4th of July and Cross-stitch Oops

4th of July is in 5 days so I put my stars and stripes tablecloth on the table yesterday and put my cute little figurines out.  I think they're so sweet, she even has a hat made out of a miniature newspaper with real crepe paper poufs on top.  

I found an interesting recipe for Hawaiian Banana bread that has a little can of crushed pineapple, coconut, pecans and ginger in it.  Chef Dayle made it for us last afternoon.  It turned out delish!

We were running low on honey so Dayle walked across the road to buy a quart of local honey from Ginger Bates at her lavender stand.  

The hives are next to her fields of lavender but the honey is also from wildflowers in a 2 mile radius around us.  How cool is that?  I can't wait to try it.

He took a dozen eggs for her and she gave us a 4 ounce bottle of this blend of essential oils and suggested we rub some into our neck before we go to bed as it aids in sleep.  Cool!

Dayle brought in a Dahlia and we were amazed at how well it matches the color in the Double Delight rose.  He also informed me that there are flower buds on one of our new Dahlias and I can't wait to see what it looks like.  

As you can see above, I got the center done on my 4th of July pin cushion cross stitch project.  Thus I began working on the checkerboard design across the top.  The finish was in sight.  I was happy.

Mocha, fresh from the groomer, asleep on my lap, keeping me company as I stitched away.  

And then.. EGADS!!  SHOCK!!  HORRORS!!  I obviously mis-counted.  The squares were supposed to go to the end of the blue stripe and I came up one short.  WAHHHHH!!!  Now what?  I'm so bummed out, dispirited, depressed and unhappy.  

I started in the middle with the house, and apparently I should have started with the checkerboard top.  I thought I counted everything right.  Sigh.  What would you do to fix this?  Or do I start over?

The Dahlia is still opening up.. so pretty.

A closer shot.

I had to show you this.  Every time I leave my easy chair and come back, this is what I find.  Mocha has taken over my spot and expects a belly rub.  But even if I do give her a rub, she still won't get down.  I have a wooden spoon in my magazine rack that I have used to scoot her off the chair.  Now when she won't get down I reach for the spoon.. sometimes she leaves and sometimes she doesn't.  Then I take the handle of the spoon and rattle it.  Then she'll reluctantly get down.  Sheesh.  If you have a pet.. do they have a bad habit?

And so.. I am thankful every single day for our cozy home, some land around us, the garden, being able to order our groceries for contact-less pick-up, my dear husband, my cuddly dog, my kids and grandkids and my friends.  And I am thankful for this blog and the friends from around the world I've met here.  So, thank YOU for the comments that keep me going and your friendship.  💙💚💛🧡💝💜 ((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

River View, Tiger Lily and Tiny Stitches

The Historic Columbia River Highway has been closed from just before the Vista House and in front of Multnomah Falls area due to the Covid19 virus.  People Were not being careful at these popular attractions so the USFS and State Parks made decisions to block them off until further notice.  For new readers, this is the Columbia River which separates Oregon from Washington (on the left).

On Wednesday Dayle and I went on some errands - to pick up my cross-stitching supplies, fill the gas tank and do a drive-thru lunch.  On the way home we visited Portland Women's Forum which was recently opened.  I can't tell you how happy it made me to see this view once again.

A zoom image of four huge barges being pushed by a big tug boat.  These are common on the Columbia River.  I'm guessing they hold wheat from Eastern Oregon.

About a month ago this huge Douglas Fir in Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint was hit by lightning, look close and you can see half of it missing.  I wonder if the tree will survive?  I have been a member of Portland Women's Forum for many years and served as President for 4 years and am currently serving as Treasurer.  

Then.. I pulled up to the barricade heading to Vista House and asked the State Parks Ranger if he would let me through to get a photo of my beloved Columbia Tiger Lily wildflower which grows near a turnout on the way.  I told him that I was the Executive Director for the Friends of Vista House for 15 years and one of the founders of the group.  :-D  So, he pulled the barricade aside and let me pass.  I drove down the road and noted where some flowers were in bloom and then down to VH to turn around and head back and snuck a photo.  My beloved historic building is taking a well-earned break from the hordes of visitors who flock here.  

I was dismayed to only find ONE stem of the Columbia Tiger Lily in bloom.  Many times there are swaths of them in several locations.  The other flowers were all spent, I'm so happy this one was in perfect bloom.

Dayle actually had to do some climbing up into the bushes to get these photos for me using my iPhone.

I am absolutely in love with this amazing wildflower.

These are small and the circumference is the size of a silver dollar.  I do hope they re-seed widely for a good bloom next year.

Dayle snapped this cute little wildflower too.. it's a wild native Penstemon.

And now to my new project.  I have a wonderful blog friend named Helen Philipps who is a quilter, stitcher, designer and book author.  I am always amazed by her beautiful work.  On her current blog post she showed this adorable pin cushion and you can buy the pattern on her Etsy shop for an immediate download.  This design spoke to me with the red house, the flags and patriotic designs.  So, I went straight to her shop and bought it.   

I ordered the supplies via email from Craft Warehouse and they did the shopping for me and all I had to do was go in and pay for it. 

I got to use my new tailors scissors to cut the Aida fabric.  My friend Taci made the cover for it and gifted it to me one year.  

I saw some cool black scissors on Amazon and had to have them.  They're very sharp and only cost $16.99.  The handles are rubberized.

I cut the cloth bigger than I needed so I wouldn't run out of space.  :-)  Then I set to work.

I have to admit I got rather obsessed with working on this tiny little house.  LOL!  I blame my blog friend Vera who has been sharing her cute little cross stitch samplers she makes.  :-)

I changed the color placement on the roof, putting the blue on the outside edge.  The pattern calls for 2 strands of floss but I wish I'd used 3 strands as the 2 strands seem thin on my piece.  I see more stitching obsession again today.

I hope to get this done quickly so I can use it in my 4th of July decorations around the house.  I also must say that it did my blood pressure good to concentrate on this stitchery and not think so much about how dire the C-19 situation is in the USA.

Please wear a mask when out in public, Please wash your hands often.  PLEASE stay home and only go out for necessities.. (ok ok, floss isn't a necessity.. or is it?)  BE SAFE AND STAY WELL.

((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

Garden Safari

The potato plants are blooming!  Now what?  Any suggestions from experienced gardeners?  When can you dig up new potatoes?

And the pea vines have lots of peas.. I think I need to let them get more full before picking, yes?

One of my Double Delight roses that is open and pinked by the sun.

The tomatoes are getting huge.. the plants not the fruits.. in fact I can't see any baby tomatoes in there.  Hmmm.

Lychnis, aka Rose Campion - it self-seeds here and there but I don't mind as I love it.  My blog friend Helen Philipps showed her garden and I saw she had white and pink Rose Campion so I ordered some from.. where else.. Amazon!

Lychnis Angel Blush 200 Seeds - Perennial - these arrived yesterday so I will sow them and see if I can get some started.

The view from our back door, flower baskets!

The Petunia basket hanging on the lamp-post on the deck.

Oh how I love this time of year.  Everything is green and colorful.

The Pink Yarrow is thriving.

The back of the farmhouse.. it's where we enter the house.  Where do you enter your home?  

I'm so impressed with our leaf lettuce plants, we've plucked the outside leaves for salads and still more leaves grow.  

I have to say, the potato plants are HUUUUGE!  We need to find out when we can start digging new potatoes.

Our dinner on Monday evening.  I can't believe I just discovered the joys of frozen shrimp which you can use at a moments notice.  It was delish

I bought one of Helen Philipps patterns on her Etsy shop and have ordered the supplies via email from Craft Warehouse.  They just called and have all the items at the front counter for us to pick up!  I will show you more next post.  I'm just inches away from finishing the purple on my shawl and am now agonizing over which color to use next for the lacy edging.  Pink or medium blue?  I want to use pink but am not sure.  Your thoughts?  

I hope you are hanging in there.  We're trying to live as positive as possible.  Which to be honest, is quite a challenge.  I just want to make it through to the other side of this so I can see my grandchildren grow.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

Raising the Windmill

Dayle finished putting the cross pieces on the windmill and the boys helped move it to it's place behind the salad garden bed.

I watched in trepidation as it wobbled it's way across the yard.  :-)

Ta-dah!  Up and running.

I must say the rain we had in early June has everything very green and growing well.

The petunias in the pots on the garden shed are doing well and look so pretty there, and the Trumpet vine that my sister gave me from a cutting of hers is happy in this spot.  Something to remember my sister Roberta by.  It has never bloomed so far but maybe this summer it will.

Dayle brought in a red rose...

 ...and a Double Delight one during the rain.

And good news!  My Hot Lips Salvia started showing it's white and I am in love with it!

I wonder if it will bloom all summer?

Some of our Lilies are in bloom, too.

And an orange one.

More Dahlias in bloom.

More Zucchini blooms!

Tonight's dinner will be garden lettuce and garlic butter sauteed shrimp on top.  :-)

A bee dining in the Canterbury Bells.

The geranium with colorful leaves is bringing color to the deck.

It's fun to see the hanging baskets growing and getting more colorful by the day.  

The other basket.  We've purchased baskets in the past but this year we put them together ourselves and I'm enjoying our choices of flowers.



Bolivian Begonias, orange and pink.

Feeding the fishies.

Our son Travis and DIL Kristi invited us for Father's Day dinner at their house.  We took the boys home and enjoyed spending time with them.  Kristi made pasta with Alfredo sauce with RoTel tomatoes and shrimp for dinner.  Yum!  Here is their dog Ozzie.  He loves me and snuggles with me on the sofa.  And licked me in the ear and on my face.  LOL!

I'm on my last row of purple on my shawl so should have some of the lace edging to show you on my next blog post.

We have sunshine again, so our week is looking pleasant.  I hope all is well with you.  Stay safe my friends, we aren't out of the Covid woods yet.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)