Work on My Estate Continues :-()

Yes, today was my third full day of gardening and things are coming together. My knee, however, speaking on behalf of my other bones and muscles has suggested that perhaps it would be prudent to take the day off tomorrow, and so I shall. . . no digging, planting, pulling, weeding, raking, pruning, or mulching. 

What have I accomplished since my last post? I have potted up eight Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes, impatiens are planted around the light post out front and in a basket on the front steps, half the small garden is weeded, planted, and mulched, and the front of the large garden is nearly done. ( I really wanted to finish that section, but my body was screaming, “STOP,” and so I did. :-().

Here are a few spots of color around the estate. This stand of purple irises has been in the corner of my backyard for as long as I can remember. 

As I do each year, I purchased a wonderful scaevola hanging plant which is so heavy that it will reside on a small table on my deck. 

Stay safe and have a colorful week.

Bring Back Green Stamps!!!

 I can recall my parents getting green stamps at the grocery store when I was young. When we returned home, my mom would moisten the sheets and paste them in a book. When enough books were filled, one could selected items from the catalogue at the green stamp store. Once my mom saved up enough books to obtain two lovely lamps for our living room. I wonder how many books that took? I think I once got a tiny transistor radio and maybe we got a croquet set.

So, what pray tell brought on this topic? Well, last week I was going through a wooden chest and came across this Twenty Mule Team Borax cross stitch kit. According to the paperwork, I had sent for it back in 1972! The kit with stamped design and floss is still intact, and I just might stitch it up for my sunporch. There would, however, be a whole lot of stitching involved and though it has waited nearly fifty years to be stitched, it may have to wait a tad longer.

It got me thinking of all the things people used to send away for. Most items involved collecting boxtops. Half the silverware in my cutlery drawer was acquired by mom through Betty Crooker boxtops and don’t you love this cookie jar!

In the Thirties and Forties, there were special “dish” nights at the movie theaters. If I am not mistaken, there might be a small blue gravy boat and platter on a shelf in my cellar. My dad used to get a glass each time he filled the tank with Esso gas. 

So, what vintage advertising do you have in your home? Do you remember collecting boxtops to mail away for items?

Gardening Update: I did purchase five bags of mulch and more plants at a different garden center. It is very warm today, so I will hopefully get an early start in the morning. 😊

A Very Busy Bee - Gardening Plans

 It’s true. I have been a very busy bee. On Friday, I assembled eight hanging pots for along the fence. I purchase flats of Wave petunias, verbena, and other things that caught my eye and mixed and matched them in the pots. Probably three or four years ago, I purchased these pots with flowers and beaded hangers on clearance at Lowe’s. Originally, there might have been ten, but they are pretty thin pots and two have not lasted. Still they do not owe me anything, and I love the spot of color they provide.

In the fall, I had plants in the bird bath, but I decided to use it as a bird bath again even though it is a pain to clean. Though it may appear to be aged stone, don’t tell anyone but it is made of a heavy fake material. No sooner had I removed the dirt, scrubbed it clean, and began working on something else did I turn to see one robin sitting on the fence and another on the rim of the bath. “Where’s the water?” they seemed to be asking, so I obliged them straight away. Two grateful robins were thus able to have their Saturday night baths.

Besides these eight hanging pots, I made five more and filled this wrought iron chair which had belonged to my grandmother in days way, way long ago.

In addition to all this, I planted a double pink knockout rose. 

Yes, it is early spring and so I am filled with gardening enthusiasm. I have plans. . . Indeed I do. First up, clean and mulch my small garden (8’ x 10’.) Then work on the strip along the front of the BIG garden. Finally, once and for all, I am semi-determined to bring my BIG garden under some king of control. Now, I write this every spring and have acknowledged that “following through” isn’t necessarily my strong suit, BUT this year will be different. :-) Tomorrow bright and early, I am going to purchase bags of  mulch. With apologies to Field of Dreams . . . if I buy it; I will spread it. Fingers crossed.

Have a safe, creative, happy week and wish me luck that I do indeed follow through on this year’s gardening plans. :-()

A Gradual Return to Normalcy

Let’s start with a quick shot of Emma taken on Tuesday after a visit to her groomer, Cheryl, at Pooch Paws in Rockland. 

 These carnations were a lovely, but totally unnecessary, gift from my friend Kathy last Thursday. She had the distinction of being the first person in my home for more than a few minutes since March 2020. She was here to see what suggestions I might have for restoring two crewelwork pillows stitched by her mom fifty years ago. (Her mom is now ninety-nine . . . God Bless her.)

I suggested that she separate the top and bottom of each pillow and fuse Pellon SF101 on the back of the stitched pieces. SF101 is a very lightweight fusible interfacing.

The first pillow had only a few small worn spots which could then be covered by some small bits of stitching like those in the rest of the piece. Easy fix . . . 

Pillow two will be more of a challenge as there are significant areas where the linen has simply rotted away. There is an intricate chain stitched design around the edges. Here were my suggestions. First, Kathy would need to find a shade of linen which comes close to the original. Next, fuse SF101 on the back of the stitched areas, and then carefully cut the framed stitch edge and using needle turn applique attached it to the new piece of linen. She will have to do the same with the floral center. She can also add tiny buds and swirls in keeping with the original design. I think this will work well and still keep the integrity of the original. It will be a project, but I am sure Kathy will do a fine job. If she sends me a photo, I will be sure to post it.

On Monday, our hardy birthday bunch had planned to meet at the gazebo at the Hingham Beach, but the weather did not cooperate. One of our group offered the community room in her building. Her super agreed, so nine of us gathered there. We were still six feet apart, but we did not wear masks as we are all fully vaccinated. I cannot begin to tell you how much lighter my spirit felt after that gathering.

On Wednesday, another friend came for a visit. She, too, had a problem with a piece of stitching. Her thirty-five year old son and his wife had recently been blessed with a baby boy. Betsy wanted to see what she could do with a quilted wall hanging which had been in her son’s room when he was a baby. The “quilt” was a bit lumpy in some areas and the top had been tied. The aunt who had lovingly made the gift had not been a quilter. Betsy did not want to take it apart, so I suggested that she simply stitch in the ditch around each block. It is a wall hanging for a child’s room, so that should be enough. She also brought her year and a half year old puppy, Mischief. Isn’t that a great name for a dog!!! Mischief was chock full of high energy. Emma who is nine played with her for awhile, but from time to time crawled under one of the Mambo pink plastic Adirondack chairs to temporarily take a break from all the action. 

Now on to my latest FFO . . .  “ Country Cottage Needleworks - May Cottage.” Aren’t the colors bright and fun! I didn’t make any floss changes. This is the third monthly cottage that I have stitched, and I have displayed each of them on this metal stand. There is a magnet attached to the easel’s back, and I glue a washer to the back of each cottage. I try to decorate the easel to fit each month. What were the chances of finding this roll of magenta burlap which matches the design so well? It was even on clearance!!!

Getting back to this post’s title . . . The CDC has come out with major new guidelines about mask wearing and gatherings. Gradually things are improving. Though our state’s adult full vaccinated record stands at 45%, our governor , Charlie Baker, has not lifted any of our state’s restrictions as of yet but changes will be coming.

I hope wherever you live, you are enjoying beautiful weather as we have been since Tuesday. Today it was 70*, and the streak will continue to midweek when we may hit 80*. 

Life is good. Stay safe.

Catching Up and Some Small Cross Stitch and Wool Applique Finishes

Hi Everyone! Happy tulip time! I have been having computer issues which I hope to have resolved soon. Today I am going to show some recently completed small cross stitch and wool applique pieces.  

Quilters have nothing on cross stitchers when it comes to being enablers. :-) I kept seeing over and over adorable Easter-themed cross stitch pieces on floss tube. Many of those pieces were from Brenda Gervais's book, Jelly Bean Jubilee.  It didn't take long before I was ordering my own copy.

I was able to get one pillow completed for Easter and will start earlier next year to stitch up a few more of the seven charts in this book.

The next piece, "When I Think of April,"  is a chart by Paola Pizzi of Puntini Puntini, and it is available on Etsy. The chart called for stitching a rabbit, some carrots, and three Easter eggs along the bottom, but it was mainly the flower filled watering can which appealed to me.

 For Wool Appliques Wednesday last week, I worked on "Be Strong and Bloom" from the book, Bowl Me Over - A Bounty of Tiny Pillows to Enjoy Every Day by Debbie Busby. When I make most of my pillows, I follow Lori Holt's process. You may find her instructions on her Youtube channel.  I cover the slit in the back with a piece of wool and add a charm, a button or two, and a year charm.

Last week, I made a momentary slip and forgot to check before opening the porch door for Emma. Oh! No! There was a turkey strutting around the backyard. A wild flapping of wings and a barking schnauzer caused quite a commotion. The turkey did not appear to be perturbed by the unwelcoming welcoming committee. Turkeys may not be able to fly far, but they sure can fly high!!!

I do not mind one visiting turkey just as long as we don't have a huge flock as we did last year prowling the neighborhood.

Well, my computer has only crashed about ten times while I have been trying to write this, so I'm going to quit here and get it posted. Have a wonderful weekend. Happy Spring! Happy Mother's Day! Happy Stitching!