How Does My Garden Grow...And Stitching Grass

Happy Friday from the rancho!!  The weather in California has been absolutely gorgeous this week.  High 80's during the day, low 40's at night.  Perfect walking weather and perfect sleeping weather.  Smile.  I was planning on driving to Iowa this month, but now waiting for my baby boy to give me a date in June that he's coming to visit me.  If June doesn't work, then maybe he'll visit in July...either way, I'm gonna see that kid sometime before October.  In 2019 I went in late October and hit snow through most of the Rocky Mountains, all of Wyoming and then brought it to Iowa.  I will definitely make the trip before September 15th this year.  LOL 

My garden is doing well.  I've got baby zucchinis and lots of strawberries.  Side note for strawberries...do not eat strawberries after you have put fertilizer in the pots and you forget to add water.  I thought the berries tasted a bit dusty.  LOL  Thank goodness it was organic.

I have harvested several meals of lettuce.  Such a different taste than store bought.

Can you see the teeny, tiny zucchini?  

The first blooms on my roses and irises are always the best.  But...they're still giving their all this year.

I took this picture on Mother's Day.  Love, love, love.

I received these geraniums several years ago from a dear friend.  They are loving my patio.

On to stitching.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I am continuing my work on Cherry Hill Sampler.  I told myself that I would get the grass filled in before I start on the center motifs.   I stitch on this for two hours each evening to not get burnt out.  I swear...my lawn grows faster than I'm getting this stitched.  LOL  I am not particularly happy with the lack of difference in the greens, but there is no way I will start this over.  Because I am working with overdyeds, I do random groups of stitching so it doesn't stripe.  I'm hoping that it looks better finished than it does now.

Did a quick little stitch that I found over at pinkernpunkinquilting.  I do love Melisa's designs.  They are so cute and most can be finished in a few hours.  Instant gratification!!  I am looking for the perfect button for the center of the bow.  This saying makes me smile.  I was raised more on a "ranch" with beef cattle and hay, but still have those "farming" memories of chickens, changing sprinkler pipes and animal chores.  Happy times.

Jack Jack is as cute as ever.  He's got this lanky teenager thing going on.  LOL  

There are a few chores that are screaming to be done.  But, I think I will head outside to pick some lettuce for dinner.  Who needs clean clothes?  LOL Stay safe, be kind to one another.

Irises Galore and We Got Lettuce!

Good morning and happy Saturday from the rancho.  Yesterday was busy, busy.  Dental appointment for me in the morning and DH's diabetic doctor in the afternoon.  I have always said that if I am kidnapped, my body would be easy to identify with my dental records.  I know...morbid.  But I have been going to the same dental office for 33 years and firmly believe that I have put multiple children through college.  I asked my dentist how many of my teeth are natural.  Nine.  Nine of my teeth have not been worked on.  If I started with thirty two...that is 28% of my teeth have had NO WORK.  Yep, I've been a great patient.  LOL Good news was that I need a replacement crown...but no root canal.  I know that most people would be sad, but that means that half of that tooth will still be mine.  LOL

I owe an apology to Melisa from  pinkernpunkinquilting.blogspot.com .  I showed a cute finish last week and noted that it was a freebie.  BUT...I completely forgot to tell you that it was her design.  So take a minute to visit and take a peek at her designs.  She has the cutest littles and some awesome saltbox houses.  Again, my apologies, Melisa.  

Finished another project.  It is a Fall piece but I'm putting it out now.  LOL I'm not sure where I found it...so no information...I've had it for a while in my "to stitch" pile.  I'm still working on Cherry Hill Sampler, but no pictures.  I will be better prepared next week.  LOL

Lots of flowers this week.  The temperature finally dropped below 90.  There's still a breeze in the afternoon so there is some damage to my rose blooms.  My irises are in an area that is protected from the sun and wind so they are looking fabulous.

Blooms on this geranium are small but check out those leaves!!

                                       

My tomatoes are starting to bloom...but the star of my garden?  Lettuce!  This is the second harvest.  It just tastes so good!  I planted a "bistro" pack so it has a little bit of everything.  

Okay.  Show of hands.  Who else?  LOL   It's only one more weed.  Too much trouble to go in and get dressed.  And the neighbors will understand.  Right?  LOL

Jack Jack is growing by the day.  If there is one piece of plastic left out, he is on it!  I believe that this particular pot thingy was from the lettuce.  I saved it so I could use it next year to start my seeds.  There is not much left of it now.  He doesn't eat it, but sure does crunch it up.  LOL  

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, the dads that were moms (and dads), and all those that did "mom duties" for those they loved.  I hope that your weekend is special.  Be safe.  Be kind to one another.

Gardening, Stitching and Cuteness

Well...this week is gone.  I know that Wednesday was trash day, but not sure what I did the rest of the week.  LOL

Our weather went from the low 60's to the low 90's.  I am just too darn old for that type of drama.  It seems that I am outside most mornings just keeping up with watering.  On the garden front...I am cucumber challenged.  I planted zucchini and cucumber seeds on the same day, in the same soil.  Hmmm.  Here are my plants today.  Guess which is which.  LOL  I had the same problem last year with my lemon cucumbers.  I thought it was just the seeds.  Nope.  It's all me.  LOL

I got berries!!  Granted, not a lot, but I see them on the way.  This the first year for both plants so I'm not expecting much.

Out checking my irises and found this beauty.  I honestly don't remember purchasing or planting this plant.   But it's here...and it's in my garden...so it must be mine!! 

Lots of roses this week.  The pink is so much pinker in real life, almost neon.  I planted it several years ago and am horrible with names.  But it sure is pretty.  Smile.

I love geraniums.  Pretty forgiving and easy to start your own.  These plants are all on my back patio.  I have a soft spot for the white.  Just so pretty.

These are my starts for this year.  I figure that if I shove some trimmings into the dirt and they grow...WIN!  LOL  It looks like all took this year.

On to stitching.  Have you ever seen a pattern that you love, love, love?  You purchase that pattern.  You begin stitching that pattern.  You completely forget about that pattern.  Oh?  Just me?  LOL  So I am watching Floss Tube.  I see this beautiful pattern and...there's a SAL!  I should do that!  Let's buy that pattern.  Wait.  Why does that pattern look so familiar?  That would be because I purchased and began stitching that pattern about five years ago.  It's in a project bag in my side table.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I am such a dweeb.  LOL  I can't remember why I stopped stitching this.  The border matches...nothing needs to be frogged.  Guess what I'm working on this week. 

I completed a few finishes.  I found the first as a freebie and just wanted something quick and cute. Stitched, walnut stained and stuffed with walnut shells (lizard litter!  I love saying that.  LOL) The second was a Christmas freebie last year from Brenda Gervais, With Thy Needle and Thread.  It should have a bottom row of flowers.  I decided that I would never finish stitching it.  I had to make it into something or throw it away.  It is now a Christmas plaque. 

This is a cute little stocking that my friend stitched.  There are two more to finish. I will stay with the homespun bow and rusted bell for embellishments. 

Jack Jack is looking so sweet. Thank goodness.  He has eaten three pairs of my cheater glasses this week and if he wasn't so cute....LOL  He is very long and lean.  Just the right size to put his little paws on the kitchen table to grab anything close to the edge.  Usually that is my glasses.  I am being trained to put them on a small shelf next to the front door.  And he is working on ignoring me when I tell him not to put his paws on the table.

I'm off to finish laundry.  And today will be some stitching on the forgotten sampler.  LOL  Have a wonderful weekend.  Be kind to one another.

Early Morning at the Rancho

Good morning!  Well...it's morning, not sure about good.  LOL  Was awaken at 4:15 am by a rogue alarm.  For some bizarre reason, not-so-DH stored an old, broken phone in the bedroom.  I cannot understand how my cell phone will barely hold a charge for one day, but this phone, which has not been used for a year, still has plenty of battery to sound an alarm.  Just poo...

I received my second dose of Covid vaccine yesterday.  Yay and more yay!  No bad reaction, just a sore arm.  I have a headache but I'm pretty sure that's related to the first paragraph.  LOL  I still have two weeks to go before being fully protected, but I'm feeling better about life.  I will continue to wear a mask and keep sanitizer in the car, but this is a definite step forward.  I can see a trip in my future.  Smile.

I've been stitching right along this week as well as a few finishes for my friend.  

Let's start with the finishes.  This was a small piece that she did several years ago that was designed to be a pin cushion.  It was too small for my taste, so...now it's a hangy thing.  LOL

A memorial drum with heart.  It has her and her husband's initials.  

This piece was designed as a needle roll.  Found these odd-sized spools at a craft store.  Perfect for this project.  It rolls around the spool and ties with the ribbon.

Lizzie Kate Spring Bag.

A Shepard's Bush kit.  They always design such sweet patterns.  Ruched ribbon with beads is fiddly, but so pretty.

Just in case you thought that I didn't stitch...LOL

Stacy Nash Spring Flowers Pinkeep.  Used the little spool with some torn fabric for a "pretty".  And saw some carrots made like this over at rugsandpugs.blogspot.com.  Thanks to Lauren for the idea.  Smile.  Orange didn't match my piece...so here are some white carrots.  LOL 

Scattered Seeds Sampler.  This was designed as a pinkeep.  Nope.  LOL  Finished as a drum.  I love the shape of this heart and used it on my friend's memorial drum.  

My garden is in full bloom.  The weather was warm last week and there is a rumor of rain for this weekend.  Hmmm. We'll see.  LOL 

Roses and more roses.  That last pink rose really is that bright neon color.  Love!!

I call these my "raisins in waiting".  LOL  

This is a new-to-me iris.  Lovely colors.

Star Jasmine.  I found two plants a few years ago at the grocery store.  LOL  They have done much better than the "special nursery" plants that I used to have in these planters.

Meyer's Lemon.  I am so excited about my new citrus orchard...all four trees.  LOL  I'm keeping them in large pots since we freeze every winter and they need to be mobile.

I've finished my second coffee and it's almost time for my morning walk.  I wasn't sure how I would feel today so I did most of my chores yesterday.  That gives me a quiet day. Smile.  I wish each of you a wonderful day and special weekend.  Be safe.  Be kind to one another.