zinnias, crafting and summer...

We have been picking cucumbers, beans, and a few peas, and lots of zinnias for a job the kids have for tomorrow. I had mad the small patchwork purse for a little friend this past weekend, when I was gathering the cards the kids had made for her, I quickly noticed the special touch Hannah had added to the letters on one of hers. Talia loved our cats when we visited, hence all the cats.

The shawl is my completed Ishbel. Raveled here. I think I would like to make another, maybe this winter... The pattern for the purse was from Patchwork Style. How to make the flower tutorial I found over at Wise Craft.

summer is...

-stealing a few extra minutes for sewing.

-cutting flowers for a late breakfast after church.

dress pattern is from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. The fabric is also Heather Ross. The garland is similar to all those floating around in blog land and at Farm to Market Cafe.

hydrangeas, jammies and chickies.

The hydrangeas, small as they may be, have turned a lovely blue, jammie shorts have been made for all children and the chicks arrived yesterday.







Before "Weekend Sewing" arrived, I had other projects in mind to try first. However, the need for summer jammies, a vacation next week, and the great photos from Heather Ross' book made them the first project(s). The girls would all like matching tops, but for the sake of time I picked up a few tank tops to coordinate until I have a bit more time and a few other projects completed. 

*The fabric for Alli's shorts is also Heather Ross. I found it at Sew, Mama Sew.

Some good things.

-The ruby doll I made for Alli for Easter.


-Book of days from Blue Yonder. I bought April's, and then March's and January's. If you are a home schooling family, or just one that likes to be creative and learn together, definitely worth the small investment.

-This lovely gift of hand-spun yarn from a good friend.


-Another good friend helping me out when I was out of extra patience and energy. (Thank you Terry).

-Crystallized ginger from another sweet friend.

-The tulips still in bloom.

As I look over this post, it is so obvious how much my friends have an impact on my days.... wow, I am so blessed to have such amazing ones... 

An apron and herbs.

Sorry for all the sun in the photo. I'll try again, after I finish the next two on my list. (I hope that fits in sooner then later.)


Here is a bit of the goods I picked Sunday. The basil and cilantro are perfect right now. The carrot, well, I am hoping they just need a bit more time.

Yesterday my friend Megan brought me 3 bags of summer apples. I did not know there were summer apples until I saw them. Hopefully I will make a pie or tart today with some. :)

A bit of a update (at least some photos.)

This is the right time of year to be walking through the garden. The flowers are beginning to bloom, the squash and watermelon is spreading to cover weeds and fill up all the empty space and there are tomatoes and peppers on the plants. And then the smells are amazing, right now as I type, the aroma of cilantro is in the air.

The roses are still producing blooms, not as many as a month ago, but still lovely.


And my newly added yarrow is growing out by the lilies, cosmos and potatoes. Not much to look at right now, but I am hoping by next summer that the brilliant yellow is easy to spot from the house.


And my hollyhocks continue to grow. I am guessing that one of the plants is at least six feet tall right now.


Our original hens are finally catching up in size to Compassion and Padmae, in September they will be close to 20 weeks old and should begin to lay eggs. Compassion and Padmae having have each been laying on most days. It is so cool to actually fill up egg cartons with your own eggs. While trying to get a photo of how the girls size are about the same, out of the corner of my eye I spotted Mac noticing also. I wonder what he was hoping to accomplish? :)



On to other topics-one of my favorites-knitting. This is my knitting bag, it has two projects inside, along with more granny squares to be weaved together. All good projects, one is a cowel and one is a baby hat for a friends niece. However, I begin Elizabeth Zimmerman's February baby sweater in February, and this is as far as I got. I think I became a bit intimidated while working with the pattern... any way, I have picked it back up again...



However, today, I need to get an apron made. I have the fabric and have finally decided on the pattern I amy going to use. Hopefully it will be a quick and fun project to complete this weekend. I emphasize quick, I am a rather slow sewer and cutter, so seldom do my "quick" projects end up being quick.

Four new hens.

Our three hens left seem to be doing fine. They are behaving normally and are able to stand whenever they feel like it. Huge Praise! Yesterday, my friend, Suzanne called, and then came over with four new hens-already laying hens-so this morning, we found our first egg.

Just to give you an idea of the size difference between a full-grown hen and a young hen. Here is one of the few photos I snapped of them together.

Yesterday afternoon and last night I kept our original girls and the new girls separated. Since there is a big size difference and they are new, hens have the tendency to peck the less dominate. This morning I kept them together for awhile and they seemed alright. The younger hens would kind of fly/run away when the more mature would come close, I have also noticed that even with the larger hens, they try to avoid eye contact with the most dominant of the group.

Another great thing about getting the hens from Suzanne is that the hens are friendly and don't mind being handled.

This is my first year to grow sweet peas. I have always seen them in magazines and books, however, this year, after spending so much time looking through Slice of Organic Life, I thought I would grow my own. To be quite honest, I had no idea what they would look like when they came out of the ground. In case you haven't seen one before, here is one that is still pretty young.


And another rose in bloom with a visitor...


Last but not least, some photos of my finished porch/lap quilt. The idea for the quilt was totally inspired by a quilt in January's Country Living magazine in a article about Amy Butler. I even used a blanket stitch around the edge.