It's a jungle out there...

WOW!  The heat has caused everything to grow 

by leaps and bounds...

Under all the greenery is the filter barrel 

for my little pond...

It was my hope to have the plants cover the barrel,  as it is rather ugly with a big plastic pipe running down the front of it.  My mission has been accomplished!  I love how it looks now...  I just have to trim some of the grasses that are nearer to the bridge.  It looks a little "overgrown"  to say the least!  Hopefully,   the weather will cool off a little so that I can work out there for more than half an hour at a time.  I've gotten way behind with my gardening this summer.  Way too many weeds have grown up.  

Before we know it,  we'll be saying,  "it's so cold out there".  One thing for sure is that the seasons will change and we should all learn to enjoy them as they come...

I am trying to do that!  Are you?

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Dishcloths...

I wanted to show you the dishcloths that my BFF over at Our Cozy Abode was talking about that I made recently.  

My nephew and his bride-to-be are getting married October 13,  so I made these dishcloths for them.  These will go along with a monetary gift,   of course.  Just a little something extra from my heart for them.  

The white one has two wedding rings with three hearts on it.  To me it kind of looks like a Mickey head.  Of course,  you know that I am into Disney and visit there fairly often,  so it makes perfect sense to me... haha

The orange one is of a cat,  she loves cats!

The black is a raven for him...

Since their wedding is so close to Halloween,

 and they love that sort of thing, 

 I figured this would be a great gift that they would both enjoy!

The dishcloths are fun to make 

and the designs are endless!  

I love making them!

So much fun!

'Til next time,

Love ya,  Jean

Mindy's new outfit...

Mindy in her new outfit!

I am learning to do intarsia knitting.  This sweater has the dog emblem done in that method.  Believe me when I tell you,  it is not easy!  It means training your eyes to read a chart from right to left and then left to right.  Not easy!  And this is the first time that I knitted pants...  But I persevered and this is the result.

I bought the pattern off the internet and want to give credit to the seller,  but nowhere on the pattern is there an identification of who I bought it from.  Sorry!


I love how the outfit came out!  I hope the next one is easier!

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

My garden today...a panoramic view...

Good morning,  Everyone!

It's amazing that we have been in a drought 

and the perennials are still looking pretty good. 

 I did notice that the flowers are not

 lasting quite as long

 as they would with a normal amount of water.  

I'm trying not to water as much as I used to

 in summers past.  

It has become so expensive over the years,

 with the cost of water and sewage

 rising every year.

The annuals that I planted 

in the Spring have suffered.

The bunnies ate a lot of them 

and the others have not done well at all.

Except for the orange marigolds...

I guess they don't like them very much.  

They loved the yellow ones!

I am thinking that I will forget the annuals

and just use the perennials from now on.

We'll see.

I may have a weak moment 

and succumb to all the pretty flowers 

that I see at the garden centers next Spring! 

For now:  I am content with what I have...

Enjoy the pictures...

and you can make them larger 

by clicking on each one.

So that's it for today.  

It is raining a little bit this morning...

Thank you,  Lord!  And my garden thanks you,  too!
'Til next time,
Love ya,  Jean

Dishcloths...

I knitted some dishcloths...

It's a good way to learn some 

different stitches...

I like how they came out...

So cute!

I need to make some for myself.  

I gave 3 to my Mom...

And I have 4 to give to my Grandson 

and his bride to be...

I'm next!  haha

I also sewed 3 of the 

dresses for Africa today. 

 I had those left over from the last batch.

Always busy...  

Always something to do. 

 I am always learning something.  

Life is good and I am so thankful 

that I am able to do these things. 

 'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Flowers...

These first two pics are Queen Anne's Lace...

It grew here on it's own...

Very pretty,  but spreads very rapidly...

I will have to keep an eye on this one!

This one,  below, is Campanula,  "Lady Bells"...

Pretty,  but VERY invasive.

It's in every square inch of my borders...

I am constantly digging it out...

This is Verbena (annual).  I have this in a large barrel,
where the little bunnies cannot get to it!

They have eaten most of the annuals
that I planted this year!
They love my gardens!
 A smorgasbord for bunnies...  haha

My garden looks good so far this year, 
the perennials are pretty drought tolerant.
We are in a heat wave now,
and it is going to last for a while, 
as most of the country is...

Happy 4th of July!
How are you celebrating?

'Til next time,
Love ya,  Jean

Poppy...

My latest little beauty...

Meet Poppy...

She is a mermaid...

She does have legs and feet under her costume...

She is 13" tall...

She has real eyelashes...

She is in her costume here...

Her gorgeous hair is so soft...

She came with this bathing suit and skirt...

I should have many hours of fun,
 making clothes for her and dressing her.

I feel like a little kid again!

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean