Happy Mother's Day to Me!

 I got a surprise visit from one of my sons and he was here for a week to help me get the house ready to sell!  What a Godsend he was...literally!  I've missed all of you and I'm sorry I didn't blog but as you can see.....we were pretty busy and focused!  Plus, I hadn't seen my son for several years so I wanted to spend every minute with him that I could.
  Below is my landscaping project gone awry!  I started this project using landscaping fabric and 6" of mulch but that didn't stop the Bermuda Grass....one of the Top Ten most noxious weeds,

but down here they call it "grass".  I had started back using cardboard and newspaper but had only gotten a little ways when my son showed up.  After a week of he and I working on it (he doing the heavy lifting and toting) .........

This is what we created..........

 

This is where I had gotten to before he came down.......plus I hadn't mowed yet this Spring.  

My lawn mower started but wouldn't move.....he fixed it!  So, I mowed and he trimmed trees and brush.

Then we removed all the rocks I had laid and started over, laying cardboard and news paper I had been saving.

We had also taken the lawn trailer and gone off and collected bigger rocks in the woods....yes, they grow out there in the woods.  Sometimes I see people throwing rock seeds out there too and fertilizer so they grow bigger.  My son did all the rock collecting while I kept the trailer moving.  LOL! 

 

 Here's our assistants who guarded us while we worked...

....

 Then it was off to Wally World for mulch, flowers and not much else as you can see the Tahoe was pretty full! LOL!

 There I am in all my glory with a beautiful path FINISHED FINALLY.....thanks to my son!  I've only been trying to finish this project for a few years now!  That's the only thing I don't like about getting older is I don't have the energy or the strength I used to have and that makes me mad, dang it!  Benjamin was always my "gardening" sidekick when he was little and we always worked well together and still do.  It was a true joy to have him here.

 Then we started landscaping from the corner where I had started........

 We moved the octagonal raised bed to around the tree......and he reinstalled the edging better than I was able to do with a rubber mallet!  We put in another raised bed I had for my veggies.

 I planted 3 types of tomatoes here and 3 types of peppers and mulched with straw.

 Snce we had to fill in the raised bed with dirt but didn't want the dirt on the bark of the tree my son took a plastic pot and cut a slit in the side and cut out the bottom and slid it around the trunk to keep the dirt away from it.  Brilliant!!!  I planted marigolds around the tree and placed a little leprechaun there to protect them!

 And what's a tree without a birdhouse?

 I had 2 old sinks I had gotten for free.  The one here I planted with snapdragons.

 I have old tools and paraphernalia from the farm I used to have.......and I utilize it whenever I can.  There are my Rosemary and Oregano in the old washtub and an old pick axe, a hand pump and some watering cans.

Over the course of the week we did this little bed also with my solar fountain and some "odds and ends".  Unfortunately we had a frost and it took it's toll on my plants so I'll have to see what needs replacing.  Who knew at this time of year!?!?!  The orange pot had a nice healthy zuchini that was going to trail over the pot and leave nice squash throughout the mulch.  The old sink had Gerbera daisies I had overwintered from last year and some geraniums too.

Not only did we do all this but my son cleaned and fixed all my gutters, trimmed my trees, flipped my mattresses for me and cleaned up my garage so I could get the  mower and the SUV in there at the same time.  He took me out to dinner several times and wouldn't let me pay for anything and we laughed and had such a great time together.  It was THE best Mother's Day present I could have ever asked for and it was all a total surprise!
  I have missed you all so much and it's like I've been on vacation but it's always nice to come home too!  Bless you all and I'll be stopping by to see what you've all been up to while I was "away"!  TTYL!
P.S.  Here's a picture of my son, Benjamin.  This was taken up North last Fall I think.  A lot of the men grow beards in the Winter to stay warm and then shave them in the Spring.  I didn't get a picture of him while he was here as he was taking all the pictures!  Duh!  I should have taken pictures of him but I think I was in shock most of the week and thought I would wake  up and it would all have been a dream! LOL!

Spring has sprung around here!

I'm running around like a chicken without it's head lately.  I'm so sorry I haven't been  blogging or visiting regularly as Spring is just the busiest time for me.  I got  a little more landscaping done but it's a "slow boat to China" as they say.  It's hot now too and humid.....88 yesterday and 86 today and I just can't handle being out there in it that long but I made some progress...........this is where I left off the other day

Moving right along............I put in the black edging, more newspaper and more mulch.  I got the edging at a garage sale....cheap but effective.

This area runs along the side of my driveway...........there's my tub of Rosemary and Oregano

This is what I'm dealing with below.....and there's a whole lot more where that  came from!
So, you'll probably be seeing a soap opera of landscaping here all Spring and Summer as it keeps me going to take pictures and see my progress, albeit baby steps.   I am thanking you ahead of time for your patience with this project! LOL!

This is my neighbor's beautiful "established" bed of phlox.....gorgeous!  Just once I'd like to live somewhere where someone had already done the work.....

The red buds and everything else are blooming in the woods....

The oaks are popping open and spreading their pollen everywhere but thank goodness I'm not too allergic.  Many have problems this time of year. 

This is a burr oak (I think) in my front yard.  It has those round seeds that drop in the Fall that look like sputniks (if you're old enough to remember those Russian spacecraft) as opposed to acorns.

I have 3 of these trees and this one is really old and suffered a lot of damage in the ice storm a few years back so I'm always so happy when it comes back in the Spring....tough old tree!  I respect that.
Well, I had to call the lawnmower guy as it started but there was lots of black smoke and it wouldn't go anywhere...forward or reverse.  My hands are all beat up already and it's just the beginning of the warm weather!  Severe weather predicted for tomorrow afternoon and evening so if you don't hear from me you'll know what happened! LOL!  I hope you're enjoying your Spring....it sure is nice to fling open the windows and hear those songbirds!  Take care....... 

YOP Update

My last post's pictures disappeared off my blog....hmmm....don't know why but I apologize if some of you went there.  It's been a crazy week but taxes are taken care of....well, some of them.  There's a  few more throughout the year but I'm good for now!
I have some great news too....I LOVE DPN's (double pointed needles) in knitting!  My first foray into socks was with Magic Loop as I had heard DPN's were "difficult" but then I was a novice so they might have been for me at that time.  Since I've made several pair using Magic Loop I wanted to learn DPN's and to me they are much easier and do a better job and the result looks better, on mine anyway.  But again, is it because this is my 3rd pair of socks or is it the DPN's?  I don't know the answer to that but right now I am pretty certain that any future socks will be knitted using DPN"s.  AND...there will be beautiful, wild and crazy sock yarn too.....none of this solid color yarn for awhile.  Ahhh...the joyful, peaceful art of knitting!  BTW, I saw some cute socks where the cuff was one color and the sock another and also where the heel and toe were a different color....I liked it!  Something to think about and a way to use up scraps if you don't have enough for 2 socks.  "BRILLIANT I tell you"!

   Between taxes and the storms that were running across the South this past week I didn't get much more than this done in my YOP and really I only had 1 pair of socks on that list.  I am wishing for my next YOP list which I am already starting! LOL!  The project below will be on it as it is the "carrot" that I dangled in front of me to urge myself to learn to knit.  "You have learned well Grasshopper and you are ready".....

DRUMROLL....please..........

 You might have seen this over on the Purl Bee

which is Purl Soho's craft blog and it is a free pattern.  They have all kinds of wonderful photos, projects, and inspiration.  It's like a Pinterest for crafters! LOL!  It's so fun to just browse and several of my projects on this years's YOP list came from there.   So, I'm looking to make this as my first project for YOP 2013/2014....if I can wait that long!
Have any of you made this?  One gal on the Purl Bee commented that she made it for people for Christmas and it was THE present that year!  Everyone loved them!  I've seen one made and they are even prettier in person and soft and squishy.....GORGEOUS!  
I'm having a hard time looking at my "blanket" projects since it's 73 here and I have the windows open.  Plus, right now is my Summer actually since  when it gets to be the REAL Summer here it is way too hot to be outside much.  So please excuse me if I seem "spotty" out there in blog land for a bit but this is a short window of opportunity to do gardening, landscaping and painting outdoors before it gets too hot.  It's just me since I haven't been able to talk "the girls" into giving me hand, or should I say "paw"! LOL!  I know, bad, sad humor.  I hope you are all safe and well and having nice weather!  I WILL stop by later!  I have some catching up to do!

Taxes, Tornado and lucky me!

I tried to blog on Monday and the pc evidently overheated and crashed, then the next day I was dealing with taxes, then yesterday taxes again and storm coming so I was trying to get things done in case we lost power.  But here I am today and glad of it!
 We got hit last night, not me personally but the town I live in, and I was darn lucky as it was close!   I was down in the basement as there were tornado warnings but they never mentioned the town where I live but the towns they did mention received no damage but take a look at what touched down here!

Horseshoe Bend Arkansas, Tornado 4/10/2013 (18 photos)

 
 










 

 

 
  Thank goodness  no one was killed and only one person was injured with a broken leg that I know of.  It could've been worse....much worse!  I hope you are safe where ever you are! 

YOP Update

Projects Finished:
1.  Crocheted potholders -  I've made about 4 or 5 of these and I had just one on my list but they're so nice and thick that I continually make them in between other projects.
2.  Crocheted Granny Stripe table runner 
3.  2 Crocheted Rock Covers
4.  1 pair of knitted socks but I've made 2 now.  This will be ongoing as I want to learn different types and styles.  There will be lots of socks on next year's YOP list!
5.  Knitted Cotton Bath Mat
6.  Set of 3 Knitted Dish Towels

WIP's
1.  Blackberry Salad Crocheted blanket
2.  Everyday Crocheted Edgings -  Okay, I've decided I'm doing edgings for pillowcases but I have to make the pillowcases first.  I found this great tutorial for the cases and the edgings and I can't wait now!  But this week is all about TAXES so as soon as that's done I'll be off and running with these but then again there's painting inside and out now that the weather's nice and gardening and landscaping.....oh this is a busy time of year!  Here's a picture of what I'm referring too and a tutorial for both the pillowcases and the crocheted edging .  The tutorials are on the right hand side of her blog.



I know some of you are saying..."you just had that picture out there the other day"....I know but some of my readers only come over on Sunday's when I link up to our YOP pages on Ravelry....confusing I know but I thought my Ravelry friends might like to see it.
3.  Another pair of socks!  I only had one pair listed on my YOP but I am trying to learn different techniques so this time it is DPN's!  Ta Da!  Another tutorial by Stacy over at Very Pink only this time instead of her Magic Loop Sock Knitting tutorial I got her plain old sock knitting tutorial using DPN's.  Both are cuff down, one at a time.  I'd like to join a sock knitting group that is "never-ending" to match my projects! LOL!  If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it.  I was out there looking but there are SO many it was mind boggling.  Even just a knitting or  knitting and crochet.  I was sad when the Sock KAL ended....especially when I didn't even know it!  Never did get to post my finished socks...boo hoo!  I just managed to cast on but there's those dang taxes as soon as I get this posted.

I also have the pattern for the Hudson Valley Winter Socks which I purchased on Ravelry thus the reason for the DPN's tutorial.  Those will come after my "practice socks".

Not started yet:
1.  Pinata Bag - I haven't even downloaded the pattern on this one yet.
2.   Cherry Jam - This pattern is in a book I have to order still.  I want to use it for shelf edging eventually.  I LOVE cherries!
3.  Seeing Stars Blanket  I love this Spud and Chloe pattern.  Thanks to all of you for your suggestions for "less expensive" alternatives in yarns!  It was a big help and then I studied up a bit on weights of yarns and types and I'm starting to get the jist of it now.  Thanks again so much. 
4.  Stripey Spring Crocheted Rug - I should be doing this one now as it is the "season"!
5.  Babette Blanket - LOVE!!!!! (Sung in an operatic voice by a true alto).  I adore this blanket and it would be a great stash-buster but I don't really have one yet but I'm working on it!  In fact, looking around I have baskets of yarn everywhere!  What was I thinking?  I have STASH!!!!!  Yay!!!!   Yippee!!!!!
6.   Tornado Twist Crocheted Cowl - no progress yet but now with yarn "options"....cost won't be an issue at least.
7.Situpons  -  I have the pattern but I don't have any Super Bulky yarn yet.   I wanted to make one to see if they would make good chair pads and if so I would make them for my kitchen chairs.  They could also be used for place mats or candle mats.  I just got a KnitPick catalogue in the mail.....how timely for a reasonably priced yarn catalog to arrive! LOL!
That's all for this week...little progress in all areas but so many areas right now~!  Have a great week ahead and enjoy this day of R n' R unless, like me, you're doing taxes! LOL!

Landscaping, book review and "before and after"

 It was a gorgeous day yesterday with sunshine, blue skies and temps in the 70's.  I was trying to take a picture of a cardinal singing his little heart out but when I got the camera focused  he was gone!  A few minutes later there were several female cardinals that showed up and they were wondering where he went too! 

Here's a little part of my big landscaping project.........

 Those are lilies coming up.  I just laid cardboard and newspaper around them and I had a couple bags of mulch  leftover from last year so I do a little at a time else the paper blows away.

Here is my rosemary and oregano that doesn't die out in the Winter and do I love that!  I've got it in an old metal wash tub with a Southern exposure which I think really helps.  The sun heats that metal up and keeps the roots and soil warm in the Winter.  I used to have the same luck when I planted next to the dryer vent!

I bought this planter full of bulbs at Wal-Mart for $10.00 and it had some purple crocus and  another  purple flower that has since died out...maybe it was grape hyacinth and of course the daffodils.  Little did I know there were tulips too!  What a nice surprise when they opened up!  That was a great deal as I got 5 different types of bulbs and 5 of each type that I can replant.  I couldn't have bought the bulbs that cheap!

The regular hyacinths are so heavy with bloom they're falling over.  I had them in the house for a bit and my whole family room smelled like them.

Below is the book I just finished.  It was published in 1949, the year I was born and is a collection of essays that were published in a magazine or newspaper back then.  It's divided by the seasons and fascinated me because it was when I was alive!  Although some of the essays were about his childhood the photos were current and that's what blew me away!  Some of his memories jogged some of my own.  It wasn't a novel or a thriller but along with the photos I found it very enjoyable.  I learned about how they made dried apples and  apple pies from them and he explained "shovel sledding" like in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and many other interesting tidbits from the past.  I love farm life especially back then before pesticides and insecticides and corporate farming.  Those really were "the good old days"!  

This picture reminds me of where I grew up although I think the author was from the East as they talked of sugar maple season.

and this one.........I  miss the trees how they used to be everywhere and along the fence lines...now they get rid of all the trees so as not to waste one bit of land for planting.  I think they're greedier now or they just have to compete too hard to make a dollar.

Below really reminds me of how I spent my Summers.  Perish the thought that video games would have been around back then....I would've missed out on so much! 

See the kerosene lamp?  Many rural areas didn't have electricity even then.....yes, I'm old! LOL!  It took many years for the people living in small towns and rural areas to catch up to the big cities.  I can remember in high school, in the late 1960's that my Aunt and Uncle who I spent my Summers with, were just then getting rotary dial phones.  They had party lines and operators and you had to crank the handle to get the operator to come on and place your call for you.  The operators were much more than operators though.  They could confirm weather warnings, deny or substantiate rumors and even help you find out where your child was.  Party lines were not very private but it sure kept people connected whether they wanted to be or not~

The picture below reminds me of my Uncle's meat market except instead of sitting out front the farmers would be in the back where  my Uncle sat up on a high stool with a big counter in front of him making his bologna.  He ground his own meat and added the spices and smoked it himself in a smoker out back.  I could watch him stuff it for hours and in those days I think it was real "gut" they used for the casing.  Meanwhile, the farmers would sit around the cast iron wood stove back there and talk farming and I would hang on their every word!    

Okay, enough walking down memory lane....I have a before and after...a couple, as a matter of fact.  I ordered a sample packet of milk paint as I've been wanting to try it and here's the results.........

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 I used milk paint from Miss Mustard Seed and I have not waxed it yet so it looks pretty chalky.  She also said you didn't have to use a blender to mix it but I definitely will next time!  The little basket was just one of those cheap baskets you see at garage sales but now it looks like a miniature clothes basket and I'm thinking it would look cute with some tiny little clothes folded up in it and sitting on a shelf in my laundry room.  The shelf needs a second coat but you get the idea.  Milk paint is a powder you dissolve in warm water and it only lasts a few days so you don't want to mix more than you'll use.  Since I'm just experimenting and had sample packets I chose little items.  Milk paint was used on many items, inside and out, "back in the day".  This color is Luckett's Green.  I did the clothespin so I can write the name of the color on it...my own version of a paint chip! LOL!  I didn't have enough paint for the picture frame as you always need 2 coats of milk paint.  Stay tuned for the next color experiment and have a great evening!