Going crafty

 With the smoke so thick in the air, it is not a good idea to be outside. 

The flowers get some water and that's about it for time outside.

So, I thought I would do a little crafting.

I like the little fabric pumpkins, so,  here is what I came up with so far.

I am getting all sorts of ideas for fall decorating, although it still seems to early for fall.

Then some towels for gifts

Some bowl cozies

That takes up my inside week!

Problem is, it looks like the smoke isn't going anywhere

for awhile! 

Summer and Fire

We have been so hot and dry.  

some days the temperatures were triple digits.  We are used to hot dry summers, just not that hot.

It kept climbing, climbing until it passed 110.

The worst  Fire broke out.

In the worst of all areas for a fire, 

the sunny slope area is residential,

homes of family and friends were being threatened. 

The homes in this area were saved, thanks to heavy duty fire fighters.

The plane would skim across the river, picking up water

and deliver it to the fire area.

A before and after.

We remain, in red flag warnings.

Dating Ball Jars

Dating Ball Jars, is fun.  I think we have all seen those green ball jars.  Oh the stories those jars could tell.

They, have become so popular to collect, they are now doing reproductions. so how do you know it your jar is truly old? 

Are mine old? how old are they?

after reading this chart, they are indeed old.

The old glass also contains bubbles as the art of making glass was not perfected.

You can spot the imperfections

Also notice the shape of the jars

If you look on the bottom of the jar, you will find a number

this tells where it was made, in case there was trouble 

with the glass, they knew where to look.

This one has a three

so now, you know a little about those jars, that are fun to collect.

My collection, will stay at 2, after all I am downsizing. It really is a collection I could get 'into'

Having a heat wave

High for today  105

That is on the low side, we are predicted  to  reach 116 by Tuesday.  So it is a good time to think about doing some fun machine embroidery.  Alright, a small confession, I still intimidated by that machine. 

what brought all this about to me is:  My grandmother left these:

If you do not know, they are napkin rings.  The two on the ends are plain, but the others have an inscription on them.  They were a gift, probably Christmas, to my Dad, and his sisters, from their grandma.

Each one is inscribed, with Grandma to and the name. 

This made sure that each child, had their own napkin for that week.  Laundry was done once a week, and you kept the same napkin for that week.

So how does that bring about machine embroidery? 

I want to embroider some napkins with

The gathering basket design by JUJU

I just think, that the napkin rings, should be used and what better way to honor those rings and make them special, then to have embroidered napkins.

Tiny Garden

My garden space, is so tiny and I am so thankful to have what I have.  

It is one of the larger spaces.  

So take a tiny walk about with me.

A butterfly even approved.

Love this color

Surprise

I guess even squirrels forget where they leave their stash.

My supertunia vista bubblegum are taking over I wasn't to sure how many to plant so I planted three plants, we will see how big they grow.

Anything sweeter the honeysuckle?  I love this, it covers one ugly area.

The hollyhock, self planted and while I was deciding if it should stay,  it did this.
   

I will save a few more for later.

TA-DA Almost

Well, I tried.  One of my favorite blogs to follow is Everyday Living.  Pam is such a beautiful person and has so much talent for decorating, gardening and all thing beautiful.

I love her flowers arrangements and table decor.  I can't help but wonder why I missed out on that talent.

Then this happened!  Pam posted something I thought I could copy.  I almost succeeded.

First, I will show you my version.

It is flowers in a jar.  I had the jar, I had the flowers so----

 

I messed up, but I learned.  I should have and could have changed the table cloth.

Learning, is what it all about, right??? 

Now, my next one will be better.  

Here is Pam's

Everyday Living 

The day my world changed

Was in February of 2018, we had just finished a run to Wal-Mart and were getting ready to head out and do some thrift store shopping.  We had plans to make a little bbq spot in our tiny backyard space.

We were making a new walk, our son Rod,  has just put in new stair for us.  So, I was on the hunt for backyard treasures when:

I head a horrible sound from the kitchen, and I ran to see what was happening.  Steve was clutching his chest and beginning to fall.  I grabbed him, and at least tried to soften the fall.

He had a stoke!

Ambulance, was called . My son somehow made it from work, even beating the ambulance,  then many days of confusion.  flying him to Seattle and more confusion and it all became a blur.

I learned a new word and live with that word and that word is aphasia.  There are different levels, and some have just one part of aphasia.  Steve, has both receptive meaning what he hears is scrambled.  He just hears you making sounds, that are not forming into words.  At the same time he has expressive, the words coming from him are scrambled. So I have no clue what he is saying.  Over the years, he has been able to speak a few words but, mainly our life revolves around a white board.

Steve, can get the drift of what you are trying to say, if he reads it. He does not write, he can not make letters,  I am pretty good at guessing.

So, I am coming to grips with my new world.  I do have a very short fuse, but even that is getting better.  I am getting back to my sewing and playing in the garden.

It is still paradise, you give your whole life to Christ, not just part of it but all of it.