Have Tote - Will Travel +++Love this new Animal themed TOTE BAG



Click on photo to view more photos. You can, also, purchase this tote on my website.



My newest creation is this lovely animal themed tote bag - great for youngsters and the mature population.

 You can find this fantastic and very useful, machine washable tote on my website.


This bag is great to carry library books, lunch and much more.

HUMMUS. Yikes!!!!

I've heard of Hummus for the longest, decided to buy a trial size a few days ago, YIKES!!! Have you tried it; and if so, did you like it??? 

I love chick peas, but hummus is a different story.

---End of post--

A few Health Food Goodies; and more of my Summer 2013 Garden

I know that it has been too long again since I've updated my blog; so, here I go.

While out shopping this past Summer 2013, I became thirsty, wandered into a nearby Health Food Store to find many cans of Coconut water chilling on ice.  At that moment, I couldn't remember ever having tasted coconut water, so I thought I'd give it a try. Yikes, the taste was despicable; but I almost immediately noticed that I became very energized. (I ended up returning in a few days, and buying a CASE of the stuff)  It's an acquired taste, for sure.

You'll never be able to accuse me of not being HEALTH CONSCIOUS. (ok. I do eat junk sometimes as well)

Recently, I loaded up on a variety of  recommended healthy goodies.  I'd never heard of  "jaggery" before a nice Indian buddy recommended it. Upon entering a local Arab/Indian store, I couldn't remember the name of the product, asked the clerk for "Faggery", of which he politely corrected me that the name is actually "jaggery". I made the purchase, but is still waiting for the opportunity to use it. (I think that I'll use it in cinnamon rolls in a couple of weeks)

The above photo shows damage done to my much loved broccoli, by my trusted three chickens. (oh, you don't see the worse part of the damage)

I'll admit that my gardening experience this 2013 summer is about the worse I've ever experienced. Though some of the vegetables did grow well, the majority was re-planted several times, with little success. (guessing the vegetable Gods were rather relaxed this past planting season; perhaps they spent too much time fishing, for which I can't blame them for, for I love to fish myself, BUT, someone has to tend the garden, LOL).

My BEST helpers.

My Vegetable Garden 2013 (Part 1)

I kept my word this year, and really did begin my garden in early March. Everything is planted from seeds except for the

broccoli,

and the red onions.

The red cabbage survived the 110+ temperatures of last Summer; and this past Winter.

One of the plots

The Turnips and Arugula had popped through the soil after only FOUR days.

Below is the first plot that I began. I originally made it circular, but later squared it.

Of course, the girls, chickens, were always helpful.

 The two lower plots.

In the meantime, the pears, peaches and plums were developing.

 The upper three plots.

Red onion after a week or so.

Sweet pea.

 Broccoli.

 I could no longer resist the broccoli. I made Broccoli Rabe with the leaves.

 I made Broccoli Rabe with the leaves.

Arugula and turnips.

 Beets or Swiss Chard

 Arugula (close-up)

Stay tuned...... There is more to come. Please feel free to comment.

A Rainy, Knitting, Sewing Saturday.

(Click on the photo above to see more photos and to view/buy this lovely handmade tote bag)

Today was ANOTHER great day for doing what I love most-CRAFTS.

Proof that is rained is shown on the leaves and branches in my yard.

Todays' raindrops/dollops on the leaf above.

Above is a strippy scrappy country themed tote that is in the works. I added some machine embroidery on some of the strips.

I actually knitted this purse today. (I hope to get it sewn up and embellished before the end of the year)

The above piece on the top will be a wristlet. I have wristlets for sale. Click on the photo to see some of them.  I love making yo-yo's. They are so simple, and can be done almost anywhere,anytime.

The captions speaks for themselves on these two.

I did get the tote below listed on Etsy this week. Woo Hoo

(click on the photo to see more photos and to view/buy this lovely handmade tote bag) 

 I loved doing the raw hand applique / top stitching on these leaves.

More proof that it rained today.

 Another yo-yo applique tote in the making.

 Applique is so easy, and so fun.

Love the batik fabric strip in there.

Everything is better with applique.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please feel free to comment. I love comments.

To Capture a REDBIRD known as a CARDINAL

I had never realized how difficult it was to capture a photo of a Redbird/Cardinal until a few days ago, after a great Aussie buddy mentioned never having seen a redbird in person.

I had to think about it, but was pretty sure that I'd seen the little critters many times, in the trees, and on the ground of my property.

Questioning my own eyes, I then made it a point to be on the watch-out for REDBIRDS, male and female. (as though I can discern the difference)

Look closely and you'll notice the yellow and black beak trademark of Cardinals.

Seeing these beautiful creatures, and photographing them proved to be a different subject; for, they would always fly away before I could get my camera.

It happened while digging in my garden yesterday. [I had the camera outside, in anticipation of photo-ing preparations that I'd begun towards my upcoming vegetable garden] I heard a lot of BIRD-CHATTER, looked up, and there was a Cardinal amongst the crew. You betcha, he/she flew from tree to tree, limb to limb, as though he/she knew that the camera was focused on it. It took patience from me, waiting, and moving from one angle to another just to get these photos.  Finally, it remained still long enough for ME-Yeah Right!!

You'll probably notice that it was constantly moving from one pose to another. (perhaps he/she decided to pose for my camera afterall, just as a fashion model does, displaying varying angles).

Oops, the electric-wire decided to get in the photo as well!!