Needle Book Finish and Flowers Aplenty AND Some Rabble-Rousing

Done and dusted.  I now will know where my sewing needles are.  :-)  It's not square and has plenty of oopsies but it's my own creation from scratch and I love it.  

My son Travis informed me that using the 13 star flag was considered racist by some.  I have heard that some Nazi-wannabes have used this flag for their evil cause but I am here to tell you that I will NOT let them highjack this image to use for negative things.  

This flag was created to be the first flag of the newly formed United States of America and I think it's wonderful.  

Betsy Ross was a Quaker. Quakers (Society of Friends) believed in the abolition of slavery since their creation in the 1650's. Ross was also from Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania abolished slavery in 1780.

"An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, passed by the Pennsylvania legislature on 1 March 1780, prescribed an end for slavery in Pennsylvania. It was the first act abolishing slavery in the course of human history to be adopted by a democracy."

I used some red cotton printed with gold polka dots that my friend Bev gave to me to line it.  All hand sewn in.  Then I cut some white felt for the "pages" but it was glaring and out of place so I decided to continue with my red theme.  I still have to move my needles over but will do that today.

My brother asked how how many needles does a person need so I told him I have sewing needles, beading needles, darning needles, yarn needles etc... :-)  My favorite needle is this handmade sterling silver yarn needle made by my friend Molly at Celtic Swan Forge.

My pin cushion was the perfect companion to me while I was doing so much hand-sewing on the needle book.

My visitors on Monday were my friend Shirley, her husband John and my sister Denise.  We all practiced safe distancing and kept our visit to the outdoors.  I have to admit it was stiflingly hot so our visit wasn't too long but we still enjoyed a good chat and we had iced tea with lemon and some of Dayle's homemade zucchini bread while visiting.  When they left we gifted them with a big zucchini and a dozen fresh eggs.  :-)  When they left our son Travis brought over our grandson Hayden for the week.

Then yesterday my brother Rob came by to get a good look at our tandem boat trailer that Dayle had built to carry two of our Sunfish sailboats.  Rob is going to do the same with the boat and trailer that was my sister Roberta's.  Her husband Teddy is giving it to Rob.  We had a chat and I sent him home with a jar of sourdough starter.. and.. a big zucchini.  :-)

Dayle and I enjoyed more time on the deck and I love seeing the hanging baskets in full flower.  Oh how Mocha is loved.

Dayle dug around in the bushy tomato plants and finally found some tomatoes!  Now to hope they turn red.  :-)  Actually this one is called "Black Cherry" so it might not turn red.

This one is a "Big Boy" we think.

Some of the Dahlias that we got from Sue at the bottom of our road are blooming!  They are quite a surprise!

This is one we got from Brecks - a pompom.

The other Brecks's dahlia that was what we ordered.

This was the wrong one we got from Brecks.  It's still pretty but no near as spectacular as the photo on the website.

Pretty daisy-like one.

Our pink rose.  Bug extra.

Double Delight.

Scentimental rose.

And I am so pleased that the Limelight Hydrangea we got last summer and planted is blooming very nicely!

We planted it near the road by two green-leafed Japanese Maples that were gifted to me by my blog friend Kathy.

Aren't these flowers lacy and blowsy and wonderful?

I wanted to share with you a clock I made 34 years ago!  When we moved here the house was beige and all the out-buildings were too.  Dayle built the barn and painted it to match.  I added our animals, we had a black Great Dane/St. Bernard cross named Butch and a tiny miniature Dachshund named Pretzel, and on the hillside was my Quarter horse named Lady and Amy's Arabian named Serendipity.  Also our 3 goats and black sheep.  Mt. Hood is behind us which you can see if you climb up to the top of the pasture behind our house.  The roses are because I named the place Rose Hollow Farm.  Note: the brown spots are knots in the pine wood used for the clock, my friend Gary cut these out for me from 1x12 pine boards.  :-)  I'm halfway tempted to update this and paint all the buildings barn red.. what do you think?

NOW.. if you've heard that Portland is being decimated and destroyed by rioters to the extent that Trump had to send in his own army to save us.  NOTHING IS FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.  

Yes, we have had peaceful demonstrations downtown in a small area since the death of George Floyd who was choked to death by 4 policemen.  Unfortunately some bad elements have caused some damage there.  I do not condone any vandalism.  But there is a big difference between peaceful protestors and destructive people.  

Things were winding down until the jack-booted gestapo arrived.  It was like throwing gasoline on a fire and now each night more people are going downtown to see what is going on.

The thugs that were sent here have beat and gassed peaceful protestors.  One man who was just standing there was shot in the face with a large rubber bullet which fractured his skull and he's had to have reconstructive surgery and it still hospitalized.

A few men who were headed away to go home were grabbed by his thugs, thrown in a van and their face covered and taken to an unknown location and were grilled by these thugs for hours and only were released when they asked to have an attorney present.

A group of moms decide to go down to join arms and make a #WallOfMoms (wearing masks) and were pushed and gassed by his thugs.  Gassing pregnant women!

Those gestapo types were sent here without any communication to our Governor, Senators or the Mayor of Portland.  Our leaders are all appalled and want them to leave.  They are refusing to leave and now Trump says he will send them to all cities with Democrat leaders.  Are you ready for that?  

At any rate, I wanted you to know that Portland is okay and will be better when those unlawful thugs are sent packing.

And people.. beware if they are sent to your city.

((hugs)), Teresa :-)