Angels and Friends

I met my friend, Alyce, last Friday for lunch. We hadn't seen each other for a couple of months and our schedules finally allowed us a quick visit with each other. I was feeling discouraged again, so it was the perfect thing to lift my spirits. We met at the Cheescake Factory where she treated me to a yummy lunch, and we had a nice visit with each other.

Alyce surprised me with a little gift. She isn't one to go shopping or make frivolous purchases - she's a New Englander through and through! She said she went to HomeGoods and when she spotted this little treasure, she thought of me. How sweet is that? She knows how much I love birds and nests. She said she bought one for herself as well, and another one that is holding a heart (I think). I just love everything about this beautiful angel!





Isn't she beautiful!? I will think of Alyce every time I look at her, and remember how fortunate I am to have her as a friend.

Gray and White

If there is something open, Smudge will jump into it!

Black and White

Princess, Zoe and Topaz always near...

Pigeon Update and Cameron Purchases

Well, I haven't been able to locate the group that this pigeon belongs to. I've spent hours tracking down different organizations and heard from three different people - all with different opinions about the bird. I've worried about it's safety, and the other bird's that is still hanging around at Gail's store.

One guy told me the birds were racing birds but couldn't identify the group by the band number. Another told me that it looked like a performing bird, not a distance flier. Another one said releasing him wouldn't do any good; that it would still be lost. great.

My reasoning is that since the second bird (the one I caught) appeared a week after the first bird had been hanging around, they must be racing birds and on the same course. These competitions run through October in a lot of states, so it's possible that's what's happened here. It's getting late in the month and the nights are really getting cold. Not to mention predators. White animals stick out like a sore thumb and are such easy targets.

I've learned a fair amount about pigeons, both performing and racing, since catching this guy. I think I'm not liking the "sport" of racing. Basically, the birds have a homing instinct and are released far off somewhere with the task of getting back to their home loft. Sounds like a game of survival to me. I don't think I like it at all.

Anyway, I took the pigeon back to Gail's store this morning and sat him on the ground in the exact spot where I caught him...after giving him three kisses goodbye and telling him I hope he makes it. He didn't fly away - just went up to the top board on a display for the large pots. His friend was there all day yesterday, I was told, so at least they'll keep each other company.

To end on a more cheerful note, here is a picture of my pretty shelf and a better picture of my ladder that I bought at the Cameron sale a couple of weeks ago. I really like them a lot. The shelf is newly made; the ladder has some age to it.





I hope you're having a good day. The weather is gorgeous here today!!

An Eventful Year With Birds!

Another encounter with a bird! How odd this year has been for me and birds!

Yesterday, I went to Gail's store to pick up a paycheck. While there, she told me that there had been a white dove hanging around all week. At first I thought - oh my gosh, no way could it be my baby dove that I lost over the summer! But Gail said the dove was solid white and mine have salmon patches on them. Well, I hung around for an hour or so but no sighting of the dove, so I went home. I worried about that bird half the night. It's gotten pretty cold at night here and they aren't equipped to survive on their own.

Well today a little after 1 o'clock, Gail's daughter called me to say that the dove was there, and she had brought a friend along. I told Alissa to hurry and get her shoes and coat on and we were going to try to catch these birds. When we got to the store, both birds were sitting together in the area that we keep bags of mulch and flower pots, in a protected area. I had taken my fish net with me (used to catch wayward chickens) and successfully got the "new" bird, who is spotted like mine. The solid white one got spooked and flew onto the top railing of a display. I hoped she would come back down to the ground, but she flew away.

I left the net at the store and gave Gail's daughter a lesson on how to use it if the bird should show up again (which I think it will).

These birds have bands on their legs and I've been trying to track down who they belong to.

Here's a picture of the new guy. I think he's a pigeon, not a dove. He's noticeably larger than my birds. His eyes are very different from my birds' too. His has a very light ring around the iris; my birds'are solid black.


So this summer, I lost one of my baby doves; had an encounter with the baby wren that got stuck on a glue board; an orchard oriole that got caught inside some deer netting that I had over a holly bush, and a poor goldfinch that drowned trying to drink water that was too far down in a big pot I had a goldfish in. I didn't post about the latter two incidents. Oh, and it wasn't an encounter, but I've seen the Pileated Woodpecker twice now - once right beside my property!

On an unrelated note, here's a picture of my old ladder that I bought at the Cameron sale a couple of weeks ago. I have it on my front porch. It looks really cute with the jack-o-lantern plugged in.



I hope you all had a good weekend!

Bloggie Friends Are So Nice!

Recently, there was a virtual quilt show in blogland. I didn't get to visit all the participants but stopped clicking and froze when I came across Rose Marie's entry. It is absolutely drop dead gorgeous! I love leaves and bright colors and she incorporated both in this beauty.



I left Rose Marie a comment on how pretty it was and she wrote me back. I then asked her who the designer was and where she got the pattern so I could buy one for myself. Well, turns out she got the pattern from an old 2002 magazine. She looked for it but said she must have tossed it out ages ago. Disappointed, I started studying her quilt thinking I could figure out the design myself. When I wrote her again asking the size of the blocks, she told me that she looked again and found the old magazine with the pattern! And even better, she's making a copy and mailing it to me. How sweet is that???

Thank you so much, Rose Marie! I can't wait to start on this after the holidays are over with. I'll post my progress when I get going on it.

Yes, bloggie friends are really nice!

Fall/Halloween Decorations

Well, I've got most of my fall decorating finished, but still adding little touches here and there. I thought I'd share some pictures with you.


This is a long shelf above my sliding glass door in the kitchen:

A plate I painted years ago on the long shelf:

The fireplace in my den:

A little side table in the living room...this is so pretty; the picture doesn't do it justice:

Here it is with the flash on:


And my wreath on the front door with the cute little witch sign. I love this! I'll be painting my front door and shutters a new color within the next few weeks.


I finished the little wall hanging for my sister's grandson and it will be mailed tomorrow. He'll get to enjoy it for a while before Halloween :) Now I want to make a couple of fall wall hangings out of a beautiful panel fabric I got at JoAnn's a while back for Thanksgiving.

My first day on the new temp job was easy. The software isn't difficult; just has lots of little boxes to pay attention to. I have a lot to learn but it won't be a stressful job. It's too quiet in there though; nobody visits with each other; no soft music; no official breaks; and I punch a time clock....and actual time clock. I can't remember when I've ever done that as an adult. But...it's a job and who knows what it might lead to!

It's getting late and I need to get things ready for the morning now that I'm back in an early morning schedule!

I hope you have a good day tomorrow!

Halloween Wall Hanging

Hey everybody,

I still haven't taken pics of my goodies from the Cameron sale last weekend, but hope to this week. I've been trying to get my mums and violas planted so they can get established before the ground gets too cold for them to grow any more.

I've been working on my Christmas swap and like it so far, and sewing winter rye seed so the geese will have something to eat this winter besides expensive grain. Plus Alissa and I are making things for her little Halloween party in a couple of weeks.

Here is a picture of the wall hanging I made her - nothing fancy, but cute. I'm working on one just like it for my sister's little grandson.

I start my temporary position tomorrow and am quite excited about it. I hope you all have a good day tomorrow!
ttfn...

A Peek at My Christmas Swap

I went in a completely different direction with my Christmas swap...

Smudge

....and no sooner did I post this than Smudge decided the little bench looked like a good place to jump onto as well! Funny kitties...

Baby Steps

I have hope now; I'm starting a long-term temporary assignment Monday. The pay is low but the job will be right up my alley and I'm really excited about getting started. My leaving Gail's store puts her in a little bit of a dilema but she understands that I don't have a choice. I'll still be helping her out here and there as I can. The Employment Security Commission won't give me a straight answer as to whether or not my benefits will be extended, so I'm hoping they will while preparing for the opposite. One of the mottos I live by is always have a Plan B and a Plan C when possible, because Plan A doesn't work out a lot of times.

I'll leave you with a cute picture of Topaz. He decided to hop up onto the small bench I purchased at the Cameron festival Saturday. It isn't old, but I love it. It's made from 2 inch thich, rough hewn lumber. This thing will never rot! I've temporarily placed it in my living room beside an antique drop leaf table. Topaz made the perfect Halloween setting for me all by himself! He's such a sweet kitty :) On the floor is a glimpse of a pretty shelf I also bought Saturday, but haven't hung it up yet.

I hope you all are having a good week!

ttfn....

Cameron Antique Festival

What a beautiful day Saturday turned out to be! I enjoyed walking down the main street of Cameron and looking at all the stuff folks had for sale. I haven't gone to an outdoor antique show (or indoor for that matter) in years!! None of my friends could make it, so I took my time and looked at what interested me and then left.

I did buy three items with my house cleaning money - one old, and two new. I'll show pictures of them later. For now, I'll leave you with a few pictures of an absolutely gorgeous historic home. The pictures don't do it justice!


I loved the way they decorated their porch...quite simple, but so perfect for the house!






I have an interview for another temp assignment tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me; my unemployment just ran out!!!

Table Runner Completed

Well, I got it finished and I'm quite pleased with the way it looks on my table.

I've got a busy weekend ahead of me. Tomorrow I'm going to an outdoor antique show in a small, country town just south of me. I'm dying to do something fun. I know I can't spend much money - shouldn't spend any at all - but I'm sure I'll see something that I just can't live without! :)

Then here at home, Alissa and I are going to make some Halloween party invitations and make some decorations - in addition to my usual chores of course. And I've got to make a small Halloween wall hanging for Alissa, plus get started on my Christmas swap. It will be November before I can blink twice!



So what are you doing this weekend??

ttfn...

Christmas Swap

Hey everybody,

I hope you all had a nice weekend. They sure go by too quickly, don't they?

I got most of my fall decorating finished, with the exception of my front porch. It should be ready to enjoy by this weekend - I sure hope so anyway.

Remember when I was asking about joining a swap of some sort? Well, I found a Christmas swap sponsored by Jane's Fabric and Crafts . This will be my first swap and I'm really looking forward to participating. I bought some Christmas fabrics a few weeks ago and have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to make for my secret partner. I might have to get a few more (darn!) but maybe not. The pictures don't do it justice. These two fabrics are rich looking in person.

When I saw this fabric, I grabbed it! I love almost everything with birds, feathers, trees or leaves on it and this so gorgeous!





And good news - I started a week long temp assignment today. The pay isn't anything to write home about but it's more than Gail can pay me and is a big help. I'll still be working for Gail, but will take any temp assignments that come my way. You never know what doors will open from meeting new people.

Well friends, it's late and I need to go to bed. I haven't had to get up this early in months and months!
ttfn!

Almost Finished

Here is the table runner I've been working on sporadically. I wanted to get it finished today but didn't get to my sewing machine. I did make myself a yummy yellow cake with chocolate frosting though - my favorite. It'll be gone in a couple of days! It's been a relaxing day...very nice!

Note all the cat hair - Smudge has been laying on this (up on the ironing board)!!



I hope the week is going well for all of you.

Seven Years Ago Tonight...

...I planted this tree to commemorate the birth of my first grandchild. I wasn't ready to become a grandmother yet. I've never been a "kid" kind of woman. But I sure do have fun with this little girl - my Rosebud.


How she and her tree have both grown!!





Happy birthday, Alissa Rose!!!

What A Week!

Hey everybody,
This has been another roller coaster week. I didn't mention it earlier, but Gail had a heart attack 2 1/2 weeks ago! It scared all of us; she's only in her 40's and very trim. It was all very sudden and threw all of us into a tizzy.

The good news is that she will be fine; she just needs to take it easy and do only as much as her body will allow. She came into the store a couple of times this week and is starting to look like herself. So...I've been trying to take care of as many things as I could for her.

In addition to all of this, I've been dealing with insurance issues (don't you just l-o-v-e dealing with insurance stuff?) and job hunting. Job hunting - talk about the emotional roller coaster. You talk to a recruiter and get your hopes up...then nothing. I have nothing but sympathy for all of you that are in the same boat, or knows someone who is. It's really tough now with all the competition and the companies can be extremely selective. Enough of this crap; it's too stressful!

I got to have this weekend all to myself. I was ready to pull my hair out after the last two weeks and didn't want to go anywhere or have any obligations - just have some peace and quiet for 48 hours. And I got it. I worked outside all weekend doing more fall clean up. There are still several areas in the yard that have blooming plants, but for the most part, the plants are tired. I cut back bushes, ivy, perennials, and more bushes. The wax myrtle out in the field are so tall I have to get up on an 8 foot ladder to reach the tops with the loppers. Now I have a couple of beds ready to plant some pretty mums in. And I can't wait to get some pumpkins and gourds. Oh, and I got the barn cleaned out too.

This bed beside my driveway was crawling with hummingbird vine. I hated to pull it all up but it had just about smothered my beautifuly muhley grass, which is getting ready to bloom. Next year, I'll keep the vines under control better.

My little deciduous holly tree is beautiful right now. The birds will feast on the berries in late winter.
And how those black eyed susan vines grew - all volunteers!
My miscanthus and other ornamental grasses are in full bloom now. This isn't the best picture, but this plant is huge - and perfectly rounded!

Remember when my big, round flower bed was ruined by the deer and I planted a few more coneflowers and covered them with deer net? Well, the bed is overgrown with annual salvia volunteers (which I love) and behind them all is my tomato plant that grew back. If you look closely, you can see one lonely tomato beginning to ripen. Out of four tomato plants, this will be the only tomato I've been able to harvest. I'll have to make myself a tomato sandwich on white bread with mayo and salt and pepper when this baby is ready! The last of the summer :(



I left the gate to the little pasture open and Tinkerbell and her friend, Little Mama, decided to come out and see what I was doing. They are so used to me giving them some sort of treat that if I have anything in my hand, they think it's food for them!! They are such funny birds :)


Well, I'm going to cook myself a yummy dinner and then take care of some dreaded insurance business. Then I want to finish my little autumn table runner I showed you a peek of a while back. It's turning out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

I hope you all had a nice weekend, whatever you did. :)

Autumn at The Garden Market

Gail's shop looks especially good right now. I thought I'd share some pictures with you.

















We got some mums in; we'll be getting lots more next week.



I hope you all are having a good weekend!