Enjoying the moment

If you need a question answered, ask your fellow bloggers.

I appreciate everyone's input yesterday.

Today is the 11th day of Ramadan (the month of fasting for Muslims).

That means no eating or drinking from sunup til sundown.

And since our temps have been above 120 every day, being indoors is the best place to be. 

One month from now, I will be back at school, so am enjoying the down time while I can.

More gift bags were crocheted today.

This time decorated with little granny squares.

Flowers have been stitched for more bags.

Anzac biscuits were baked for the very first time.

I was directed to a recipe site on someone's blog and wrote down the recipe, but unfortunately, forgot to write down the blog or the website.

1 cup flour; 1 cup oats; 1 cup dessicated coconut; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1 stick of butter softened butter; 2 TBS syrup; 1 tsp baking soda. Mix.  Roll into balls. Place on baking sheet. Flatten and bake.

They are easy to make and very tasty with a cup of tea.

While I water plants early morning or late afternoon, Jingles revels in the moment.

Rolling.

 Sniffing.

Basking.

Have a joy filled week.

Bags in Bloom and a Question

Another quick and easy project.

Combining cross-stitch and crochet.

The flower images are old since nothing much is blooming here now.

(The hydrangea photo was taken while in Michigan 2010.)

But yesterday, there were lots of flowers being created with needle and thread

Then combined with crochet to make pretty little gift bags.

 I got a message today that I had exceeded my limit for free storage space, so did a big cleanup of my Picasa web album. This is the second time it has happened and both times it is because of unnecessary duplicates. Apparently, there is a way to change tool settings so that uploaded images won't be duplicated, but for the life of me, I can't figure it out.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Thanks! And have a great day!

Little Birdies

Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies yesterday?

I watched it live from 11 p.m. until 2:45 a.m.

Yikes!

Haven't stayed up that late in forever.

Remember that fiddly project I mentioned yesterday?

Well, after seeing posts by Angeliki and Val, I knew I finally needed to have a go at it.

It has been on my to-do list for quite some time.

Lucy's Birdie Decoration.

Ta-dah!

Easy to crochet.

But all those parts to sew together is what took so long.

The next one should be easier since I won't have to concentrate so much on the how-to.

This sweet little bird recently stopped by for a quick hello.

Perching on the branch of my one and only tree that has survived the brutal heat.

Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.

Victor Hugo

Have a great day!

Quick To Do

Astri at Apple Blossom Dreams asked if I used a sharp hook.

Val at The Little Things asked if I crocheted the border first and then attached or if I crocheted through the towel.

This is what I did.

A simple running stitch across the bottom using cotton yarn.

Then I turn the towel so I am working right to left.

Tie in my color and crochet into each running stitch using single, double and triple crochet.

Sometimes chain stitches.

Whatever strikes my fancy.

And in under 30 minutes, I have a pretty little handtowel.

Quick and easy.

Like this basket.

Worked in rounds with the handle crocheted up from one side to the other where it is attached with  single crochet.

I've started another project which is taking a bit more time with all its fiddly parts.

Wishing you a happy, creative day!

Refreshment and Renewal

When I posted a couple of days ago about my cranberry scones, Tammy at Tammy's In Love commented that she makes White Chocolate Cranberry Scones with Devonshire Cream! Yum!

So for breakfast, I served my scone up with thick cream and honey.

A perfect addition to my morning cup of coffee.

We've had lovely cloud cover today which helped to buffer the heat.  It still got up to 115 degrees, but didn't feel quite so bad when I got out there to water plants on both balconies.

Even though some have completely dried up due to the heat, I still continue to water them because you just never know what will pop up, and fortunately, something always does.

 And sometimes tiny green leaves will begin to unfurl on a plant that you thought was long gone.

The process of renewal in a harsh environment.

Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Colorful Borders

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

My rainbow today is in the form of all this colorful cotton yarn.

My first handtowels with crocheted border were given as gifts with a nice bar of soap.

One to Melissa's mother (who is visiting from the States).

And the second to Melissa (her favorite color is green).

The towels come from Ikea and only cost about .75 cents each.

So with my hook and a bit of yarn, they are getting the rainbow treatment.

Colorful borders in green, purple ...

blue and gold.

There's no pattern involved.
Just experimenting with a series of stitches until I come up with something I'm pleased with.

May you always find rainbows to brighten your day!

Best wishes and blessings,

Visit With a Friend

In addition to the cranberry scones, 

yesterday's baking also yielded banana muffins and jam thumbprint cookies.

My girlfriend, Melissa, came by for a visit this morning.

Three hours went by in the blink of an eye.

We did more visiting than we did eating.

 She recently traveled to Dubai

and brought back magazines that are now hard to find here.

She also gave me a package of Olives Au Chocolat

from La Cure Gourmande.

(Chocolate covered almonds made to look like olives).

It's the friends we meet along life's road
who help us appreciate the journey ...

 A little cross-stitch finished this afternoon.
(oops ... just noticed I left some stitches uncrossed)

I hope your day is filled with the blessings of friendship.

Quiet Contemplation

Last week my Aunt Kathi was in a serious car accident.

Rearended by a car going 60 mph, plowing her into the car ahead.

She was cut free and airlifted to a hospital.

Her recovery will be long.

The senseless massacre in Colorado.

The death of a co-worker on Friday from kidney and liver problems.

The continued conflict in Syria that affects friends and their families.

It's times like these when we really have to stop and count our blessings.

To remember all the good things in life.

I spent the morning baking.

Heart-shaped scones.

Preheat oven to 425.  Blend together 3 cups all purpose flour; 3 TBS sugar; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt.  Work in 6 TBS softened butter until mixture resembles fine meal; add in 1 lightly beaten egg and 3/4 cup buttermilk to form a dough; stir in 1/3 cup dried cranberries.  Lightly flour your work surface.  Pat dough to 3/4 inch thick and cut into rounds (or hearts).  Brush tops with a little buttermilk and bake til golden.

Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also to those who need it so much. 

(Author Unknown)

Wishing you a peaceful new week.

Saturday Stitching

Several days ago, I came across Bridgette Dadoux's blog,

where she graciously shares her embroidery designs for free.

I like quick, easy patterns and she offers just that.

Yesterday I finished her tea set design.

And today started two patterns in red.

 When using one thread color, I like to work the entire pattern up in one direction.

That way later on, I can finish it up by working in the other direction without having to concentrate.

 I washed up more of those brown jars I save,

so will be crocheting covers for them

and adding a tiny cross-stitch design to the top.

I think it gives the jar a more finished look.

Lastly, I would like to thank Kate from Granny Taught Me to Crochet for the recent blog award.

Kate lives in the UK where she blogs about her crochet projects, reasons to be cheerful and daily life in her little corner of the world.

Thank you, Kate!

I hope you will stop by and pay her a visit.

Wishing you all a wonderful day!