Strawberries!

It's strawberry season here in PA

Time to make strawberry jam!

Got some local strawberries.

Got my stuff ready.

 Heated up the canner, washed and cut and crushed berries.

Added pectin, sugar, (none of that low-sugar stuff for me!)

 Berries in jars, lids on, into the water bath.

 Listen to the lids pop - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.

 Easy peasy, Yummmm

Love, Linda

Gabe Here . . .

Haven't posted for awhile, but I've been pretty busy!

 First of all we got a new furnace! Here's a photo of the old one.

The man said it was from the 1960s or 70s.

It stopped.

 Here is the new one all wrapped up on the porch.

I didn't lift my leg on it.

I was not at all sure about the man. I jumped all over him.

And I barked. But he seemed ok, so I let him come in.

Then I helped him install the new furnace.

 I have also been helping mom with the garden.
I can't walk in it, she put up a little fence.

 I do want to catch a big fuzzy bee. I have been trying so hard.

Mom says "No" but I don't listen.

I did catch a big fly and ate it.

It wasn't very good and made me gag.

Maybe the bee will taste better.

Mom says if I eat a bee I will have to go to the vet. 

Mom and I have been sitting on the porch. I had a whole carrot

this morning and it was good.

So far I like spring here.

But I still want to eat a bee.

Love, Gabe

Finally, Flowers

I extended the white garden this year, by moving some of the hostas,

and making a few trips to the nursery.

AND fell for roses again! (I bought two white ones).

Early sprouts!

I bought three $7.00 trellises at Home Depot

and put them together, then planted two white

clemetis - clemeti??

underneath.

 These are White Sonic New Guinea Impations.

I decided on hanging ferns this year.

So glad it's spring!

Love, Linda

Finally! Early Spring!

The bits of green are starting to poke up! It feels like I have been waiting

for this for years! It was a long, cold winter here in PA.

 Hostas! And baby hydrangea leaves!

 The white bleeding heart is coming along. No blooms yet.

 Looks like all the Goat's Beard made it!

 The pink bleeding heart out by the curb is further along. It has flowers!

 Lilacs are getting leaves.

 Gabriel is sniffing spring sniffs!

Love, Linda

The Bling Pouch is finished!

Seems like I have been working on this for years, but it is finally finished!

Here is the front - it's a pouch to store things in.

I'm going to keep fabric inside.

Or maybe unfinished lace embroidery.

Here's the back. It has three decorative tabs to slip your hand

underneath. I also did some lazy daisies on top of

the patterned fabric. The whole thing is white, ecru, tan, and beige,

with touches of gold.

A close-up of a "pile of squares" with a couple of prairie points

sticking out, buttonhole stitch around the edges,

and embellished with beads.

Getting damp stretched.

I added some tiny gimp, couched down and embellished

with pearls.

Another pile of squares on the back. On the right you can see

a "bumpy bit" encircled with French knots in 2 colors.

I used seed beads, as well as pearls and some larger ones.

A strip of vintage embroidery on net and a row of prairie points.

I took this class from Karen Ruane at Contemporary Embroidery

You can find her here

I also added pearls along one edge.

Now onto the next project!!

Love, Linda

Ruffles

How do you make nine ruffled dresses for a custom  Etsy order?

First, you start with the tea dying . . .

It took a LOT of tea - about 6 pots full!

 Then cutting them all out - and keeping them straight

Had to sneak in a photo of the "beautiful dog of the house"

He doesn't like his picture taken

Here, after three weeks, is some of the finished product

 The backs of the dresses have little crocheted circles

Here's more!

 They are off to California in the a.m. for a talent show

I'm seeing ruffles in my sleep!

Love, Linda