Two-Word Tuesday: Off-Line

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to let you know I will not be posting for a couple of weeks.  Getting ready for our trip to Canada.  Looking forward to sharing fun things from Canada with you when I return.  Take care.

From My Favorite Blogs - Container Gardening

Dawn at Joyful Scribblings has another post I would like to share.  I think this is marvelous, and since the majority of my gardening is container gardening it's perfect for me.  Thanks, Dawn!

Container Gardening Part 1

2013 MAY 15

5 COMMENTS

by dawn

One of Miki’s pots by her beautiful pool

Now that we are hopefully out of the woods in terms of snow and freezing temperatures it’s time to start thinking about planting flowers. Container gardening is a lot like decorating your home.  There are several things you need to consider:

• What are your needs?  Are you trying to screen out an undesirable view?
• What type of pot do you want to use?
• What colors do you like?
• What color and style is your house?
• Consider mixing in different types of textures.
• Plant in odd numbers.  Use three, five or seven types of plants per pot.
• Mix heights of plants.
• Just as you would have a focal point in your home, use the same approach in your yard.  Have one large pot or group pots in arrangements to add more interest.  You could even add other accessories to your grouping such as a stone sculpture.

I consulted my friend and Master Gardener, Miki who has spent many hours learning about horticulture through the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension program.  They only accept 30 people per year and require  students to perform 40 hours of community service every year .  Miki volunteers at theArboretum which has container gardens on display from various groups until this Sunday, May 19.  The tips in this post come from information she learned through the extension program.

Arboretum Container Garden

According to Miki, a common mistake people make is using too small of a pot.  The soil drys up quickly from the sun and wind and requires more watering. All pots need drainage holes.  You can use a coffee filter or newspaper to prevent potting mix from falling out.  Use a professional potting mix which can be found at places like Lowe’s, Home Depot or a gardening center.  Also be sure to fertilize your soil 1 to 3 times per summer with Miracle Grow or some other type of fertilizer.  This is a step I normally skip, but I mainly plant succulents because they require less watering. You can read about my love for succulentshere.   When selecting a pot there are pros and cons for different styles of pots.

• Terra-cotta pros- classic, attractive, affordable, beautiful patina with age
  cons- heavy, fragile, porous (needs extra watering), cracks in winter
• Plastic pros- lightweight, durable, affordable
  cons- less attractive, blows over in wind
• Ceramic pros- attractive, many colors
  cons- fragile, costly, often no drainage
• Wood pros- affordable, can build yourself
  cons- decays, not as attractive
• Fiberglass pros- lightweight, mimics natural materials
  cons- costly
• Hypertufa pros- popular look, can make yourself
  cons- heavy, cracks in winter

When you are choosing colors of flowers take into consideration the colors in your home.  If you can see the flowers from inside your home, you may want to choose similar tones so that it flows.  Generally, choose two main colors and one accent for your pot.

• Harmonious- different shades of one color or hues next to each other on the color wheel
• Contrasting- colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel
• Warm- colors such as red, orange and yellow which add drama. (these are the colors I mainly use) Orange is a popular color this year.
• Cool- colors such as blue and purple and pastels which are more relaxing
• Silver- foliage harmonizes with all colors and tones down hot colors while enhancing cool ones
• White – white flowers show up better at night

Miki had so much great information to share that I thought it would be best to do so in two separate posts.  Tomorrow I will cover the process of selecting and planting your flowers and plants.

Something New-Tatting

Tatting

Have you ever tried tatting?
 I haven't....at least not yet.
Since I already enjoy so many needle arts it seems natural to me that I would want to try something new every now and then.  This time it's tatting.  I am most intrigued with tatted jewelry.  With it's lace like look, tatted jewelry is feminine, maybe a bit Victorian looking, a bit bohemian and a
great way to wear art.

According to Wikipedia, tatting "...is formed by a pattern of rings and chains formed from a series of cow hitch or half-hitch knots, called double stitches (ds), over a core thread."
Well OK...let's see what that looks like...

I think it's really pretty and I can never have enough jewelry.

I have purchased a few supplies and a tatted jewelry instruction book.  After looking through the book, I can see that I will be purchasing some additional supplies in order to complete my jewelry.

 I'm planning on making this new needle art my project for our upcoming trip to Canada.  Since I will have a lot of down time in the car, I might as well make the best use of that time by creating something new.  And I usually have time in the evenings while we are there when I can work on my latest project.
Maybe I'll even get my step-daughter and granddaughter interested in learning!

I'll share pictures with you when I have some completed items.

Wordless Wednesday

Two-Word Tuesday

Crochet Instructions (part one)

My grandmother taught me to crochet, it's a memory I will cherish all my life.  I can still remember sitting on the couch or on the floor watching her with her crochet thread and small sized metal crochet hook, mesmerized by how quickly she created beautiful row after row for a table cloth, bedspread or edging for pillows, tea towels, dresser scarves and handkerchiefs.  

As most beginners do, I worked on single crochet over and over...until I crocheted a chain several feet long.  And then the thrill of learning how to turn and do a second row.  I have no idea how much left over yarn I used up practicing, making mile long rectangles!

I'm including some printed instructions for beginning crochet.  The most important thing to remember is consistency in tension, getting the stitches to be as uniform as possible. 

Practice, practice, practice.  I will share more crochet tips in future posts.

Where Do I Begin?

I have a birthday coming up this week...let's say I'm fairly certain I've already lived the first half of my life.  And that's ok, it's what I do with the rest that intrigues me...

I have a lot of dreams, desires and hope for tomorrow and all the tomorrows I may enjoy.  There are a few things I wish I had done differently, but at this point it doesn't really matter.  I'm here and I'm ready to write several more chapters.

I figure it's never too late to be healthier and more fit so I have embarked on a wellness program.  I've been stumbling a bit, but I will continue, taking little steps along the way that will eventually add up to a whole lot of improvement.

My family is my number one priority.  Always has been and always will be.  They are the reason I get up each day and more forward with plans to better myself.  I owe them the best me I can be.  Without their love and support I would lost.

I love to craft.  I love to write.  I love music. I love Mother Nature. I would not know how to get from morning to night without visiting with the "creative" me for a few hours.  It is how I breathe.  Some may find it odd that I would take on developing a home business at my age, I should be retiring in a few years.  No, I don't think so.  I feel that my best work is still to come and I long to dive into it head first.  Work continues on my craft room/space and I am constantly finding new ways to use the talents my DNA has given me.  My crochet, knitting, sewing, journaling, jewelry design & scrapbooking will travel with me until my last breathe.  The music in me accompanies and soothes with every step I take.  And words, oh my, words never cease to amaze, confound and delight me as they tumble across the page expressing my innermost thoughts, dreams, desires and hopes as well as the demons, 

the fears and the failures.

Turning 63 may be daunting to some.  To me, it's just the beginning of a long and wondrous journey.  My hand is outstretched in friendship; I hope you will journey with me from time to time.

Sunday Thoughts to Ponder

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day, we all need good wishes and happiness..

"Succes in not final,

failure is not fatal;

it is the courage to continue that counts."

-Winston Churchill

Wordless Wednesday

I love the colors.

Incredible Journey....

Two-Word Tuesday

Pinterest Obsession

Ok, I'm obsessed with Pinterest.  I was intrigued from the moment I heard about it.  And now, well I can't stop pinning!  If I know I need to do something else, I dare not even open Pinterest, because I will spend hours, browsing, pinning, looking through old pins, finding new ones, looking for more people to follow, trying to find great new things to pin, cleaning up my boards, making new boards....well you can see how the minutes tick by into hours.  I have so many things pinned that I want to try, if I never pinned anything new after today, I would have enough to carry me through another life time!

Here are a few of my favorite pins, in no particular order.

Perfectly Beautiful

Paul Lynde, so funny.  Miss his quick wit!

All time favorite

Love This

Wish I had the nerve to do something like this

Awesome

Where Do I Begin

...Part Two...

The Necklace

I have finished the necklace I started for my friend Debbie...wanted to share it with you.  I have many left over beads and I think I will make her a pair of earrings to match.

Sunday Thoughts to Ponder

Turn Up the Volume

I've been out of sync with my blog...don't exactly know what's happened.  I've been experiencing some down time in my artistic endeavors as well, guess I've been going through a dry spell.  That happens, but the creative juices are starting to "bubble" up again and I feel a surge of activity coming on!

We have a trip planned for the end of this month to Canada to visit with my husband's family.  We will be staying with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.  We are so excited.  We will be driving, takes about 14-15 hours depending on how many stops we make.  We usually pack sandwiches, fun snacks and drinks so the majority of the stops are for gasoline and the bathroom!  We have made this drive at least a dozen times.  Yes, we could fly, but we actually enjoy the time on the road and then having our own car when we get there is always a plus.  Since we will be very close to a great outlet mall and a huge Ikea store, having the big car is actually a must!

My stepdaughter, Chris is one of the brightest lights in my life.  Our time together is always full of laughter (so much to it's to the point of tears many times), hugs, long talks, many shopping trips and a lot of crafting time.  Our spa day is already planned and we will be accompanied this year by my delightful granddaughter, Amanda.  I have already purchased some summer hats that I am going to embellish for us to wear on our day of beauty.  I have heard that Amanda has some other plans for us as well and has even created something for Grandma already...see what I mean, I can hardly wait!

Our grandson, Danny is graduating from high school this year and we are thrilled to be there as he gets ready to begin his university years.  He and his grandpa have a wonderful time together talking spots and science fiction.

And Bruno, our son-in-law....what a fantastic man.  While he tends to be somewhat quiet when first meeting him, we have learned over the years that he has a tremendous sense of humor, quick wit and is a wonderfully gracious host.

The whole family has been working on updating their basement, so we have a big treat in store when we get there.  Last year when we visited we enjoyed the new paint and updated living room on the main level.

While in Windsor, we will also be seeing Bob's brothers and sisters and as many nieces and nephews as possible.  I was born and raised in the Detroit area, so going to Windsor is very much like going home for me, since it's just across the border.  Those of us with family in Canada are fortunate that our 2 countries enjoy such easy border crossing.  While the lines can get long and the questions sometimes a bit tedious I am eternally grateful that the folks to the north are our friends.

Wordless Wednesday