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.

Finishes, Starts and Flowers

Happy Tuesday from the rancho! It's a chilly 65 degrees here in California.  I know that's pretty toasty for some of you but I've put on wool socks, a sweatshirt and been carrying my blanket around the house all day.  LOL  I went for a walk this morning at 36 degrees.  Not bad after the first 1/2 mile but cools off pretty quick when you stop.   

Hubby has a cold and I've restricted him to anywhere I'm not.  It's sad to say but as soon as someone coughs...you look at them like they're spreading the black plague.  LOL  He went to the doctor last week for a check up and the doctor told him that he had a lot of fluid in his ears.  We should have seen this coming.  

This is a Sashiko stitching project that I finished for my son.  Traditional Sashiko is done on dark blue with white thread.  The original use was for patching clothes, but can be done as a form of art.  I chose red with black and though the patches were not really "patching" anything, I wanted to keep it true to the original use.   I drew the geometrics on the back and used a running stitch.  He and I have talked about this art form many times and this is a surprise for him.  Just because.  LOL

I've finished my La-D-Da bird.  Super sweet.  It has much deeper colors than this picture shows.  It came with a homespun fabric in black and oatmeal and was finished as a pillow.  We'll see...

Got started on my next stitch.  Not much to it...but I'm a bit slow stitching these days.  I picked it up as a kit in Tulsa last year on my road trip.  It came with the lace and charms.  I'm sure I've got some fabric to match.  Or maybe a hundred that match.  LOL

Here are a few finishes from last week for my friend.

Acorn needlebook. 

Bee Needle roll.

With the weather getting into the high 20's at night, I am surprised that some of my roses are still hanging in there.  I've moved my strawberry plants and citrus trees into more protected areas.  So far, so good.  Except for the lantana.  It's a bit crunchy these days.  LOL

Thanksgiving this year will be a small affair.  Three.  Just three.  I will still do turkey with MOST of the side dishes.  No whipped fruit salad.  I only know how to make a gallon.  And if I make it, I'll eat it.  All of it.  LOL  As long as there is turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce...it's all good.

I ask that each of you think of five things that you are grateful for.  It can be big or small.  You are welcome to keep it to yourself.  But seriously consider the good in your life.  I will be happy to share.

I am grateful for my life.  Each day is a chance to change someone's life.  To be kind...to smile and to receive a smile in return.

I am grateful for husband.  Though we have definitely had our trials in forty years, we are still working together for a better life.

I am grateful for my son.  He is the light of my life.  My taco buddy, my thrifting buddy.  The person that stretches me to try new things, new arts.  He encourages me to keep learning.

I am grateful for my career.  Some days were better than others, but I am so blessed.  I worked at a job that I loved and it allowed me to retire with a living wage.

I am grateful for my hands.  I am 60 years old.  My hands and fingers hurt from years of turning keys and using knives.  But I can still stitch and sew.   I drop a lot of stuff, but thank goodness it's usually just thread and fabric.  LOL

So I am off to finish making soup for dinner.  Be safe.  Be kind to one another.

Stitching, Finishing and a Recipe

Good morning and happy Saturday from the rancho.  A bit chilly, but no rain since last week.  Most of my morning walks were taken at below 30 degrees.  Funny.  I don't really notice it much anymore.  Or maybe I'm still sleeping when I start my walk.  LOL  

Working steadily on my Fraktur Bird.  Colors are very different but somehow work together.

Of course, more finishing.

Easter door/cabinet hanger.

This is a fabric bag.  I thought it could be used to cover a vase of flowers.  Or just filled with paper and used as a decoration. ???

Sweet little ornament on distressed wood. I made the bow from homespun fabric.  I love the way this fabric frays when you pull it instead of cutting.  Makes the cutest bows.  Smile.

One of my favorites.  It is a standup.

Came as a kit.  The flag fabric was BRIGHT!  Ten minutes in some brewed coffee and a dry in the microwave...works much better now.  LOL

Finished as a tart.  The second picture shows the pom poms.  I added the poms to hide the open area around the tart.  LOL 

My roses are starting to wilt.  It was 27 degrees for three night in a row.  A bit much for them.

November 11th was the second anniversary of my father's passing.  Here is one of my favorite pictures.  This was taken while we were out running cattle.  We have the same smile.

As of yesterday I am 60 years old and been been married for 40 years.  I did well at being 59 so I'm very hopeful for 60.  LOL  Forty years is a long time to be together.  There have been good years and not-so-good years.  But...I'm too old to retrain anyone.  LOL

Each year I make fudge for Christmas gifts.  Jocelyn over at Canadian Needle Nana remembered and asked if I could post the recipe.  I was given this recipe over 30 years ago.  At the time, it was labeled See's Fudge.  Since I don't want to get in trouble for using their name...I've got a new name.  LOL  I've never had this fudge be grainy.  The only problem is if you choose to use chips other than Toll House, too many chips causes the fudge to turn into one, big, solid mess.   I have also used the big chips from Michael's and added flavoring from the baking area.  It works...but takes a while to set.  I would suggest you use regular cookie chips until you are familiar with the feel of the fudge. 

My Fudge

Mixture One:

½ cup butter

1 cup nuts

3 cups of chips

1 tsp vanilla

Measure all items and cube butter into small cubes.  Allow to soften.  Set aside.

Mixture Two:

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup heavy liquid whipping cream

10-12 large marshmallows

Stir and cook Mixture Two over medium heat until bubbly, about 7 ½ minutes.

When Mixture Two bubbles for about 30 seconds, remove from heat and add Mixture One, stirring until chocolate chips and butter melts completely.  Pour into buttered pan and cool.  I use a 9x13. 

This recipe works well with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, mint chips, pumpkin chips, etc.  I have also added Heath Chips, Peppermint Chips, etc, as part of the original 3 cups.  Be careful to not add too many chips, it will cause the fudge to “seize” and separate.

I'm off to clean house and make cookies.  I know how the house gets dirty but I just don't know where all the cookies go!  LOL  Really.  LOL

Be safe.  Be kind to one another.