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Whew!

It’s been a long Autumn. I’ve had numerous health problems–nothing life-threatening, just really intrusive and annoying. So I’m running way, way behind on my blogging. I’ve been thinking about it, though. 

Speaking of running behind, my dear granddaughter’s eighth birthday was December 30 and my Christmas gift to her had become a birthday gift for her and it was still late. I finally finished it on January 1. She got to wear it finally and loves it. She’s been in it twice when I’ve seen her and my daughter posted a video of her in it, twirling in the driveway.  She’s finally learned to walk in it without tripping on the skirt, which is a bit long, but she’s growing like a weed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is made from the Seraphina pattern from Violette Field Threads. There are so many gathers! I think it turned out pretty well considering-considering I was taking prednisone and had been awake for three days with only short naps and one one-hour sleep-considering this is the poufiest dress I’ve ever made. There are 12 yards of tulle in the underskirt. Three layers of skirt. It is glorious. 

Seraphina comes in an everyday version and this special occasion version. It has two styles of sleeves and two bodice styles. It’s a wonderful pattern and I will probably make it again. Maybe the everyday version next time. 

In the meantime, my orchids are in rare form this winter. I have two in bloom and three more with flower spikes! I’ve never had this many bloom before! I feel like I’ve really accomplished something, although these phalaenopses are fairly easy to grow. 

 

 

 

 

 

This little rosy one is usually in a terrarium-like container with a lid, but the flower spike is too tall for it so I improvised a lid with Press n Seal wrap. I cut a slit from the edge to the center for the spike.

 

My dendrobium aggregatum is loving the driftwood that I put in on. Its roots are actually going all the way through the wood and are coming out the sides. Whee!

 

This is one of my succulents, Huernia thuretii I believe. I’ve never seen it bloom before and I’m overjoyed. Three blossoms.

 

 

 

I’ve neglected to post any pictures of the semi-finished pond. Here is the almost finished version from early fall. More pictures later after the waterfall is done. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Spring!

I feel that Spring has finally, really arrived here in East Tennessee. I have been wearing my sandals and flipflops. It’s been cold and warm, cold and warm here lately. I’ve had a lot of breathing problems, especially since I caught a Spring cold and got a sinus infection to go along with it. And, again, I coughed until I got laryngitis. I feel like my life just now is only doctors, medicines and staying inside the house. 

 

 

Oh, I long to spend hours outside watching the flowers and birds and squirrels. We are blessed to have our couple of acres back onto a field and about 200 acres of woods. We have so many wonderful animals here. We have a flock of wild turkeys that occasionally come into the yard to forage and regularly see deer in our patch of woods. All sorts of birds, year-round residents and migrators. There are chipmunks, frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, foxes, coyotes, an occasional bobcat and many, many others. 

 

Wild Turkeys

My husband keeps the lake access area across the road from us clear of kudzu as best he can. If you stand still long enough here, kudzu will cover you. It is a scourge. So he fights it every year. It isn’t his job, but he is a little hyper and loves doing it–”cleaning out.”

He found some small plants that he couldn’t identify. He drove me down there as we were starting to town to pick up my new nebulizer and I used the little app called Picture This on my phone to find out what it was. From the way he had described it I thought it might be Squawroot, but no, it was Virginia Pennywort. So cute! Sort of like a blooming pinecone but much softer. They were scattered all through the leaf carpet. And across the parking space were several yellow trilliums. 

Virginia Pennywort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, my dendrobium aggregatum is going wild. All the blossoms are open and it is glorious.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you can go outside and see the glories of Spring. Let me know how your adventures go.

 

Miss Marple’s Hat

I’m a mystery addict. I love all mysteries, but I’ll always go with an Agatha Christie if there is one available. So, when I found the BBC Miss Marple series, of course, I tuned in. I was into the show, but then

               BAM

There it was.

This little dusty-blue felt hat that just blew me away. Sitting there on Miss Jane Marple’s head. The details are wonderful. I tried to get a good picture of it by photographing the TV with my camera phone. You probably know how that goes. TV screens and cameras don’t mix very well. I did manage to get the vague idea recorded. It’s a good thing I knew the plot already because I lost all focus on the show. All I could do was hope I would see that hat in upcoming scenes. Luckily she wears it quite often. See, Miss Marple thinks it’s wonderful too! 

I WANT TO MAKE ONE! I WANT TO MAKE ONE FROM FELT AND I WANT TO FORM IT AND PUT THE REVERSE SCALLOP EDGE ON IT AND LITTLE PERFORATIONS IN THE POINTS AND THE CUTE BOW THINGY.

I’m not sure I have that skill set quite yet, but I really want to make that little hat! And even though I may lack some skills, I will apply myself to MAKING THAT HAT! 

I won’t get to wear it because I look horrible in low crowns like this one, but the fun is in the creation, right? I’ll keep you updated on the process. Keep your fingers crossed.