Inaugural "Windows into Wednesday"

I decided to give a little extra task to what is commonly known as "humpday." Each week, this particular day will host what I've decided to call "Windows into Wednesday." The idea is to combine a favored day of the work week with a favorite pursuit of mine, that is, photographing windows. Some of my photographs will be favorites I shot in the past. Others will be more current. Some may include somewhat of a descriptive caption, while others may simply be allowed to speak for themselves.

gargoyled window

There's no suit in this suitcase, just some casual clothing to wear while enjoying a mini-holiday in a city that is a favorite destination of ours.

This tote, which I'm taking along with us, is a favorite gift from Squidley. The bag's featured dog just happens to be a less common type of dachshund. I'm talking about the piebald, which is exactly what Scout is. His coloring is white and red, but we've seen white and black piebalds, too.

This little bag is going on holiday, too, and will be used to store little treats for Deutsch and Scout. This will be the first time we're using the bag, and I hope the boys like it because I made it especially for them.

No particular reason; just kinda like it.


Well, I have packed everything except the last minutes items. Now it's off to beddy bye.

I hope you have an enjoyable weekend, whether you stay home or venture elsewhere.

Picture This

I did not have success with adding words to yesterday's post. Tonight there are no photos. Well, there were some, some really nice ones, but after adding them to a new folder, I forgot to name said folder. So, either the pictures have spontaneously combusted, or they are in their new found hiding place laughing themselves silly about me.

So, everyone take good care and have a picture perfect evening.

Blogger Malfunctioning, Unable to Add Text, Hope These Sweet Pictures Will Suffice for Tonight

The Garden State

Summer has bid us adieu, but she left behind evidence that she was indeed a vital part of our year and our lives. So we remember her with fondness and look forward to her company again next year.

Our gerbera daisies continue to produce large, showy blooms. Besides these yellow potted ones, there are also red gerberas still in bloom, both in the ground and in pots.

And there are still some large

tomatoes on the vines.

And some grape tomatoes.

And of course, Summer was instrumental in giving other plants part of what they needed to continue into Fall and provide us with further bounty.



This is our first attempt at growing celery. As you can see, celery leaves represent the initial growth. We are excitedly watching the plants' progression as we've never witnessed the growth of this particular food.



Another first attempt for us is growing green onions. I think the growth period is about three months, and these have been slow going, though steady.

Another view of the celery and green onion plants shows the box in which they were planted. Squidley built several "salad boxes" so that we could grow all kinds of things on the back patio, rather than in the ground. This is exciting and enjoyable, and we hope to have even more boxes next year.

This is one example of the many different lettuce plants we are growing a la salad box. They are not "heads" of lettuce but rather plants whose leaves can be removed individually. The plants continue producing even as leaves are picked.

It has been a very good day. We made a trip to the library, then drove to a nearby department store to purchase toiletries and assorted items needed for an upcoming holiday to Savannah. We were there about a year ago and also recently spent a night there on our way home after spending several weeks in Florida. It is one of our favorite destinations, and I plan
on sharing many of my Savannah photographs with you in the future.



I managed to squeeze in just a bit of sewing later this afternoon. There was really not enough visible progress to make taking photographs worthwhile. So, perhaps tomorrow.


I also somehow managed to continue reading from the book that was chosen as the second read for the online book club which I joined a few months ago. We are reading "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. This I first read seemingly eons ago, but I am very much enjoying the re-read. If you should decide to read this for yourself, I suggest reading a little biographical info about the author and her family first.



I wish lots of good sleep for everyone, and a wonderful week.

Carpe Diem

Autumn arrived only about four days ago, so we're seeing just a smidgen of color in the trees. There was a distinct coolness today, and a gentle but steady breeze kept the trees in motion for the duration of the afternoon. It was a "I want to don a sweater and some jeans and take a walk through the woods" kind of day. That, I actually didn't do. I did, however, enjoy writing that sentence and relishing the very idea. Tomorrow I will, with fewer chores on my list, seize the day.

Just the start of something beautiful

Snack for the evening: fresh boiled Georgia peanuts. (Don't know if they're really from Georgia, but that just sounds so good.)

pensive

mid-yawn

reserved

reflective


Those quiet, earlier moments of calmness, perhaps, even, boredom, eventually gave way to lots of excitement, punctuated with rapid-fire barking, at the detection of Deutsch's friend, "Frog." This little guy has been with us for the summer, generally hanging out near the light by the French door. On one particular summer evening, I held Deutsch up to get a better look at his "pal," and he proceeded to envelope Frog, in his entirety, in his mouth. Squidley had to quickly pry his mouth open (quite a feat since Deutsch did not want to give even an inch) and remove Frog. Thankfully, he was unharmed.

Deutsch's excitement upon seeing Frog today was especially enthusiastic since we had not seen him for a few weeks. Even when Frog is not around, you only have to say his name for Deutsch to run to the door and look for him. Scout gets excited, but only because he is copying his brother.

Scout barks, too, but he'd much rather be looking at a bunny rabbit.

Deutsch comes eye to eye with his pal that once was almost a fast food meal.

And I did yesterday promise a little look at a project I started the same day. I worked on it a little more this afternoon and hope to complete it fairly soon. I may wait until it is finished before I post any other pictures of it. It is, obviously, a sewing project, and thus far is moving along quite nicely. A seasonal piece that I'm actually starting early enough for it to be ready in time for "its season."

wintertime quilted wall mural

I hope you all are having a pleasant weekend and are getting to do at least a smidgen of the things you find most enjoyable.

Dreamland

I spent most of today doing laundry, sewing, and playing with Deutsch and Scout. Then I kept a late afternoon (almost evening) appointment. I got home very late, so we enjoyed a light dinner of Caesar salad.

I will soon show you a sampling of the sewing project which occupied much of my time this afternoon.

Meanwhile, I'll soon occupy my time with some nighttime moving pictures in my mind.

Sweet dreams to you, too.

Hat's Entertainment

Here is a project just before it was completed. At this point, the cast on "long tail" needed to be woven through the newly crafted fabric.

And this is the finished pull on hat. I knitted this using Regia 4-Fach Haltbar, Design Line by Kaffe Fassett. (I believe I used either size two or three circular needles.) I enjoy designing and making hats using various sock yarns, especially self-patterning and self-striping ones. The Regia sock yarn used to make this project is 75% new wool (superwash) and 25% polyamid, so the hat can be machine washed and machine dried.

Just an overhead view to further show off the lovely self-striping effect. I think the brief splash of light turquoise prevents this little hat from slipping into "Averageville."

While sitting at my sewing desk this afternoon, I started at the sound of something jumping on a patio chair out back. My camera was on the table beside me, so I quickly got a few shots of the interloper as he quickly inventoried the patio. Though the photo is not crystal clear (It was shot through the glass in a French door so as not to disturb the squirrel.), it is pretty obvious that there is something wrong with the little creature's skin. I figure he either has a disease or was attacked; I think the latter is the more likely scenario. I am sad for him, but still, I must say, he appeared to be getting around quite well.

Squidley and I saw a silly comedy at our nearby theatre this evening, then picked up a bit of dinner to take home with us. We had a very enjoyable time and, despite the movie not being all that, we felt adequately entertained.

Well, it's off to nighty-night for me. Sleep well, everyone.

Cute By Day and Night

We've had a very busy day, and all we want to do is sleep.

After all, being cute, cuddly, and just plain adorable all day long could wear anyone out.

Nighty night, everyone.

A Beautiful Paradox

Deutsch and Scout got "Frontlined" this evening. They get to wear these really cute sports shirts so they aren't able to lick the application spot on one another. And I have to say that these little boys are pretty good models for this particular clothing line. Deutsch's little legs, though, are especially short, so Squidley had to roll up his sleeves. The two of them don't seem to mind wearing clothes. In fact, I think they might actually enjoy it because of all the extra attention they get. Hmmm . . . . They really are cute, aren't they?

Squidley made me a bedtime snack despite the fact that I'd had a filling dinner of pepperoni pizza. Cream of wheat, a comfort food since childhood. My daddy used to sing me a song about it:

Cream of wheat is so good to eat.

It makes you strong, and it makes you sweet.

Add the sugar.

And the milk.

And voila! I'm getting stronger and sweeter.

I still need to work on the "prettier" thing, so it's off to bed for me for a bit of beauty sleep.

I Fell for Fall

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009, 17:18: The first day of Fall.

Well, that's actually not until tomorrow; I just like typing that, though. It is, to me, the lovliest season, so count on many picture posts over the next few months.

This entry is short because I am tired and already in bed. Squidley was not at his best today, and I've been taking care of him. He is much better but still needs plenty of rest.

Hoping everyone sleeps well. See you next season!

September Evenings: How Cool is That!

What a lovely weekend we've been enjoying! Clear warm mornings and afternoons, slightly cool evenings. Cool enough for a long-sleeved shirt or light jacket. We walked into a cinema early Saturday evening, jacketless and quite comfortable. After watching a nearly two hour feature, we emerged from the building to find the temperature had significantly dropped. It was pretty much a repeat of Friday evening when we attended a dinner honoring someone very special to us.

These temps, both day and nighttime, are a marked difference from what we only weeks ago experienced in Florida. During that trip, "no deodorant" was not an option.

Well, I mentioned seeing a film over the weekend. I think that was only the second time I'd seen the screen version of a book I'd not yet finished reading. We saw "The Time Traveler's Wife." I really couldn't give a proper review yet because I want to finish the book and see how closely (or not) the film follows it. Incidentally, this book is the first selection of a newly formed online book club I joined. "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte (chosen by our Australian host), is up next, and though I have read it already, I look forward to turning its pages again.

While in Florida recently, my hands and brain stayed busy with some light knitting. "Light" because I worked on nothing with directions that required my steadfast attention, or even cables, which aren't really complicated, but which turn out better when I'm focused and don't let any stitches slip off the cable needle. So, though I'm back to sewing after our long trip, I am still in knitting mode. I will soon post a photo of a dark gray hat I'm making for a young man in our family. This is a first for me because I have not previously worked with yarn made from bamboo (in this case, bamboo and wool blended together). The hat's stitches are tiny because the yarn of choice is sock yarn. Knitting a hat with this takes longer than using, say, a worsted, but the extra time spent is so worth it. And while perusing the great sock yarn selection could take a while, that extra time is also worth it. The first photo of sock yarn is not really indicative of that great selection, because, let's face it: Guys are not really into all those "choices" that we women are. But I do have to say that the dark gray is one of the nicer ones I've seen.

This second sock yarn is one of my favorite color combinations. It is knitting up beautifully, and I will photograph this project after it is finished.

I wish everyone a very "cool" evening, unless, of course, you prefer it warm!

IHOP Wannabe

We have been very busy today, in very good ways. Got home late from seeing a movie, had dinner, then Squidley made me pancakes for a snack. Breakfast at night is always something I enjoy.

Sleep well and have a very pleasant Sunday.

Marvin Gardens

First, I'd like to note that I have only been keeping this little online diary, or, blog, if you will, for a short period of time. Up until now, I have posted nine times during the past nine days. Some of the entries were little more than a sneeze, I know, but only because I felt just plain awful.

Well, I'm feeling much better, but after a very busy day with very little time at home, I am going to bed without passing "GO" and without collecting two hundred dollars.

And hoping you, too, have a monopoly on sleep when you need it.

In the Pink with Pinking

A little update on the small project I mentioned this past Monday. I finished cutting the needed pieces that day, so this afternoon I tackled the construction. The idea for the project came from someone who had the idea passed on to her. So, while I cannot claim authorship, I can stake my claim to this version's particular concept.

I chose four coordinating fabrics (including one that is not visible) and from them diligently cut squares from specific areas. Typically, each of the finished pieces showcases a "patchwork" front. My design yields an additional "front," making this project more versatile, as well as giving it even more beauty. Also, the original idea suggested using interfacing, but I chose fleece instead. And three other things. I tacked a bit as I went along, making the sewing much easier. I also did zigzag stitching in the seam allowance, and to the right of that I pinked the fabric edge. Pinking shears are the best!

And lastly, above is a photo of how the finished project looked when it went to its new home.

Scout somehow managed to score a small sample of glitter from our anniversary card. We saw that one coming.

No glitter for dear Deutsch, but you can't take a picture of one and not the other.

Well, it's been a very nice day, including being taken to lunch by Squidley. Other bits of sewing. Reading. And lots of fun playing outside with D and S.

I hope everyone had a nice day and got to do something fun.