Blogging Break

I have decided to take a short blogging break due to a variety of factors including sickness, preparing for a yard sale this weekend and October being "my month" (birthday). I will be back in a couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience!

Wordy Wednesday {Painted & Stained}

Bottom yardstick is the natural color.

Did I mention that I am messy when it comes to painting and crafting?

Picture Dump: Signs of Gardening Part IV

I think I am going to have to come up with a different title for the dumping of pictures. In this case, the word "dump" is used as a verb which means a deposit or (to leave something) in a careless way. Apparently, not many people use (or think of) this word in this manner. Until I do come up with a better name for what I do, I shall continue to title all dumping of pictures as a "Picture Dump".

Pickling Cucumbers; May 4, 2014

Carrots and Onions (Potatoes in background); May 4, 2014

One Lone Pea; May 4, 2014

Pickling Cucumber; May 11, 2014

Pepper; June 5, 2014

First Carrot and Yukon Gold Harvested; June 14, 2014

Blueberries; June 18, 2014

Peppers; June 18, 2014

First Carrots Harvested; July 12, 2014

Wild Muscadine Grapes (found on our property); July 14, 2014

Brief Recap:

We actually harvested a bunch of these wild grapes and I made three jars of grape jelly. I wanted to try making some and it was a total success. I plan to harvest more next year and make tons more jelly.

As for our gardening efforts, the carrots, red potatoes, pickling cucumbers were awesome. The strawberries were somewhat successful. I will concentrate on growing more of these next year. I am wanting to grow a BUNCH of pickling cucumbers to make pickles now that I know they will grow down here.

I am abandoning onions, garlic, melons, peas and peppers as they were not successful growing down here. Oh, a few plants here and there bore fruit; but, most did not give forth anything. It was just not worth the effort.

The fruits such as blueberries, lemons, and limes will take several years before I know whether or not they will bear fruit. I think they will. Eventually.

Macro Monday and Birthday

{Note: Picture used in above meme was one Dan took at Garner State Park years ago.}

Today is my birthday. I turned 50. Eeeks!!! I shall forget today ever happened. Ha!

We went to Floresville Peanut Festival this past Saturday which was not all that great in my humble opinion. It was much better years ago. The weather did not help and may have been a factor. I did go to two of my favorite antique stores; but, I did not find a single thing.

We are planning to take a vacation and travel soon. I am looking forward to that and am praying for good health! I will endeavor to take pictures and jot down travel notes.

{To see a larger image, go here.}

In the meantime, here is a macro for you that kind of sort of reflects my mood. I thought it was a beautiful viewpoint. It was taken after a storm passed through the area.

Slapdash Saturday

• Peacock Spider; very cool moves!

Feline Friday (Hiding in Plain Sight}

I was taking “after” pictures of some cabinetry when I spied a critter in one of the cabinets. Do you see her? Here, let me zoom in (crop).

Rotten little happy beast. (Gracie)

September Recap

• Savings

  	Previous Balance	1260.00
  Week 30 (09/01)	+72.00	1332.00
  Week 31 (09/08)	+74.00	1406.00
  Week 32 (09/15)	+76.00	1482.00
  Week 33 (09/22)	+78.00	1560.00
  Week 34 (09/29)	+80.00	1640.00

  
  

• Book Finishes
  • None. I have been so focused on other things. I did start a book. That is something, correct?

    We also had a Doctor Who marathon. We missed one episode due to the fact the DVR failed to record the episode for some unknown reason. The newest season with the Twelfth Doctor seems to be fairly good. I am looking forward to more episodes (which are being DVRed).

• Projects
  • My Room: After five weeks of waiting for them to fix the A/C unit, the manufacturer finally gave the okay to replace the unit. Fortunately, it was all still under warranty; so, not a penny was spent.

    It was slow going getting started again. Progress is being made. I am real please with how the room is turning out. The built-ins for the fabrics looking great!

• Other
  • We went to the San Antonio Home and Garden show which was a fun diversion.

    I had someone come out and give an estimate on getting a new patio done out back and was shocked at the cost! The cost is mostly with new concrete which is mega expensive. Needless to say, it will be awhile before we get a new patio/porch.

    I also arranged to have someone come out and look at the kitchen on October 25th. I am not very optimistic after hearing about the cost of getting a new patio/porch! The biggest thing is I want a new bigger (much bigger) kitchen window. I got spoiled living at the rental with the huge window looking out the backyard. The window here is so small you can barely see anything! Why did they even bother putting one in? It is not even bringing in much light during the day! Anyway, like I said, I am not optimistic.

  • I apologize for not having much to say this month. I did not journal or jot down notes like I usually do. This month just flew by.

Wordy Wednesday {Foghorn Leghorn}

I'm Styling, Baby!

When I spied this rooster strutting around the corner of the house across the street, I immediately thought “Foghorn Leghorn is on the Loose”! I grabbed my camera with long lens and snapped a couple of pictures. This was the first and only time I saw him.

DIY: Doctor Who Wall Art

I blogged a DIY Teaser a little while back.

I was mean and posted another teaser last Wednesday.

I am now going to show you the DIY project that just came from the depths of my mind. It turned out so much better than I expected. And, this project was made entirely from scraps leftover from other projects.

{This picture is awful; but, it was the best one out of all I took at this time.}

I had Dan cut a piece of leftover drywall (which was originally used to build the closet in my studio). I needed a smooth surface and the walls around here are textured.

We primed and painted the drywall. We then started to make a frame using leftover scraps from other projects.

We painted the frame. And, then we attached the frame to drywall. At this point, I applied the white vinyl.

We located the studs in the wall where I wanted this to be placed and determined where it should go. We marked and predrilled the frame. We felt it would be safest to hang it in the studs it was a tad heavy.

{To see a larger image, go here.}

The almost finished project as of September 28, 2014.

Regarding the weeping angel figurine (the original darker version is in a prior picture): I had taped off the base and spray painted the angel a light gray color. It is amazing what a difference it made - all the textures and details stood out more.

I added the tally marks. And, the holes in the frame were filled with wood putty. All it needs at this point is a little sanding and painting!

I will explain the details along with a picture of the final (finished) product soon. I am extremely pleased with the way it turned out.

Macro Monday {Weeping Angel}

Weeping Angel (figurine; approximately 3-1/2 inches)

{To see a larger image, go here.}

A character from the Doctor Who British TV series.

One of my favorite episodes is called Blink. (Third series, Tenth episode).

If you don't know it by now, I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan. I have watched all the episodes since they revived the series in 2005. I have even watched a few older episodes aired on BBC America which were extremely fascinating.

Besides "Blink", another favorite episode of mine is called "The Day of the Doctor". Dan gave me the DVD version of this episode last Christmas. I also love "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways" (a two part series) among a few others.

Below are some of my favorite quotes from the episode, "Blink".

Beware the weeping angels. Oh and duck. No really duck! Sally Sparrow. DUCK, NOW! Love from The Doctor (1969)

{Writing uncovered from ripping off wallpaper in an old abandoned house.}

{The characters are inside an old abandoned house.}

Kathy Nightingale: What did you come here for anyway?
Sally Sparrow: I love old things. They make me feel sad.
Kathy Nightingale: What's good about sad?
Sally Sparrow: It's happy for deep people.

I really love the above quote because it fits me. I love old things. Old things makes me feel sad (melancholic). And, at the same time, it's happy things.

Fascinating race, the Weeping Angels. The only psychopaths in the universe to kill you nicely. No mess, no fuss, they just zap you into the past and let you live to death. The rest of your life used up and blown away in the blink of an eye. You die in the past, and in the present they consume the energy of all the days you might have had, all your stolen moments. They're creatures of the abstract. They live off potential energy.

~The Doctor

The majority of my favorite quotes are within the clip below.

Slapdash Saturday {Links}

• Crockpot Lemon Garlic Whole Chicken

  {Recipe; Cooking}

  I have not tried this yet; but, I will using chicken broth, if it is needed, that is also gluten free.

• Evidence Depression Isn’t Just ‘All in Your Head’

  Depression touches people differently, making dealing with the condition more of a personal experience than a universal one. Some describe the illness as a dark cloud, while others liken it to being trapped in an empty space.

  Regardless of how it personally feels, what many people don't know is that the illness can also take a physical toll on the body. Those symptoms, combined with the emotional side effects, have the potential to be draining.

• A Little Pinsive

  {Sewing; Pincushion; Free}

• The Dancing Traffic light

Feline Friday {Tongue}

Leave...

{I...}

Me...

{Don't...}

Alone!

{Care!}

I have caught Abby with her tongue out plenty of times in the past. But, this was the first time I was able to capture her. I think these turned out cute and my favorite is the last one.

Wordy Wednesday

What in the world am I doing?

By the way, I still need to sand and then paint (touch up) the frame we made from scraps.

And, I cannot add labels to this post as I do not want to give away what this is (means or represents).

More post(s) coming soon about this particular project.