Drops of Love

Last Saint Patty's Day, Jessica and I made green shamrock cookies. Well they were so good I woke up yesterday morning with a hankering for them again. This time we added Wilton's Red Gel Food Coloring in the Sugar Cookie batter and cut them into hearts, lucky for me they taste just as good as they did in March.

Going the posts from March I can also update you on something else. I made babies! Well sort of, in all reality I helped to make seeds. The two Nun Orchids (Phaius tankervilliae) capsules were sent off to Troy at Meyer's Conservatory and they were viable! 90% Viable even! I'm so excited that in spite of everything (even the tornado!) we had that kind of success. The seed assay they did reveled the embryos are 10% of the seed, which is awful tiny since the seeds themselves where fluffy like blowing flour. The Conservatory is in the process of germinating the seeds, which is the real test of viability. Interested parties can order here.

Row Robin for May

Lori's Row is here for the row Robin. When I first saw her row I really wanted to make a snow covered town and glitter paint it. Of course I've never done glitter on fabric, so the cost is a bit more than I'd like, so we'll see over the next couple of days if I can come up with something different to do.

I was outside with DH and Jessica long enough today that I picked up a tiny sunburn on my shoulders. Lucky for me if anyone burns in this house it's me. This is my passion vine plant. Mine is not "self fertile" and therefore it wont set passion fruit. The pretty purple flowers only last a day, but based on the number of buds I should have flowers everyday until late summer.

Easter, and a couple of Pet Safe Tips Too

Jessica'e Ukulele was a huge hit. She sits and plays it no matter what she is doing, it's kind of cute, and the high notes of the Soprano Uke aren't nearly as high as I'd feared, it's really okay. I do worry she will overtighten the strings and it will pop back on her, but I suppose all parents have to worry about something. Jessica had a great time collecting the eggs the Easter Bunny had hidden around the house. Just like in years gone by we use paper grass (you can buy all different colors at Joanns, Micheal's ect.) They are cheapest now, which is why I have four spare bags put up. It doesn't need replacing as much as I thought it would.

Did you know the Easter bunny knows to cover the bowl of chocolate left on the table with shrink wrap to keep the cats out? I thought it was ingenious. Somehow he even managed to get a good seal on it. Something I sure can't do. Must be an Easter Bunny thing. Sunny went outside with us after lunch to help look for the plastic eggs. The ones mom and dad hide never have anything in them, just plain plastic, and my husband would you believe counts the plastic eggs to be sure they all get found? DH can make any living thing adore him. Just look at this lizard laying on his back!

Let them Eat!

I know how to clean foam shoes! The foam shoes you can pick up just about anywhere are great. They look nice, they feel okay and if you're exceptional your feet never stink. If you're like the rest of us you know better. After a month or more those wonderful comfy shoes begin to show wear. They clean off okay at first but eventually you're looking at those shoes thinking okay it's time to go to Walmart for another pair. But they still fit and you're not really ready to shell out more cash even if they are inexpensive.

Here's the answer. Simply wet the shoes as you normally would to rinse them off. Now apply a bit of hand soap or dish soap (they seem to work equally well) rub the soap over the shoe but don't create a lather, instead merely lubricate the shoe. Now using a Magic Eraser rub those wear spots, rub any discolored area and you will find in just a minute or two they are back to looking good again. Allow to dry and you're good to go. I hope you enjoyed the tip.

April is here and I'm glad to see it. My passion vines are covered in caterpillars and I'm thrilled about it. Back when the vine was in a pot it was a constant battle with these little bugs, but at the advice of a good friend I planted the plant in the ground and now the passion vine and the caterpillars have a nice co-relationship going on. The caterpillars will turn into Gulf Frivolities, which are a joy and a wonder to have around so we let them be. Number like these you see will soon have my hard filled with butterflies. Personally I'm amazed with as many caterpillars nearly ready to cocoon as there are that you can't see any damage to the passion vine, (except close up like this) I suppose it just goes to show nature knows best.

My nun orchids also known as Phaius tankervilliae are in full bloom now. I attempted pollination today. I'll let you know how that goes as any viable pods will be donated to Meyer's Conservatory, and of course they sell flasks so those will be available to anyone interested. I'll pass word along as I recieve it.

While outside Jessica noticed a little ladybug. I just love her hand pointing to it. You can click on the photo to see it bigger if you can't see the ladybug. This particular lady is more orange than red. I like the look of her little hand in the photo. (and those dirty foam shoes, oh well they're clean now!)

Every single girl getaway I go on without my husband I break the camera. As a family we're on camera number three. I figure that makes this as good a time as any to figure out some of the extra doodads and other features. This frame reminded me of the movie insignia and I couldn't help but to frame it in with Sunny in the middle. Who knows if I keep at it maybe next time I can catch him in a yawn!

From all of us to each one of you get out and enjoy the beauty of the moment and have a great weekend.

Dreams Delivered

Did you know Disney has their own florist? We should have guessed after all they have their own surveying company. There are many many wonderful things there. Some that cam be delivered right to your Disney hotel room, and other items that can be delivered to your home, bringing a little bit of magic right to your doorstep. The vastness of offerings in and of itself is stunning. Why don't you have a look after you lock up your credit cards? http://www.disneyflorist.com/

Not much getting done around here now or in the next couple of days for that matter, why don't you kick back and have a cold one too?

Blue

It bothers me somewhere down inside that white and I are not friends. I love white. White on white fabrics make me drool. I love the embroider on them. I have made two STUNNING quilts with white. One was even simple red and white. Yet I myself can't have white.

A couple months back I found an amazing deal on a white organic tank top ($5!) it was nice for a bit of "dress up" or "dress down" and looked great with... You get the picture. But heck if I could keep the thing clean. My DH is the master of all stains. They all stop and yield to his will. Of course he has to know about the stain to will it out. In spite of all that after only a couple of wearings my beautiful "nice" white tank was spotted. Well heck if I was going to let it go the way of every other white t-shirt I have owned.

So today at the grocery store I bought some rit dye. I can't believe it was $2 and change but hey it is what it is (I could swear you can get fabric dye from Joann's for a buck!) I'm a driven person. Mood inspires me. New things move me. So I couldn't resist (after the groceries were put away and my DH had gone to work) digging right in to my little dye project.

Now let me stop right here and say when they tell you to use gloves bite the bullet and use gloves. It has taken me all evening to get the dye area limited to my fingernails. (yuck). I did the sink method in a big stainless stock pot mostly because I didn't want anything stained forever, except the shirt ~ of course. This process takes a whole lot of standing. I'd like to think it's the last time I will do it when I don't have help, but almost for certain I will encounter something that will lead me astray.

I just love how the rhinestones didn't take the dye. The package said anything plastic would take the dye (that's why I didn't bother trying it in my front loader - not to mention the automatic size sensor wouldn't allow enough water in to completely cover the material per the directions). The rhinestones being plastic surely should have take the dye but you can clearly see they didn't.

I'm glad to have my "nice" shirt back. Even if it isn't white.

March Row Done

Such a wonderful day to get things done. Today I wrapped up my March assignment for the row robin. On each side I have embroidered line work of snow covered towns in golden thread. On each side of the center I have a north pole this way sign, and in the very center is Santa's Village complete with Mrs. Claus placing a scarf on a snowman. Most all of these patterns came from Sew Teri-fic, and I just love it. Mrs. Claus has beautiful patterning within the thread on her skirt. It's so pretty I found myself wishing I could be Mrs. Clause, lol if only for the dress! This is the detail shot of the center before I sewed it on. The theme for this row is Christmas with Santa - Scrappy Style. I just loved working with the applique embroidery, what fun to dig in my scrap bag, and for these little houses any little piece would work! FYI the line work town came from Embroidery Designs. But it's a big design and filled my 6"X10" hoop completely. This row took 11 hoopings of embroidery and I think the finished product makes it well worth it.

My new baby Orchids arrived today and have been escorted outside in a temporary arrangement until DH is feeling better. Seems he caught some sort of nasty stomach bug.

Cherish those you love. I am currently reading "Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul", which my neighbor gave me by way of her cousin. The little story I am holding with me today has the following line, "but that can't be why, I'm adopted." and the momma says "I always forget". Isn't that wonderful? May your day be filled with Sunshine and Happiness.

Checkup

Hello there! After days of feeling like I can't do anything right, I find myself wondering how all of you are doing. There has been a spin off of unforunate events blogger style, but I'm not going there. To hopefully end the desire to beat my head against the wall I've been thinking spring. DH is buying me two baby Orchids. You can see the parent plant info here --> http://troymeyers.com/direct/?123905 and here --> http://troymeyers.com/direct/?123793.

I have been so wrapped up in this I have learned the reasons behind every orchid death that has come to my hands. Sad I know. My Papa always used to raise them for my Grandma, and they were so beautiful. I feel closer to her when I have Orchids near. (And trust me after my unsteady stressful hand I need someone to steady me!) Amazingly one plant still exists from those good old days, a seed that blew into the tree and found a root hold there if you can believe. I have no idea what kind it is yet, but I have high hopes of collecting seed, and participating in Meyer's Conservatory flask program, so that I too may have some of this little bit of family history in my home as well. In case you didn't follow the links to the parent plants I posted above, let me pause for a moment and say that Meyer's Conservatory is a wonderful place. Troy ready to help with a whisper of a notice. My little Orchids will ship out Monday and will arrive within a couple of days after that. IT is such a great think that Troy and his company are doing, keeping costs (extremely) low to propagate what we have, in hopes that less plants will be ripped from their wild homes. Perhaps someday we'll be able to give back what other's before us have taken as well...

DH installed most of my curtains already, wasn't that great of him. It's going to take come getting used to, but I am very glad I used Muslin, this allows some light through, so when you're only lifting pack a little bit to put a cup or a dish away, the light shining through the fabric is perfect. Of course because I made the curtain style it is very easy to simply open them.

You your pets play peak-a-boo with you? This is a photo I took of Tiny peaking around the table. She sits on top of the CPU when she wants to hide and or pick up a little extra heat. Now don't start about PC's on the ground. I already know.

Don't forget you can always click on the image to see it bigger.

Orange Juice!

This time of year is one of the best times to live in Florida. All Citrus Trees more than 4' tall are producing marvelous fruit. My neighbor's tree is easily 20' high and they have been sharing with us. Their tree makes oranges that are great for juicing, and with the two bags I'd been given I was in fresh squeezed heaven this morning.

This afternoon I dug out everything I have for 2008's Block Challenge. I know it's hard to believe that stuff is still kicking around, but the mailing deadline was pushed back till the middle of March. After going through it I decided to redo my labels on the embroidery machine, a bit of something nice to go along with each block. So far the first five are soaking in the sink to get the last of the aquafilm stabilizer off. I had read on the Martha Pullen website that a wash away stabilizer on the top can really help keep things still and pucker free. Since my base material is muslin I thought I'd try it out. Muslin always seems to want to pull out of my hoop. While it seemed to work, I'm not entirely certain it's worth the extra cost and effort. I will use it on a few more projects before saying for certain.

Have you been watching TMC as in Turner Classic Movies? They are currently running something called 31 Days of Oscar and let me tell you, it is a great lineup - uncut and commercial free. All of the best classics. Last night was "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" followed by an old favorite of mine "The King and I", afterwards was "South Pacific", I fell asleep before that last one came on, but DH came home from his night shift and finding it on admits to sitting down to watch the ending.

Early morning, sleepies

I'm not an early riser. Just because I can be up early does not mean that I like it, and I know 8 am isn't early to most people, but I don't particularly like the bleary eyed allergy nose mornings.This morning Jessica is thrilled over the top to be wearing her pink polka dotted dress. She is so beautiful in this photo. If this pc was better setup for it, I would completely edit the back and get a big print. Oh well. Sunny is in dire need of lovin's and maybe a sip of coffee (sorry not allowed poor cat has little enough brain cells. A package from one of my quilting friends came arrived safely. Words can not express my amazement at your generosity, Thank you thank you thank you. She sent four purple blenders of different shades, which is a very wise thing. Jessica just loves purple. She will pipe up at the oddest times and say "My favorite color is purple", and a rotary blade. How she could have possibly know I horde and save rotary blades. P.S. this was made much easier and safer when I invested in one of Patrice's rotary blade sharpeners! A sharp blade is in fact a safer blade.

The York Mints tin was her divine way of shipping the thing I was watching for in the mail. All of those beautiful old quilting pins. These things are so cool (I'm a crazy quilter I know!) Some of them look like straight pins that had color heads poured on top. We've come such a long way in pin making and don't even realize. Also there is one that is so neat I would photograph it in a heart beat if I thought the photo would turn out, but alas I don't have a macro setting at least not one I can find... It looks like the metal was folded to make the head of the pin. Very cool stuff.

And last but not least crayons for Jessica. My little artist will never complain about more art supplies. Though she keeps asking why the lady sent them. I wish I'd had the camera when she opened the package her face was the sweetest. :)

So now that the awful coffee DH made today has hit my system I'm off to start my day. Wish me a safe and happy day, and I'll wish you the same.

I broke my Butt!

Okay I didn't really break my butt... Here's my tail of woe... I went to the beach with my daughter and my sister today, while the canal is only a block or two from my house the beach is more like a mile, rough like I know. Rather than follow the two of them around the park and beach area I sat on the seawall which afforded me a good view of both the play area and the ocean.

Seawalls are not made to be sat on. If you have a chance sit in the wet sand instead. So I was sitting with my good leg hanging down and my bad leg up on the wall. Unbenost to me this was rolling my pelvis, allowing my leg/hip to slip just a little out of socket. This might not have been the case for you but we all know my pelvis isnt normal anymore. Seriously! So the first time it slipped it hurt rather a lot to slide back in. Well I guess I'm stupid because I just assumed I was having trouble because my leg was hanging down, so I achingly pulled it up, forgot about it, and let it fall back to hang down again. This happened seriously 5 or 6 times! After a bit I knew it was my hip giving me trouble, but what's a woman to do, it was the seawall, the wooden park bench, or the wet sand.

The last time it happened, it hurt so bad couldn't even think how to get up, now that I really wanted to. My poor dear sister is watching nearly pleading to help me, and I'm fending her off. Why!?!? Because I hurt so bad I was afraid she'd hurt me worse if she touched me! Yep, so I just rocked there like a dumb bird until I could rock forward enough to be on my hands and knees and get up from there.

So now I'm home and clean (and Jessica keeps telling me she needs more beach!) but my pelvis has slipped painfully three times since I've been home, doing nothing more than sit and be in bed. Yeah, I know, BROKEN BUTT! lol

I didn't take the camera, which is a sad thing because I saw a DOLPHIN again! Yep! Luckly me, or so I hope. My husband has convinced the computer to accept the SanDisk card from the camera, so hopefully I will be taught how to do that soon, and you'll be seeing lots of pretty photos of the crazy lady rocking her butt on the beach! :D

Now for your viewing enjoyment I have one photo of the Buzzard's Roost Block that I made. This is the one I remade to be more juvenile, and I've posted both so you can judge for yourself how pointless my work was.


Don't forget you can always click on my photos to see a better detail, and we can all hope the photos from the camera will be better than these taken with the camera phone!

The Broken Butt Lady Bids You Good Day, and Happy Butts!

B'Bye Sewing Machine

Last night when I popped in here to jot down a note to all of you I discovered the photo of Roarie was missing, needless to say I was rather unhappy about it, especially since it seemed to be the only one Blogger was missing. Rather than get upset I went off and did something else, and huzzah! this morning it's right back were it belongs, that goodness for this big community that we don't have to report ever single problem we discover.

So UPS has written us a check, or so rumor has it, and we should be seeing it sometime soon. In return I get to pack up my little machine and send it off. Not so thrilled about that as it had been behaving for the past week or so. Lucky for me VERY soon after I discovered its emanate departure, it jammed up and hasn't wanted to work since. Phooey, or it that a good thing? I suppose not that it's not working the only thing that is bothering me is that I use one foot in particular to get me scant 1/4 and I know different machines "scant" differently. In all seriousness I'd guess I wasn't that "good" with my first handful of hearts and the differences will have to be cut off anyhow. :) Someone should tell me that's a correct assumption about now, hehehe.

So I'm back to sewing machine shopping, oh how I hate this job. It's made even harder as I know what I like/love about this machine, and what I would love for it to have. Not to mention I really wanted an Elna, but I'm not happy with the $600 price tag the one with the features I want has. So there are three paths in front of me, firstly I can buy one of the Brother sewing machines from Wally World that has a good sized handful of the features I desire, secondly I can sit and watch ebay again, and of course pray that whatever machine works there is sold by a person willing to DOUBLE BOX, or three I throw caution to the wind and visit the store south of me where the mean lady sells Elna's and Pfaff's, hoping she has something I like and can afford, knowing full well that her Elna's start at that $600 I was telling you about, and if I didn't see something it's a 100 mile drive to the next store that does actually sell machines in my price range. Problematic, I know.

So let's see it is so humid today I can't stand it, I vacuumed this morning and had to turn the a\c on. Good for me it's nice and cool inside now. :) And that my dears would be the end of my note today. Take care everyone!