summer news

It is difficult to acknowledge that summer is beginning to wind down. Parts of the garden are looking a bit forlorn; it has been a great year for pests--bad for the plants.  I have been busy in the kitchen eating/cooking/preserving what is good -- tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, many eggplant, zucchini, peppers, basil, and raspberries.  Delicious red haven peaches found at the Amish store have been frozen and baked into pie.  I planted two Red Haven trees this spring and can't wait to be able to pick my own! 

This is our third summer at our new-built home, and we continue to work on finishing things inside as well as adding to the outside landscape.  The limelight hydrangea are thriving and perfect for indoor arrangements.  This year we added a snowball bush, rugosa roses, a Zephirine Drouhin climbing rose, oakleaf hydrangea, bleeding heart, white pine trees, clematis, and more...  Inside, the pantry was finished and wall planks & a range hood were added in the kitchen.  A hundred year old beam from a corncrib was used to trim out the hood...still need to add crown molding.


We were happy to get away to the woods one weekend with our camper--we haven't camped since selling our previous home.  It was very relaxing, except for the night a large black bear decided to visit!  I've also been enjoying time spent with my first grandchild, a boy born to my son & his wife, and looking forward to another grandbaby my daughter and son-in-law are expecting in January.  Life is so good!

Whenever I could, I have squeezed in some knitting and sewing.  A sweater started for grandbaby no.2 and a dishcloth is always on the needles.  I sewed 4 tops for myself and a pair of pants, all out linen I had on hand--I was actually happy with how all turned out and have loved the coolness and comfort of wearing linen this summer. And most recently, I finished up a few zipper pouches for the shop.

It feels so good to be back here on the blog--please let me know what is new with you!!

Deb

2 May 2017

Looking back on April, it is a bit of a blur...so much happening both inside and outdoors. The month started with a snowstorm, but as it progressed, we had some very nice sunny days here and there.  
Inside, I painted lots of trim and closet doors which Mike installed.  Then the weather got nice, meaning that there are pieces of baseboard sitting in the laundry room still waiting to be nailed into place.  We changed gears and headed outside--me to the gardens & planting and he to start work on a fence for the back yard.  
In the raised beds I planted radish, collard, and kale seeds...so far the radishes are coming up.  For cutting, I planted some glads and dahlias also.  In the flower beds, I planted peony bushes, hostas, lilies, lily of the valley, a clematis vine, as well as an Angel Face floribunda rose bush and a bridal wreath spirea.  This past weekend I went to a 49 cent perennial sale and picked up coral bells, delphinium, coneflower, saxifraga, rock cress, english lavender, and carpathian bellflower.  The plants were a very generous size for the price and I had to restrain myself from buying more.  
Last year we planted a lot of trees, so this year we have only added a Kousa dogwood.  I would love some fruit trees {the two we planted last year died}, but am not sure I will get to it this year.  
On the snowy/rainy/cold days I enjoyed time at the sewing machine.  I made up some drawstring project bags and zippered pouches for my firefly farm goods shop   as well as a vintage army canvas tote.  Also started reading Onward and Upward in the Garden by Katherine White.  I am continuously knitting dishcloths and am working sporadically on the cable knit throw for my daughter.  Once in a while I pull out a sweater that I started for myself, and which will probably not be finished for some time at the rate I am going. 
My next major project will be outside...if it ever stops raining...All the fence boards and posts need to be stained, as does the Amish-built shed we had put up last year.  I just finished painting the antique gate and will be back soon with some pictures.
Thanks for stopping by--I hope you are enjoying warm weather---are you working on any projects?

Deb

building, sewing, life

After so much waiting to get the new house started, construction has begun and life has gotten quite busy...a welcome sort of busy-ness.  It's time to make many of the decisions that go along with building ~ lighting, cabinetry, flooring, siding, roofing material, etc.  The window order is being placed this week, and they should be here by end of September. Lumber will be arriving tomorrow so that framing can get started.  Today I've been trying to source exterior lighting; I have ordered some supplies as well to make some of our interior lights.  

We have also been trying to take advantage of our beautiful late summer weather by exploring nearby waterways with our new-to-us kayak.  We spent a couple hours paddling this creek last weekend and can't wait to go back and take it further towards the lake.

In the meantime I try to accomplish some sewing and knitting.  I used an army laundry bag that I found this summer to make a tote with a removable cross-body strap.  At tea time I knit and have added some new cotton + linen cloths to the shop as well.  

Have a grand weekend everyone!

August doings....

The Purl Bee Baby Mocs and the Little Scallops Baby Hat were finished up a couple weeks ago--baby items are such wonderfully quick knits!   I am very happy with how each turned out and am sure these patterns will be used again and again in the future. For more details, see my Ravelry page here.

{we call this baloney tongue}

We love to head to the lake, now and again, to walk the dogs and watch the sailboats as the sun sets.  The dogs get so excited because they love to jump in and take a swim.  

Our favorite artisan ice cream place is located right across from the canal, so it's nice to take a walk around the locks after indulging on a sundae or cone...

This summer I was so excited to find an old striped ticking pillow case as I knew it would be perfect for a tote.  I just finished this up and added it to the shop.

It has just been an unusual summer for us this year--renting still feels strange and not having a vegetable garden or chickens to tend feels stranger still.  On a happy note, our oldest just became engaged to be married--her boyfriend proposed to her at a waterfall in Iceland {the name of which I cannot even attempt to spell} where they were vacationing...very romantic!  So we are officially planning a wedding to happen next summer.  
In the meantime, we also have a start date on our house--August 25, if all goes well...a busy time ahead for sure...in a very good way.
That's the news in my world. 
Thank you for stopping by and for leaving me a comment---I appreciate it a lot!

Deb

an antique find and some hand crafting...

Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link.

For awhile, I have been looking for a piece to use as a vanity in the powder room of our soon-{I hope}-to-be-built new home...the basement of which has yet again been postponed due to excessive rains :(

Finally, on Craigslist, I found a walnut piece with the perfect measurements to fit the antique marble sink top.  It was about an hour and a half away, so we took a nice country drive to the antique shop, found it in good shape, and brought it home...

What I really like about it, is that what look like lower drawers, is actually a cabinet door.  The undermount sink will consume the top drawer, but the cabinet below will offer plenty of storage.

Oldest child asked recently if I would mind coming up with some baby things to go along with a shower gift.  I was happy to oblige, and since I had some white cotton chenille on hand and plenty of leftover fabrics, I made some burp cloths...

I used this tutorial.

I was also happy to have an excuse to knit some booties that look like little moccasins.

I'm close to being finished with the first one--the design details will be added after, using duplicate stitch.  The tutorial is from Purl Bee.

Having finally removed all of the old, Harvest Gold, nubby upholstery fabric from the Eastlake chair, I started with the reupholstering.  I'm using a moderately heavy linen and decided to keep it simple with upholstery nails and no gimp.  I don't think I have ever redone this style of armchair, so am referring to this book on my shelf, How to Repair, Reupholster, and Refinish Furniture, for guidance.

One tip in the book I found helpful, was to use a strip of cardboard placed in the fold of the fabric to get a nice straight edge.  The curves were just free-handed and a bit more of a challenge...

Hoping today to get the top front done...

Deb

June showers

The month of June, so far, has been as wet as May was dry.  At least when it's raining I am getting things accomplished that really need to be--like a few more journals to add to the shop.  And, working on the list of projects that I was sure I would get done over the winter, but still haven't. 

There are always a couple small summer knitting projects also.  This is a pattern that I am modifying a little--I need to rip out a few rows and do it a little differently.  If it is a success I will post some pictures when finished.

There is always a dishcloth in progress, as I am in desperate need of some new ones.

With the start date on our house getting very near, we thought we better get going on the bathroom vanities.  One vanity {as yet to be found/built??} will use an antique marble top we found, and the other will be made from this dresser, which we have had for some time.  Saturday we shopped for sinks, came home and started in on it...

I traced out the template and Mike did the cutting...the sink went in perfectly.  Now the more complicated part will be modifying the inside and the drawers to accommodate the plumbing--I'll be sure to get some photos so you can see how Mike makes it all work.

Our pre-cast basement walls are scheduled to be delivered a week from today--weather permitting--so I am hoping and praying that clouds will be rained out by then!