The week began with

a problem right from the start........  My week to teach at Sunday School and I go out to find that the car will not start...........  Called Rebekah and she brought her car to me............  I left her with instructions to call her brother and get my car going..........  Jason came and jumped it for me and left a message that a new battery was in my near future or I would find myself in Kinston with a car that would not start and that I had left my cell phone at home AGAIN.........................

Then off to Happy's for the auction.........  Marilyn joined us and we had a grand time.......  I did buy a few things........  Pictures later............

  Jason was good enough to come by while I was gone to watch the race with his father............ 

Marilyn and I them went to Greenville to get flannel for Georgina........  Stopped at McDonalds on the way home for dinner.......... 

On the go all day and I was completely done in............  Nice evening at home with Lem.........   But before I went to bed I had to make up my sour dough bread............  A friend gave me some starter......  I had killed mine right before we moved and was glad to have more.................

Monday morning found me making up the loaves and getting them set to rise........  Then deadhead the roses....  pull the few weeds that were peeping up in the garden when I noticed that I should mow the grass in case it rained the next day.......... 

On Monday afternoon we meet at Marilyn's...........  Some of us do needlework and some don't.........  Doesn't really matter........  We just enjoy getting together.......... 

Elsie is working on a needlepoint .................  

It is called The Creation......There are six of them in all and yes I rushed home and ordered one for myself...............

Rebekah brought her knitting but decided to take that time to rest and recover from the constant unpacking.......

Fleming and Cassie joined us.........  Cassie is working on a shawl and Fleming joins us to bring cheer.

Marilyn is working on a prayer shawl................  I took the picture before she got out her knitting.........

For dinner we had BBQ pork ribs, rice and garden peas.........  Then I worked on my needlepoint until bedtime............. 

Today is another day and has already started off with a bang.........  More later.

Jean's Pillows........

Hurray............ A finish at last.............. I made these pillows for my sister........  Georgina is going to VA tomorrow and will take them there for me.........

One of them has a rather strange corner but perhaps she can live with it.........  I will try to get a bit more of the material and make a couple more........

And they are on my new to me rug from Happy's.....  Marilyn and I went there yesterday to see what was going to be auctioned tomorrow..........  I found a rug for the foyer........

It does not match the rug in the dining room but it has the same colors as that rug does and I like it and the price was just right...........

I also found this sewing box.........  It had to come home with us too..............

So glad to have the pillows done and now to hem Carol's tops and finish putting together the Guild quilt......  Then maybe I can do a few things for me.......VBG

Things to be aware of.........................

One is blogging..........  I read more blogs than I comment on.........  I get too many ideas from them........

Someone blogged a Mondo Bag...........  Yes I had to have one..........  or two.........or three...............

The other thing to avoid is PINTEREST..........  I can get lost for time on end just looking at things I want to do there.......  Two ideas I found I hope to turn into reality...........  But only if I can get off of the computer long enough to get them done.........

Now instead of the usual household chores this morning I SIMPLY MUST get the pillows made for Jean........

What was it really last Thursday?

I am amazed at how long it takes for me to get a few pictures posted............. Last Thursday Lem and I checked out a new to us antique shop...........

Look at the lovely quilt rack I found........

Only $18.00 and it was mine.....  I put it in the hallway outside the studio to hang quilts on that are works in progress...........

I found a sugar and creamer set for the elegant table I hope to set one day.....

Three little footed dishes just right for pickles and olives ans such.........

And an etched glass bowl for the center of the table.........  I need to get a few more flowers for the arrangement so that Donna can make it for me........

This bright red paper towel holder called my name so I brought it home with me........  I put the chrome one I was using in the utility room.........

The elves came and installed a hand rail on the front.....and on the side..........  Now maybe Lem will not fall and hurt himself again...............

As they were leaving they put the acorn on the mailbox for us........ 

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying family and friends..........

I wonder what this week will bring.........

Whew.............

Yesterday was busy..........  I got more mulch spread in the front flower bed.  I should be able to finish it some time this week......
 

I planted the caladiums we had purchased from Lowes last week.............

Then rearranged the front porch........  I wasn't really thrilled with the way it looked earlier......

I like this arrangement.........

and a plant next to the Kingsly Bate Bench.............

I do need to get the cushions finished for the chairs..............

But at least the milk can and wooden top is painted......... 

The bird is now a cardinal...........

Two ferns and a basked with the bromiliad..........  I did add a few silk flowers for color.........

Now to the back porch.........

It has just gathered spider webs and such since last fall........

It is past time to get it swept and arranged.....

I have the geranium in the wagon under the pergola......

Using the new plastic spray paint I painted this set black......  After I got it in place I realized I had missed a few places.......  I will get to that next week..........

I like the rocking chair under this window.....  I do need to repaint the table but I heard that shop nearby has one just like it.........  Lem and I plan to check on it today.....  I wouldn't mind having two......

The larger house plants are placed where they won't blow over in the wind.........

A nice conversational area...........

I put the table on the under pergola...... We spend more time sitting and talking so we don't need the table that much............  I am thinking about adding an umbrella to it and getting more chairs next year.......

Done..........

And last a picture of the Snake Plant or Mother-in-law Tongue.........  It had one bloom last year and this year it has five of them..........  I have never had success with house plants but since we have been here they are doing well...........

Today will be devoted to the house..........  Our contractor has asked if one of his clients can look at our home as an example of his work......... Today Lem and I will dust and vacuum, mop and wipe and get the inside looking good........  Hoping to get done in time to get to Jane's for blueberries............

Last Week

I keep trying to blog more often but life keeps getting in the way.......

Last week was dedicated to working with Georgina making gifts for the baby shower.....

We made 10 burp pads........  I found the pattern on Pinterest........  I did enlarge it a bit...........  Made it longer and wider........ They were easy to make but like everything else I fall short on figuring how long it actually takes to make something.

Another Pinterest pattern was for a changing pad...........  I made it larger too.  The pattern was 14 1/2 inches wide and I enlarged ours to 24 inches......  We used the new PUL fabric....   I have never worked with it before and found it to be much easier than I would have thought...........The bottom part is the pocket and the top part is flannel.........

It rolls up nicely and we even found buttons to match the fabric at JoAnns..........

Last were four diaper covers..........  Easy-Easy-Easy..........  You can get folded elastic and the pattern tells you where to stretch it to make the gathers......

Yes, this one was finished last because in my haste I sewed the velcro closing on the wrong side and had to pick it out......

Now as for yesterday.........  That was spent in the front yard all morning.........  I even got the grass cut.....

Came in, showered and Rebekah came with chicken salad sandwiches from Edwards Pharmacy.....

After eating I quickly stirred up a batch of brownies and put them in to bake..........  Marilyn has houseguest so the Monday Bunch met here............  Cassie and Rebekah were the attendees yesterday........  They left and then it was time to warm up the Taco soup Marilyn brought over Sunday for  us......

Now I am off to get the porches cleaned and swept and arrange the furniture on them............  I haven't done that yet this year and they really need cleaning..........  Birds sit on the front railing waiting for their chance at the bird feeder and leaving behind reminders of their stay on the railing.........  Frogs sit on the porch and leave traces of their visit to be cleaned too...............

Jason and Kim are coming over this afternoon with the baby to play in the water.........  Rebekah will be coming too.......  I might even fix lasagne for us for dinner tonight.........  Time will tell...........

A Wee Bit of Shopping.........

Georgina, Lem and I went shopping yesterday................  I found some fabric for pillows for Jean.....She sent DMC in the colors in her bedspread and this is the ONLY piece of fabric that would work......

Georgina's daughter is having a baby shower on Saturday and we decided to make a few things for gifts.......

I found patterns online for several things......  The first is a changing pad.....  It called for laminated cotton fabric.........  The selected theme for the baby's room is owls and look at what we found.....

This will be the first time I have used this type of fabric...........  We even found owl diaper pins and owl buttons...........

Burp pads are next................  Another online pattern and enough fabric for several.................

Then a couple of reversible receiving blankets.................

Georgina is working today so I will see just how much I can get done...............

A few things accomplished this weekend.........

I finally got the primer on the concrete acorn that Lem gave as an anniversary gift in March........  I even got it painted black but forgot to take that picture...........Now when Jason has time he will put it on top of the mailbox...........

This pin oak was a six inch twig last year with the acorn still attached........  It is two feet tall now......  I am going to enjoy watching it grow.........

At long last the garage portion of the front of the house is weeded and mulched.....

One side of the front is weeded and mulched..............

The last task is the other side of the front...... Lots of weeding to be done here.........

I did get one portion done this morning.........  Maybe on Wednesday I can get more done........

The slip is finished for Christening gown...............  Tomorrow I will be making some baby items for Georgina........... A good excuse to stay in and sew............VBG..........