Summer is Here and the Naughty Spotty

New puppy's AKC name is Belle Starr, but her nickname is Naughty Spotty. She is the biteingest dog we have ever had for the naughty part. The spotty part is she is looking more and more like a Dalmation! 🐶 You don't see many of this breed-German Wirehaired Pointer.

M'kay not officially summer but my eBay sales reflect it. My weekly payouts average $150 per week. This week's payout - $15.60. 

Greenhouse update: The deer did get to the garden before I fenced it off. The Jack-in-the-beanstalk sunflower is a giant variety. I admit the structure is cobbed together. It has withstood numerous storms. Panels have flown off to into the sunset never to be seen again. 

Thrifting update: It pays to visit hospice thrift on a frequent basis. Even though I had been there the day before, there were delightful finds for me the next day. Metal painted rooster for the garden ($3.99) and two packs of orphan quilt blocks at 99 cents each. 

A few of the orphan blocks and pieced patchwork. 

These blocks were the best of the last that I opened. It appears there was an appliqued quilt block exchange in 2001. Some of the blocks were signed and dated. 

Cuteness overload!

This artist's quilt block is a favorite of mine. Not sure how I will use the other orphans. 

Wedding Update and Greenhouse Gardening

Blogger is back up and running! There have been issues ... 

Wedding update: Future MIL and I have the quota of plates and champagne flutes. This is the place setting my daughter has chosen. 

These small decorative bottles are the next thing to find at thrift. They will be used as table number holders. 

Future MIL has observed that I have been having too much fun shopping for this wedding. Most delightful thrift shop find of 2 small Lenox crystal vases (with certificates). 

Pattern of the Day is one listed for sale on eBay. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187264509749

Gardening update: Getting a late start with greenhouse gardening. Or I should say partial greenhouse since it is missing quite a few panels. 

Mainly tomatoes and squash, watermelon and peas. 

Ending the post with an observation about earrings. For months I have lurked at a certain online auction site seeking simple gold post earrings. You know the kind you wear right you get your ears pierced. I was being outbid over and over until finally! I won a pair of 14k gold ones for a mere $30 inc. shipping. 💙

Greenhouse Gardening and Gratefulness

This is a volunteer that has taken over the tomato cages, for now. Getting a good look at the letter G for the A to Z Challenge. 

Each year I engage in greenhouse gardening. Last year, so many seeds germinated that I gave away starts at work, AND put some at the end of our road with a 🆓 sign. This year, I planted the seeds in a different pattern. Corn is on the outer borders, with climbers like cantalope, nearby. I then packed it with peas, radish, kale, lettuce, tomato, and mammoth dill. Here is the image of the newly-planted seeds. 

Two carry overs are asparagus and garlic chives. All non-edible plants like flowers were removed from the greenhouse. I figure we have the structure, we should make good use of it. The next logical step will be to can the summer's bounty. I will have more to report as we move into the summer months. The image below was taken a few days ago, a bounty of seedlings in one of the beds. 

Am I worried about our food future? We have the politicos flexing their muscles and pushing into new territories. Many of America's foods come from Mexico. During lockdown we saw supply chain disruption. All of the world powers are investing in armaments. Be like a Boy Scout - Be Prepared. Fresh fruit and vegetable shortages are a possibility. 

The biggest predator to my greenhouse - raccoons.🦝Another reason why we don't have chickens, because of the raccoons. But if eggs continue to edge up in price, we might have to calculate the cost of renovating the chicken coop. 

On the subject of gratefulness - the basic theme of the A to Z Challenge. My partner and I are grateful we have made it to the age where we can enjoy our retirement. It is something we wonder at every day, that we are "comfortable." But that is not without some sacrifices made throughout our lives. 

Moving along in the challenge, the H letter day is about habits and horseback riding. 

Sunday Chat and the Fan Quilt

I saw Sunday Chat on another blog and enjoyed her post. frommycarolinahome.com/2024/05/19/sunday-chat-garden-and-quilt-show Her format is similar to mine. She had a skosh of quilting tidbits and a bit of gardening news. 

Garlic chives in bloom. A deer-proof item in my greenhouse. 

I have been dragging my feet on the completion of this Fan Quilt. I have changed my mind three times on the design of the outer border. 

First, I had these blocks I was going to add. But their purple was too purple and they overshadowed the purple inner border.  

Then, I had a couple of jelly rolls that I combined thinking it would make up a piano key border. It just didn't mesh. I will save that piece for another project. 

I decided on a 2" batik border. This fabric I had pulled from the very beginning but wasn't sure how to work it in. 

I completed the backing long before I completed the quilt top. Photographed sideways, you get the drift. The middle section was a pieced portion bought in an online auction lot. 

Next quilt project queued up are these colorful blocks I bought recently at auction. Also pulled are some jelly roll strips auditioning for inclusion. 

Greenhouse update: All of the plants are coming along fine. Hope and pray an animal won't break in and ravage them, thus the chicken wire. The front entrance to the greenhouse is open but blocked by the former greenhouse door. Nearly all of the roof panels are missing so sunflowers can grow right through the roof. 

Heading to a bridal show today with my daughter, her bridesmaid, and the groom's mother. My first bridal show event! 👰

Vacation begins in a couple of days, I intend on doing no work. Taking a couple of books to read out on the deck. 

Boinging Back to College and the Blessing of the Beads

As I have noted earlier, I returned to college for an 8 week course of Women in Art this spring semester. My 70 year old brother's reaction when I told him I went back to college, "AGAIN?" and "You need to turn off those after burners." 😆

I have BOINGED back to college at least 5 times. My first attempt was at Highline Community College in Washington. Then I moved to Arizona and went to Phoenix College. [Insert 20-year hiatus here] I have attended classes at Sacramento City College off and on for the past 10 years or so. 

I only take one class a semester, the majority have been online. I am not in any hurry. Full term fall semester will be August 24 - December 19, and classes are posted. Drawing and Composition 1 is an all day Friday class or mornings Tues./Thurs. After I get my Art History degree, maybe I will become an Art Major. 😀 I must skew the college demographics something awful. 

Segueing to gardening. This is my front garden in full bloom. 

I have planted seeds in the greenhouse. Some seeds have volunteered from last year's plants. The greenhouse was nearly destroyed from the ungodly winds we had experienced. We are going to wrap the structure in hog wire, rather than replace missing plastic panels. 

Ending the post with my thrift shop find of all kinds of beautiful beads. $12.99 for the bag and I had a $10 off credit. I didn't know the delights I had in the bag until I got home. There was much ooooing and aaahhing. Plenty of beads to embellish or even repair beaded items. 

In my childhood, I made flower rings made from seed beads. I appreciate this thrift gift from mystery bead crafter. 

Thrift shop gods certainly smiled on me. I am still basking in the happy finish of a competition quilt that included these types of beads. Looks like there is more beadwork in my future.🔮

Selling the Sassy Sisters

My latest round of eBay listings included these sassy sisters, aka Raggady Rag Dolls circa 1989. Made the same year my daughter was born. Selling them together as they came through thrift together. The redhaired one has a wooden heart with the words "Sisters are Special."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185851880619

Highlighting the other 2 dolls for sale.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185851891053

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185851899971

Gardening update: We were finally able to get outside into the sun to do some gardening. We had round after round of rain and cold, the water much needed so keep it coming! It also means there are super blooms of spring flowers. 

This particular daffodil has a pale pink bell edged with pale yellow. So pretty!

The biggest task was trying to restore the greenhouse. The heavy winds knocked out nearly every plastic panel. What is not shown is the extensive damage to the front of the structure, and the missing roof panels. 

You can see the artichoke is the star of the show! 🌠 Asparagus is planted to the left of it. 
Tomato starts are in the bed to the right, with garlic chives at the front. Potatoes and onions are in the middle bed for now. Kale and climbers cucumbers and sugar snap peas in the bed to the right. 

The Mr. had a rattlesnake encounter. There was a tarp on the ground and when he went to move it, the snake was disturbed, rattled, and tried to strike him. Mr. scrambled up the hill from there. We have to be extra vigilant when we are outside. 🐍

Here is one of the delightful book finds from a recent estate sale. While I was loading up on the books, I was oooing and awing over the ones I know will sell. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185851925325

I launched another book sale markdown so I could make room for the growing book death pile. As any seller will discover, there is a limit to certain items you are willing to store. Some may have separate storage units and that isn't an issue. I have a limited amount of space in my home. My offsite storage is my personal collections and items I may or may not sell in the future. 

Greenhouse update

We have kept the plants in the greenhouse watered but have pretty much ignored them throughout the summer. Only the strong survive our California heat. 

The tomato pear going great guns is in the far planter with tomatoes, bell peppers and brussell sprouts in the other planter.

A cucumber is vining up the plastic trellis. There are stir fry greens and garlic chives in that planter also. 

My greenhouse experimenting continues. I just planted these seeds: golden beets, radishes, carrots and French gold pole beans. The seeds are a few years old but still seem to be germinating. 

For Christmas, I am going to ask for a solar heater for the greenhouse. 

No stunning trail cam pictures, but here is one of a doe.

One delightful side effect of my recent weight loss, having dropped a few pounds, I get to buy all new pants and skirts. Well, new to me, all through thrift. Here is one outfit I have found secondhand in the past couple of weeks. 

I will be posting for a couple of prompts for the month of October from #mrsbrimblesboodaily on Instagram. 

Greenhouse update

All of that seedling generation the last two months meant I could finally plant them. I still have the center row and part of the back row to fill up. 

The garden beds outside of the greenhouse duplicate what is inside with the exception of rhubarb, zucchini and artichoke. Those plants all tend to need lots of room. 

My crafting has suffered because of my gardening and the Mr.'s insistence on housecleaning (say what?). I have also been stricken with some form of eczema on my hands and feet. Hoping my dermatology specialist appointment at the end of this month will shed more light on my condition. 

I just discovered a blog hop highlighting Christmas projects for those who have the time and energy for that.
creativeblondeblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/christmas-rapping-plus-giveaway/

Going Gonzo Gardening

As a follow up to the Quilty Orphan Adoption, a small group of quilters that offer fabric, quilt blocks, etc. to other quilters, I sent out two boxes, recipients posted here, and threw my name in for these seminole bands offered by Nann at withstringsattached.blogspot.com.

Even prettier in person

She mentioned she might send fabric, or a book, or a pattern, and Boy Hardy, did she! All kinds of fabric, a pattern and a slew of books with my favorite being an OBW (one block wonder) and Mad about Plaid. My interest in a colorwash quilt is waning and my interest in an OBW has taken hold. 

My hair stylist is getting married in June and I would like to surprise her with a low-volume bed-sized quilt utilizing fabric remnants of pastels. I did a fabric pull and cut 5" squares, chain pieced a few and will see how it turns out. 

Linking up with Jennifer at inquiringquilter.com for:

Thrifting didn't produce much even though I hit up 5 shops. My finds included a summer shift, blue patchwork maxi and a larger hoop for my hexagon hand quilting. 

On the gardening front, I've got quite a few seedlings growing in the greenhouse. So far they include heirloom tomatoes, purple carrots, arugula, beets, peas, sweet peppers, beans and onions. Northern California weather has been stunningly beautiful so I have spent every moment outside. My goal is the have the greenhouse jam packed with edible goodness. Images to follow in the weeks to come ~