Sad News and Some Finishing

Happy Thursday evening from the rancho.  I know today is an odd day for me to post, but tomorrow I am heading up to northern California to help out my stitching buddy.  Her husband was put on Hospice last week and I offered to come up and help with errands and chores.  My heart is breaking for her and her family and this is a gift that I can give during a very difficult time.  

On the finishing front, I was really busy the last two weeks.  All of these belong to my stitching buddy.

Needle case.

Another needle case.  Outside and inside.

Made this into a pillow.  It definitely needs something...ribbon, button...just something.  I will work with my friend on this.

A sewing box.  This was my favorite!

Two tiny stockings.

This was a little odd to finish.  There were no instructions, not even a picture of what it was supposed to be!  So...I made up the two strawberries, finished the other into a pillow and connected them with some gorgeous dyed ribbon and pins.  I think it is okay.  LOL

Sweet little drum.  The top and bottom are wool.  A bit tricky to stitch, but managed to get it done without shredding.  LOL  I made the pins as a surprise for her.

This is a wool-thread stitched stitching roll.  I need to put in some thread rings but don't have any at my house.  She has some and I will put them in when I deliver this group.

I will leave you with a picture of Jack Jack. He is now up to thirteen pounds.  My husband asked how I knew that.  I explained that I weighed myself and then added the dog.  He asked if I was sure.  Well...okay...I know that I'm a bit slow with math...but I got this.  LOL  Jack Jack is spending more time with DH and is so very sweet.  I reminded DH that he is on his own the next week or so...he will want to continue working with the dog on potty training.  Wish I was a fly on the wall to watch that!

For those of you that are fighting the winter weather, stay safe, stay warm.  I cannot imagine being in a home with no heat, no water, no lights.  It must be terrifying for people trying to care for their families.  Be kind to one another.

Plants, Pups and a Little Stitching!!

Good morning and happy Sunday from the rancho.  Quiet and warm here...hit 68 degrees yesterday.  My son, in Iowa, is a chilly -9 with a wind chill of -24.  I watch his weather more than my own.  I cannot begin to understand how you learn to live in a freezer.  Even ice cream holds at 18 degrees!! I worry about him but he assures me that he doesn't take chances and stays in when he can.  Sigh.

Jack Jack and Moses are still friends.  Most of the time.  Moses is better at sharing his bed but still no hope for sharing snacks.  At almost three months, Jack Jack is still under ten pounds.  He's got a big dog bark, but not much brawn to back it up.  LOL

The difference between ten pounds and one hundred pounds.  

I love inside plants as much as gardening outside.  After retirement I went from ten or twenty inside plants to over a hundred.  I know, I know...it makes it hard to travel and I have to leave them in the care of DH while I'm gone.  But...they're so pretty!!!  One of my favorites is Hoyas.  They've been a staple in homes for years and years.  Easy to grow, bloom (when they feel like it LOL) and so many different varieties!  You may have heard them referred to as "wax plants" because of the thickness of the leaves.

This is my Hoya Obovata.  See the pink splashes on the leaves?

Neon philodendron.  The pink leaves are new but will turn neon green as they get older.

A collection.  There's a bit of everything in there.  The only thing they have in common?  They love that window in the winter.  LOL

A close up of my Hoya Pubicalyx Royal Hawaiian Purple.  Isn't that leaf gorgeous?  

And just so you don't think that I am some amazing horticulturist...I write down the names on tiny plastic plant spikes so I don't forget.  LOL  LOL  LOL

I still have my garden on my mind.  This guy rode home shotgun with me last week.  A Meyer Lemon Tree.  Yay!!  My DH gave me money for Christmas.  I didn't buy any stitching related items, but picked up this tree, potting soil and pots.  LOL  First time for everything. 

Finally completed my 2020 SAL.  I am not happy with myself since I didn't stitch the entire bottom row...but you have to measure correctly to have enough fabric.  LOL

Did another tiny piece for the house.  This started as a DollarTree chalk sign!  Some paint and paper...poof!  

While cleaning up my craft area, I found a needle minder that I love, but doesn't have strong enough magnets to hold anything.  I decided that I would pry off the magnets and add some of my super-duper magnets that hold EVERYTHING.  If you chose to follow my lead, do not use an ice pick to attempt to pry off the magnet.  It doesn't work and when it slips, the sharp pointy end will go through the nail on your thumb and it will hurt.  A lot.  And the bad part?  I still need to find some way to get off the magnet.  But it is a pretty ice pick.  And works well to punch holes in cardboard or fabric if I need to put in a cord.  LOL

Thursday morning I was up bright and early for our doggie pee pee party.  It was a little cold and I decided to make some shortbread cookies and poppy seed bread.  Very tasty if I do say so myself!  This is the first time that I added cranberries and orange zest to my shortbread.  SO GOOD!!  It is just a standard recipe that I found on Pinterest but works well for me.

Oh...I've just rattled on.  LOL  I leave you with two pictures I snapped this past week.  The first is of the moon...at 3:30 am (pee pee party) and the sunset from my front door.  There is just so much beauty in nature!

Be safe.  Stay warm.  Be kind to one another.

Wet and Windy California

Good morning from wet and windy California.  We desperately need rain but the forecast is five to six inches.  Hmmmm...a bit much, a bit fast.  Wind gusts up to 50 mph.  My outside decorations are flopping around as we speak.  I think I'll just leave them in the flowerbed for the day.  LOL

With a new puppy, I just don't seem to get as much stitching done as usual.  Okay.  Truth?  I'm getting NO stitching done.  My usual stitching spot is a very comfy couch with the perfect light in the family room.  Which is carpeted.  And not a good place to spend time while attempting to potty train a puppy.  LOL  

Here are a few pictures of the famous Jack Jack.  I call this "Little Dog on Big Dog Bed".  

Moses is very patient...as long as Jack Jack does not bite him.  I keep an eye on them and they are learning to share the same bed.  Not that Moses is much interested but Jack Jack really loves him.  Poor Moses looks so disgusted.  LOL

Here is an picture of the moon peeking out from the clouds.  Taken from my back patio at 3:30 am.  Because everyone knows that when it's time for puppies to go, it is time to go.  Sometimes you just need to look for the positive...I got a great picture.  LOL

While I did not get any stitching done, I did get a few crafty things finished.  I realized that the pictures in my bathroom are about twenty years old.  They were starting to fade and just not that attractive.  Spent some time on Youtube and found some crafty ways to use Dollar Tree stuff.  I painted, added scrapbook paper and made myself some new pretties.

I think this is my favorite.  I was going to just hang the tag but then realized that it was a bit small.  Looks perfect on this revamped frame.  I had the button in my stash and it fit perfectly.

Meanwhile in the Garden de Rancho...my irises are confused.  The temperature has been down to 25 degrees, but I still found this beauty hiding behind my gas meter.

As for my succulents, lots of growth going on out on the patio.  Not sure why!!  It's just as cold on the patio as everywhere else.

One of my hanging plants.  I love spider plants .  A few years ago I threw in a couple of succulent starts.  Took off and makes a beautiful statement.

I put in two blackberry vines.  I love blackberries but it may be a couple of years before my first harvest.  I am ever hopeful.  And strawberry blooms?  Yep, got one.  LOL  Check out those tomato plants!!  While cleaning up last year's garden, I threw some old, rotten tomatoes into the planter.  It is really early, but at least I know that the seeds will germinate.

Okay.  Off to start my day.  First...breakfast.  My neighbor brought over a loaf of fresh sourdough bread.  Super tasty and excellent as toast. Maybe I'll do some baking.  Not like I'm heading outside today.  LOL   

Wishing each of you a safe and happy week.  Be kind to one another.

Puppies, Winter Gardening and What Day is It?

Good morning and happy whatever day this may be.  LOL  I have a phone and a calendar yet still seem to be unable to keep up with the passage of time.  My hubby and I both tested negative for Covid, but TEN days later, yes, TEN days, I was contacted by the county health department and was told that I should quarantine for another fourteen days.  I told them that I tested negative but they were insistent that that was not enough and we should stay home...again.  I have all respect for keeping this virus in check but their concern was a bit late.  Sigh.  

This past August, my not-so-DH decided that we should breed our mini-Aussie.  He has several friends that really wanted one of her puppies.  I did not agree...there are always animals to adopt.  He takes great pleasure in telling people that he listens to me then does as he pleases.  Pretty much true.  He can be very annoying.  All that being said...he went ahead with his plan.  Whether I agreed or not, I was sucked into the program.  Here are some puppy pictures to make ya'll smile.  I have decided to keep one for myself.  He is the runt and only half the size of the others.  He wasn't expected to live.  I wasn't sure what his super powers would be so I named him Jack Jack after the baby from The Incredibles.  They all have homes and the last one is leaving on Sunday.

Basket of puppies.

Jack Jack.

Jack Jack after his spa day.

Eating...they sound like termites.

Nothing like a snack to bring the group together.  LOL

In other news, I am catching up on my gardening chores.  The roses are sleeping for the winter.  You can see my vegetable pots in the background.  Everything is done for the season and waiting for Spring.

My two-vine vineyard.  Loved the raisins I made last year and have plans to make all of this year's crop into the same.

Only gardening left to finish is cleaning up my irises.  That is on today's chore list.

Just so you know that I'm still stitching...here is the 2020 SAL Quaker.  Before you ask...yes, I'm a bit behind.  LOL

Working on the WTNT Christmas piece.  Santa is faceless, but hoping to get that done as soon as I'm finished with the SAL.

Well, off to start my chores.  We are almost out of big-dog snacks so I am definitely going to town.  Have a fabulous week and be kind to one another.

Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

So...it is Saturday on the rancho.  Sigh.  Trying to be upbeat , but Covid has moved into our home.  Our houseguest tested positive last Thursday morning.  DH and I went in that day and both had a Covid test.  It is anticipated that it will be four to six days before the results come in.  So far, neither of us have any symptoms and she is asymptomatic.  My friend is staying in her room and wearing a mask anytime she goes into her bathroom.  We knew that it was a possibility...so not really surprised.  Well, since she works at the same prison that I worked at...I'm surprised it took this long.  DH had a horrible cold a few weeks ago but he did the Covid antibody test.  Nope, just a cold.  Please keep my family on your hearts that if we get it, we have an easy recovery.  

Since I am quarantined at home, been working on crafts.   It's a little hard to concentrate so I'm just doing one stitch at a time.

This week's finish was a small kit that I was gifted by a friend.  I decided to go a little different with the finish.  It originally had the word "friend" at the top and was made into a large 10 inch heart.  Not quite what I was looking for.  So....made into a pillow, changed the word to kindness and added a bit of wool with a sweet button.  Love it!!

I am one of thousands that is working on the Merry and Minty from WTNT.  I don't have a lot done and am waiting for the red thread to be delivered from Stitch and Frog.  I found some boxes at the Dollar Tree that I will use to mount the finished stitching on.  I think that it will be great to use for Christmas candy or a floral arrangement.  I will cover a piece of comic board with a Christmas themed fabric, then mount the stitching on another piece of comic board.  I have ideas!!  These boxes are 5" X 6", so the perfect size.

As I am stuck on our little one acre rancho, I will be using the "dreadmill".  (As designated by Lauren over at Rugs and Pugs. LOL Almost spit my coffee out when I read that.)  I did get a beautiful sunrise earlier this week.

I am off like a herd of turtles this morning.  I know I have chores to do...not really feeling it.  Maybe, maybe not.  LOL  Be safe out there.  Be kind to one another.

Finishes, Christmas Season and Feeling Blessed

Happy Sunday morning from the rancho!!  Quiet and cold in my little corner of the world.  I've kept up with my walking program.  The morning temperature is still around 25 to 30 degrees.  Brrrr!  But I throw on my mittens and hat and I'm out the door.  Not the most glamorous look, but not a lot of people are up at 7 am on my street.  LOL

I finished-finished my La-D-Da bird into a drum.  Super sweet.  

Kept focused on my crow project from Rovaris.  I've had it for over a year.  Definitely time to get it stitched.  I followed the instructions and made it into a long pillow.  The charms came with the project.  There was supposed to be a spider stitched in the middle of the "O".  I thought that the key was a better choice.  Not too fond of spiders.  LOL

A few months ago, I moved this plant to the patio. After ten years of attitude, I'd had enough. No real growth, flowers maybe every two or three years. Told it that it was survival of the fittest. Of course...it lived. Doubled in size and has a bunch of blooms. Its attitude is even worse now. LOL It is under a covered patio...with temperatures falling into the high 20's. Go figure.

I'm not feeling very Christmasy yet...but I'm working on it.  I put out my Christmas signs this morning by the front door and DH is going to work on putting up some lights on our fence today.  He is still fighting a bad cold so I'm not asking for much participation on his end this year.  I ordered most of DH's gifts on line.  All clothing items that he needs.  The last sewing project I did for him was to mend a shirt that should have been thrown away.  I had to completely rebuild the cuffs.  LOL  As for me, I am incredibly blessed.  There is nothing that I truly need or want.  I have a warm house, food for the winter and plenty of craft supplies (LOL).  All is good.

Off to start laundry.  Hope all have a good week.  Stay safe.  Be kind to one another.