What’s Up?

The weather has been incredibly great, so I have been spending more time outdoors.

The garden is growing wildly.  I putter around in it, though it doesn’t need much attention.  This is my gardening assistant.

The Basil and Thai Basil are more like shrubbery.

The tomatoes are promising.

The pepper plant branches are heavy with the weight of the green peppers.

There is one purple pepper.  I had never before heard of purple peppers.

I also have a stack of incomplete fabric pieces to finish up.  This one is in the long arm.

You didn’t really think I was going to show you the project before it was done, did you? : )

I really like my long arm thread storage.

Top of the Lake is what I have been watching now that I am up to date on what is available on Netflix for Mad Man, The Killing and Girls.

I have also been playing around some with photoshop.

This photo…

got changed into this…

and into this…

and into this.

©Copyright 2013

Fabric Bombing

The bombing took place!  It happened while I was out of town, so I have had to rely on others for photos.  To protect the innocent and the not so innocent, I am not giving credit for the photos.  It brought a smile to the bombee so I consider the event a success.

©Copyright 2013

Look Before You Leap

“Look before you leap; for snakes among sweet flowers do creep.”

~German Proverb

What a day for packages; so many at once!

It might not look very exciting to you, but threads, pre-wound bobbins, pfd (prepared for dyeing) fabric, tjanting tools, beeswax, paraffin and a frame for batik/fabric painting!

This is my backyard hose.  I always look at it very very carefully before picking it up.  Why?  Well I have been watchful ever since last year when a snake of the same color was coiled up right beside it.

Today when I went to water the kitchen garden again a snake was curled up next to the hose.  Of course I did not have my camera with me when I was watering the garden, so I had to run into the house to get it.  The snake was not in the least bit shy; it actually seemed a bit aggressive to me, first raising up, and then coming towards me.

This photo was taken from the safety of the screened porch. (Yes, I am aware that this is not a dangerous snake. But I don’t ever need to get any closer to it.)

I had already given up the area shown above over to the snakes.  It is so thick, I knew they lived there.

Recently I rescued a few garden ornaments from snake territory.

The first gardenia.

The first magnolia blossom.

©Copyright 2013

“You Should Smell Like Dirt”

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~Lao Tzu

Nature has its own schedule.  And I was a bit behind it.  So instead of growing my own arugula I decided to rely on my local food coop for this beautiful arugula and sorrel.

The plants in the raised bed have been thriving, growing faster than I expected.  I have watered them frequently.

Last years oregano has gone wild, the other potted herbs are growing and I have added some lettuce and cilantro. I bought a spray head for the hose at the local garden center.  Can you love garden equipment?  It was wonderful for watering and for patio clean up. If I don’t watch out I might start planting larger beds where the grass is now.

I was excited to find the first evidence of a tomato.

Pepper plants are blossoming.

The thai basil suddenly has these purple tops. I suspect I need to pinch these off to keep the plants from going to seed too early.  I love basil and want to keep these going a lot longer. But the color contrast is so pretty. Oh well, bye bye purple flowers.

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~Margaret Atwood

©Copyright 2013

Armed and Ready

We are going to fabric bomb someone.

I can’t reveal who we are.

I won’t tell you who the target is.

But I  can say I am armed and ready.

: )

Front View

Back View

Tied to a tree view

 

©Copyright 2013