What do you do with your spare time? I knit because it calms me....

For the past three months I have been on a knitting frenzy.  

This is what I do in my spare time. I love to knit and can knit without a pattern. I'm not saying the items turn out perfect. I just look at a photo and do the best I can.

 Winter in Oklahoma is cold and my daughter and her three small boys have no winter clothing.  I told her as she starts to get their wardrobe of cold weather clothes together to wait on the hats and scarves till grandma's box arrives. 

I did not count all the items made but I can say the three small boys have two sets of hats and scarves.

My daughter has two sets of leg warmers and 4 scarves with one matching hat along with an eternity scarf. 

 I really love all the new yarns we now have to choose from, so many different textures and colors.

This one should keep Gina's head and neck warm.

 Lets not forget Dad,  my son in law. I made the scarf extra wide so he could wrap it around his nose and face during those cold winter Oklahoma ice and snow storms.

  For the boys I made each  a sweater.  I only had two complete and they went in the box.  I'm still working on the third sweater and that will go with me when I fly there in three weeks.  Yes, grandma is going to visit.  It will be so nice to see the kids once again.. I only had the pleasure once in the past three years. Guam is so far and that tiny island did not have the kind of  trauma center that could take care of me if needed.  I  could not trust my heart on such a long trip. Imagine if I had trouble and was in a plane over some South Pacific island.. what would they do with me?  So we  kept in touch through Face Time.  The kids did come visit once as the plane fair ran them, for a family of 5, close to $10,000.  really!  Thankfully here in Florida,both grandmas live within 5 hours by car, from each other.

 

The package is in the mail.   I've gotten in the habit of sending a box ahead of me when I fly.  This box would cost who knows what to put on a plane, so this has become what we who travel do, instead of paying to stow it on commercial.

I've got to think of something new to do while sitting.  Maybe I'll make myself a new sweater?  Or I can start on a layette for child number 4.  My daughter and her husband are thinking of their next production, a little girl.  Gina said, "there is much too much Testosterone floating around her home".  Then she laughed and said, "You watch mom, I'll have twin boys"!

We will see?

I'm linking up to

Wow Us Wednesday 

Creative Things 

Thrifty Things Friday 

Inspiration Friday 

Thank You, Thank You, and how proud I am of you all!

I'd like to take a moment to say a BIG  

"Thank You"  

to all the men and women who continue to serve our great Country.

 This MARINE is a quadruple amputee named Todd Nicely of Arnold, Missouri. Check out his t-shirt and you'll see that he manages to have a sense of humor about his sacrifice!

And he is cute to boot!

God Bless You Son!

How do you attract Humming Birds to your yard?.

Of all the plants in the back of my yard, I think the Firespike is the one I look forward to each year.  This plant brings so many Humming Birds and Butterflies.  My first cutting came to me from a friend two years ago and it's turned into plantings all over my yard. I had no idea how much the critters love it.
As I might have said in a previous post we are in the rainy season and the Firespike is the only flowering plant that is blooming. It's just not the season in Florida for beautiful gardens. Well, at least in my yard.  You can see the tropical greenery is beautiful and lush from all the humidity and rain.

 

 Each of the plants are starting to bloom and you might have laughed at me when I saw the first Humming Bird. I ran outside with my iPhone camera and tried to have the Humming bird think I was just part of the landscape.  Sorry but that did not work.  Every time it would come back it knew I was there and I had to finally give up and leave the poor thing to get his sweet nectar. 

This went on for about an hour, my going out there and sitting on the soggy ground only to see about 4 Humming Birds at different plants and they are scattered around the yard.  It was turning into a comedy. 

 As you can see, I have no photos of the Humming Birds.

 Known botanically as Odontonema strictum, firespike grows 4 to 6 feet tall and produces clusters of 3-inch-long, tubular red flowers. It is a small shrub in South Florida and a clumping, herbaceous perennial in North and Central Florida.  I keep my plants pruned each fall because really they will over take the entire yard if I let them.

 

I have a new batch of cuttings taking root in a bucket of water.  These will be packed in a box and sent to my daughter for her new back yard.  When I was there a few weeks ago I did bring some cuttings and we put them along an area of her fence to start some privacy.  She told me this week, "They all have new leaf buds growing" and she wanted a few more.  I don't plan on driving the 4 hrs for cuttings so they will be sent in the mail this week.

I've always wondered how many of you living north of Florida might have Firespike growing in your yard?

 I saw a few while living in Texas but none in Illinois and read that they will go dormant in cold temperatures?

Today my great plans of doing a bit of gardening did not happen.  This is the first day we have had sun in the past three weeks of rain.  But to my dismay It's in the high 90's and it will surly make me pass out. So here I am in the a/c doing the last of the three sweaters for my grandsons.  

"Enjoy your weekend everyone" 

I'll be joining

Sunny Simple Sunday 

Tuesdays Garden Party 

Outdoor Wednesday 

What's It Wednesday 

Garden Thursday 

Fertilizer Friday 

 

 "This is just to awful to even talk about" 

"Jalousie glass helps me hear in the night"

I'm sure many of you, like me, have in home alarm system.  I wonder how many alarms actually work or deter intruders?  My kitchen window is very vulnerable sitting right on my deck and anyone can come in or through it, if they really wanted to because from the outside it's so low to the deck floor. Also my potting table is right in front of the window and it just has to be moved or climbed on for someone to break the glass window.

 

 I'm a bit nervous with alarm companies because several weeks ago there was a killing on my street.  An intruder got in through the same window as all the townhomes are built the same,  and shot and killed a 32 year old woman.  Her mom ran from the front door at 3am, hitting the alarm as she went screaming into the street.  Well the alarm did her no good at all.  In fact the alarm company called the next day saying, and I quote, "We got an e from you last night about your car alarm"...

Well that really shocked me to say the least and yes, these women had a well known brand alarm company!

I feel so much better about my kitchen window as it is full of glass that will come tumbling down if anyone thought to try getting in.  I have all glass objects along with shelves made from old  jalousie glass I found in a trash pile.  All I had to do was cut the glass to fit and used some strong twine as rope hangers.

Knowing the window frame was made of wood, I simply screwed in kitchen cup hooks to hold the twine that was made to hold the shelves.  It's sorta like the macrame holders we made back in the 80's. Yes, it may swing if knocked but it works perfectly.

 I know this idea is crude but I feel so much more comfortable at night knowing if anyone

wants to get into the window I will be sure to hear all the glass come crashing down into the sink. Along with it being my alarm it also acts as an attractive window decoration, don't you think?

 

 I sure hope no one ever has an intruder in their home but it's always a good thing to be ready for anything or anyone.  All the other windows and entry ways in my home are secure but this window is my only fear 

 If I hear the crashing of glass in the night I have my baseball bat sitting beside my bed and I'm ready to bash a few heads. Just to let you know, I've had lessons  in self defense and have a mean swing.

How many of you have not only an alarm system but a system of your own?

Stay safe all! 

I pray rain comes to the Midwestern States and soon! 

I'm linking up to

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits 

Inspiration Friday 

Thrifty Things Friday 

Catch as Catch Can 

Overflowing with Creativity 

Alphabet Thursday 

 

Georiga Peaches are here.

Such an achy week this has been and I'm happy to say my poor back pain has subsided. So what did I do but get in the car and go to the grocery store.  Mother hubbards cupboard has been getting bare! 

 

 On the way to the store I spotted a sign saying "Georgia Peaches".  

I just love it when the peach farmers drive down to Florida and set up shop along the road ways.  

"Georgia peaches are fabulous" 

This calls for Peach Turnovers and I got busy in the kitchen.

 After cutting the peaches, I added a bit of sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and some Corsica Mint. I have several mint plants growing out on my deck.  This mint is so tiny and has such a wonderful aroma and sharp taste. Corsica Mint is what is used in Creme De Menthe liquor. 

I cooked the mixture just long enough to soften the peaches and thicken the juice.

 Although these mint leaves are tiny I gave them a bit of a chop to release the oils.

This is where I cheated a bit by using store bought pie dough. I found that if I keep a few packages in the freezer I can bake when ever I felt the need.

After folding the peach mixture into dough squares I let them bake for about 15 minutes at 425',  then put a bit of powered sugar frosting on top... yummmm, these need to be eaten warm.

 I wish you all could smell my kitchen when these are baking.

Have a lovely week everyone! 

I'm joining

Out Door Wednesday 

I'd love to talk about my flowers but we have been having much too much rain and their all gone, so I'll talk about my Mint

Fertilizer Friday 

 

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