Satisfying Little Projects

I have been tackling some little projects around the house and I have found such satisfaction in completing each one. 

Last week I decided that I had procrastinated long enough about repotting what the Mister had proclaimed was a jungle. I must admit that I did have a lot going on with my plants in the kitchen.

The first little project was to separate and repot my lemon/lime trees. I read where growing lemon trees is a fun endeavor and that it is simple to start a tree just by saving the seeds and letting them dry a bit before planting. So, I saved a few seeds from a lime and some from a lemon. I laid them on a paper towel on the counter to dry for a bit. Then, I bumped them and knocked the paper towel onto the floor, mixing the seeds. I was not deterred, I still planted them. I decided that it didn't really matter to me which was what and I would figure it out when and if they ever produced fruit. For now, I was just going to give the growing thing a try.

So, I put the handful of seeds into a small pot and set it near a window on the kitchen counter. Sure enough, a handful of little green leaves poked their heads out of the soil and began to grow up into tiny trees. One had gotten tall enough that it was a bit crowded under the cabinet. 

I didn't have many spare pots sitting around. So, I dug into a closet and found an old brass planter that had come from a thrifting adventure where I got several items for one price. So, I went off to the barn and found a plastic pot that would fit inside it and brought it to the house along with a few other plastic pots.

I'm hoping it will grow into a stately tree and be worthy of such a fancy pot. 

A couple of the other trees went into the plastic pots and I had a basket that fit around the outside of one of them to dress it up a bit. I'm still searching for something to hide the serviceable but not pretty pot. The remaining three little trees are in small pots and back onto the kitchen counter corner for now.

The other jungle that the Mister had pointed out was the dish garden that had been living on the dining table for a couple of years. 

The photo above shows how it looked last fall and it had grown even more. The tallest plant with leaves that are yellow in the center and green around the edges had fallen over and I feared it was a goner.

Again, I needed pots that look sort of nice and I had none. So, one day last week I stopped in at the local Goodwill store. I found a couple of nice pots and figured that would give me a pretty good start. One has a raised vine design around the top and an attached drip tray. The other did not have a saucer or drip tray but there just happened to be a square plate sitting nearby on the shelf. So, both pots came home with me.

In the pot that the Mister said looks sort of like a deep dish fudge pie, I replanted a Madagascar Dragon tree and a small little prayer plant.

There were two or three other prayer plants in the jungle. So, I put them into a blue and white pot.

The peace lily went back into the pretty green ceramic pot and is still gracing the center of the dining table. I've learned that I like having a live plant on the table and it serves as a nice center where I can add seasonal decor but also looks alive and welcoming on the daily.

The poor plant that laid over got put into the thrifted pot with a raised vine pattern. I staked it up with a small dowel rod and some raffia. I've learned that it is called a dieffenbachia or dumb cane and is a member of the peace lily family. I think the species I have is either Camille or Tropic Snow. I placed it where it was leaning away from the window in my office. I am telling myself that it is straightening up and moving itself toward the light of the window a little each day. Fingers crossed.

I saw on a plant care site that it can be propagated. So, I will give it a bit of time and if it doesn't straighten back up, I will give propagation a try.

I'm so glad I got the inspiration to visit the local Goodwill for my pots. While I was searching for plant names, I also learned that glazed ceramic pots like those sell online for anywhere from $20 to $70. I really got a deal, paying only $6 each and the additional plate that serves as a saucer on the brown glazed pot was $2. So, I got all of my planters for less than one that was advertised at the lowest price. Deal! Deal! I love getting a good deal! 

And I love having projects like repotting plants that help me to feel like I accomplished something worthwhile and have even more opportunities to spread greenery around our space. Little projects like that are so satisfying!

A Full Transformation!

Remember back in March when I was concerned about my purple violet that my son and his wife had gifted me? Remember that it had a baby plant that had grown in the same pot and pushed it aside? Remember that it had developed this weird stalk-like thing? Remember that the leaves looked sickly and curled? Just in case you don't remember, I included the photo below.

So, I ordered these nifty pots that are called self-watering African violet pots and broke the stalk thingy off and put it down into the dirt of one of those nifty pots. It looked a bit sad and the leaves and stems were all wilty and curled. Remember how that sad little parent plant looked in its nifty new blue pot? Just in case you don't remember, I included the photo below.

In about a month's time, the sad little wilty and curled leaves had transformed into a healthy looking plant. It was quite the violet transformation and I was smiling about it. I shared that I was excited and I thought the plant was too because it looked like its leaves were stretched out and reaching for the heavens. Just in case you don't remember, I included the photo below.

Well, this morning, I noticed that this same little sad, droopy, wilty-leaved, sad violet had continued to revive and even to thrive and it has started to bloom!

By the way, notice all the beautiful pink blooms nodding here and there on that beautiful pink violet beside it. Maybe it has been offering the little bedraggled next door friend some encouragement!

Just 3 Things | #32

This has been a full week of staying indoors and watching it rain. Each day has provided me with a short span of time to wander round on the porches with a cup of tea or bottle of water in hand and check out or deadhead my flowers. I'm continuing to battle with the critters but I'm hoping I'm starting to win a little bit. The remainder of the time we have spent indoors reading, watching television, and watching the raindrops fall. You know, these are really some of my favorite kinds of days!

- What I've Been Reading -

I've been reading through the notes and minutes from past Cemetery Association meetings. Not only have I been learning more about what the Mister's ancestors did within this community, but I've also learned a lot about the other people I've come to know who leave here. I've learned a lot about who is related to whom and what the originators of the community cemetery really seemed to have in mind as they were developing this little patch of the earth. I am astounded that the cemetery was begun as a family space back in the 1840s but there are so many recent developments that have only been in place for the past twenty years or so. The Mister's family started things off with their own family but later included many other close-by families in the development. I've been reading and learning about how the current record-keeping system was put into place and how the Mister's family has continually managed groundskeeping, tree trimming, and lots more. It has really been a window to this small community.

Then, the other day the Mister showed me a photo that was posted on social media and told me it was a photograph of his barber's son. Interestingly, his barber is the son of a guy we had a connection to because his father was in the dairy business when we were both growing up. I commented on the family resemblance of the young man to his ancestors and we quickly moved on to converse about something else.

Ironically, the same photo popped up in my social media feed a couple of days later. The young man, Carter, was being introduced as a local construction company was highlighting an employee of the week on social media. I clicked on the photo to read more about the young man and noticed that the company website showed a building that looked familiar. That building turned out to be the local Catholic school that was built a couple of years ago located right down the road from our house.

I dug a little deeper by clicking on the Who We Are tab at the top of the webpage and recognized the owner of the company. He was a former student! I remember him well and also recall teaching several other members of his extended family. 

It is so interesting what we can learn when we take a pause and read a little bit about what is going on in the world around us. Oftentimes we find out that we have multiple connections and really do live in a small world after all.

- What I've Been Working On -

I took a risk this week and tried something new with my new sewing machine. One of the things featured in the Embroidery Design Guide is an applique option. There are a few built in examples of small appliques. I tried a little daisy-like flower. I had read the Operation Manual when I first brought the machine home but I didn't use it for applique, yet, so that operation instruction just floated away in my brain somewhere. I had been seeing some examples of a combination of applique and embroidery and thought I'd like to create something for one of the grandchildren using that technique. So, I dove in and gave the simple example a try. 

The operation of the machine is such that the operator just threads the machine, touches a button, and watches it do it's thing. I am always fascinated by what it can turn out. In this particular case, I saw that it would stitch an outline of the design. First it did the blossom and stopped. Then, it did the leaves and stopped. A close look at the photo below shows the outline of the blossom stitched in red on the navy checked fabric.

Then, stitch a second outline. Finally, it would stitch a zigzag around the design. I figured that the first stitching sequence must be to outline where the design would be placed on the project like the photo above shows. So, taking some scraps of fabric out of one of my bins, I gave it a try. Stitching the outline of the design onto the fabric shows me what size and the location for the design.

After it stitched the placement outline stitch for the blossom, it would stitch a placement outline for the leaves. I cut a small rectangle of green and affixed it atop that outline stitching and pressed the go button. It then stitched another outline around the leaves. So, I took the hoop off and carefully trimmed the fabric as close to the stitching as possible and reattached the hoop. Next, it stitched the zigzag stitch around the outside of the leaves and then added the stem. The photo above shows how it looked when that was complete.

I layered the red print fabric on the navy check and added a little scrap of yellow right to the center. After pressing the go button, an outline stitch was added to form the center. So, I removed the hoop, trimmed the yellow fabric, and reattached the hoop.

This time, the machine stitched around the blossom petals. Again, I removed the hoop and this time I trimmed the red fabric before reattaching the hoop.

This time the machine zigzagged around the yellow center circle before doing the same around the flower blossom.

Notice that I changed thread colors to have green stitching on the green fabric and red on the flower blossom and center portions.

Finally, I changed the thread color one more time and upon pushing the go button, the machine stitched to add the details to the little flower. After I had watched and guessed one time, I followed the exact steps described and it took less than ten minutes to gather fabric, stitch, change threads, and complete the project. That night, I took the Operation Manual upstairs with me and read through it all again. I took the time to really examine the drawings and images that are included. The applique and embroidery technique was broken down into such simple steps that made what I was sewing even more simple than I thought. 

The learning curve here is a big one for me but I am really enjoying taking risks and trying new things with this machine. This is one of those cases where I needed to work through the steps, revisit the information I had available, and try it all again. As a teacher, I remember seeing this happen for my students quite frequently. 

Now, if I could figure out a simple, no-fail way to get the fabric in the hoop straight and taut. That remains to be the most frustrating part of each and every project I've attempted.

- What I've Been Loving -

As I have been practicing and learning with my new sewing machine, I have tried to create items that could actually be useful as well as beautiful. I've practiced monogramming cup towels and hand towels and beach towels. I've practiced on scraps of fabric that I am turning into pot holders or placemats. I'm sort of applying that waste not want not philosophy. I was chatting with my daughter the other day about different projects and how-tos and sharing what I'm learning because she is an expert in my mind. She has created and crafted such items and sold them. So, she has far more experience than me with this sort of project. I mentioned how I've expanded the size of some things and shrunk the size of others and how I've customized some of the pre-set designs that came with my machine and I think I am ready to venture out and try out some other designs. She suggested a couple of options I might want to look into.

Embroidery Design by StitchMonogram

Well that sent me W-A-Y down the rabbit hole into embroidery designs. I've looked at cottage shops on etsy and corporate connections from manufacturers. I've looked at flowers and fruits and vegetables and animals and all sorts of athletic sports themes. I've seen stitching on clothing and bags and caps and linens and wreath sashes and so many more beautiful projects. I think a person is only limited by their own imagination when it comes to these creations and I have really been loving looking at the different ideas, combinations, applications.

cocktail napkins by Leslie Saeta

Maybe I have been a bit distracted and haven't turned out much in the way of completed projects lately, but it has all been time well spent, I think. My ankle's Achilles tendonitis is improving, my inspiration collections has grown, and my creative thinking has sort of gone into overdrive. I think our weather forecast for the next few days is rain, rain, and more rain. So, I am anticipating plenty of time for more browsing or maybe even giving some of the ideas a try. 

Battling the Critters

I always thought of myself as an animal lover.

I have discovered that I really am not.

Oh, I like a friendly dog. I'm up for watching cute little goats jump around in a barn lot. I admire the beauty of a fast and flashy horse. I prize a well grown and groomed market lamb in a show ring. I like seeing the gentle cows in the pastures. So, I guess technically, I am an animal lover.

Technically, I just don't like rodents of any kind and I am not a reverent birder. I don't know whether to refer to these as critters, vermin, or just a plain nuisance. 

I'm still tying reflective ribbons on my truck to scare those pesky things away. I am still having to drive through the car wash about once per week, though. GRRRR!!!

As for the rodents, I've begun to battle with them as well. This time it is not with traps in the house. This time the battle is taking place outside. Chipmunks or squirrels have had free run of our yard. We have several oak trees and it is a haven for them. They gather up acorns and munch on them and store them away. They scamper around in the grass and up the trees. At times, I've even seen them scamper across the porch or along the fence rail. To me, these animals are all just rats wit a fur coat. I am not a fan at all!

Recently, they have been being pesky on our porch. Remember all the flower pots I worked so hard to fill? Well, these squirrels and chipmunks seem to think those were placed on the porch for their enjoyment. 

They dug into the trough and pots that I have near the basement entry and dug up some of my newly sprouted seedlings. 

They've also scratched potting soil out of my porch pots as they were digging holes. They threw some of the soil onto the porch and window sills. I have not been a happy camper. 

I have declared to battle them and keep them out of my plants. My first step has been to use an additive to prevent them from digging in the soil of my pots and trough. I simply sprinkled a bit of crushed red pepper flakes atop the soil in each container.

All of my flower pots sort of look as if they have some sort of top-dressing on them. We shall see how effective this remedy is. I am determined to battle these critters and not let them win! Stay tuned for a special report at a later date.

Just 3 Things | #31

When I went to physical therapy this week, both days I left with my leg/ankle feeling better than when I arrived and that was a first for me. In the past, I went in feeling sore and left feeling sore as well. Now, that is not saying that I wasn't a little gimpy later in the day but I can truly say that I believe we have been making some progress. Finally.

- What I've Been Watching -

The Mister and I haven't been watching so much lately. I did notice that the television at the physical therapy facility is always on, however. Both days this week it was tuned to a food show. I don't know the name of the program but I noticed that it was some sort of competition and the competing chefs were provided with a couple of ingredients and were expected to whip up some sort of delicacy using those ingredients. I didn't get to see much of the program because, well, therapy. However, what I did notice, is that it seemed much like being in my kitchen at home. 

One time I heard the commentator reveal the required ingredients: Soy Sauce and Prawns. Then, the chefs had a matter of minutes to create a dish. They could go to a central pantry and get other ingredients to add to their required items but it certainly wasn't like going shopping for groceries with a recipe and gathering everything to make a gourmet dish. I thought about that show again when I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner last night. I saw: Pork Loin and Potatoes. Then, I could go to the fridge or the pantry and find a few meager additions but I needed to whip up something delicious for our own gourmet meal. It sort of feels like that every night. What two ingredients do I have to get things started and what sort of additives do I have to pull everything together? Sometimes the offerings are plentiful and sometimes they are a bit sketchy. Sometimes the ideas are well inspired and sometimes they are a bit lackluster. 

- What I've Been Loving -

I am continuing to practice with my new sewing machine and it has been turning out some fun projects. Bonnie has a birthday coming up and they recently added a small backyard pool. So, I took that idea and ran with it. I found some colorful beach towels and added some colorful stitching. They turned out to make for a fun gift!

This time I tried out different built-in fonts and added names in contrasting and funky colors. I'm still struggling with hooping heavier fabrics like those towels. I've used my new magnetic hoops but I find that I have to watch it closely or the magnets will cause the machine to jump around and not stitch in the correct spot. I have come to the conclusion that hooping is the most difficult part of machine embroidery. 

- What I've Been Working On -

I spent a couple of afternoons filling flower pots. We have a deck that runs the length of the house along the back side. We have it broken up into different sections or rooms, if you will. 

One area has a cushioned sofa, a chaise lounge, a couple of chairs, and a rocking settee with a few tables and a ceramic garden stool forming a sitting area.

Another couple of areas serve as a space for grilling and dining. In the middle is an oval table near the smoker and the grill and in the most southern end is a round table and chairs.

I like to add some life to the area by having flowers in containers. Last summer I bought some matching pots to give everything some cohesiveness. There are twelve-inch pots on the two dining tables and four sixteen-inch pots in the sitting area. 

I also have a plant stand in the seating area and a couple of pottery pots. and there are a couple of concrete pots holding succulents and a couple of blue and white ceramic pots flanking the door. That makes for a lot of pots to fill on the back porch. 

Typically, I am kind of a pink and blue flower gal. The Mister brought home my requested rosemary plants and a beautiful Verbena hanging basket that needed repotting. He said, "I thought this looked like something you might pick for the porch!" So, I put it in a larger pot and placed it in the plant stand. When I left home to go to the garden center, my plan was to build off of that for the back porch. However, there were these beautiful geraniums in smaller pots that were a real bargain. So, I gravitated to a red/white/blue theme instead of my usual. 

The larger pots have a red geranium, blue salvia, white lantana, and blue bacopa in them. The Mister also brought home a cilantro plant. So, a glazed blue clay pot on the table became its home.

On the oval dining table, I planted part of the rosemary and some sort of trailing blue plant that looks a bit like bacopa. 

The front porch got dressed up with plants as well. 

On the milk can placed to the left of the front door, I set the beautiful petunias from Levi, Easton, and Abby Lee and their parents. The gift from Luci, Lydia, Lillie and their parents, a red geranium in the terra cotta pot, set on the milk can to the right of the door.

I filled the terra cotta pots on the steps with a red geranium, blue salvia, and white verbena. I also picked up a couple of bird nest ferns and put them into a couple of blue pots and set them right beside the milk cans on the edge of the rug.

I just love the spring plantings and how cheerful it looks after filling all the containers on our porches!

Now that my planting has added a touch of the patriotic mood around here, I guess I need to pull out the bunting and tie it to the fence and porch for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Do you have any plans for remembering and honoring our fallen soldiers?

Just 3 Things | #30

This week seems to be full of blossoms and blessings! My pink African Violets have been blooming their hearts out! About a month ago I had that promise from one and it has burst forth with those promised blooms. This is one of the baby plants that I separated and moved the pot to my office. That linked photo really didn't have me anticipating that it would become this beautiful. Granny's eyes would be twinkling with smiles if she could see it now.

The parent plant has also bloomed and both of them are really beautiful right now. It is hard to believe that the original plant was just a little thing that was part of a basket with several plants that was delivered to Granny's funeral back in 2014. That little violet has brought a smile to my face many times over the years. This past week had several sorts of flowers bring me smiles.

- What I've Been Loving -

Last weekend saw me counting my many blessings. I spent a couple of hours visiting with my Mama. We got caught up on what all has been going on in the small town where she and her husband live - a couple of their favorite Mom and Pop restaurants have closed. One had a bit of gossip attached to it with the mother-in-law holding ownership of the building but the daughter-in-law and her son were divorcing so that meant the end of the Meat and Three. Then, there was a fire on the last day of business and it seems somebody went to jail. While the story was eyebrow raising, I do hate that the joint closed as the food was good and it was close by to Mom's house for a quick and delicious meal. Maybe a new operator will occupy the space soon. Fingers crossed.

Then, on Sunday morning, the grands who live next door made a delivery of a beautiful pot of flowers and stayed for about a half hour to sit and chat. I learned about their upcoming field day and rewards day and a field trip. I also learned who thinks they know all about things and who thinks about all the things and who really knows about all the things. We chatted and enjoyed our front porch rocking and visiting for a good twenty minutes before the eldest remembered that he had left the ATV idling in the back. Whoops! They scrambled around to the back yard and piled into the ATV and off up the hill they rode. I'm still smiling when I think about all of that!

My daughter and most of her family visited after lunch. They also came in bearing blooms. Their terra cotta pot held a beautiful and vibrant red geranium. Their visit revealed that the two younger girls still have the dregs of school to finish out their year. Then, one will start her summer job as a concessionaire at the local pool and the other will wrap up softball season and have volleyball camp. The eldest was working hard for her money at their local Tractor Supply Company. So, I'm guessing the days will not be a big change for her grown up self. The Mister and I enjoyed their visit and catching up on all that they have going on. 

The next crew through the door was my son and his family. They delivered a beautiful floral flag and then, we got the down low about the baseball tournament that the eldest had played in on the previous day. We also learned from him that having dad as a coach is not always a bad thing - other coaches can be harder to play for according to his insight. We also got to see a picture and hear a bit about the newest girlfriend. We learned that she, "checks all the boxes," and even has little sister's stamp of approval. The youngest let us know that she had achieved high scores by reading loads of books during her school year and she had to show me her newest book series that she is working through. The concession stand at the ball park had suffered for business the previous day, I'm sure. She had opted to stay with her Granny and they took flowers to the cemeteries to honor loved ones that had gone on to their rewards. Granny's snack supply might have a big dent in it, though, because she was chillin' with a coverlet, a book, and something to nibble and something to sip when she was picked up to go home. The Mister and I were glad to have the shared time and get all the updates from their busy lives as well.

Like any self-respecting parent and grandparent, the visits are cherished and their time for us is really appreciated. There is nothing as precious as time spent together and the opportunity to see and visit with family. 

- What I've Been Reading -

When I read The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, I made a mental note to see if the author had something else I might want to read. Then, one of my lists that offers reading suggestions and discounts listed The Summer Before the War as a suggestion. I've barely started this one but I already recognize the author's style and why I enjoyed that first period novel. I will warn you that I can already tell another of her books will soon join my want-to-read stack. I visited the author webpage and read the About page and I think I can understand why I feel a kinship to her. Simonson states, "If you are looking for overnight success, writing may just be the slowest possible route – but as a woman who did not publish until the age of forty five, I hope I am living proof that it is never too late to follow your passion, or find a new vocation." 

via

I've always been a reader and a writer. As I told my children last Sunday, I don't think I can ever remember a single day in my lifetime that I didn't yearn to read and maybe not a day when I didn't read as well. Like Simonson, I also started my career, that of an educator, later in life. So, maybe that has made us kindred spirits, as Anne of Green Gables might say. 

- What I've Been Working On -

I wouldn't really call it work but I guess it took the place of work I could have been doing... I played with my new sewing machine to try out the different embroidery motifs. I ordered some cup towels and some hand towels and thought that might make good gifts. The cup towels are the very basic kind that have a blue stripe woven in that runs down both sides and the fabric has a sort of flour sack feel to it.

Blue E Monogrammed Cup Towel

I started with the same alphabet that I had used for the napkins that I began my learning journey with. It is a beautiful alphabet and looks really pretty on something simple like these cup towels. I used the primary colors that I originally bought as my crayon box of thread colors. This project became a Mother's Day gift for my Mama. She is the one who taught me that even practical things can be pretty.

E Monogrammed Cup Towel with Flowers

The second cup towel that I did for her used a different alphabet and I think it just looks like something she would love. She has always loved and nurtured flowers in her yard and she has always featured floral designs in her home decor. This one just looks like a bouquet. I used the guide that came with the book and those recommended colors. I love how it turned out and that really helped me to see that a variety of colors could be used with this alphabet to show off different seasons or different room colorways.

Erwin Cup Towel with Fall Flowers

I liked this flower motif and used the recommended colors suggested by the guide that came with the machine. I think it looks sort of fall-ish but those colors would be pretty in any season. I learned to move the design around within the hoop. I scooted the design down near the bottom of the hoop. Then, I moved it up an inch or so. That left me room to use one of the simple alphabets and add the name below the flowers. So, this project was a fun teaching tool as well as a creative outlet that I could share with my mom.

Tone on Tone E Monogrammed Hand Towel

For the hand towels, I figured she might use those in one of her bathrooms. So, I kept the colors very basic and simple to work in any of the baths in her house. I am a lover of white towels with an ecru or tan monogram. However, Mama tends to like tans and ecrus. So, I got some tan terry cloth towels and used an ecru thread for the stitching. This is the same alphabet as the first cup towel. I just stopped and didn't add the flowers.

Basic E Monogrammed Hand Towel

For this second option, I used the alphabet that I had used for writing out the name on the cup towel with the lilies. I learned to enlarge the lettering. So, when writing a name, I used the pre-programmed letter size. However, for this hand towel, I bumped up the size to the largest possible size. 

Block Letter E Monogrammed Hand Towel

For the final hand towel, I used the block alphabet that had all of the flowers interwoven like the cup towel with the turquoise letter and multicolored flowers shown above on the cup towel. Again, I just stopped the machine and didn't add any flowers to this one. The simplicity of it, yet, the boldness of the block lettering seems to capture a classic look to me.

Practicing on these towels helped to build my confidence and taught me several different things about my new machine. I probably could sit with it every single day and create something different using the simple pre-programmed designs. Plus, it is so fun to just touch the buttons and watch it go to work stitching something that turns out beautiful! So, I wouldn't really call this work - maybe it fits into that old saying, "Find something you really love and it won't feel like work."

The Mister has brought home a beautiful pink geranium, some Cilantro and Rosemary plants, and a bag of potting soil that I requested. So, I'm off to the back porch to begin filling some of my empty pots. My gimpy leg has made me have a late start on planting this year. I have sowed some Zinnia seeds in an old trough near the basement door and I noticed that several of them have green leaves that have surfaced. So, I'm excited about that. 

I hope your weekend is blooming with good things that bring big smiles to your face. Happy Friday!

Today I noticed...The promise of a violet's blooms makes me happy.

This is a violet baby. I separated it from the parent that came in a dish garden that was sent to my Granny's funeral. There were other plants in the basket with it and after a while they needed their own space. The parent violet had beautiful pink blooms - one of my Granny's favorite colors. So, I always refer to it as my Granny violet. 

I separated the baby from the parent a couple of years ago and neither plant has bloomed since. I left the parent plant in front of the same window in our bedroom where the photo above was made. The baby plant came downstairs and is set on the front of my desk. I've watered it religiously and monitored it's growth. Each time I see it and the parent plant, I think of my Granny.

My Granny was a woman with a green thumb. She could grow most anything and her plants generally thrived. When I was a young woman, Granny had loads of African violet plants. She even set up a grow space with fluorescent lights in the basement of their home at one time. She had all sorts with different leaf shapes and bloom colors and styles. Some were frilly and looked like they had ruffled leaves. Some were pale pink, some were lavender, some were so dark purple that they were almost black. I loved seeing all the different kinds. She would tell visitors all about the different plants and often would gift them with one. I remember keeping some in the windows of our basement apartment when I was wrapping up my Bachelor's degree from The University of Tennessee. 

Granny died twelve years ago during the month of April and I still miss her twinkling blue eyes, smiles, and southern drawl. So, when I came downstairs today and sat down to do a little work, I was excited to notice that this violet has pushed up several buds that will bloom soon. That makes me so happy! 

Just 3 Things | #20

Somehow, somewhere along the way I clicked a box and now I get a daily email. I don't know where the offer came from. I don't know why I got it. I cannot figure it out. But, I'm glad I did it. 

I know.

Aren't you shocked at that? Most of the time all those first statements are followed by grumbling and grousing and asking for a way to make it go away. Most of the time there are complaints about the annoying spam email that clogs up the in-box. Most of the time something like that is a real pain in the you-know-where.

But not this time.

I'm actually really glad about it. If you are a Kindle user, I recommend that you simply do a web search for Kindle Daily Deals or Top Kindle Deals or something of that nature and see if you are led to a page where there are a list of discounted titles. These are not titles that you would never in a million years pick out even if you knew you were going to be stranded and terribly bored and desperate for something to read either. These are some really good reads.

There's fiction and non-fiction and science fiction and historical fiction and biographies and comics and cookbooks and children's titles and...well, I think you get the idea. There are usually multiple titles that are priced at $1.99. Y'all, that's less than two dollars. Those are thrift store book prices and yard sale hardback prices. Some of the titles are priced higher than that, of course, but are still a deal. I mean DEALS are to be had. 

When I was poking around and trying to figure out how I could recommend that you join this mailing list, but couldn't figure it out, I did notice that there is also an option to choose Print Books. So, if that is your preference, there is that option. At a glance, I didn't notice any listed at the low prices of eBooks but, then again, there is a cost for paper and covers and ink and publishing. So, there's that. I noticed percentages of discount ranging from 20% to 80% off and that means there are DEALS.

To me, a book lover of the craziest kind, I feel like I am part of that 'in-crowd' and getting sneak peaks and insider information when I get those emails. Of course, there are times when my virtual book shelf feels a little bit full and I could get overwhelmed with all the titles waiting for me to dig in. On those days, I give myself permission to just skim whatever is offered on the list and delete the email if nothing jumps out to bite me. See, I do have a measure of restraint!

- What I've Been Reading -

One of the books that was recently a part of this offering is what I am currently reading. The title is Florence Gordon and it is written by Brian Morten. I'm only about half-way done with this book but I'm truly enjoying it and I probably would not have noticed it if I were not a part of this mailing list.

I think the description is probably what sold me on this book. It just really grabbed me for some reason:

Meet Florence Gordon, a blunt, brilliant feminist. At seventy-five, Florence wants to be left alone to write her memoir and shape her legacy. But when her son and his family come to visit, they embroil Florence in their dramas, threatening her coveted solitude. Marked with searing wit, sophisticated intelligence, and a tender respect for humanity, Florence Gordon is cast with a constellation of unforgettable characters. Chief among them is Florence herself, who can humble fools with a single barbed line, but who eventually finds that there are some realities even she cannot outwit.

It might have grabbed me because I wondered if maybe I am a 'Florence Gordon.' Well, I'm learning that no, I am not - completely. But there are times when I really would like to be. Plus, while some of the described characteristics are not all that flattering, she really does have some glowing qualities to be admired.

I am enjoying this title and I've done some highlighting and note-making using my Kindle App. I'm even jotting down notes and ideas on sticky notes sometimes. I know - old school. One of the passages that really has stopped me in my tracks is an exchange between Florence and her granddaughter following a protest meeting at the local university. Florence had an exchange with her granddaughter. To summarize, there was a bit of a ruckus and police cars arrived. The granddaughter starts the exchange by asking a question:

"Starbucks now?" Emily said. 

"This is why we're here," Florence said. "To make sure the cops don't get out of hand."

"Are you sure that's possible?"

"Of course not. But sometimes it's amazing what a sobering effect an old lady can have. "particularly an old lady with a cane." 

What a powerful statement. It stopped me in my tracks and I've had to go back and read the entire chapter several more times. And...I have wished I knew of somebody else reading this book so I could have a conversation about that section and particularly that statement. It makes me wonder, is there ever a time when something I have said or done has had a sobering effect simply because I am an old lady? Will there ever be a time when I am that sobering effect? When have I witnessed such an example of a sobering effect? What was going on and how did it impact me?

- What I've Been Working On -

This week I've tackled a couple of simple projects that involved my sewing machine. Boy! Do I need a new sewing machine! But that is a subject for another day. 

I had a few rips and tears that needed some repair, a hem that needed restitching, and a sort-of-simple project I'd agreed to do for my son. He had a chair that is hauled around to the ball parks that has seen a lot of miles and a lot of ball-park hours. The back had simply ripped away from the support pieces. They don't always need that chair because he is usually coaching the team and Harris is usually playing in the game and Linley is usually playing with her friends and Jessica has another chair. However, sometimes one of them needs a place to perch between games or something and it is good to have the second chair. He asked if I might be able to make a simple slip-on, director's chair type back for it and I agreed to give it a try. He picked up some fabric and brought it to me.

After I did some tidying and organizing of the sewing corner of my office/workroom, I sat to catch my breath and gave the fabric and chair some thought about how best to tackle this project. Soon, I had a plan and dove right in. The fabric has a canvas-type feel on one side and a rubbery-type backing. I didn't want the backing to show and didn't want to have a lot of pressing and seam finishing. So, I decided to do a self-lined strip that folds over on either end and slides onto the support pieces.

I had ordered some upholstery needles for my machine and I am so glad that I did. The new needle slid right through the thickness of the heavy-duty fabric and made the job so much easier than trying to use a regular needle and get through a couple or three thicknesses of the fabric. The project went smoothly and didn't take long at all to complete. So, that was a happy win as well!

I sent a couple of photos to my son of the completed project and told him that there is fabric left over. He asked if I could make another just like it because the other chair they have is sort of on its last gasp. So, I stitched up a second one in less than half the time. It feels so good to have a project that is simple, goes quickly and smoothly, and complete!

-What I've Been Loving -

These warm, sunny days that we've been having lately have been so very nice. It just brightens my soul - even as I am peering out at it and coughing. I've found that, as I age, I really look forward to spring more and more. One of the harbingers of spring has always been the blooming of the daffodils and forsythia. I was out for a while yesterday and really enjoyed seeing all the cascading forsythia in different yards. Each spring I tell myself that I wish we had a forsythia hedge somewhere. Then, I pause and remember that the beautiful season is short-lived and then it just looks like any other bush or bramble. Still...

Daffodils have always held a special place in my heart. I recall that as a little girl, both my grandmothers had rows of daffodils lining the walkway up toward their front door. Theirs were thick borders and were great for hiding those hard multi-colored candy-coated marshmallow eggs during egg hunts. Then, my mother unearthed a rock walkway in front of our house when I was a bit older and lined it with daffodils, too. So, my children got the egg hunt experience as well.

After I moved here, my beloved father-in-law and I were chatting on the porch one spring afternoon and I mentioned how much I enjoyed seeing the beautiful daffodils. There was a little clump in the field in front of their home and he told me to go dig me up a few bulbs and put them where I could see them each spring and enjoy them. So, I did.

I put a couple of bulbs at the foot of our front porch steps. They've come up every year and had a bloom or two but this year they really have upped their game and look like little rays of sunshine.

I chuckled at how one of the clumps on the side of the steps has been shifted a little and looks like it is peeking out from under the yew bush. It probably got dug up by a mulcher and then just tossed back into the mix.

I put a handful of bulbs in the bed across the driveway at the back of the house. They have proliferated and really look pretty. I see them from a little different angle than this as I am looking out the window while washing dishes in the kitchen. Again, a burst of sunshine! I also think of my father-in-law and miss our little chats and secret shares of sweet breads. The daffodils have sort of helped me to enjoy the sunny, warm days in two different ways and I've been loving it! I hope your days have had some sunshine and maybe a daffodil or forsythia smile or two as well!