Continuing to Stitch

I continue to stitch on my little project.  I made a serious miscount and had a lot of repair work to do.  As you can see, I am back on track and working along quite well.

The fabric is 28 count gingham linen by Graziano.  It is a kit from The Sweetheart Tree.  I was beginning to become a little concerned because I could not find suitable fabric to make the pocket which this will decorate.  Yesterday, I realized that I did not have to shop for fabrics and that I had the right ones all along.  The floral print will be the lining for the pocket.  The other fabric with the cloud like leaves will be the outside of the pocket.

We have had a couple little visitors, a mama squirrel and her youngster.  Mama is teaching the little squirrel what it needs to know to survive.  Since Sunday there has been an almost nonstop high pitched chatter between the two.  I suppose that Mama is urging the youngster to do something and that the youngster is saying, "Fine for you to say that but I have to do it!!!  And I don't feel like doing it!!!! " 

They are in the neighbor's pine trees just outside our bedroom window.  The living room is behind the bedroom on the same side of the house so we can hear the chattering in both rooms.

Just One More Thing

The lovely etui and accessories came with one more gift.  I saved the best for last on a day when I can savor it. 

It is this delightful homemade plum jam.  It was made earlier this year and looks marvelous and tastes delicious with these biscuits.  The only thing that might be lacking is some real Devonshire cream. 

Stitching Progress

This is my newest stitching project.  It is not necessarily what I would choose to to right now but more a case of must.  It is not that I do not like it because I do, just that I would rather stitch something else.

I actually moderate the Christmas in July Exchange.  Wouldn't you know it?  It is not certain that one of the participants will successfully complete her exchange responsibility.  It happens more often than I like to think.  I always feel very bad about the participant who is left out so I prepare a consolation gift.

This time the participant finally checked in after the due date and said that she is behind.  Well gee, we already knew that because it is past the due date.  Prior to hearing from her, I had begun a consolation gift.  Because I do not have complete confidence in this person, I will continue to stitch until I know that her giftee has received her gift.

This is the project, Pink Carnations from The Sweetheart Tree.  If the original person comes through, I will have this to decorate a fabric pocket for a friend.

Cannot Wait to Show You

Please take a minute to look at this lovely etui and stitching accessories.  Do you remember the silk covered box with the poppy on the lid?  That was my gift in a Christmas in July Exchange.  This is what my giftor gave me.  The stitching and finishing are exquisite.  It is such a treasure. 

We Ate the Whole Thing

Last night we ate the cauliflower.  We served it with shrimp in dilled cream sauce.  We also had a cucumber fresh from our garden.  We served cucumber slices in sweetened vinegar with dill.  Summer dining seems so extravagant with so much fresh produce from our garden.

I have been a little busy today.  I continue to experiment with the project bag idea.  I like the appearance of this mesh. 

 

Cauliflower and Broccoli but Primarily Cauliflower

Roger planted the cauliflower.  I told him that if he wanted nice heads he had to pull the leaves up and cover the heads with the leaves.  Today he picked the first head of cauliflower. 

Needless to say, Roger heeded my advice.  In all the years we have tried to grow cauliflower, this is literally the first successful head that looks like something you might want to eat. 

We have 6 to 8 jalapeno peppers ready to pick and one sweet green pepper that looks almost ready to pick.  Maybe we should begin to think about making fresh salsa. 

Raspberries from the garden

We had hoped to have blueberries from the garden too but something that wanted the blueberries more urgently got into the garden and stripped the bushes.  These blueberries are from the grocery store. 

Something or someone has been busy in the garden.
It looks like a deer has eaten some of the cucumber vines.  Something was in the broccoli and flattened the plants in the center of the broccoli patch.  To tell the truth, it almost looks like a deer bed in the garden. 

I wonder if the triffids were the inspiration for Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.  I think that our squash and pumpkins are not diabolical.