Mosaic Madness and Other Crafty Stuff

My days off are drawing to an end and while they did not go as planned, I did manage to get some things done that have been on the "to do"list for some time. I would like to have seen more off that never ending list  but it is what it is and I will be grateful for the results.

I took care of some business that is easier done during the work week, The mortgage got renewed and the property taxes got paid. I even submitted my passport for renewal. (still hoping to get to Scotland at some point). When I was at CAA getting my passport photos taken I spied the cutest little carry on bag, on sale, half price, so I bit the bullet and bought it. Lucy peed all over my last one and after only getting to use it twice it had to go. Au de Cat Pee is not a pleasant travel fragrance.

This one is hard sided, light weight, got those four lovely spinning wheels and is the proper size for carry on. You will be able to see me and my bright pink bag coming a mile off but that is ok. I am tickled with it. Looks like a Barbie bag but I don't care.

I did a few crafty things while I was home. I finished the barbecue redo. I had started it a while ago and just needed to grout the pot pads and paint the handle. This is what it looked like before:

Much weathered but still very serviceable. Now it looks like this:

All grouted and painted and ready to cook. The pot pads are removable so I can store them inside in the winter if I need too.

I finally finished KitKat's dresser runners for her newly decorated bedroom. I delivered them to her on Saturday afternoon and she was very pleased with them.

I do have to say they did look very nice in their new home.

Their installation was closely monitored buy her three curious cats. The runners then ultimately passed the sit and sniff test. As my two cats had been all over them first there was lots to sniff I imagine. ( I did not give them to her all covered in my cat'a hair, they had been washed before delivery.)

The last of the projects to be completed were the mosaic stars. I started this YEARS ago but just now finished it and actually got them installed. Once I decided where I wanted them, the biggest problem was how to hang them. That was accomplished by a root through the junk drawer. for bracket and screws and some wire clothes hangers donated to the cause by Teddy Bear.

Today the garden shed went from looking like this:

OMG I have got some serious weeding to complete in this poor flower bed. A lot of shoveling in my future. That is a post for another day. Back to the stars!! Now the shed looks like this:

I need to find another place for my lovely metal globe but I am so happy to get these stars finished and hung up at last. I think I need to make two more but time will tell.  Once again my stellar photo skillz have produced rather poor pictures but you get the idea. 

I have one more tiny mosaic project in the works but its not ready to be seen in public yet. Poor this is still pretty naked. I will reveal it in good time. Now I need to get on with some quilts.

Other than all this its been rather quiet and ordinary around here. Friday Night Supper with the No Cook Friday Group, Saturday night movie with friends, my usual weekend activities.  I only part if the week off and was not feeling 100 % for part of it. I did some second hand store shopping and that was about all. I did get all those craft books delivered to the Rotory Club so they can sell them in their big book sale next month.

So happy not to have them on the dining room table any more. 

I even worked on wine bottle label removal and have almost got them all done. I need to get on with that project too. I have decided I need minions. I have all these ideas and project and if I had minions I could boss from sun up to sun down. Things would get done and it would not have to rely on my mercurial energy levels. Oh its nice to dream.

Well I am off for a nice cup of tea and a bit of knitting before I have to go to bed and convince myself that going back to work tomorrow is not the end of the world.

Toodles,

Linda

Ordinary Miracles

Well it has been all go around here, I can tell you. That is, all go, at my speed, but at least things are happening. My super power is still intact. I did not plan to mow the lawn and its not raining, its a lovely sunny day: So I zipped to the bank, went and picked up breakfast then dashed home and did this

Drunken monkey dance of joy, the lawn is mowed!! (honestly you would think it was a football field the way I go on about it, its not/ its a postage stamp!!)

Then since it is a lovely day today, not to hot, lovely cool breeze I got the shovel, rake and bucket out and turned this:

This into this:

It still looks like toothless goats have munched it down but its a vast improvement on what it was. That ground cover just took over and choked out almost all my perennials except a couple of lily plants. I think if you click on the pictures you can see a bigger version (if you are interested). By my figuring I have two more sessions on the flower bed and it will be finished. Then I have the section between the shed and the fence. The yard is coming along. Next year I am going to be able to plant the pretty things and hopefully the yard will, at last, look how it does in my imagination.

I am slow at doing this, but I am enjoying it. I get frustrated because I can't do as much as I would like to in one session but its good for me to puddle away at it. Its good for me and I am happy to be able to say I am doing it. I am also telling myself that its ok to go slow, there are no yard work police to arrest me for not getting it done instantly.

The other goal this weekend is to grout the tile work I did last weekend, paint a couple of things and finish the runners I am making for KitKat. First though I get to have a nap, Yard work makes me want to sleep!!

Toodles,

Linda

And so it Begins

I planned to mow the lawn today, after two days of heat and humidity, and it rained today. I think this is my new superpower. Plan to mow, make it rain. You are welcome.

I did do some yard work this weekend. You can tell there are flower beds in the front yard once again, not just various samples of different weeds growing prolifically. The Banker actually popped over unexpectedly and got me started. I have the best friends, incase I have never mentioned that before. I don't do the great job that she does but its better than nothing.

I started the craft room purge with the book case. I plan to work my way around the room but the jumping off point is the craft books. So here is the book case before:

Pretend this is all one picture. I could not get the entire thing in one frame. The sun was shinning so I could not get a really great picture but I never do seem to be able to, so I just forge on. I picked and chose and dithered and  thinned and before you knew it, the book case looks like this

See, if you look hard at the crappy pictures you will see empty spaces. Empty spaces that did not stay empty for long BUT the positive side is that the books that did not fit on the shelf, that had migrated onto other spots in the room, now live in the case. The empty spots left from those book have now been filled with baskets for storage. God forbid there should be empty spaces!!

On my dining table is this, destined for the Rotary Club Book sale:

I cannot believe that I am willing to part with all these but there comes a time when you know you cannot keep everything. I try but even I cannot do it.

I also did some mosaic tiling yesterday, which I am hoping to grout today. I think I may need one more star for the shed but I will hang what I have and see. The shed stars have been in production for three years now I think, Its time to get them up already.

What I am doing with the rectangles you ask?  Well I will show you,

My poor barbecue has sat out uncovered for a couple of winters because I have been too cheap to buy a cover. The elements have played fast and loose with the wood bits. So as always, call it poverty or necessity but both are the mother of invention in this house. I had the wood on hand for the bases as well as the tiles and I also have grout and paint to finish them.  No cost to me at the moment which is what I like and my barbecue goes from this:

To this:

Now I need to root around in the shed to find something to replace the poor handle. I like this look, I think it's great. I also love  to mosaic tile things. This year I will get a cover for this poor thing. Something to save my Canadian Tire money for!!

Toodles,
Linda

Starting to Organize

This is is, this is the start of getting my craft room, purged and organized. Lot of pressure on a little two drawer filing cabinet. but its the start. I got it from KitKat for $10.00. Her work was getting rid so she got it for me. I will one day paint it to make it pretty but for now, its in place and ready to fulfill its purpose.

I used to have two plastic tote boxes for files. Great idea but not easy access. No easy access, the filing piles up and is never properly done. I am sick of it. The one box is cracked and broken, so they do not hold up to the use they get in this house. This metal cabinet offers sturdiness and ease of access. A very good place to start.

Even better is that I got it Friday and today it is in place, AND my files are in it. Usually something like this waits for weeks before I get the urge to actually do it. So if the cabinet was still sitting in the entry way this time next week, it would not have been weird. This is weird.  I even purged the craft magazines I kept in the second drawer and am donating half of them to a charity shop. So miracle of miracles, its in place, files are in place and the plastic tote boxes are empty. One is headed for the trash and the other will be filled with storage stuff.

I even purged out a grocery bag of recipes. I am a fool for saving recipes. For someone who does not really cook this is crazy. So I purged, (or at least I started the recipe purge). Google can find me a million recipes, so I don't need to print them unless I have tried them and decided I really like them. Then I have a binder I can put them in.

Ok I have wandered away from the craft room project. Now I have the file cabinet, I am going to start going through this room, section by section. I have lots of boxes in this room and when I want something I do not know which box its in, or I have no idea I even have it. The plan is numbering the boxes, making an inventory of what is in each box and keeping it all in a little book. While I do the inventory, I am going to purge the stuff I will not ever use. The purged things will go to a charity shop or they will be trashed. The craft books will go to the Rotary Club. I am looking foreward to getting this done.

The room will still be full, but at least I will know where things are. That is the plan anyway. The first hit is going to be the craft books. I have an entire bookcase full, some of which I do not need anymore. Time to thin the herd.

Toodles,
Linda

Some Annoying Stuff, a Sad Event and a New Project

This weekend I just could not seem to make myself work at the million things that need to be done around this place. I did promise myself that if nothing else the kitchen was getting cleaned and the bathrooms were going to be done. Both projects got accomplished. I don't know what is wrong with me these days but there is definitely something. I am so fed up with having my kitchen looking like a dump, yet I had to force myself to actually get it back in order. Its there now and I hope to at least make an effort to keep it that way.

Last night, Teddy Bear, KitKat, the Sailor and I went to Tarzan. Teddy Bear and I managed supper at A&W before hand. It was a nice outing after a rather interesting week. Monday I came home to find my city supplied compost bin had been liberated from my yard. I found it three or so houses down the alley the next morning when I drove to work. They are all numbered and I have a record of my number.. So there it was, all stuffed full of yard waste at another house. Some people thought I should have dumped it but I waited until garbage pick up day. I had hoped they would return it. NOPE, I stomped up the alley and took it back. I don't understand this. A phone call to the city would get you a free one or maybe you could ask before you just decide to take. I am amazed at the sense of entitlement so many people have these days.

The next thing that happened, I found out my credit card got hacked. Yeesh. The Visa company was super nice about it and had actually flagged my account before I had phoned them. The hack happened on a Friday and I discovered it on the following Monday . The charges have been removed and my card has been cancelled and the world moves on. Thank Heavens it my low limit card.

Busy's niece passed away this week. Its so sad but she was not living a life that you would wish on anyone. She has been in a semi vegetative state and its just been such a sad thing. She is not suffering anymore but now her family will now have to find a new normal for themselves. Death is never easy no matter what the circumstances. That little family has had a lot of loss to deal with lately.

I was listless today. Really crappy sleep last night. I was awake every hour or two, hot flash after hot flash, no real rest. I was ticked to no end this morning when there was no bacon. I really enjoy my Sunday mornings, and part of that is a full breakfast. Thank heavens for coffee is all I can say.

I actually worked on the laundry that I started last week. Laundry is not a hard task, its not like I have to use a wash board but I have managed to leave it sitting about for a week. I also managed something else, I started a new project.I worked on the  Rrunners for KitKat's new bedroom. It was nice to spend the afternoon sewing.

She has painted her bedroom terracotta and cream. There are hits of blue in the decor. The runners she has on her dresser and chest of drawers are old and mostly green. I volunteered to make her some new ones. She is very fond of anything Celtic, so we found a Celtic knot pattern and I have at last started working.

One runner with have three of these knots and the other will have just two, one on each end. I managed to get the top made for the longer one today.

I am really hoping she likes them. I have a Celtic knot stencil to use when I am quilting it. I need to get some cotton batting to use to give it some body. I have lots of spare material to use as the backing. I will bind it with blue I think, there is lots of terracotta in that room so I think blue will be a better bet.

I need to get going at the second church quilt. I want it done so that I can get it delivered before next March. If I don't snap out of this slump soon I don't know what will happen. You would think it should be easy but I don't seem to be in control. Its most annoying.

Toodles
Linda

Inspite of the Rain

I have come to believe that when I make a hard and fast plan to do yard work on the weekend, it decides to rain. Rain it did today, thunder, sheets of the wet stuff, all of which sent Desi scurrying to hide under the sewing table. He is a big 'fraidy cat that boy.

I have so many plans for the yard and so little ambition to actually do them that when I make up my mind that something is actually gonna get done, its frustrating when Mother Nature pitches a snit and tries to do in my plans. (yes it is all about me!!). I admit I was tempted to find a book and park myself on the couch for the day but I didn't.

I fooled her today, I got some stuff done inspite of the rain. I long ago figured out that I am not made of sugar so I so not melt if I get wet. After groceries and breakfast this morning, I decided that at the very least, moving the hosta might be a good idea. It would be easier to dig it out of the flower bed in the back since the rain had soaked the ground. I did not realize how big it was or how heavy that sucker was going to be. I was tempted to leave it where it was but I managed to get it out, into a container and dragged it to the front of the house. Huffing and puffing all the way.

I got a hole dug in the front bed and heaved, shoved and plunked the new hosta into its new home. I hope it will root and thrive. Its so big and healthy, I would hate to think that moving it killed it.

My symmetry loving self thinks this big new plant should be flanked by another variegated hosta for balance but I am telling myself that three different ones looks just fine. I need to add an edging in front of the bed. I just need to finish the one I started when I put in the flower beds originally. Putting that plastic stuff in is hard to do when you are doing it on your own, its all curled up and acts like its alive while you try to dig it in. Best of all, now my front hosta bed is complete. Providing they all live.

I next tackled some of the trees. I borrowed loping shears from The Banker and I planned to make the best of them. One thing on the hit list was this.

When I go to back my car out of my yard and look down the alley to see what is coming, this is my view, Trees trees and more trees. Makes entering the alley an adventure. These trees belong to the house next door which is currently a rental and does not get much maintenance. I took the law into my own hands today and now it looks like this

At least now I can see before I back out. I had great fun with the loping shears. My next attack was this. Trees that insist on growing up through the fence from the yard next door and shade my rhubarb plants. It they are left to do as they please  they are going to ruin my fence. Not happening.

I should have been at them long before to day but you know "the best laid plans" and all that. Several snips with the shears and this is the result.

I would love to get on the other side and snip the rest of them down but I decided maybe that was pushing it. Its not my yard. I also chopped off a tree in the front that was growing in the middle of the lilacs. I had just finished piling the branches in a  bunch to be hauled away later when the heaven's opened once more and poured down. I had hoped to clean out the jungle that you can see in the right side of the picture, but I decided enough was enough. I took my damp self back into the house.

That over grown space is the space between the fence and my shed , it needs to be chopped down. There are boards in there that I want to lift, put a thick layer of paper down and then return the boards. I hope this will  keep the jungle foliage from returning as quickly as it likes to, Once that is done I can finally paint the last wall of the shed . I still need to paint the door. Its primed but not painted.  I also want to snip off the suckers that are sprouting like mad around the big maple tree that lives in the back yard. They also like to worm their way through the fence and that is not good. I hope to do some of this tomorrow. If not then some time this week.

I am pleased I got something done. Its not much but at least its something. I retreated to the house and a treat of watermelon for my efforts. Followed but time spent knitting and a wee nap for good measure.

Before I forget, I need to share my wonderful gift that I received this week. Some time ago I had asked a wonderfully talented friend to paint me something. I gave her a few things I wanted and she went to town. This is the result

I love it!! The cottage, the sheep, and the wee pig. I want to live there. She would not take a penny for it and I totally intended to pay her for it. That was why I ordered it. I will have to think of something else to pay her back for her generous gift. I have a plan already but I need to get the details organized. For those of you that are wondering, yes I did have a spot to hang it up!! Smarty Pantsers!!

Back to the yard plans, I  now think I would like to dig out the front flower beds and add new dirt. I need to finish digging the back bed, make the wine bottle boarder, trim up the big maple tree and widen the sidewalk,  A trip to the city dump to gather some free wood chips is also on the list. I want to trim up the lilacs and pull out all snow on the mountain that has grown in and around them. I. will get plants bit by bit and then once and for all get the place looking as nice as I can get it.

I am tickled pink that my little shrub that I planted last week is blooming it pretty pink blossoms.

I have such hopes that after three attempts maybe this one will actually live!!

Toodles,
Linda

Quiet Long Weekend

Its the Canada Day long weekend and it has been a quiet one around here. I indulged last weekend and bought this. It looks so pretty out on the veranda.

On Canada Day I started the day with breakfast on the veranda, on of my favourite things to do, Once that was done, I actually got at some yard work, precious little but some none the less. I hauled the four bags of dirt out of the car and filled in the hole I dug where the dead bush lived. I, then, planted a wegelia bush which should have pale pink flowers in, This is my third attempt at growing a bush in this spot so I am hoping this one lives. The spot gets more sun now I have had the big tree trimmed up.

I have high hoped for this little guy. Then, since I was out and about with the shovel and such,  I planted the potentilla in the back flower bed.

 The stupid ground cover is busy growing back where I dug it out but i will keep at it. Two miniature lilacs will join this at some point but for now its just this baby bush.  The rest of the day was devoted to binge watching Game of Thrones Season 6 with The Banker, KitKat, Teddy Bear and Sweet Baboo.

Saturday was quiet. I got groceries and finished the church quilt. It too took the best part of the day but I got it done inspite of my helpers

.
I also managed another breakfast on the veranda. It rained in the afternoon, so no more yard work. Laundry was the only other thing accomplished this day.

Today has been another lazy day. Its raining and dull and I just don't feel like doing much. I am doing dishes, getting some stuff done on the computer. I should go pick up my prescriptions but I have not made it out of the house yet. I do see a nap in my future.

I may just go find my book and curl up on the couch. Its that sort of a day.

Toodles
Linda