Bits and pieces...

We woke up to a nice thunderstorm and rain shower this morning. It was just 62 degrees when I got up. Right now it looks like it is clearing up some, but a couple of neighboring counties are under a flood advisory. And the weather map shows more heading this way. I hope it clears up because I have plans for today with three of my grandchildren. 

Our apple tree has produced a lot of apples this year, but before they get ripe enough to pick, the blue jays come have a picnic. It is nothing to see 5 or 6 at a time just setting in the tree and pecking at the apples. We have tried shooing them off but the minute we walk back in the house, they just fly back to the apples. I am open to suggestions. It's a little late to get them away from the tree this year since they have damaged so many of the apples. But if you have any advice for next year, I would love to hear it.

Look closely in my Bradford pear. Yes, that is a RED leaf. It just turned up red yesterday. I guess fall is not far around the corner. The evenings and nights have been cooler and the humidity hasn't been as bad on some days. So I think we can start thinking about fall and cooler weather. 

When I was walking through the yard last night taking these pictures, the grass felt cool and was actually getting that little bit of dampness you feel when summer starts coming to a close. I happened to notice my feet. Pay no attention to the age spots, the ankle wrinkles or the fact I need a new polish job. What I noticed was that those weeks I went to the ball games and set on the bleachers in the sun actually paid off with a little tan. I didn't even realize I had been tanning until I saw the flip flop stripes on my feet. Either I got some good sun or I wear too many flip flops. Just noticed my left foot and ankle look a little swollen. Hmm, I twisted it the other day going down the steps but it doesn't hurt so it may just be old age. 

Hope you have a happy Tuesday. 

When I try to be nice....

I am one of those people who don't mind helping others if I can. But sometimes, I feel like I'm too nice and I end up paying for it. 

Last night, I had a strange number call my house. It was a South Carolina area code and I don't know anyone in South Carolina who would have my cell phone number. They called 3 times from 9:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. They didn't leave a message, but would just hang up when it went to voice mail and call back. 

I figured it was a wrong number and they just kept trying so I finally answered to see what was going on. It was a little old lady who was crying (you could tell it wasn't fake). I asked her who she was trying to call and she gave me her daughter and son-in-law's name and address and said they lived in Gatlinburg and she needed them and couldn't reach them. My number was one she had written down for them. 

Since this number is just two months old, I thought maybe it used to belong to them. I asked her if she wanted me to try to find their number in the phone book. She gave me their names and their address and asked me to look it up. Long story short, I found them and she asked if I could just call them and ask her daughter to call her that it was an emergency.

So, me being me, I did. The tearful lady had told me she was 80 years old and very upset and that she couldn't remember numbers. The daughter answered the phone and I explained what was going on. She thanked me profusely. She said her mother is 80 years old and gets confused real easy. She said she would call her right away. She thanked me for being so sweet to her Mom and for taking the time to help her. 

I felt like I had done my good deed for the day and put it out of my mind. Around 11:45 p.m. it started again with the little old lady calling my number by mistake. I was asleep so just looked at the number and figured when it went to voice mail she would realize and call the right number back, which the daughter was going to give her. 

Nope. She got voice mail, hung up and called back. Then she called back in 5 minutes. I finally just turned the phone off since I was going to bed. When I got up this morning, she had called 4 times during the night and never left any messages. 

It's things like this that make me realize why people sometimes don't want to be helpful with others. 

I don't even know if I can block a number from calling a cell phone or not. 

Feel Good Music

My top 5 "Feel Good" songs that can pick me up no matter what mood I'm in

Red and Black

 I love red and black in the winter. That has always been my "signature" color. I have several sweaters and tops for winter in blacks or red. Black is very slimming and I need all the help I can get. 

I had done a post earlier about how coral and turquoise were going to be my colors this fall. And I am still trying to find some things I like in those colors. But now that the new fall Thirty-One catalog is out and I am seeing all the red and black they have added, I am pretty sure that is still going to end up my favorite colors for fall and winter. I was looking on the internet yesterday and found several things that hit my fancy.

I have always loved flannel shirts and the red and black has long been a favorite pattern of mine. 

Fell in love with this coat. I am notorious for not liking to wear a coat in the winter, but I would sooo wear this if I had it. 

This is  a cute little bracelet. 

This is a cute outfit even though I would prefer jeans with no holes or patches. 

Love the sweater, coat and purse. Definitely not a fan of the boots or hat. 

This is a cute scarf and hat set.  

Love the shoes even though I couldn't walk in them. 

I need new tennis shoes this fall. Maybe I should go with some red since I am planning on wearing so much of it. 

These are so comfortable looking. They would be cute with jeans. 

Love the boots.

I am not normally a cardigan person, but I do love argyle. 

A very whimsical pair of Puma's that would also be cute and comfy with jeans. 

I love this sweater. 

And this one. Fair Isle sweaters are my absolute favorites. 

This one is cute. 

And I love this look. 

Wouldn't mind finding one like this. 

In my searching, I found some cute things, some not so cute things and one pair of shoes that was so hideous, I had to show them to you.

Seriously??? Nike high heels. Here's a thought for you Nike....stick to tennis shoes! Just do it!

Very pleased

Back in the spring, Hubby was going to plant some tomatoes and cucumbers. He has a green thumb and just a few plants can yield tons of produce. I have never been a gardener except to ask Hubby to plant me some potatoes. He does the planting, then weeding, the watering, the tending. But this year, I wanted to try my hand at it. I wanted something that I could baby and tend to and grow. So on May 2, 2012, I planted one single solitary watermelon plant and named him Walter. 

Walter has been spoiled and pampered all summer. On those long, dry days with no rain, I diligently stood late in the evening right as the sun was setting and let a steady drizzle from the water hose give Walter his daily dose of moisture, saturating the ground to insure his health and well being. Walter started to grow. When the torrential rains came and threatened to drown my poor little fellow, I went out and aerated the soil around the root to allow for a better drainage so he didn't wash out of the ground. My efforts were rewarded on July 1st, when I went out to check on Walter and spotted my first little watermelon. I was so proud. 

By July 15th, Walter had thrived and multiplied. The vines took on a mind of their own and ventured out of their little bed and and started weaving into the grass, making it hard to weed eat. One particular day before I went out and weeded the grass around Walter's home, I felt like we were living in a jungle of vines and foliage. 

But I diligently continued to cultivate and care for my one solitary little watermelon plant. Yesterday, my efforts were rewarded when Hubby thumped good old Walter's fruit and announced the first three were ripe and ready to pick. So I did the honors and now we have three beautiful melons weighing in at 10 pounds, 13 pounds and 14 pounds. I couldn't be a prouder mama. 

This could be SEW much fun....

I have mentioned before that I want a new sewing machine. Mine bit the dust a couple of years ago and I have never gotten around to replacing it. But I keep seeing fabric I love and things I would like to sew. I have been checking on machines. I am not a big seamstress and the items I make will just involve stitching straight or zig zag lines. Nothing fancy. No button holes or monogramming. I just want to sew simple stuff.

My last machine was a Brother and it was okay, but it had a lot of problems with gathering the material, looping the thread and lots of other things that I never had problems with when I used a Singer. So I am going back to a Singer. I just added this to my Pinterest Christmas Wish List.


Even though I had three years of Home Economics in junior high school and even though I made two dresses, one with sleeves and pockets and a zipper and even though I made a jump suit and a lined skirt and vest, that doesn't mean I know anything about sewing. That was many, many years ago and a lot stuck with me and a lot didn't. So I started reading the details to see if this was the right machine for me. I saw words like "stitching patterns" and "feed cover". There were phrases like "darning or free motion". Then I saw the one word that caught my eye that made me know this was the machine for me. That word was EASY. I'm sold.

It comes with your choice of hard carrying case or soft. I don't plan to ever take it anywhere, but just in case I needed to, I prefer the soft case. Plus it has a cool vintage look to it.



I need to start making plans for what I would sew if I get it. I know pillows are one thing I want to make. Lots and lots of pillows. Some for my couch, some for the kids room, some for the porch swing and some for the holidays.



There are so many beautiful patterns in today's material. And you can even buy quilted material so it looks like you really slaved over your pillow.



I would also like to try my hand at one of these. I have always loved them.



It would even be fun to decorate some pillow with yo yo's.



I'm getting ahead of myself here. I need to get the sewing machine first. Maybe Santa can surprise me this year.

Speaking of.....

My sister sent me a pic yesterday of her new dishtowel. I love it. She picked it up at Kroger. I need to head over to my Kroger and see if they have one. 

I love how she put it on her mixer. Check out her little bean pot she keeps her cutlery in. That is a cute idea. I'm going to have to look for a bean pot now. 

Speaking of dishtowels.....I saw this on E-bay yesterday. I fell in love with it. It looks very vintage, but it is actually a material made in the USA called Moda Fabric. Love this whole display. I have never seen this Pyrex bowl before. It needs to go on my wish list. 

Speaking of Pyrex.....Did you know there are vintage dishes out there called Pyrex England. I did not know that Pyrex was made there, nor did I know that English Pyrex are different patterns than we have in the U.S. 

Speaking of Pyrex England.....I did some research and found out that there is also Pyrex Australia. Wouldn't you love to get your hands on some of these patterns?

Speaking of patterns.....I was visiting www.PatternHutch.com yesterday and saw a pattern for these cute pin cushions made from yo yo's. What a neat idea.

Speaking of yo yo's.....That reminds me that I haven't crafted in awhile and that reminds me that I haven't finished my sisters box. 

(Sis, my grandson Garret and my brother-in-law Dale)

Speaking of my Sister.....I guess her sending me a picture of the dishtowels triggered my guilt over not finishing her box. So I guess I am going to get off here and go work on her box.