Summer

It has been a hot wet summer, but already fall seems to be in the air. The goldfinches are eating me out of house and home. I have to fill the feeder about every 2 days. I have seen some sparrows stealing a meal there too. The desert rose is a desert plant and has enjoyed our summer.

Saturday Sky 12-04-10

About 5 inches of soft, powdery snow last night. Bright sun and temp of 22 today. Beautiful! (Is this why we stay in MN?)

Yes, my Christmas Cactus Blooms!

When my family was here for Christmas, the question was asked, "Does your Christmas cactus ever bloom?" Here's the proof-it does, just a little late. So is my amaryllis-actually 2 stems with 5 blooms on each.

Jan Dunlap

Another picture of the flower, Desert Rose.

Another local author I got to meet! This is Jan Dunlap at the launching of her second book, Murder on Warbler Weekend, a good, light read.

Red Shirt Friday

Today and every Friday is Red Shirt Friday, a day to show support for our troops. This is not a political affiliation, just citizens concerned about our military and want some means to show that support. So, wear red on Fridays.

The flower is Desert Rose, a mother's day gift from my daughter. The plant is an ugly succulent, but look how pretty the blossoms are. This is the first time mine has bloomed, so I'm anxious for all the other buds to open.

Our July 4th Weekend

I really slipped, not getting this posted! Our 4th of July was quiet. We had our daughter's dog for the weekend, so that added some activity. My husband does a good job of playing with him so he had some unusual activity all weekend. I sat and knit and watched!

Over the weekend, CUB sponsored a hot dog/brat sale to benefit CEAP, our emergency assistance program. Because I drive for the Meals on Wheels every week and this is an organization we do support, we had brats for lunch. On the way home, we stopped at Culver's for some custard and saw these beautiful flowers blooming. This was one day, I did not have my camera with me-it was charging at home-so we drove back later and had dinner there and took the pictures.

What I've Been Doing

My knitting has been baby knitting, but since my grand daughter reads my blog (Can you believe that?) and wants to be surprised the knitting pictures will be delayed until after her baby, Rylea Beth, is born or after the shower.

The pictures are in the reverse order from what I wanted and Blogger isn't very cooperative about allowing me to rearrange them today, I'll reverse my thinking.

Last week I was in Door County knitting with friends I met probably about 20 years ago. What fun!! We stayed in a condo in Sister Bay and knit, talked, laughed, ate and did leave for some shopping. (More about that in another post.) What does it say about me that I took no people pictures-just flowers and a beautiful sunset?

The night before I left for Door County, my grandson graduated from Spring Lake HS. It was a beautiful evening although chilly so the ceremony was able to be held outside.

Hubby and me with the graduate. Congratulations, Billy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since my knitting is slow going-my Bohus sweater, I'll show you another hobby of mine-my orchids. Now, I don't go all out with automatic lights, humidity and whatever, but just use a table in my south window.

This plant was a gift from my ex-daughter in law and my son to replace one she thought she had killed when she knocked it off the table, so it must be 7 years old and has been blooming almost continuously every since.
It has never had this many flowers all blooming at the same time. Frequent, regular fertilizer must be the trick.

I love the lady slipper orchid so have several in different colors. This is the first one that has bloomed a second time after I bought the plant in bloom.

Plumeria

Last summer in Hawaii, I fell in love with the plumeria. At the MN State Fair last August, I bought 3 plumeria "sticks" which were supposed to grow into plumeria trees. Two of them had leaves by fall, then hibernated but did not come back this spring. Last week I visited a friend who had just moved into a condo and she had 3 plumeria trees-one a good 4 feet high. She gave me her 2 small ones-the one pictured has blossoms, but no leaves. At the State Fair I also got one more "stick". If I'd known the ones last year were guaranteed, I could have saved the ones that didn't grow from last year I could have gotten them replaced. She felt sorry for me and gave me one anyway.

Spring?

My rhubarb is ready to be picked. I've got a recipe for strawberry rhubarb bars I'm anxious to try.

The dandelions are blooming. Today finally feels like a nice spring day. Maybe the cold weather is over.

Red Hat Meeting

We had such a good time at our meeting I forgot to take any pictures so this was the centerpiece I had. It was at my house and everyone brought snacks and we played games. We couldn't believe we would have so much fun playing Chicken Foot Dominoes.

March 27, 2007

Julia Roberts Movie

My violets in full bloom!

A few weeks ago I wrote about Julia Roberts being in a movie based on a book about a knitting shop. Well, I've got the correct facts now. The movie will be produced in 2008 and is based on a book to be published January 18, 2007 by Kathleen Jacobs. Both are named, "The Friday Night Knitting Club" and is about a group of women who form a bond when they meet in a small knitting shop in NY. (Boy, that sounds just like the plot of "The Shop on Blossom Street" which I had originally said the movie was based on).

Repetitive Motion Injuries Prevention

The violets are a plant which is a descendent of my grandmother's violets. She always had plants full of blossoms and everytime I visited her, she would try to send a plant home with me. I usually declined the offer because they always died for me. Eventually, I took one when I was able to put the plant in a bright south window and now I have blooms!

Reknitting the rainbow jacket reminds me of the "sermon" I give to my knitting students about the dangers of body injuries due to long term repetitive movement. I've had problems with shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand joints with the resulting treatment option of stopping knitting! That is pure torture for me, so prevention is the best key. Take frequent breaks and move your body joints in different positions. The link above has some exercises to do periodically to help prevent injury. Take my advice!

Bountiful Harvest/Knitting Mystery Book

Our one tomato plant is producing lots of tomatoes this year. It is such fun to go out on the deck, grab a handful, and enjoy the wonderful flavor of fresh, vine ripened, home grown tomatoes.

A new mystery is just out written by Maggie Sefton. It is the 3rd book by this author about a girl who goes to Colorado after the death of her aunt. Her house is next door to a yarn shop-how wonderful is that? After helping settle the estate and helping solve her murder (book 1) she stays on and in each book helps solve another murder. Living so close to the yarn shop, she spends a little time there every day learning to knit and enjoying her new friends. Its an easy read with very likable characters. Oh! The book is "A Deadly Yarn" by Maggie Sefton.

Hibiscus

Since today is so hot and humid I thought a picture of one of the hibiscus blossoms on my plant would be appropriate.

A couple days ago I bought the most lucious, soft yarn and so far have resisted starting anything with it. It is called Oh My! by Plymouth Yarn and is 100 % nylon so is machine washable and dryable. The pattern support so far is for baby items which seems real appropriate. Even though there are no babies in our family and hopefully will not be any in the near future, I just had to have the yarn. Anybody know the feeling? It will probably go to one of my charity causes. Am planning to knit an Ann Norling cardigan from the bottom up with no seams-I hate to finish and usually do projects with as little as possible.