Good Things

I've been meaning to get a table lamp for the sewing room. My Mom had knee replacement surgery on Monday and I'm hoping that she will come here for a visit when she gets out of rehab in a few weeks. So with that in mind, I've been trying to think how I could make the little sewing room more comfortable for her, and a lamp was definitely on the list. I found this one at a local Goodwill Store. I really like it. It's HEAVY! And that they had a red lamp shade that went so well with it was just a plus. Doesn't it look right at home with the little cardinal on the old sewing machine cabinet?

Speaking of sewing machines, I have to tell you that after all the balking and complaining I did when I had to buy a new machine after the old one died - I LOVE my new machine. As dear as my old Brother machine is to me (after all, I have had it for almost thirty years!!), this new Janome is just a joy to use. I love the needle threader and needle up or down feature, and it sews like a dream.

I have started quilting the latest project, and if I can stay off the phone - maybe I'll get it finished soon.

You know how it is with siblings. We all (four of us) love our Mother. Our one and only brother lives right next door to her and is such a blessing to all of us just knowing he's there. The sisters are scattered. One sister is there with Mama taking care of her now. She just got her moved to a rehab facility today where she'll probably be for the next few weeks. But it does take a lot of time to keep us all updated about all that is going on. I'm just glad we can work together on it!

Hope your day is absolutely wonderful!!!

Hugs and kisses,

Quilts and Flowers, Flowers and Quilts

I'm still working on the little tumblers quilt, and it's decided it wants to be a grownup's lap quilt instead of a baby quilt. You know how it is - these quilts have a mind of their own sometimes!

I can't resist showing you some more of the glorious growth here at Muddle Manor. I've had this clematis for several years and it's never done well. (Probably because the chickens have uprooted it several times. This year I've done a better job of protecting it from that ravening herd!) There are four blossoms on it right now!

Don't the chickens look so sweet and innocent there behind the roses?

The tomatoes are growing by leaps and bounds. I'm looking at them right now from my window, and it's a happy sight to me. I love fresh homegrown tomatoes. There's just none like them!

The view is a little blurry through the screen, but it's still a good one. I wish you could feel the peacefulness of it all right now. It's going to be hot later today, but right now the windows are open and the birds are singing.

Do you know what this is? It's a bud on one of the gardenias. I'm watching and waiting for them to burst into bloom. That is one of the most heavenly fragrances on earth!

This little rose is called Firecracker. It starts out yellow and then as it opens it turns

to orange and then almost red.

And look at these on the lattice at the front. Can you believe they never bloomed until this year? They just make me happy every time I see them.

I hope there is lots and lots that is making you happy today!

Hugs and kisses,

I Still Love Chloe

This morning, I was just admiring how sweet and lovable she looked there on the bed in the sewing room, sound asleep.

Wait a minute. What's that she laying on? Could it be the curtains from the other window?? Yep. Sure could. Apparently they were hindering her in some way and she pulled them down out of the window. They're on an extension rod that fits inside the window. Good grief! On the plus side - there's my rotary cutter that I looked all over the place for last night. :)

Not much sewing going on. I've had a few too many irons in the fire lately. But I have managed to get these little tumblers on the design wall sewn together. I think they'll turn into a baby blanket soon.

And how do you like these little bookends? They were made in Woodshop class by my cousin Benny, probably back in the fifties.

I love them. They're so sweet.

Hope your day is a beautiful as the one we have here!

Hugs and kisses,

Rainy Day

We're having another rainy day today, and it's a good thing, as Martha would say.

It's been a bit dry here, so the flowers and everything else growing out there appreciate the drink and the wash.

I planted these little roses beneath the lattice at the front of our house about ten years ago and there has NEVER been a bud or a blossom on it. It's an antique rose, and I have no clue what its name is, but it has no thorns!

I had pretty well given up on it blooming and just planted Carolina Jessamine to climb up the lattice. That has performed beautifully, but this year we got double on that lattice.

Now that the jessamine has finished the roses have started. Not only is it flowering at long last, but there are so many buds-in-waiting it looks like it may continue for a while!!

We had a much colder than usual winter here, though, thank God, nothing as severe as those in our northern states. The funny things is - it seems to have resulted in the most beautiful and prolific flowers, fruits and vegetables we've seen in a while.

I put a couple of the bags of leaves/pine needles my good neighbors gave me into the chicken yard this morning and the chickens are busily integrating them into their play space. I do so enjoy their work ethic, and I like listening to their contented little chicken singing as they go about their business.

Hope your day is filled with all kinds of goodness!

Hugs and kisses,

Quilt the Floor?

Remember I posted the picture of the sweet little dresser I saw that was upholstered with Indian bedding and the stool with the quilted top? Well, look what I saw today.


How neat is this?

And in This Old House, of all things. You just never know where you'll see quilts and the things they inspire, do you?

Happy Sunday!!

Hugs and kisses,

First Thing This Morning

We had the sweetest little shower of rain. The roses loved it.
And so did the dianthus. We were really hoping for a little more rain, but maybe later.

The vegetable garden is coming right along.Yes, indeed, that IS a blossom on that tomato plant. Yippee! I do love fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. There is just nothing that tastes quite as good to me. (Of course that is a ways down the road from now, but I can still anticipate, can't I?)

The new Country Living came in the mail today. Lots of interesting things to see inside, as always.

What caught my attention right away was this little dresser. It is upholstered with Indian bedding. $1,495 seems a wee bit pricy for my budget though.

And how about this little stool? It's covered with repurposed blankets. A closer look at the photo leads me to believe it's quilted. I like it!

I'm sitting in my sewing room now typing this, listening to the birds singing, the breeze blowing, and the chickens humming their contented little songs. Life is good!

Hope it is for you, too!!!!

Hugs and kisses,

I Love Chloe

And it's such a good thing for her that I do. But then, how could I help it, she is so very lovable (especially when she's asleep).

Jack (Miss Ru's cat), of course can see no reason on earth why I put up with Miss Chloe.

She's obviously a substandard species. Just kidding. They are really good friends most of the time. Jack is just a little bit lost right now because his designated human is out of town for the second week in a row and he is suffering (?) from lack of attention.

These are the little curtains I made for one of the windows in my sewing room. Those little holes and snags were made by Chloe.

Yep, both bottom panels. Now very ventilated. And after all the trouble I went to with those little bitty ruffles.

Chloe feels that said curtains should be open at all times.

There's just so much to see outside.

Even the flowers on the windowsill need to be closely observed.

Oh well, at least now I can stop feeling guilty for never hemming the sides of the top panels.

Love your pets (even if they DO make you crazy sometimes).

Hugs and kisses,