Crocheting Norah's blanket

These are some pictures of the blanket I am working on for Norah.  I made the fleece blanket part last year--I'm ashamed to say she's almost 1 year and I'm still working on this.   Anyway, I made the fleece part last year and started crocheting an edge on it.  But then I got so busy between work and school, I didn't finish the edge.  Thank goodness I made it big enough for her to grow into.  This will fit on a toddler bed, or she can spread it out on the floor to lay on.   Anyway, I'm in-between jobs right now, so, now I finally have more time for my sewing and crocheting projects.  Woo-hoo!

NEW BREAD MAKER IS A COOL NEW TOOL

This is my new Cuisinart bread maker -- and it makes more than bread. The apples below are ready to go into the bread maker. In about an hour and a half we had some OUTSTANDING natural applesauce. It also makes cranberry sauce, jam and chutneys.

DONNA GOES ANTIQUING

These both were labled as "vintage" mixers. The one on the left I recognize as a type of mixer I've seen before, but the one on the right was new to me. I never saw that kind before. That little cup there lifts up and my guess is it would fit over a cup or small bowl and then you would pump the handle like a butter churn and mix.


I bought these rolling pins and the old pot to hold them in. The man who runs the store said rolling pins like the one on the right are hard to find. It is all one piece of wood. He said most rolling pins are like the one on the left, where the handles fit into the rolling pin.



This is my favorite new piece--the butter churn. I saw this one at the same store as the rolling pins and had to go back and get it.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS

I am taking a photography class through the Parks and Recs. It's a digital photography class -- designed for beginners. I am enjoying it very much. We only have one more class left. I have learned a few things--which was the goal! One assignment that I really loved was one I wouldn't have guessed I would like. The assignment was to take some abstract pictures and once I learned what I was to do, I loved it. Here is one photo I took that I thought came out pretty good.

IN THE GARDEN

Bob and I spent more than 2 hours in the garden Saturday morning getting the grass and weeds under control. We were gone for a week and the grass and weeds were sky high! It looks much better now.

Asiatic Lillies

Bob planted some new yellow Asiatic lillies. Here is a picture of all of them before something decided to eat one of them. Since this was taken, one of our orange tiger lillies bloomed.

OUR GARDEN, 2009

Here's Bob--planting tomatoes

I spent all afternoon yesterday planting seeds in our vegetable garden. Bob had already planted the tomatoes and transplanted my herbs a few days ago. The herbs were growing in pots near the house and once I saw how well the parsley did that we planted in the garden, I decided I would move all the herbs there. I planted basil and chive seeds in the garden as well as planting thyme and rosemary in the boxes out front.

A few days ago, I had planted some flower seeds in various boxes on the deck and on the upper patio.

Yesterday, Bob tilled the garden then I went out and planted the seeds. In a week or so, we should start to see some signs of beans, peas, radishes, carrots, cucumber, zucchini, onions, lettuce and beets. I reserved a spot for jalapeno peppers and green bell peppers. It took me a few hours to get it all done, and I was exhausted--but it was the "good" tired feel. It's always nice to look around and see that you accomplished something good.

The only thing was that once I got done planting, I knew it all would need a drink. I was so tired, I had decided I would talk Bob into watering it all for me. Turned out I didn't need to. I had taken a shower and changed clothes. I went upstairs to fix dinner and thought I'd water in a bit, after the strong sun started to go down. But, as luck would have it, I heard thunder. I was thrilled. Mother Nature took care of watering everything for me with a nice, soaking thunderstorm. I even grabbed one of my indoor plants and set it outside to get a nice drink.

While I was planting seeds in the garden, Bob went to the fish pond and dug a couple holes then filled them with potting soil. I planted Dusty Miller there this morning. (at 6:00) While I was out and about early, I found more potting soil and a pot and planted some Shasta Daisy seeds. I love those!

Now the hard part is to have to wait for the seeds to take root and plants to start coming up. That is why I like to buy plants that have already been started and plant those. But, to grow things from seeds does give you some satisfaction, too.

But soon, I should have some veggies and flowers growing all over the place!