Road Trip

Just a very quick post as we are going to be going on a road trip...this place somewhere new...Borrego Springs, Ca.....Its about a 85 mile trip one way and the Agent is agreeable to pay our rather large service charge so all is good..its a cool day too as this city is in the desert...should be fun!
I'll take loads of photos if I can so see ya!

Garden Talk

This last weekend, we spent quite a bit of time in the garden...deadheading roses, weeding, etc. This rose bush is really blooming..its a heirloom type we ordered several years ago from a company in Texas....

These roses are very large..about as big as a dessert plate...6" or so....and very fragrant....we forgot to cut it back this last winter so its rather bushy......

I also wanted to show the garden boxes Alan built..we planted some chubby carrots, beets, and bush peas which are now seedlings....

He put in a drip system for watering..by watering the top, it drips down and waters the box underneath so it works out well....these peas are taking off........as they are under the patio shade cloth, they won't get too hot this summer....although I have a feeling this will be a cool summer for us......our sun can be very harsh.....

The vegetable garden is doing well..we put down a weed barrier between the corn and have more to go..hopefully it will keep the weeds down to a dull roar....the only thing that is really labor intensive in this garden is weeding....weed seeds are everywhere .....last fall Alan tilled in a product that supposedly kills weed seeds but we still have thousands or so it seems. An ongoing battle....
The weather here has been cool and cloudy....gray mornings giving way to sunshine in the afternoon....with some high winds ....in the 60s during the day...

Penny Rug Giveaway

Paula, from Paula's Primitives is having her first ever giveaway..she is giving away this marvelous handmade penny rub...please go over and say hello, and of course, sign up....I think these penny rugs are so wonderful and color.

Happy Mothers Day!

As a mother of two boys, I can really relate to this....we've  had our share of brought home pets..from frogs to lizards, to guinea pigs and hamsters...parakeets and finches, cats and dogs....besides skateboards, assorted bikes, pogo sticks, hula hoops, roller blades, scooters,  and wagons. Bubble gum in hair, brother haircuts, skinned knees and stitches. Muddy footprints and finger smudged mirrors. Cub scouts, boy scouts, soccer games and Little League...Sunday School and Parent Teacher conferences...field trips and class volunteering....fire crackers and rockets....BB guns....
and am so glad I am privileged to be the mother of two boys.......our oldest son will soon be a father of  his own little boy..hope he will have as much fun as we've had....

Crocheting and Me

 

I've got the baby afghan well underway...here is what it looks like right now...took me a little while to get back into the swing of crocheting as I haven't done any in probably 15+ years..but its like riding a bike, you don't forget......plus the ripple stitch is very basic and easy..I taught myself to crochet as my mother didn't...but  Grandma did,  however she passed away before she could  teach me. It felt good to pick up the crochet hook again....

Also finished another towel.....this guy is ready to chow down...sorry, the light wasn't very good....I also got an order in my little shop for 4 candle mats so I am busy with stitching////
Yesterday we took a long drive to San Diego as Alan had missed one of the houses in the lockbox exchange...it was a pleasant ride but 140  mile round trip so needless to say we were tired when we got back.....then we got a call for another job closer to home....business has been fairly good this month!

This evening I will drawing the name for the winner of the tags...if you haven't signed up yet, there is still time!
Just had 15 people enter so you have a good chance of winning....click here to enter

Store News

I've been working on new tea towels....and just finished this one...loved how it turned out....

The creamer is so wanting the sugar bowl to respond, however she is being rather flirty....LOL..just like a diva.....I am doing these towels in the same colors as the trim which is red, blue, green and yellow....

haven't got them washed and ironed yet you can see the hoop marks but had to show you........very good quality towels too.....they will be listed in Sweet Home Stitchery when the other 6 are done.......
I now have 15 people signed up for the giveaway so that means I will have to stitch up more tags....for every 10 people that sign up, I will add another set....the question will be how much stitching will I be doing? only a few days left until the 6th so keep me busy! the sign up tab is on the left hand side of this blog.....or just click on the Sweet Home link above...
I also listed a little raggedy but still pretty 1953 tablecloth of Queen Elizabeth's coronation...

The filet crochet is a little rough with a few holes which could be repaired so I am taking offers...would love to send this to someone who would appreciate it.....
sorry, I stand corrected on the filet crochet..its machine done very pretty...photos don't do it justice..
I have so many pretty cloths and linens..and am downsizing.....

Flowers and a little more

We were at the Home Depot the other day and found these wonderful Foxglove plants..I picked up one and brought it home..wish I had got more as they were on sale for only $2.00 each...these are perennial so hopefully there will be more next year... we're getting as many flowers as we can find for our back flower bed to attract hummingbirds...

We're using a rental car while the other car is in for repairs after the accident...its a new Honda and you'd think it would be comfortable but after two re key jobs yesterday..my back and side are tender.....the seats are rather stiff and hard...not like our older Honda.....Alan went by  himself today..he's going to about 24 different houses all over San Diego county to exchange lock boxes...not a fun job..but a one person one...
I took some Motrin and doing needful things around the house today.....planting a new geranium on our front porch and I wanted to show you the unique geranium I got as a start...
.

It starts out as this bright red/orange color and then as the flower matures, it turns into

into pretty red and pink...its an ivy type geranium and gently falls around the pot.....I just love it.......I stuck starts into the planting mix, not knowing at the time, what the flowers would look like..but I liked the pretty large green leaves......a nice surprise and a rescue of a plant that probably would have died at the foreclosed house......geraniums do very well here....especially on our front porch as it gets morning sun and afternoon shade when its the hottest....
 

Latest gas price

this isn't the lowest but not the highest either.....we found gas for $4.35 which was the cheapest...

Last night after working, I logged onto Facebook and every post was about Bin Ladin's death.....frankly, I had mixed fillings....how about you? as a Christian, I can't really rejoice in a death, even of an enemy...I am glad  he will no longer will troubling anyone but shudder at God's judgment...I am proud of our Seals...and pray for them as what they were required to do was both awesome and terrible...something they train for day and night...and I wonder at a President who credits himself for the deed....

Yellow and Green Spring

                 Our little field is full of yellow and green....so much color after all the rains and cold weather....

This last photo is of all the wild mustard that has sprung up in the field..it covers all the walking trails and is really a jungle...feel like we need a machete! Its about tall as I am in some sections and I'm about 5'6"...will be a fire danger this summer but wow, its wonderful now!

Please be sure to sign up for the giveaway..only have 5 people entered and if 10 enter, I will add a second set. Sign ups on the left hand side.......

Tale of a Beach Ball

Yesterday, we had two jobs in San Diego county....and while driving on the interstate...the car in front of us suddenly stopped....so we were able to slow down when they sped up again, only to stop abruptly in the second late on the interstate..we hit our brakes but couldn't get over as there were cars speeding at speeds up to 80 on either side..needless to say, we hit the car......come to find out..the lady driver stopped for this large beach ball was on the road...that's right..she stopped for a beach ball....and yes, I know what you are thinking..her car wasn't damaged  mostly the bumper but ours is another thing...

the front bumper, the  hood, the side panel and more will have to be replaced.....we're afraid to open the hood as it probably wouldn't be able to fasten again...no damage to the engine but our poor Honda! We also thought we'd be the one at fault as that is what normally happens with these type of accidents but it looks like her insurance is going to cover the damage..thank the Lord! No one was hurt, and we had been able to stop to a low speed (20) so the damage wasn't really bad...normally, we are going the speed limit which is 70...I hate to think what would have happened at that speed...I know I wouldn't be typing this post right now, that's for sure.

Guess what happened to the beach ball, you may ask?  as we looked in amazement, a large semi truck pulled up, the driver got out and put the ball in his cab..bouncing it along the frontage..weird, huh?

and even more strange..when we arrived at the house to do the re key..there in the living room....the same  beach ball..a little cleaner, but the same ball.....only thing in the room but a lone white beach ball.....

A Tag Giveaway

I am giving away these 3 Willow tags over on my Home Sweet Stitchery blog so please sign up....the link is on the left side......if I get more than 10 entries, I will add a second set so you will have a good chance of winning...I have redone the blog and getting it ready to list alot more things as I am downsizing some of my collections.....

We woke up to hear about the terrible storms on the East Coast and South.....my heart goes out to those who have been effected and my prayers.....can't believe Good Morning America is concentrating on the royal wedding instead as if that is really important while people here are suffering....having gone through our own emergency, I can really relate to this...these type of emergencies effect families in so many ways..not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually too.....and am praying....