finishing Lavender/Rice Comfort Packs for my mom.  Sending two large and two small ones.  They will help her achy bones and muscles.  She, like many of our elderly parents, suffers with arthritis all over.  She also has spinal problems and some bionic parts (knee and hip replacements) and has many aches and pains.


Also, still working on the Hexagon Afghan.  It's coming along beautifully!  I've used so many left over yarns!  Actually, like many of you, I save anything over about a yard long, rolled into balls of various sizes.  I really find it hard to believe I am almost depleted of left over yarns and will be using only full sized skeins to finish it up!  There are already over 40 different colors I've used in this afghan!  I counted today how many I have and how many will be needed for the bedspread - I've completed 134 and will need 195, so 61 to go.  My sweetie told me, "you'll have that done in no time!"  He's great and always positive in my hobbies!



Other craft items - well, cards, of course for all of the special days - Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Get Well - all of the everyday events.  The Comfort Packs, my first Sock Monkey (I'll talk about him another post in a couple of weeks with a photo),  a few pin cushions, the Hexagon Afghan, and many different little things.  I need to get the new serger and sewing machine out and begin working with them.  I want to make some new table place mats and I think the serger will be perfect for this project!  Fun, fun, fun!


I had the chance to spend a whole week with my little ones.  They are growing so quickly.  My little Lisey is sewing her first project, all by hand.  She received an American Girl Stuffed Animal project and I taught her all of the hand sewing stitches.  She was doing a great job.  She is very detailed oriented and everything has to be just perfect, so these types of projects will be perfect for her.  I think she would really enjoy embroidery, too.  That's another art that is very detailed.


I was so blessed to win two different giveaways on two different blogs!  One from Monique Griffith Designs, a beautiful layout kit for my Cricut, and a copy of the first Cricut Magazine from Creative Critters Cricut Club!  Two different contests!  What a blessing!  When I finish the layout, I will post it.  It is just perfect as it is one of children in the garden and I have the perfect pictures of my all of my grandchildren at different times throughout the last couple of years that will fit on this wonderful layout!  I would love to share it!


I'm also going to try my hand at sourdough bread!  Both of my sons are making these beautiful and tasty works of art.  One gave me some starter which is growing beautifully in my fridge!  I have my ingredients coming from King Aurthur Flour, then I'm good to go!  I just hope there aren't too many pounds attached to this bread!


My Fibromyalgia has been really acting up.  This flare is going on two weeks now and is the worst one of the year so far.  I'm going to start a second blog on my fibro journey.  It's a very misunderstood disease.  And, until you are diagnosed and understand what this monster is, you start to wonder if you are crazy and a hypochondriac.  It's horrible and debilitating, and if I can help just one person figure out what this monster is in their life, I will feel blessed.  When I first read an article about fibro, I sat down and cried - I cried because I was relieved, I realized I wasn't crazy. 


On a lighter note - I wish you all a wonderful Spring!  May your gardens be free of weeds and grow only beautiful flowers!  May all of your projects come out the way you want them too! 

Be happy, be blessed, and a blessing to others!
Donna

Time Is Flying By!

I cannot believe it is already the 19th of January!  Our weather is glorious ~ 65 to 70 degrees, warm and sunny, just a tad breezy.  And, no rain in sight for the rest of the month (according to our weather guesser!) 

Our citrus trees are producing fruit this year!  We've had a lemon or two the past couple of years, and a couple of Mandarins, but they're still young trees.  We have at least 15 lemons on our Meyer Lemon tree of various sizes, the Mandarin Orange tree has 6 nice sized fruits.  The other two Orange trees, Washington Navel and MidKnight Valencia have buds - and they haven't dropped, so our fingers are crossed.  The Lime tree though, man oh man, all it ever grows are 5' saplings with 2" thorns!  All are dwarfs and in huge pots.  Our big decision this year will be shall we plant them or keep them in the pots?  I really should plant some beets and lettuce, maybe a few herbs now in our little hot house.

I am working on a few projects.  I'm crocheting a scarf made with a cozy chenille, a tea cozy, and starting two afghans!  One afghan will be my driving project.  I am also getting some cards finished up and need to do some sewing repairs.  My little granddaughters bring me their stuffed animals that need repairs!  Maybe I should paint a "Grandma's Toy Hospital" canvas!  Wee ones are so appreciative of the little things.  Such a blessing!   Oh, then I need to pick out a nice project so I can learn to use my serger! 

Christmas is all put away.  I just love leaving the tree up as long as I can.  Today I brought in all of the boxes and carefully wrapped each ornament.  There are so many treasures.  I have some that hung on my Granny's tree, several the children made me as they were growing up and even a couple my older grandsons made for us.  I love holding and remembering each memory!  Under our tree is the Nativity set my Granny had under her trip for many years!  I remember laying in front of the tree playing with the figures as a little girl.  When my daughter was born, Granny passed it along to me.  All of my children and grandchildren have played with the set!  A few still have the 5, 10 and 15 cents marks with the "Woolworth" store stickers where she bought them in New York.  One of the sheep and the donkey have a broken legs.  Maybe I could mend them with some polymer clay?

Please remember our soldiers who are away from their families and friends serving our country.  Dear Lord, please bless each one and keep them safe!

Have a glorious weekend!
Blessings, Donna

Time to Start Sewing Projects!

Today my new Brother Sewing Machine and Serger arrived!  I am so happy!  It's time to get the material out I've been picking up the last two years and start sewing.  I have drapery material for our master bath and bedroom, some beautiful fabric for a duvet cover and skirting for the guest bed, plus tons more.

I'll set up the old machine right next to me for my little granddaughter to learn to sew.  She's so excited!  She even tried out some basic stitching over the holidays and was very good ~ making her little sis a bag with some goodies in it.  She really enjoys it and at 8 is old enough to learn - that's about the age I first started sewing and I've done fairly well.  She is such a joy to have with me, she listens very well, and tries to do exactly what she's shown.  I'd like her to learn we all make mistakes and it's OK.  I can hardly wait for Spring break to have her here to work with me.  (Big brother and little sis with be coming, too.)  I have some material and patterns for her American Dolls.  Exciting!

Blessings, Donna

Happy New Year!!

Welcome 2011!!  The New Year is officially here on the West Coast!  So, to all of you "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

I'm so ready for the new year to begin!  A new beginning, a fresh new start to a brand new year!  Do you make a list of New Year's Resolutions?  I usually do, sometimes I over state what I would like to accomplish - oh darn, let's just say I almost always over state what I would like to get accomplished!  I do the same thing when I make a list of daily things, weekly projects, monthly lists - so why on earth would a list for the new year be any different? 

But - If I don't make a list, I have nothing so shoot for.  Kind of like that old saying "Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."  ~Les Brown  I love positive quotes.  But it is true, isn't it?  If you don't set goals, don't shoot for the moon, just going along in life, if you miss, if you fall down, I suppose you'll end up face down in the mud!  OK that settles it, don't care what everyone else does, on to my list!

What ever you are planning, what ever you want to do, I hope you do it.  I pray that all my family and friends have good health, happiness around them and prosperity in the new year and beyond.

Enjoy your day today.  I know many will be watching football games, the Rose Parade, movies, playing games, visiting with family or friends, eating this and that with the idea it's just for today - right?  I know we have friends coming over early in the morning and we're planning on munching breakfast ~ yummy fruits and sweet breads ~ lunch ~ veggies and cheeses ~ and assorted meats, cheeses and desserts for dinner.  We will roll our friends out the door, to their car that night and then the first thing on the Resolution list starts!

Here are a couple of more quotes I really like ~ 
God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow in them.  ~Author Unknown 
and everyone's all time favorite ~ 
Try not.  Do or do not.  There is no try.  ~Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back 

A Day of Creating

Today I will be making Happy New Year gift plates for those we didn't see in the two weeks before Christmas.  Homemade fudge and mini cheesecakes!  So, two of my favorite things - cooking and baking; and giving to others.  A happy day!  We will be seeing many friends and business acquaintances both Thursday and Friday!

Later in the day, I would like to try a new crochet pattern for a butterfly.  It is just darling!  Yesterday I made a cupcake bookmark that just turned out adorable!  I will post both when the butterfly is finished.

Have a wonderful day. It looks to be beautiful today after a night of rain and chilly weather, and we do need rain here in California!  Both tonight and tomorrow night it looks to be a real feel in the teens - chilly for sure!  Then more rain on the weekend.

Many blessings, Donna

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all... Isn't this just the best time of the year?  I love Christmas!

Today I will call family and friends to wish them the best of this season, spend time with the love of my life in front of the fireplace (it's a bit chilly here and going to have a bit of rain this afternoon) watching some Christmas movies.  I made our Christmas Lasagna yesterday, so it has set up nice and will be yummy!  Cookie dough is in the fridge so we can munch on warm cookies, too.  I will start our pumpkin pie shortly so it has time to set up nicely.

I'll think back to times when the kids were young and it was so much fun, or when I was a kid and I had a blast with siblings and cousins.  I just love Christmas, the old memories, making new ones, the food, family and friends!

Speaking of family and friends, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas! 

Many blessings, Donna

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 has already been the most memorable Christmas in many years!  For me, Christmas is anytime we can get together during the holiday season.  It doesn't have to be on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  It's during the season when we can be together and remember why we are celebrating.  Not the gifts, not the commercial part of it - it's family, the memories we make together.  2010 has been one of the best ever!

Having both of my sons together for this Christmas celebration warmed my heart!  It's been so long since our youngest son, Jeff, and our daughter in law, Kim, were home for Christmas, oh my, I could hardly wait until they arrived!  We celebrated a week early, but Christmas is when we celebrate it during the season together.  (Our daughter and her family had prior commitments.)

This time together were the best four days I've had in a very long time.  We watched our three youngest grandchildren in their School Christmas programs, and our eldest granddaughter sang a solo, without accompaniment, "Happy Birthday, Jesus."  She was right on key and sang beautifully.  It was the only solo of the entire program!  And, she kept it a secret from Grandma.  I sat with tears of joy listening to my little Angel! 

We then celebrated little Leila's 5th birthday with Mexican food and presents.  Her favorite?  Playdoh Puppy set.  She loves dogs of all breeds!  Mommy even made "pupcakes" for her classroom celebration!  They were just darling! 

Then it was on to our house.  We celebrated with a big turkey dinner and all the trimmings on Saturday.  Leila helped me make cookies, Auntie Kim helped Elise with sewing lessons, and Isaac stayed with Dad and Uncle Jeff playing games on the big screen when he wasn't making Uncle Jeff's special Star Wars gift (an At At made from boxes and paper towel rolls, tons of silver duck tape and aluminum foil.)  Mommy got to take a much needed nap then helped me with the cooking and cleaning, as did Kim when she wasn't teaching (a great multi tasker!)  Grandpa took time away from work and watched some TV and made sure everyone was comfortable.  He had a great time watching all of the kids, big and small, having a fun celebration.  We all talked, played games, and just enjoyed each others' company.

I wish you all a wonderful, fun filled, memorable Merry Christmas!  May God bless you all!

Blessings, Donna

New Flip Camera

Oh My Gosh!!  Last night we went and did some office shopping, a new shredder, ink for our printers, photo paper, and a tons of other office stuff.  As we entered the store, the young lady at the table asked us if we were business members and asked us if we'd like to enter a contest for three great gifts - the new Flip Video Camera, a Desk Top Shredder, and a new Office Chair.  Don said, "You enter, you're the one who always wins!" 

And guess what, Staples called this morning and I thought maybe we'd forgotten something or my printer stand was unavailable.  But, nope ~ I won!!  And, I won the new Flip Camera!  Pretty cool, huh?  I just had to share!  Just in time for the grand children to perform in their Christmas plays!

Merry Christmas and many blessings!  Donna

Christmas Time is Coming

My most favorite time of the year - Christmas!

I love this season.  The hope it brings, the feelings of family, of love, of warmth.  Here in California, we don't get snow, well most of us don't get snow.  The warmth I speak of is of is warmth from the heart.

For me Christmastime is the time for reflecting what the season, the reason for the season, the meaning of the first Christmas as it pertains to Christians truly means ~ Jesus' birthday.  The hope it brings, true hope, of everlasting life and love.  As a Christian, I believe without seeing.  We all believe what we want to, and isn't that the most wonderful thing about our country?  We are free to believe what we want to believe, freedom of religion, not from religion. 

I also love all of the lights, trees decorated, Santa and his reindeer, Snow people everywhere.  I just love Christmastime!  In the center of every tree or display in our home though is a Nativity scene.  The focus should always remain what we are celebrating. 

We do give presents, mostly to the kids, although I do still give Mom a gift each year.  In the almost 20 years Don and I have been together, we have never exchanged gifts.  We took the burden of "how to top last year" off of the table our first Christmas, as well as our birthdays, and our anniversary.  The joy for us is giving to others.  We always try to give to those in the community that are struggling, too. 

I made part of our gifts this year, and some of our cards.  Next year, my goal is to make 100% of our cards, and more of our gifts.

May you all have the happiest, Merriest Christmas ever!  May God bless you and your families.  May you find peace and hope in your lives, in everything you do. 

Blessings, Donna

Last Day of the Month

Can you believe tomorrow is the 1st of November already?  Where did this year go?!  

Last week my new Bind It All and 3 new Cricut Cartridges came!  Yeah!  I'm looking forward to making mini books and word albums with the BIA.  It's so cool.  I can't think of another thing I need in my scrapbook and card making area.  A few things I want maybe, but, need - not a thing really!  I can't wait to try it out and make my first mini book!  I won't be until later in November or December, though. 

November will be a busy month.  First I will be visiting with my wee little ones, then our teenage grandson will be coming over to help us with a few of the heavy duty chores and finish getting all of my Christmas decorations up.  Mid month I will be with my mom helping her through yer another surgery, getting home just in time to have a Thanksgiving dinner with our dear friends Pam and Joe.  And then ~ you guessed it ~ we will be at the end of yet another month!

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 2nd!  This is probably one of the most important elections we have the opportunity to vote in  ~ So get out there and vote!

Voting is a privilege that gives us the right to speak out for or against our politicians, what they do and what they don't do.  We must always remember ~ the power for the direction of our country, our lives and the life we wish to have our children and grandchildren to lead, starts with us.  Please join my husband, Don, and me and pray for our country and vote for the candidates who believe in our Republic, our Constitution and our Declaration of Independence! 

Blessings, Donna

Newest Afghan is Completed!

The newest of my creations is finally completed!  Last night I tied off and weaved in the final strings (ends) and will block it, take photos, and wrap it up!  Someone already laid claim for their gift early this year when I first began.  So, surprising him will be a delight!

This one is a simple granny square stitch.  Very basic and very easy.  Instead of going around in a square, for an afghan, not a baby blanket, it is crocheted in a rectangle.  I loved breaking up the pattern with two additional colors that coordinated with the darker green.  I used the pattern I saw from Bernat called "Blue Afghan" and it is considered a beginner's pattern because of it's simplicity.  I called it my "Traveling Afghan" because I could work on it in the car whenever we went somewhere and I had an extra half hour or more, and it was super easy!

I know this will bring many years of warmth, and love, every time it is used!

Thanks for taking a peak!  Many blessings, Donna

Crocheting is so Relaxing!

I love crocheting! I remember the first time I crocheted, I was only about 6 or 7 and I was sitting on the floor in front of my Granny. She was always busy doing something. Today is was crocheting. I remember she was making doilies with variegated lavender pansies and I was fidgeting with the basket of threads. I asked her to show me how to make a flower.

She had me sit up on the chair next to her, gave me a steel crochet hook with a teeny, tiny hook and I remember thinking it reminded me of a Bobbie Pin that had been bent open. She explained with great care how to hold my arms and hands, how to hold the hook and how to hold the thread. It was shades of pink and I remember thinking it looked like my BaBa's hydrangeas in the yard. She explained how to make the knot, the chain and the stitches. First making hers, then holding my little hands helping me make mine, and then we did it each holding our own. Of course, it took a good long while, but I remember in the end, I had a beautiful little variegated pink to rose red pansy!

I skipped outside to brag to my sisters and cousins I had just crocheted a pansy with Granny! "Did not!" "Did to!" They all went in and looked at it - some thought it was cute, some poopoo'd it, and my cousin Bobby pulled it out and gave the thread to my Granny. I just looked at him and said, "Don't care! I know how to make them now!" and I went outside and cried. He never knew, and he's lucky my Granny scolded him and made him go to bed. I was waiting to give him a good sock in the nose!

I didn't crochet for a few years, then did it now and then, really started back up when my own children were born. I love making afghans. They really are my favorite to work on and I love doing them!

I will post some as soon as I can, I have some photos of some the ones I've done over the years. I am so grateful for our photo equipment these days. No film to develop. Do overs are instant, and we have them in a permanent file where they won't fade!

If you don't know how to crochet, have someone teach you, or simply look online. YouTube has wonderful teachers with how to videos to teach every stitch available.

Blessings, Donna

Memories are wonderful ~ we should pass them down to our little wee ones.

Obsessed with Scrapbooking: Hello Thursday! Cricut Quarter Note, Wrap It Up, Paperlace, Sesame Street Seasons, Ornamental Iron and Car Decals

Obsessed with Scrapbooking: Hello Thursday! Cricut Quarter Note, Wrap It Up, Paperlace, Sesame Street Seasons, Ornamental Iron and Car Decals

New Tools!

Yeah! Today I was able to do a bit of ordering to make my card making and scrapping easier, more beautiful and oh, so much more fun!

Cricutmachine.com had a wonderful Black Friday sale, a brand new Expression, two cartridges, the Etching solution and brush, vinyl sheets and tape, and lots of other goodies! A $499.00 value for only $189.95. I am so, so blessed! Then as if that wasn't enough, I purchased several Sizzix embossing folders and my first Glimmer Mists sprays and glazes. Oh my, I can hardly wait! And, then my wonderful husband and I got to talking and was asked if I wanted to get my additional Juke Boxes, they have been on back order everywhere for months, at Amazon.com along with additional mats and blades? Silly question, right! So I am all set for Christmas cards, scrapping and all kinds of gift ideas are popping up all over my brain! I'm doing the happy, happy dance. And, my girlfriend bought hers, too. So now we can try new ideas out like crazy!

Blessings, Donna

I just had to share! I am so thankful to be so blessed!

Changed the name and set up of my blog ~

It's amazing to me how long it takes to set up these blogs. I've changed the name, changed the format, added lots! Heaven's sake, I spent hours - but for tonight, I'm finished! I will figure out just how to post some of my creations, make different pages for different parts of my blog. It will take time, but it won't be another six months!
Blessing to all who stop by! Donna

A New Year, A New Blog

Well, I cannot believe it has been over 9 months since I started my blog and then nothing! Well, with my New Year, comes my new hope that I can start getting this darn thing going!

It's going to be a better year. There's lots to learn and lots to blog about. I can't wait to get started.

Today is card making day - and my Cricut is calling. I will post my cards later today!

Blessings to all, Donna

I've Started - Now What?

Well, I've frustrated my husband to no end to help me get this set up. I know absolutely nothing about setting anything up on the computer. I just want to turn it on and have it go. Well, he wouldn't do it for me, but I had a ton of questions anyway! Good thing he's so good hearted when it comes to me. He did help me - I had to do the input, but he stood behind me and helped!

So, now this will be all up to me. I want a place I can put up my creations, my ideas. A place I can put my journal, a place friends and family can gather and see what I'm up to, and tell me what they're up to. It will be fun to see how I progress with this blog. I've seen so many great ones.

See you soon!