I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Garden Peeping Again



Hi! Thanks to everyone who visited my etsy shop and especially to friends who found a few treasures! It was definitely time to ''clean house'' and I'm looking forward to new things.
Now back to our regularly schedules program:
I've reached a plateau in my ongoing recuperation it seems.  I am trying so hard---I now walk Mo twice a day, and some days three times, totaling about 2 - 2.5 miles. The first walk of the day is very difficult; I suppose muscles and nerves relax overnight. Unfortunately this is Mo's favorite time for his longest walk and as I said, it has been a challenge. But that doesn't stop us from our fav snoopy habit, garden peeking! Or peeping!


June begins with lovely rhododendron blooms and iris.





Yellow seems to be the favorite color iris here. Classic bearded iris, like we used to dig up in old farmyards in Illinois.




And elegant yellow flags, Japanese iris.


This is cotoneaster in bloom. One of my favorite low shrubs/ ground covers. I love the dark leaves and shiny red berries that will show up in the fall. My dad used it extensively at Christmas, along with holly, for traditional red and green live cuttings/ decorations.



Peonies, so delicate, petals the like finest silk.



And cheerful sweet scented pinks, under an old crabapple tree.



Then the snake wort blooms. It's invasive and ugly, but oh these shades of blue.




And short lived but so sweet, lily of the valley, in a neighbor's yard.


As June progresses, the masses of roses burst into bloom. Roses love ocean air and grow profusely everywhere, both wild and cultivated.









The lilies are growing fast, for early July bloom.


Here's a deep red-rust Asiatic lily, an early bloomer.


This is an area Mo and I enjoy. There are grassy plots to cool off his little feet. And sprinklers!


Then other days we go as far as the private alley to the beach.








It's perking up and getting prettier every day.


Mo is a shade hog. He finds any patch of coolness. Today was really too hot for him. I had to spray his tummy and feet with cool water. He was indignant but cooler.


Because yes, the weather finally changed! One day 50* , the next almost 90*. Quite a shock to our cold weather bodies.

Mo is for some reason very interested in these sweet old fashioned columbines. He never passes them without a sniff-sniff.





Evenings we often visit our beach bench to watch the sunset. Pretty planters at the the beach access ramp, from our civic association.








Hope your week is good!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

PS There's still some fun Dollar Days items in my etsy shop, see previous post!  I need to scrounge up $$$ to have Dotty quilted, so check things out, make me an offer.






Sunday, June 11, 2017

Dollar Days and Sidewalk Sales

From now, June 10 thru Fourth of July week I am having Dollar Days/ Sidewalk Sale days in my etsy shop. When I was growing up in a small town in Illinois, the summer night sidewalk sales---many items just a $1.oo!---were always so fun, so I am recreating that here. I have marked down almost everything in my shop to just ONE DOLLAR, plus shipping. Find a treasure or two/ stock up for gift giving! Folk art items that are not marked down [dolls, quilts, treasures from the sea] are available for reasonable offers, just PM me. All offers cheerfully considered. Hopefully you'll find something you like and you'll come back soon for my Summer Lavender Hearts in Seaglass and White and Summer Blues. I hope you have fun. Happy Summer!

My shop

Dollar Days Summer House Beach Cottage  White Linen Heart Gorgeous gift Mothers Day house warming, shower, spring cleaning

Friday, June 9, 2017

My Boro Sweater, June Full Moon, and Other Random Thoughts for Friday



 Hi! First of all we must look at the  June full moon. This moon is called the Strawberry Moon, and as it's so close to the Summer Solstice, shining for our few brief hours of spring darkness, it's a wonderfully magical and mysterious moon. There is an interesting post on Woman with Wings , a lovely , mindful, spiritual blog: with permission, quoting,
"We have a full moon rising this Friday -- I hope to wrap up more herbal bundles and write my gratitude list during the day...that night I'll set out a jar filled with lemon balm leaves and water to be infused by the full moon and other cosmic energies. I like leaving this water out the following day as well to be infused by the sun, after which I strain it. Lemon balm water helps us to be centered in the midst of chaos, also helps meditation.''



However. Yes it is still chilly here, verging on cold.


For my evening walks with Mo I must wear layers, including a wool turtleneck sweater, hat and scarf, fleece or windproof jacket. I usually wear an old lavender cashmere I've had for years. It was one of the last gifts my mom gave me; she disliked lavender color but she sent it because it was my choice. I  love it because it's from her, and also it's one of Lands End's old cashmeres from when they made thick cozy turtleneck sweaters that are also machine washable, with a bit of care. Anyway, it went from best sweater, to everyday sweater, to dog walking sweater over the years; I wear it all the time. So imagine my distress when it sprung an elbow hole.


Backtracking I've been interested in the Japanese art of ''boro'', a form of patchwork and make do.  I believe that, in Japanese, boro means ''rags''. [I'll put a couple links about boro at the end of the post.] Since I can't find my Japanese ikats and indigos I decided I would practice boro patchwork/ stitching on my beloved sweater.


Two pretty fabrics from my scraps, lined in flannel, sewed with a lavender silk twist cord. Perfect again! I love it.
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Yesterday was Mo's adoption day anniversary. It is just three years since the tiny mite was so brave and flew here all alone from California. Seems like he's been here forever, doesn't it.


I got him a pizza shaped cooky.



A bagel chew.








And a baby splash pool, in case it ever gets hot again. Poor Mo, he  may HATE it. I'll start with ice cubes in it, as Mel suggests. LOL. If it get really hot, heck, I may sit in it myself!


Then I'm working on my deck spruce up. New chairs!





I also ordered new screen disks for the windscreen portholes but Gorilla Glue wouldn't stick. I'll try the F6000 glue next, otherwise Mo will get his head stuck in the porthole.
..........
Lavender looks good. Two kinds. Pretty and the bees love it


'...

I'm making reusable grocery bags, six for me, six for my friend L. But then I have to go buy plastic bags for Mo cleanup, so I'm a little miffed. These are linen/ cotton drapery remnants from my stash. Washable, I hope.


............
And the best! look what Mel is making!


She is an expert crocheter and she made this amazing wrap bracelet for me. I love it! ---If / when summer comes I plan to wear it everyday.


Aaaand, look what the bracelets were wrapped in. So cool. What a find. Mel has a great eye, thanks so much!




.............
This came in the mail. I live in the red part.





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Something for the weekend--- here's a yummy sounding recipe from Kelley to try: here .
And this week's wine is Flowers Sonoma Coast Rose` 2016   here



That's it for now. Mo and I hope to do some on-deck sewing this weekend. Fall Festival is so neglected.
Have a good weekend.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach











Boro:  My Pinterest board Boro

            French General Boro tote kit : here

            Interesting post about the History of boro: here

 NOTE for ETSY SHOP: From now, June 10 thru Fourth of July week I am having Dollar Days/ Sidewalk Sale days here in my etsy shop. When I was growing up in a small town in Illinois, the summer night sidewalk sales---many items just a $1.oo!---were always so fun, so I am recreating that here. I have marked down almost everything in my shop to just ONE DOLLAR, plus shipping. Find a treasure or two/ stock up for gift giving!
Folk art items that are not marked down [dolls, quilts, treasures from the sea] are available for reasonable offers, just PM me. All offers cheerfully considered. Be aware that items may have sold privately or thru my blog, things go fast! I'll let you know. Hopefully you'll find something you like and you'll come back soon for my Summer Lavender Hearts in Seaglass and White and Summer Blues. I hope you have fun. Happy Summer! Etsy link on sidebar