96' and I'm wearing Leg Warmers....

I wanted to join Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday and her letter this week is "I". What better word or topic

than "I", as in me, myself and I.  

A few days ago I really killed my poor back.  

Since the tropical storm came over a few weeks ago and did so much damage it got me up and cleaning under the stairs.  That is our "safe room" for hurricanes and each year it seems to get so much stuff stored in there.  You know, stuff like suitcases and packed away Christmas decorations.  Well during the year it turns out to be the space we toss everything we're not using. 

I had to replace the batteries in lanterns and radio and get the blankets in order, also the box of food, water and kitchen items we may need... Then when the hurricanes come we just have to get in there.  The space is not very large and you must bend over to get in, but it's a perfect place to avoid a storms wrath. 

I got  it organized and dusted. then  threw out my back.

What does one do when you can't move in any direction?

 Sit still and knit!

My youngest daughter who has been living in very hot Guam for the past three years finally came back to the states and she and her family have no winter clothes.  Oklahoma City is their new duty station and she asked me to make her some items for the cold weather to come.  "Mom make me some leg warmers".  That's an easy request and what better time than when I have to sit still for a few days.

 I made my grandsons sweaters this past month and used the left over yarn to make these and I just love how they look.

Don't laugh but it's 96' outside (feels like 104') and here I am with my jeans, boots and leg warmers leaning against the wall trying to save my back.

 Suffer for the love of my blog!

 I really like how they turned out.  If only I could use leg warmers but I live in Florida and have no need for them.

I may be down for a few more days, the muscle relaxers are not working very well so I guess I'll make Gina another pair of leg warmers with other left over yarn that is in the stash!

I need to get a running total of all the knitted items I've made for her family this past few months. Really, that will be another post in a month or so.  The box full of winter knitted clothing will be sent out in September.

It's making me hot just thinking about sweaters and winter clothing.

Keep cool everyone!

I'm joining

Saturday Night Special 

It's Overflowing With Creativity 

Tuesdays To Do List 

Mod Mix Monday 

Whats It Wednesday 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Alphabet Thursday 

Making New Crochet Place Mats

As you all know it's been so hot this past week and I've been trying to not go out in the weather. Seems I get up early to do my errands or visit with people then I'm back in the house.

I have been keeping busy though.  Refinished my wine rack and after knitting two sweaters for my three grandsons, I had to put #3 down for a while.. it was starting to make me cross eyed.  So I picked up some crochet cotton and made some well needed place mats for my kitchen table.

 I love using  Handcrafter Cotton for dish towels or place mats, it washes so well. The place mats also save my crochet table cloth from spills and drips.

 The wine rack also has a new topper.

I know it's hot out so knitting and crocheting may sound like a hot thing to do but we are lucky enough to have central air conditioning and it's always comfortable in my house.

My next project is something I just fell in love with.  I found this bulky knit bed cover on Pinterest and now to go find the wide-thick yarn needed. How beautiful this will be draped over my bed comforter.  Wonder if I can keep the cats off it.. that is a joke to be sure!

 "Stay cool everyone"

I'm linking this post to 

Metamorphosis Monday 

Table Top Tuesday 

Tuesdays To Do List 

Whats It Wednesday 

We Did It Wednesday 

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Under $100.00 link party 

Vintage Inspiration 

Turning a Potting Bench back into a Wine Rack that is full of memories

I've had an old Wine Rack - Potting Bench for almost three years now and finally got around to refinishing it.

This piece of furniture has special memories  as my friends husband gave it to me a few weeks after she died from a horrible cancer.

Ingrid told me this once was a very cherished piece and was used for their wine bottles at different homes, in different countries.  But in one of the many moves with the military they lost the drawers and put it outside on their deck.  It was now a potting bench and with stood years of weather but the bones of the piece were in great shape.

 First thing I did was use a good cleaner and took the hose to it, let it dry then used a fine grade of sandpaper trying not to take off most of the patina that resulted from the years of rain and sun.

After looking into my stash of left over paints and stains I found a nice pine color stain.

 I did not  put much energy into applying the stain. A simple paint brush and let it soak into the dry wood.

 I love how the stain went over the green color on the legs of the piece and soaked into the spots where the green was worn off.  It mixed together beautifully.

One coat of stain was all I used then once it dried I applied a simple clear satin varnish.

Now to find a way to put in a shelf where the drawers once were.  I did take out the gliders that held the drawers and I'm still trying to figure out how to put in the wood?  

The piece is finished and will stand in my dining room reminding me of Ingrid and how she enriched my life and how grateful I am for knowing her.

I'm linking up to

Inspiration Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Flaunt it Friday 

Frugal Friday 

Feathered Nest Friday 

Power of Paint

Furniture Feature 

POWW Furniture Link Party 

God Bless America

Each 4th of July I sit back and think of how thankful I am for being a born an American Citizen.

My younger years had me living in the Middle Eastern Countries because of my pilot father. We only spent a few months at a time in the states for vacations or visiting relatives.

Seeing first hand how other people live and how they are dictated to by their governments made my first thought at the age of 19, "I'm going back home to the states to live".  I want to drive a car and wear shorts.  Just be me and do as I please!

 I don't care about paying taxes because we have well lit streets and school buses, clean parks, and social security for our elders.

If I did not have health insurance I could call EMS and they would take me to a clean emergency room and  treat me anyway.

I get so angry when I listen to Americans who complain about everything they think is wrong with this country.  I say they have never lived in other countries so they have no idea what their talking about.  Especially now that the elections are getting hotter.  Thank goodness we can have elections and choose who we want to serve our government!  

We can also pray openly  to who or what we want.

"Kiss the ground" of this dear sweet country is an understatement when you return to such freedom.

It boggles my mind when I think about how many Women and Men have died so we can be free.

God bless each and every one of them!

Now go forth and "BBQ"

"Happy Birthday America"

When the wind is fierce, baking is the answer...

We are in the home stretch of a fierce tropical storm and this morning   called for "Baking".  

So, at 6am I was in the kitchen putting two tablespoons of yeast in warm water then went about looking for a breakfast roll recipe. My favorite place to look is All Recipes dot com.  They have every kind of food made by real people like you and I.  This breakfast roll is made with simple ingredients and took only a resting time.. not two hours to rise.  

Was so easy!

Once all the ingredient's were put together, I let the mixer do the kneading.  Then I covered the ball of dough with a towel for about a half hour, just to rest.

Then I cut the dough into 7 little rolls. (I wanted them to be big).  Although the recipe said to just put them in the oven, the baker in me had to let the rolls rise for a half hour and they doubled in size.  Then to give them a special glaze I brushed a bit of egg white and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

 The whole house smelled like yeast and it took only 20 minutes  to bake.  I went for the sweet butter and had a piping hot roll and let me tell you,,, "They were great"!

Ahhhh, a bit of creamy butter and jam.

Go on wind, howl all you want!

 The tropical storm with all her fury has left the Tampa Bay area and is moving out to the Atlantic. The clean up has begun, homes damaged, streets totally flooded, lives lost and I wanted to personally say 

"Good Bye Debbie"

Adiós

Auf Wiedersehen

 Addio

 Shalom

Aloha

  Ma'as Salaam

Au Revoir

I'm linking up to

Create and Share 

Home and Garden Thursday 

Alphabet Thursday 

Monday Morning and "TS Debbie" has stalled over us.....

 

Floridians are funny people... An annoying Tropical Storm comes over and dumps tons of water and wind into the area..  it howls for 19 hours and when the eye of sorts comes over today this is what they do while they wait for the next round to come through.

The sea is perfect for boarding in such winds,  but the rip currents are deadly.  So they take to the streets.

 

"Lady Debbie" has stalled over Tampa Bay and she will be sending more of the back end feeder bands here around noon today.  

"

We had a night of Tornados, high winds and much flooding but  I'm sorry to say we lost one woman who was trying to hold her little girl during a tornado.  Thankfully the 3yr old is ok!

There is much damage to homes and neighborhoods. By some stroke of luck the back end will be a bit nicer to us...

I see the winds picking up once again.

If anyone out there has a huge fan, turn it on and blow this TS out of here, will ya!

OK... back to my knitting.  I finished a pull over sweater for my grandson yesterday.  Working on #2 today.

"Stay safe everyone in TS Debbie's path"

TS Debbie, Ok I'm home now so you can do what you want...

 It's Sunday and we woke to wind, rain and just a lot of nasty weather!

Tropical Storm Debbie has formed in the Gulf and is taking her sweet time wondering where she will aim her nasty little self?

It's afternoon now and the wind is high and my back yard is flooded with heavy rain that has not stopped all day... such a mess out!

I spent the past week in Jupiter, Fl. helping my girl move into her new home and although my plan was to stay a few more days I needed to get on the road before Debbie came through the state.  (if that is what she will do?).  My drive yesterday was just light rain and it's no fun to spend 4 hours on a wet Interstate but I got home before the winds started.

I think the best part of  Cyndi's new house is the rather large dining room. Just think of the wonderful dinner parties she can have here.

Ok, if your coming "Debbie" I'm ready.  Have my knitting and I'll just sit you out!

Everyone in her path, "Stay Safe"

I'll be on the street corner giving away basel soon....

I started growing three Basel plants about 4 months ago and am finding although I use it on a daily basis I just have much too much. So rather than waist it  I usually dry some and the ones I pick for immediate use go into water just like a bouquet of flowers.  And they always root.

My kitchen window sill always has a few fresh cutting and I found they root in a matter of days.

When I find the mother plant, on the front porch, is getting too tall and ready to flower I pinch off the flower right away and put the new cuttings in water... it's a cycle now and I just can not use it fast enough.  Really, Basel go's into every thing I cook. (that's the Sicilian in me)

Today I potted a few more cuttings and found I now have 6 pots growing and that makes at least 13 plants.

Yesterday I layered these beautiful leaves in a veggie lasagna and the taste was to die for, but I just did not use basil fast enough and my stash keeps enlarging.

You might just find me  on the corner selling bunches soon because I hate to waist it.

Before planting in pots I put a coffee filter in the bottom, then the soil. For some reason the herbs like this because they all grow so well. I do use good potting soil and never re use the same soil twice. Not sure, but that could be the secret to growing healthy herbs?

At least they show me they like it?

I also have Lemon Basel growing. These plants are on the back deck and today I noticed the leaves have snail paths on them.. guess they need to go out on the front porch. There are much to many potted plants out front and someone is going to trip over one soon!

 Now that rainy season is in full force all the little snails come out on the back deck and their eating all the herbs I have growing back there and I hate to use snail bait. My yard is pesticide free so all the little critters have free run.

That's an idea... let the critters eat what we can not.  No need for me to make a fool out of myself by standing on the corner trying to give away bunches of herbs.....

I'm linking up to

Tuesdays Garden Party

Happy Birthday to the "United States Army"... because of you we are Free!

Please join me in wishing

" The United States Army" 

  "Happy Birthday"

 

 For 237 years the men & women of the U.S. Army have proven America is the land of the free because of the brave.

 

I'm linking up to

Grace At Home