A Matter of Mulch

Once a year our small city has a day where we can take anything we want to toss and drop it off at the local recycling/trash center.  Great day to get rid of the piles of large broken things we have acquired, and not have to pay for it.  The other great thing about the day ... Free mulch!!  My hubby loves to sleep in, so I am never able to get there early and always keep my fingers crossed to get some mulch.  But this year since our son is back home as a working man, and is not adverse to getting up early, we left at 8 for our first load.  There were several trucks there already, but my strategy was to not get there at 7 when they opened.  I did not want to be waiting in the early bird line .... We timed it well.  Filled up, went and had a coffee and a quick breakfast at Starbucks with my sweet son.  He is an industrious young man and I am so proud of who he continues to grow into.  Went home and unloaded, and then while I was busy moving mulch, the boys went back for 2 more loads.  We just made it stretch to cover what we wanted, but we could have used one more load.  They had gone back for load number 4, but it was too close to closing time.  I am so thankful for the 3 loads we got ... That was a lot of money we saved, and makes the yard look so nice and tidy.  It was a long day.  By the time we finished it was about 430 and I was so dirty I left a ring in the bathtub ... Haha!

And while it was snowing in other parts of the states today, we had our second day of 80 degree weather!

Longarming and gardens

Both of these feed your soul, don't they?  I am happy to report that after 5 days, my new plants are still alive!  I'm checking on them 3 times a day.  Haha

I have been at my machine doing some work in the last week.  Here is an adorable quilt my friend made ... It was a year long class in piecing techniques and was very challenging.

She actually made two quilts!  This one in 30's fabrics and the other one is a more coordinated color wave.  It was supposed to have a complicated border, but she decided she would rather enjoy her quilts and get them done now, rather than shove them in a box to finish another time.

She did an amazing job piecing this, don't you think?  She really just loves close, all over small quilting, so I did my little signature swirl.  Since my color selection of Omni thread is limited, I used a Signature in an ivory color with a prewound Glide bobbin ... Love that brand of prewounds!!!

So sweet!!!

Speaking of Omni thread, I decided to add to my color selection since I am loving their thread.  My friend, Tina at work, is in charge of ordering supplies for the store.  Well I just added handed my order to her one day, and two days later I had the thread in my hands!  Now that is service ... Great service by Superior, and really great service by my secretary, Tina!  I really love having a secretary ... I wonder how much income my longarm business has to generate to afford one?! I'm sure I can't afford Tina .. But she is a good friend!

More neutrals and a dark one in there too!  There are so many different shades of beige, cream and taupe ... I want them all!!!

Here is what happens when you dress a sweet one year old in an outfit that mommy loves, but baby doesn't!

Seriously ... Hahahahahahahaha ... That is a look her Daddy has ... It says "I am not having this!"  I just love how expressive my granddaughter is!  My daughter-in-law to be has quite a time ahead of her ... Two definite strong personalities, daddy and daughter!

Saturday happenings

I wish I had reporting to do on quilting, but I have none!  It is so beautiful right now in San Diego; we are getting 80+ degree weather.  So of course what do you do when it's that nice outside ... you go out and play ... or garden.  We have a huge yard and I am always complaining about how it doesn't look as nice as I wish it did.  Neither hubby nor I are gardeners, and so most days you will not find us in the yard.  I decided last weekend that I could either continue to complain about the lack of a nice yard, or get off my quilting rearend and do something about it.

Now this might not look great to you, but this area was previously covered with weeds last week.  We went to Home Depot today and got a few plants.  Two geraniums here, front and towards the back.  This dirt is like clay and even with amending the soil, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

This area was also covered in weeds last week, and here we have two pink kangaroo plants.  Aren't they cute?  They are supposed to be drought tolerant ...

I have wanted a big rosebush for a very long time.  I have planted small ones, but never had any luck.  This bush is beautiful and we really amended the soil and watered it in.  I sure hope it grows ... I am not a southern California gardener.  I have been here for 20+ years, but still can't get the hang of it.  I was born and raised here, but in my earlier adult years we lived in Virginia.  You picked a plant, dug a hole and a week later it was beautiful!

Now let's see if I can keep the varmints away from the new plants ...

In addition to gophers, and pests, I have to worry about the three furry animals that live here!

 

As well as the big guys that live here too ... they juggle the soccer ball every night.  It doesn't always stay in the play area!

Charlie insists on sitting between them when he wants to play.  He has popped about 5 soccer balls and they are strewn throught the yard ... he doesn't want the popped ones though ... he wants the new one they just bought!  He's waiting patiently ...