Little Notions

Little Notions
June 11, 2010

I believe that camping is good for you. A little R and R in the great outdoors sure can recharge a person.

I just love girlfriends! Especially the ones that you have known for years and years. The ones who have walked with you through life's peace and it's storms. The ones you raised your babies with. The ones who know your husband's quirks almost as well as you do! The ones that you can count on for anything. I just love those women.

I am creating fun projects out of denim for Jenny of Elephantz' June challenge. So far I have made several little things, which I will show you next week. But the thing that I realy want to make, well, I haven't started that yet. But I will. Soon.

I am reading "State Fair" by Earlene Fowler. I was number 2 zillion and 3 on the library waiting list, but my time has finally come! I know, I should probably just buy the book, but then it gets shoved in a closet or something and just collects dust. So, the library works for me.

I really need a mosquito management system. One that actually works! I finally have my pergola, and I am serving dinner out there, but the mosquitoes have a way of diminishing my joy! And that of my guests as well!

Outside the gopher war rages on! Apparently the cages around my tomato plants have work perfectly because now he is in my lettuce bed. Every morning I go out and see a little mound of dirt next to a half eaten head of lettuce. Speckled butter crunch lettuce. It takes him 2 days to eat each plant, so at least we are still getting some. I am adding a ultrasonic thing and an ugly spring loaded trap to my arsenal. With any luck he will be curtains by the end of the week!

A photo thought about a little pincushion I made this week

The Next Day

Have you ever noticed how mornings after an elections are always the same?
You open the paper, or turn on the news or talk radio, or what ever you do to stay informed.
And you review. It's always the same, and it goes like this.....

Are you kidding me! I cannot believe that passed.
There is no way that Prop #whatever didn't pass. What is wrong with people.
Oh thank goodness that passed, it was important.
Yes! We are finally going to see some commonsense governing.
We just elected WHO??!!

You know it is true. Whether you are a conservative or a lib, it's always the same.
Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
God Bless America and this democracy built on a government for the people and by the people!

On another political note, my guy went to the city council meeting last night. You know the one that goes on and on and on and on.....
Well anyway, last night's agenda included making our town a Whale Friendly City. Never mind what the President and the Chinese are doing, here in A Town, we support the whales.
If you are like me, you had no idea that these are the kinds of things that happen at city council meetings!

Finally, have you seen this? Oil Spill Cleanup

And that will be enough politics for today!

Civics 101

Don't forget to vote.
It's not too late to let your voice be heard!

Rainbow Around the Block

Did you notice the new icon in my sidebar?
Did you click on it to visit Anna Maria's site?
I hope you did and that you were encouraged to add your talents and prayers to the collection!
These are the 4 blocks I am sending this month. Colorful little string blocks made from some of my favorite fabrics.

It is a great little charity that could use your helping hands!
And a big thanks to Anna Maria for pulling this together.

Little Notions

Little Notions
June 4, 2010

I believe that someone needs a big "Happy Birthday" wish from her mother! Happy Birthday B....(censured nickname that I am forbidden to share on this blog), I love you.

I am inspired by Kaffe Fassett books. The quilts. The photography. The fabrics. The featured artists. The colors.

I am reading Kaffe books. Big surprise, huh?

I really want to receive a reward or award or something (a purple heart maybe) for surviving the teenage years! YeeHaw!!

Outside I have declared a war on gophers. So far 8 tomato plants have lost their lives, and 1 gopher is shouting a victory cry. 2 bombs have failed. And Grandpa George, the gopher expert is on the hunt. Today wire baskets were made for my remaining plants. So we will just see who laughs last!

In my kitchen there is a Tres Leche cake just waiting for the Birthday Girl! It is her all-time favorite.

A photo thought about baby Becca:

Scarecrow vs Scarecrow

Now, there are scarecrows, and then there are scarecrows. I have several, and they provide varying levels of protective "scariness".

First of all, I have this one. She is my favorite.

Several years ago, my guy entered the scarecrow contest at our local fair. When the time came to get one together he decided that he did not have the time. But, we had already paid the entry fee, so I decided to step up and help him out. I redressed my old frame and taped a basketball around her middle so she would look pregnant. Then I dug up another old frame and dressed it like a little girl, and even gave her a balloon. I entered them as a set.
Now, we did not win any prizes, but those two have become a family legend. When we went to the fair that year, there they were, proudly displayed with my guy's name attached to the front of them. On a very large card. Hilarious! And to top it off, all of our friends and neighbors had seen and admired his handiwork.

Now, as you may have guessed, she is not at all scary. As a matter of fact, she is the kind of scarecrow that the birds rest on between feeding frenzies!

My girls gave me a new scarecrow for Mother's Day. And, with any luck it will provide all the protection I need in my pumpkin patch.

It doesn't look like much, does it? Don't be fooled, on the "scariness" scale, it is a 10!
It is motion activated and has 10 different sensitivity settings. We have it set to 7. And, it will gettcha!
Just ask our dog. Or our cat. Or one of our poor, unsuspecting Memorial Day guests who was just coming by for a hot dog!
I LOVE it! And if you have a deer problem, I recommend that you get one for yourself. Right away!

And, to close this post, 2 photos of the yummiest lettuce I have ever grown.


Happy gardening!

May Finishes

Whew! I wasn't sure that I was going to get anything finished for the month of May.

This was a project I started last year. The pattern was from American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. It was a fun way to use up some of my retro modern scraps.

This double pinwheel is made mostly from Robin Pandolph scraps. The colors are so soft that it did not photograph well. But trust me, it is pretty cute.

This is my challenge for June. I have had these blocks for many years. They were made by my quilt group as a progressive project. And, I have no real good idea how to put them together??!! Any suggestions?