From out of nowhere

it came to visit.

Then I thought about it and I realized it has been here.
I have done an incredible job of controlling my environment.
I attempt to surround myself with things that bring me peace and calm.
I can handle many things, including those things that make one incredibly strong and empathetic to certain situations.
I handled all of it.

Then I added one more course to the plate.
It's like not knowing when you've eaten everything and are full to the brim, so you take another piece of pie just 'cuz it sounds like a great idea ... and the pie tips you right over the edge.

I haven't decided yet to return the pie to the refrigerator ....

Breathe. Deeply.

Last week ...

This is how we roll over here.

Good thing I saved my big table.

Togetherness is a fine thing.

Watermelon rinds in the freezer.

I read somewhere that chickens like frozen watermelon rinds.

Great way to cool off when the summer heats up the afternoons.

I take a handful and toss them in ... and they disappear!

Bird nests spotted.

I took a drive up to Prescott for a few hours on Saturday.

'Tis the season of fire here in the desert. 

After a wet winter, the desert (both high and low) is a tinder box, just waiting for a stray spark from a dragging chain, a tossed cigarette or a neglected campfire.

We were a nightly sauna house when it first got done, but not anymore.
It is now a treat here and there ... and the summer air doesn't feel so hot when you get out!

Rain? No. Just the pretend stuff. A smattering of droplets from a nearby cars windshield washer.
Not sure their car window got cleaned ...

Say hello to Jameson. Love the little chunky rolls!

Those plants I started with rooting hormone? What did I say I was going to blame the failure on?
Failed.
And now I probably shouldn't try until late July.

Have a great week!

Go out and do something you love!

Whittling them down

My husband may be starving, but I'm getting stuff done.

Do you start projects and then find them so painful to finish that they sit and sit and sit?

Do you take them out and try really hard to work on them, only to put them back where you found them?

Do you ever think they should just hit the trash pile or the donation pile?

Do you think that maybe someone else will love it and finish it?

This little project has been one of those.

A baby blanket that is 36 squares total.

For some ridiculous reason I started doing these silly lines on the white squares.

I remember the reason I started, but it isn't her fault she said she likes those line things.

Once started, there was no way to stop.

Removing the blue strands would have left gaping holes.

Very recently I decided that it needed to get finished.
I am most serious about emptying out my stash of stuff.
Use it or lose it.

18 squares of lines are now done on this little blanket.
It is folded and stacked on top of another blanket top, both waiting for batting and backing.

Seriously, my finger tips may never be the same again.
The sense of accomplishment, tho', might rival a hike up a huge mountain.
Right to the very tippy top.

its the little things

When we first moved here, we purchased a refrigerator that wouldn't fit in the space appropriated for it. So, in our fashion, the cabinet that was in this space and the one above the fridge had to come down. Made for a perfect coffee space.Being as we need the many cup maker for mornings and gatherings, and the one at a time for here and there.

Out of the corner of my eye one afternoon, I noticed the light on the big pot.

4:00 pm and the coffee was good to go for the following morning.

Seriously, he is a sweet one!

Laundry.
Yep, he does laundry.
I did have to tell him that I don't hang my scrubs tho'.

It is all about the little things.
For. Sure.

Dirt therapy

I got these absolutely beautiful roses for Mother's Day. 

I don't know what it is, but I like dried flowers. I like living flowers. I like all flowers.

I went to hang these to dry and saw new growth on them!

I've never seen that!!

So to the google I went. The glass half empty folks said it wouldn't work. The glass half full said it would work to dip them in rooting hormone and plant them. Some (my kind of peeps) said "what's it going to hurt to try it?"

I agreed.

Soak stems in water for a while.

Dip in rooting hormone and ...

plant them in potting soil. Recommended to be the magic organic variety that I don't have.

If they don't grow because my lack of attention, mayhaps I can blame the potting soil?

They went to live in the bedroom window behind the curtain where I am going to completely forget they exist. 

Can you see through the window where I have miniature earth moving equipment moving dirt piles?

The silver dollar eucalyptus tree that hubby took down is sprouting all kinds of new tree.

I'm giddy with joy.

Trying to start some trees out of that one.

And another one ...

Worst case scenario is it doesn't work. I toss the dead green turned brown and reuse the containers and soil. And try again!

Dirt therapy for years if I do this right!

Someone somewhere recommends wrapping them in a bag to keep them moist. Will see if this provides magical results.

My garden boxes are empty except for a few things of native cotton that I can't seem to get growing. My pointsettia plant is looking beautiful and I'm managing to kill lantana.
Go figure.

I should really go check soil moisture.

Happy Day!

last week

In case you think life isn't normal over here.

Other than homemade priscilla curtains and stuff like that.

I was finally getting to the vacuuming and mopping.

When I went to buy a new vacuum last year, Anna was online checking reviews for me while I looked at vacs. This one was the winner and (except for the fact that I have no love for the wand) has done very well.

I must tell you that in the suction department .... it pretty much rocks.

Ripped the cord right out of the computer.

Do you know that I'm heading closer every day toward a hip replacement? I'm heading there kicking and screaming, but heading there nonetheless. Somedays this is all I can manage after work.

On the super duper bright side ... I have used up most of my leftover fabrics that aren't destined for another project and a new sauna rug was finished!

The girls are laying eggs and eggs and eggs. Sebastian comes and picks eggs with us when he is here. At first he threw the egg in the chickens enclosure with the hopes that they would sit on it and hatch it. He gave up on that fairly quickly. Now he counts them as he places them in the basket.

Incidentally, I'm loving my new phone. The camera is amazing!

While the guys were working on the patio the other weekend, I was working on Christmas.

Yes. I. Know.

Somedays you just have to chuckle. My yard is a fun place for the boys. Maybe an ankle twister for us older people, but nothing like little boys, dirt and shovels.

Perhaps they were planning on driving home alongside mom?

Let's see what this week brings!

Delight and goodness I'm sure.

ok .. i get the message ....

Prior to Easter Sunday, these sheers nearly reached the floor.

Sun had baked them and little holes were starting to appear.

Little holes that were just the right size for little boys' fingers.

It didn't take much to make them look like some expensive blue jeans look today.

Jari took care of the hangies and danglies.

Kind of a modified priscilla don't you think?

And then a fly got in his way.

The fly swatter connected with the curtain and I seriously 

got the message.

There comes a point where you just have to go to Walmart and spend that $4.87.

patio redo in progress

We are patio dwellers. 

Admittedly, when it get to be 124 degrees outside .. maybe not so much.

We're not there yet this year.

Before Memorial Day weekend, Jari mentioned that he wanted to put skylights in the patio.

They've been sitting in the garage for a while now.

And, true to form, I said "why don't we just rip off the ceiling at the same time?"

In my mind .... why not just get 'er done!

So there went a holiday weekend. Really, we never leave town on a holiday.

This just ensured the project was going to get done!

It did! Aren't they just the best ever?

Ceiling was off and bagged up.

New power partly run.

And then it was seriously run.

Power run to the places where lighting and a ceiling fan were going to live.

Skylight holes punched in.

Do I make this sound like a 10 minute job?

Seriously ... it was Friday afternoon ...

A Saturday morning trip to the favorite Home Depot ... this might have been the first trip.

The second trip involved picking up a lift to save the aging shoulders.

Putting these up wasn't as easy as 1-2-3 either.

This house is older and not exactly square.

You work with what you have and it just takes a wee bit more calculating sometimes.

Meanwhile, I managed skylight washing duty. 

Without a Norwex rag.

So, therefore, was unable to tell that they were streaked until they were up with sunshine streaming through them. 

Oops!

Sheets are hitting the ceiling and lights are going in simultaneously.

While t&g would have been nice ... we weren't ready to spend that kind of money.

And once we're done out there ... it is going to look downright fabulous in my humble opinion.

Seriously. This guy has some kick butt energy. He just keeps on a keepin' on.

Skylights went up, streaks included.

Ceiling fan going in.

Air will now move in this space.

This patio is closed in on 3 sides and still as stone in the summer heat.

Our front yard has breeze most of the time. I think because of our location. The back patio becomes an oven of sorts. Air movement just makes life so much sweeter!

As of this morning, the patio is put back together. As together as it gets.
The trash bags are out waiting to be tossed into the weekly collection one at a time.
The lights are on a dimmer switch is quite nice. Very bright if you're working out there (.e. me) and need to actually see something. Dim if you want some mood lighting in the evening.
The trim is all on and everything is caulked and ready for paint!
I have a request in for a pallet or two to be brought home from work. I have a porch swing that has been waiting to be redone and I can just picture it hanging. Can't you? I can actually visualize a nap on that thing come fall and cooler weather.
Some lights strung and maybe some different furniture some day way down the road when I find a screamin' good deal.

I'll share the "done to this point" as soon as the paint meets the patio!

Seriously .... I'm loving it!