Weekly Recap #14

{April 4 through April 10, 2016}

Gardening

• The gardens are coming along fabulously. The lemon tree that split in half is still doing great and has many blooms. The apple tree has a couple of blossoms; but, since this is the first year, I do not expect either of them to bear fruit. Our old pecan tree also sprouted leaves. Both Dan and I were worried it did not survive due to gopher damage. But, it seems to be doing rather well! We also have lavender, taters (potatoes), cucumbers, peas, and a few other herbs such as Basil growing. I spent some time this past Sunday doing some heavy weeding in the main garden in spite of a storm threatening and Dan said there was thunder. (He came to help me after he finished trimming the plywood on the barn). The storm was all threats and bluster because it never did directly hit us.

Quilting; Crafts

• I cut fabric to make a Pershing block for Section 2 of the Gypsy Wife Quilt. I think it is going to be one crazy cool block when it is finally sewn together. I struggled the rest of the week due to stress and anxiety related illnesses. (See “Miscellaneous” below.) I plan to sew the block up either today or tomorrow.

DIY Shed aka "The Barn"

• Progress was a little slower this weekend due to the fact
  1. We went to the city to shop for windows at Habitat for Humanity. We did not find any windows that were the right size – most were way too big. However, I did shop among the rugs. I found a 9 x 6 rug would work for the cats. Yes, I am that crazy cat lady. I bought a rug for the cats. They immediately took possession and raised Cain. How do I know this? The rug was askew when I went into the room check on them. And, this happened twice! Dan put some non-skid stuff underneath to prevent it from sliding around the room. Gracie loves to lay belly up on the thing and Abby goes nuts with toys especially when I use a particular toy to play with her.

     Anyway, we ended up going to Lowe’s for the windows and we found some that were not expensive.

  2. I was sick and unable to help Dan do heavy work. In spite of this, I managed to help hammer in nails in the decking material for the porch on Sunday! I could sit and just hammer away in spite of stomach troubles.
• I plan to post pictures of progress soon.

Miscellaneous

• I neglected to mention that I broke a molar in my last recap post and it happened on a Saturday morning! I was eating a breakfast bar that had almonds. I crunched on an almond and my tooth broke. I was shocked. It didn’t hurt; but, it felt funny. It was also slicing and dicing my tongue.

  I went to see the dentist first thing Tuesday morning. The almond did more than just break the corner of my tooth; it cracked it practically in half which means another corner of the tooth is weak. As a result, I must have a crown put on to save the tooth. He filed down the tooth a little so that it would not slice and dice my tongue anymore. The work for the temporary crown was done Thursday morning. Fun and games. NOT!

  Anxiety and stress over getting shots to numb my mouth and the actual work to be done made me sick. It took my body about four days to recover. I was still suffering stomach issues Sunday morning.

  Anyway, I go back to the dentist on April 21st to get the permanent crown. I am not looking forward to it; but, I know from past history, it is not as bad. However, I do not know this dentist well and I do not know what their procedures are for putting on permanent crowns. So far, they have been great!

Some Links to Share

• Heatnbond Jewelry Pouch Travel Set
  Sewing; how-to or tutorial

A perfect faith is nowhere to be found, so it follows that all of us are partly unbelievers.

~ John Calvin~

Weekly Recap #13

{March 28 through April 3, 2016}

Gardening

• The lemon tree that split in half is doing great under the circumstances. I am real pleased. the flowers have burst forth from buds. But, since this is the first year, I am not sure if they will become lemons. We are pampering the silly tree (along with the others). I have even added organic food spikes to help nourish it. I might have to add magnesium (via Epsom salts) if signs indicate the need for this nutrient.
• I also did some yard work by weeding some nasty dandelions. These are the ones that hog the lands and water for themselves starving wildflowers and more from growing. I do not touch the false dandelions as I like these very much and they do help butterflies and bees. It took me two days to pull them all up along the driveway. The first day, my muscles started to hurt. I mean, pain hurt. So, I quit. The second day, I just got real tired and had the shakes after I finished the work. Now, it is just maintenance (getting rid of new ones).

  I have been seeing small little sunflower plants popping up since I pulled the nasty dandelions. I looks like I might have a decent border of sunflowers again this year in spite of the fact these weeds existed. I am usually vigilant and pull them whenever I see any pop up. The backyard is practically free of them this spring. There are some around a crepe myrtle tree out front that I need to pull up. But, all in all, the result of two years of effort is making me happy.

Quilting; Crafts

• Finished Section 1 of the Gypsy Wife Quilt. I blogged about it here. I was extremely pleased with what I've done. Now, onto section 2.
  

DIY Shed aka "The Barn"

• We finished establishing the joists for both "the barn" and the deck (porch). Let me tell you, I felt victorious when I managed to dead lift the joists for the deck of the barn. It made me think of my oldest niece who is into lifting weights. Even though I managed to lift it, I could not shuffle sideways. Sheesh. But, I was able to place my end on where we wanted it to go and slide it the rest of the way. I most likely will post pictures this Wednesday if I can find the time and inclination to do so.

Miscellaneous

• I started and finished reading One Good Dog by Susan Wilson. It was a fast clean read and I finished it in two days. I think I could have read it in one day if I did not have other things to do.

  This book was both sad and victorious. Susan Wilson has a way with written words and an ability to get into what could be a dog’s thoughts. This is the second book I have read by this author and I picked up this book at Half Price Books.

  You can read more on what the book is about on both Goodreads and Amazon.

  I gave this book four stars on Goodreads.

Some Links to Share

• Mug Organizer
  {Sewing; Re-purposing a mug.}
• Can a Christian Experience both Faith and Unbelief?
  {Inspirational, Christian, Devotional}

...and sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles.

~ The Doctor (of Doctor Who) ~

Wordy Wednesday {Beginning of The Barn}

I mentioned in my last weekly recap post that we had building materials delivered last Saturday morning to build a shed. It is not a kit. We are using plans to build a 12 x 16 shed with a porch that I am naming "the barn".

I chose a spot on the land that is more or less in line with the back of our house. I wanted to leave the land as open as I could because I really love looking out there and just seeing fields and trees.

Once we moved all the untreated wood into the garage, we started working on establishing the footholds for the shed. By the way, the chairs were used by the cats most of the time.

Here is what it looks like as of today:

PS The board are just laying there. They are not fixed in place.

Weekly Recap #12

{March 20 through March 28, 2016}

Gardening

• A few things in my garden did not survive a recent cold spell (it was 35*F Monday morning). And, I am fighting gophers. The peanuts, onions, strawberries, chives and a few others are thriving. The cucumbers (pickling) plants did not survive. I thought another plant would not survive because their fragile leaves wilted; but, it looks like they are making a comeback.

  We decided to replant some cucumbers (pickling) seeds in an old plant bed because 1) I am fighting gophers and 2) they grew well there in the past.

  

  We also had a severe thunderstorm come through one night that snapped my new lemon tree in half. I think there were a couple of problems to begin with. The tree was top heavy for one. It was like a wall to the wind and just kept blowing and bending it over. The way the tree was staked was another problem.

  Dan purchased some grafting tape on the way home from work. We taped it back together and then staked the heck out of it. I pruned off some branches from the top so that the wind can blow through it a little better. All of this happened March 24. The below picture was snapped on the morning of March 28th (today).

  

  I am amazed that it is still doing well. The leaves have not wilted and the lemon blossoms are still growing. One of them is about to burst open. However, I am forcing myself to not be so hopeful until a week or so has passed.

Quilting; Crafts

Bordered Hourglass Block

• I finished making blocks 4 and 5 (Section 1) for the Gypsy Wife Quilt. I chose and cut all the fabric (strips) for section 1 (and beyond as the strips are used continuously in the quilt). I have sewn up what I call “mini sections” within Section 1. There are three “mini sections” and two of them are done. I need to do the third and then sew them all together.

  I decided to quit using Mother’s sewing machine and go back to Jan(ome). I talked with Dan and we decided to take it in to get it cleaned up and checked out. I do not think it has ever been serviced. I am just paranoid about ruining the machine.

  

Shed

• We had materials to build a decent size shed that I am calling “The Barn” delivered this past Saturday (March 26). We proceeded to move a bunch of the material that was not pressure treated into the garage.
  

  We then proceeded to plot out the space and start establishing the base for the shed. The actual framing for the flooring and whatnot will be started this coming Saturday.

  The cats, especially Abby Gail, love the fact that we are out there working. She was in my chair for approximately 45 minutes just vegetating, watching us and keeping an eagle eye out for gophers and other critters. The disadvantage is that she does not sleep. So, when we came indoors for lunch, she had a hard time relaxing to nap. I was able to soothe her a bit while she insisted on being on my chest. She finally relaxed enough and headed for the top of the cat tree went to sleep and she slept hard.

  I crashed both days (Saturday and Sunday) and had to call it early (went to bed around 8:00pm). It is hard work and maybe a bit too hard for me. But, I refuse to quit. Doing these kinds of things keeps us alive and young, does it not?

Miscellaneous

• Since we are working on building the shed on the weekends, my recaps will now be Mondays to Sundays and posted on either Monday or Tuesday.

Strive for progress, not perfection.

~ Unknown ~