Need Some Dirt?

Hi!  We finally has a little cement work done under the front gates and extended the cement by the mailbox where there is a door incorporated into the fence so you can walk through instead of having to open the gate.

We removed most of the small plants and all the weeds and since the soil is fairly clay like we need to amend the soil a bit before putting in the new plants.  I'm excited since I've been wanting to plant permanent plants in here for years.  I think I have enough potted plants that could fill this area and would love to make this their new home!

I believe that we'll have to remove some of the dirt to make room for some soil amendments.  Now, where to put that extra dirt?  Hmmm.  Not sure yet.

Hope you all have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy's Lovely Tea Party

Hi, I'm back finally feeling more myself.  What a dreaded few weeks feeling like c**p has been and so glad that is behind me.

I wanted to share our lovely tea birthday party we had a couple Sunday's ago celebrating my bestest childhood friend who turned the big 5-0 on the 12th.  Her sis called me and said let's meet at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel in the Dana Point Harbor to do a little surprise tea party for Tracy and I said, "I''ll be there"!  My buddy Tracy has been fighting breast cancer.
Here's a pic of her, isn't she cute?

Her family moved next door to us the summer that Tracy and I would be in 5th grade come the fall, and our moms were lifelong friends as well as our sisters, too.  We recently lost Tracy and Blythe's mom, Eileen, and we miss her but she was partying with us that day in spirit.  While growing up, Tracy and I were inseparable.  We had vivid imaginations and lived in our own world.  In the summers, she would go on vacation and I was lost without her.  I would take care of her cat, George and I'd go to feed him and when he would meow and cry, I completely understood. 


Here's the entrance.  If you've ever had the pleasure of attending an event or being a guest you are lucky as you well know because you are treated very well at the Ritz-Carlton hotels.  If you ever get a chance to go to one please do, as it's fun to dress up now and then.

Here's the lobby...

Here's the party girls from left to right:  Tracy's daughter, Alyssa who's 20 and is a beautiful ballet dancer; Blythe, Tracy's younger sister; my mom, Jeanne; Tracy, Me, and my sis, Yvonne.

Here are all the treats; little sandwiches, fruit, tea and several desserts, yum!

Everything was very delish and they kept coming to make sure that we had hot water for our tea and checking up on us.  They did however knock over one of the teapots full of hot water with a bit of tea in it and had to change one of the tablecloths, but it was okay since it gave us a little excitement for the day and nobody got burned!  Other than that, we had a terrific time catching up on all our lives and promising to get together and to keep in touch.

Tracy and me...

May I ask you a favor?  Could you put Tracy in your prayers?  I really want her to have many more b-days and to be able to see her grandchildren someday, thanks...from the bottom of my heart.  Have a great weekend!

Nasty Cold Bug

Hi, I haven't posted in awhile since I've had all I can do to just get through each day since this darn virus attacked me!  Having your own shop and not being able to stay home and rest is really a drag.  I don't get sick that often (as I knock on wood) so when I do I don't slow down enough.  It seems I got over the flu part pretty fast but then it turned into a head cold and then a sinus infection.  It went like this: One day I'd feel better (and then I'd probably over-do it) and then the next day I felt wiped out again. Up and down, up and down...

Yesterday I was crabby and moaned to my sister (poor thing); the post office lost my postage stamp order etc., had a mild headache all day behind my eyes and then last night I slept for 10 hours and feel sooooo much better today.  I have some things to share with you so I'll be posting a bit more really soon.  Hope you are taking your vitamin c and getting plenty of rest so you don't catch a bug!

Meanwhile enjoy my front yard in bloom!

Ladies' Day Out

Good Evening!  Last Saturday my bestest childhood friend and I met for an afternoon of talking, eating and shopping at the new Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.  It is about halfway between us so travel time is about the same since we live sorta far apart from each other.  If you've never been to this pretty outdoor shopping mall you should go for a visit.  It is 150 acres of stores, like a little town of just pretty facades of storefronts. Most major stores are there and you have fast food and good restaurants and a movie theater, too.

We mostly sat outside and talked, catching up with the goings-on of our lives.  It was such a pretty day, a bit warm for the 1st day of spring but I'm not complaining!  We ordered the peach/green tea drink from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and it was soooo good!  It's the one on the bottom right.  Wish I had one right now...

That particular drink is just there temporarily so you should go right now and try it, yum!

I got these from a shop called Francesca's .  I just couldn't resist.  I'm only using one right now for my house key since I'm always trying to find it in the dark on my front porch!

Our lovely day came to a close after eating at Paisano's Italian restaurant.  Sad to say good-bye since everyone's so busy all the time and getting together doesn't happen as often as it should.  Hope you get to meet up with a friend soon to chat and hang out!

Itchy and Scratchy

Hello!  No, it's not the cartoon characters!

We as women, will wear high heels, dresses and outfits with lace and other accoutrements that can be itchy and all that but when it comes to lounging, we want to be comfortable!

Have you ever bought something to wear thinking that it would be comfortable and then it turns out to be poking you, making you itch and scratch????

Well, I did just that.  While doing Christmas shopping last Dec. I came across some flannel pjs that were a good deal, very cheery and brightly colored and my pjs were getting thin so I got 'em (Christmas gift for me, do you ever do that?).  I knew they would be too long in the sleeves and pants since I'm small; I'm used to that.  BUT when I wore them on Christmas morning they were pokie.  The culprit was in the seams I could tell.  Lo and behold, there is a plastic silver thread that is running throughout the plaid and sticking out here and there.  I tucked them away wondering if I should just wear them inside-out.

 The poking thread!

They have nice details, like velvet covered buttons and a tie belt:

Thankfully, I am blessed with a sewing machine and knowledge of sewing so I went to work hemming the sleeves and pants.  Then after careful thought, decided to get some bias tape to cover the seams.  It isn't a hard job just a bit time consuming.  While into it I thought I should have just bought some fabric and made some pjs, oh well ya live and learn!!

Here I go...

TA DA, FINISHED!! 

Wore 'em to bed last night and no itchy-scratchy!

Hope you have a pleasant and comfortable week.

Jordan's T-Ball

Hello, I went to my sis' last weekend to watch my nephew, Jordan, (who is 6 years old) play in his 2nd T-Ball game of the season.  For those who don't know what T-ball is, it is a baseball game that young boys play where they don't keep score but that each team gets to be in the outfield 3x and everyone on the team gets a chance at batting 3x, too.  It's really an introduction to playing baseball and they get to learn the sport without competition.

Jordan after waking up with a smile that says, "Hurry up with the photo, I want to get back to my video game".

Here he is up to bat:

Making it to 1st base:

Here's his team waiting for their turn to bat:

I hope you win or at least have fun at whatever game you are playing this weekend, enjoy! 

Happy St. Paddy's Day To Ya!

 

Hi and welcome!  I almost forgot to wear green today.  I might have been pinched black and blue if I didn't!  Trying to get into the festive mood, I wore my little flower necklace that looks a bit like a shamrock and a green t-shirt.  I'm not doing an Irish meal for dinner like I have in the past.  BUT, Wholefoods market is having a few choices in their nightly buffet style "dinners to go" so, I might go there tonight. I have a bit of Irish blood in me from my mom's side of the family and have always liked St. Patrick's Day.

Today is the ultimate "green day" so you need to eat something green and wear something green.  How about going green for the environment, too!  Reduce, reuse and recycle.

Do a little Irish Jig today ...

A crochet shamrock for you!  If you want the pattern go here .  I found her when I was searching shamrocks.  She has a "green group" on Ravelry a fabulous yarnie site.

And a sweet blessing to send you off with.  Have a lovely evening!  Thanks for visiting.