January = Hunker Down!

My word for January is actually two words - Hunker Down! I don't know if this is a southern phrase or if it's used everywhere, but it means to STAY IN YOUR FOXHOLE, HIDE, DON"T MOVE! I have a lot of projects that need attention but they will be there tomorrow. With the Polar Vortex having brought frigid temperatures to our area and the Christmas letdown, I have been very unmotivated. Wherever you are, I hope you're staying warm!

P.S One of my goals this year is to improve my digital photography skills. I will be joining A Personal Photo Challenge to.... challenge myself in this area. One of the wonderful things about writing a blog is the ability to see into the past. Hopefully, this will cast a light on my personal growth in many areas, not just photography. If you are interested, go and join the challenge yourself! It could be "eye-opening"! The theme for this month is "Shadow Play" and it just happened that this post's photo fit well. This was taken on my Nikon D40 and edited on Picasa with the I'm Feeling Lucky button (one touch easy editing). I'm hoping that as my photography skills improve I will need less editing? We shall see. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and please say Hi if you get the chance. 

Scaley Visitor!

While taking my dog, Smokey, outside, I sat on the front steps as usual. I looked down and saw this little fellow right below me.

Yellow ring around his neck

Bright yellow belly

    I Googled him and discovered he is a Mississippi ringneck snake and is very rare to see; not because they are uncommon here, but because they are very secretive. I think he is actually quite fascinating and even beautiful. Now, I am aware that there are SOME people ( ok, MOST people) who have a viscerally negative reaction when presented with ANY kind of snake and would never agree with the appeal of slithering things. I must confess that I have little fear of these creatures. HOWEVER, I surely don't like being surprised by one! This one was only about 8 inches long and had a tiny head so I knew right away he wasn't poisonous. In East Tennessee we only have 2 kinds of poisonous snakes, and they are Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads. Many people think there are Water Mocossins, also known as Cotton Mouths, here as well, but the TWRA says they are NOT found anywhere in the eastern part of the state. They are found in Middle and West Tennessee.
    When my son was 10 years old we got him a Ball Python and had him for about 4 years. They are the smallest member of the Python family and only reach about 4-5 feet. He had really beautiful markings and was a VERY low maintanance pet. I finally gave him away because of the disgusting RATS that he ate (we had to defrost frozen ones because I couldn't stand to see him kill them :-()) There was also some concern that the size of his food was about the same size as my 3 pound Yorkie!!! EEEK! We called our snake "snake" because let's face it, he didn't really need a name. One rule was that we would not get him out when company was over, because some people REALLY HATE SNAKES!!! - and that's ok and was to be respected. I hope I haven't freaked YOU out too much with this snakey post, and that you actually come back again for some pretty crochet or flowers.
     I really love ALL God's creatures, except spiders-YUCK, and appreciate the role each of them plays in this amazing world He created.  Even the CREEPY CRAWLY ones.

"Then God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kind, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good."
Genesis 1:25

Chartreuse

I will show you my latest WIP (work in progress) on the hook. I am making a cover for one of my Pottery Barn pillows that I LOVE. I have two of them but only have enough yarn on hand to cover one. They currently have white fuzzy lambswool covers, and I'm wanting a more Spring/Summer look for the upcoming seasons. I am doing the Block Stitch by Sue Pinner.  She has a wonderful crochet blog called The 8th Gem with many interesting projects. You should check it out. Anyway... here are the first pictures of my pillow cover.

I am using cottons and a couple of wools. I will bring you more pictures as soon as I finish.

Out in the garden things are really getting GREEEEEEN. I titled this post Chartreuse because of one particular plant. This one....

It's actually called Carpet of Gold but it is sooooo greeeeen. I have not edited these pictures in any way.

Thanks to a fellow blogger, Rowen at Coastal Colors, I found a cool app to make photo collages. I haven't been able to do this on Blogger (I'm sure there is a way but I couldn't figure it out!). It is called Diptic and the possibilities are endless. So FUN!

Finally, I found some drowsy bees enjoying the azaleas.

Big, fat, happy, DROWSY BEES.

I hope you're having a big, fat, happy, drowsy SPRING!

P.S. I you stop by please say "Hi" ! All you have to do is click on the word "comment" and it will take you to a comment box where you can leave me a message. I don't need glowing compliments (well, only if you want too ;-)). Just a simple "hello" will let me know you're there, and I'm not ALONE. Thank you for all my friends who say "Hi" on a regular basis. You know it keeps me going!

My Parents' Wildflower Garden

Spring has finally arrived in TENNESSEE! It was slow coming but we have been blessed with some amazing  sunny days mixed with a few April showers. My mother and father have a garden in the side yard which is dedicated to wildflowers that grow in our area. Both  are in their eighties and have been lifelong gardeners.Things change rapidly there and every few days something new is in bloom.  These pictures were taken last week and I'm sure these beauties have already faded and been replaced with other blooms. Enjoy...

Lenten Rose (Hellebores)

A place to sit and enjoy the garden

Pink and white Lenten Rose

Woods Poppy

I will try to go by and see what is blooming this week and take a few pictures to share. I hope that things are BLOOMING wherever you are! Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

"Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you , not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you - you of little faith." Luke 12:27,28.

Bullseye!

While I was taking pictures on Easter Sunday of our family lunch I realized I haven't done a "TaDaaah" for my Bullseye Blanket by Brittany Tyler. It has not been blocked and desperately needs to be, but I'm showing it (and using it!) anyway. I have  to say I am IN LOVE with this blanket for several reasons... One being, it is the FIRST blanket I have FINISHED and that is such an accomplishment for me! I really never thought I would make something this large and I'm really pleased as punch. Secondly, I love the colors. It's a tricky thing picking colors for a project like this. It involves so much work that you really want to get it right. I stayed fairly true to the pallette that Brittany used since that is what drew me to it in the first place. Lastly, the yarn is very soft and not too heavy. I love a warm blanket and sit under one year round (hubs loves to crank up the air conditioner in the summer, ugh), but I can't stand a heavy wool blanket. I used Cascade 220 Superwash Wool because it will be used and I really wanted to be able to wash and dry it easily. It is an affordable verion of wool so that also helped. I haven't actually washed it yet so we will see...

Here are a few more pictures and a few snaps from Easter.

Yes, we had a fire at Easter. No warm spring here!

My contribution to lunch was green beans, mashed potatoes, and sweet tea.

Sis in law brought broccolli casserole and cheesy pineapple casserole,YUM

Pork tenderloin with cranberry glaze, Honeybaked Ham, and deviled eggs.

 

T's parents on the left and mine on the right

A mix of candy, crochet and handpainted eggs

Watching basketball after lunch

I am so thankful that both of our families live here in town (and they really LIKE each other) and so we are able to spend the Holidays together without traveling. We were missing a few LOVED ones this year, but we will have many future Easters to share.


I hope you had a blessed Easter!

Leaves!!

Well, it was time to pick up the leaves. I BEGGED for a wooded lot when we were going to build 10 years ago. "I promise I'll rake all the leaves every year." I LOVE trees.  For the most part I take care of the leaves each year.(My husband might disagree with this statement.)

I soon came to regret this promise and really dreaded the annual RAKING OF THE LEAVES, but then my wise father told me "you don't have to RAKE the leaves. You can vacuum them up with your lawnmower and turn them into mulch at the same time." Father Knows Best! I actually enjoy picking up the leaves now.

My mulch bin

OHH! Look at that before and after line.Don't you LOVE jobs that have a clear Before and After?
Unfortunately, it was almost dark when I finished so I didn't get the "After" picture of the back yard so I will just have to tell you it looked great. I'm sure tomorrow there will be a few more on the ground, but I will try and snap a pic if it still looks good.

What about you?  Do you enjoy leaf raking or is this a chore you dread? Do you rake or blow or mow?
Thanks for stopping by. The next post will be some small crochet projects I have recently finished. See you soon!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalms 16:11.

Busy as a Bee

Hey y'all,
Well, it seems like this summer is off to a great start. If you like HEAT, that is!  I love spring and usually May is a wonderful month with days around 80 and nights in the 60's - we skipped right to the 90's! Now, I am cold natured, meaning that I am always cold. I take a sweater with me everywhere in the summer because if I'm in air conditioning- I am COLD. So, I am not complaining about the heat, but really just making an observation. I have baked in the heat to get a few outside projects done - 

 Putting out annuals 

Lobelia- I've tried this before and it really doesn't like our heat but it was so pretty I had to give it another try!

Geraniums for the front and Impatiens for our shady back yard

Some beautiful red verbena

AHHHH! Red Geraniums, my favorite!

 

 

 

 

I'll get some pics with them in the ground after I mulch.

Next, I painted a white PVC plastic fence section to look like weathered wood for my in-laws new house. They are going to use it as a headboard in their master bedroom.

I didn't have very high expectations for this project when my mother-in-law brought this to me with her clever idea, but it actually turned out just fine. I'll take some pictures when they get to move in.

Lastly, I pressure washed the back porch deck. It WAS GROSS! We are getting ready to have it screened in so we can actually sit out there without being carried off by the mosquitoes. It is my favorite part of our house with all the trees around and an outdoor fireplace and we want to be able to enjoy it. We've been talking about it for years but we are actually going to do it! Thankfully it won't start for a few weeks because we have a visitor on our mantle.  Do you see it? Next to the candle?

It's a bird nest with a momma sitting on 5 eggs! Of course she didn't choose the birdhouse!

She actually started the nest inside our GRILL and I found it when I was turning on the gas tank. At that time it only had one egg so I moved it up onto the mantle (I couldn't get it inside the birdhouse.LOL) . It is a house wren and they have built there before. She returned to it and laid 4 more eggs!!! She stayed on it the whole time I was cleaning the porch, which was very loud! She only leaves when I get really close -she flew out when I put my camera up to take a picture of her. Don't worry...she came RIGHT BACK. I will give you baby updates when they hatch. I LOVE animals!

With all of these projects going on I have been doing my crocheting in the evenings and I am almost finished with my bunting. Pics to come soon.

Other updates:
-The artroom is basically finished but I have spent very little time in there so far. It is wonderful to know that it is all organized and I can find all of my things now.
-I will be leaving for the beach this Saturday for a week at the beach and I will post lots of pictures while I'm there.

I will leave you with a picture of the sunset as I drove home the other night.

Blessings to you and yours xxxxxxoooxxxxxxxxxxooo

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."