Around the House and More

As I was cleaning out some pictures on my laptop this weekend I found these...

Every time Abby is over she BEGS to "seep Sissy bed" (Sleep in Sissy's bed). I have said yes several times, but as soon as she actually starts to get sleepy, everything changes. She then wants to sleep in my bed. Which I don't mind at all! 

I just thought these sleepy Abby pictures were cute!

I also did some organizing in my sewing room. I am still working away on my "Quilted Hugs" project and I have found lots of inspiration in my scrap bins. 

I found a few left over four patches from a scrappy quilt that I made for Stephen and I was immediately inspired to use them to make a scrappy blue quilt. 

This is my original layout. I don't know if you can tell, but none of the blocks have been sewn together. I cut the fabric and laid it out on the design wall and this is what I came up with. I only moved a few things around, but I stuck with my original design. I only had to cut a few pieces of fabric, because 90% of the fabrics were pre-cut scraps from other quilts. 

Here is the quilt coming together.It was easy to stick with this layout because everything measured out perfectly.

And here it is...another finished quilt top.

We did quite a bit of yard work this weekend. 

We planted over 20 new plants in the yard and I finally got around to trimming my rose bushes. 

I forgot to take the "before" picture, but here is the "after".

We added the small variegated plants in the back. I think they give this a more "finished" look. 

Also, I can't remember if I took a picture of this before, but I made a top cover for this outside couch, but the bottom, um I ran out of  fabric, soI just laid the left over on their and I have to straighten it every day. I am just keeping my eye out for some matching outdoor fabric. I only paid $2 for this fabric at the thrift store, so I am not too upset about running out. 

Jasmine is so cute. I love watching her "hunting" on the porch.

Amy sent me these cute pictures of Abby helping in the yard this weekend. Amy said they could not have gotten the yard work done without Abby and Zoey's help! LOL

I LOVE THIS picture! 

She is so adorable. 

Knowing Abby, I KNOW she was REALLY trying to push her dad in the wheel barrow.

Hugs, 

Lisa 

Quilting Update ~ Process Pledge!

I have been working with my flannel scraps lately. 

I separated all of my girly fabrics and all of my boy fabrics and cut them into squares.

I was surprised at how many Rag Top Quilts that I was able to make with my scrap flannel.This one is made of 10 inch Squares.

This is a 2nd Rag Top made out of 10 inch Squares.

I was also able to whip together two out of 7 inch Squares!

Now all I need to do is cut the fringe.

My roses are doing so good!This is from my "Abraham Lincoln Roses" bush. 

I LOVE these pale yellow roses.

These are my "Queen Elizabeth Roses"!

I love that this rose bush has three different colored roses growing on the same bush. 

When I bought the bush it just said "Fragrant Tea Roses"!

Hugs, 

Lisa

What's up in YOUR garden??

I was looking over my blog and realized that I have not posted the pictures of all of my gardening changes, improvements, and growth! 

So I wanted to start with my Knockout Roses that Detto planted for me last year before he deployed. 

They have all doubled in size and are producing TONS of roses! 

How many people have utilized the "call before you dig" program?I am wanting to put some plants around this electric box and so I called for the first time! Stephen said it looks like someone is playing Mine Sweeper in our front yard. I must say I agree with him! 

Here are the new plants that I added around the Hot Tub! We are going for a "tropical" feel!

I think it is coming along! 

Look at what I found growing in my garden. 

My Zucchini's are taking off!

These are my cucumbers.I spotted about four that are growing on the vines. 

I love these little signs...

I just wish my plants would "Grow Already"! 

Here is another view of the Hot Tub area.

And.... 

I added some more rose bushes to my rose garden area. 

I added a Mr. Lincoln bush, a Queen Ann bush, and two pink double knockouts roses! 

Look at all of these buds.

I love Roses!

I thought for sure this little guy was dead after the freeze, but he is coming back. 

I am really glad that he is. 

I really want a tangelo tree growing in my yard. 

I hope that your gardens are growing well too! 

Please feel free to tell me all about your gardening! 

Hugs, 

Lisa 

Roses, Roses, Oh How I LOVE Roses!

Detto has been working like a CRAZY MAN trying to get everything on my Honey-Do list done before he leaves. Little did I know he had his own list!

Over the weekend Detto started digging up a wide spot next to the driveway. You could only image what I was thinking..... WHAT ARE YOU DOING???

Then he started filling me in on his plans. (In his defense, we had talked about this briefly... but I forgot until he reminded me. hee hee hee)

So... Detto and I (yes, I helped) got to work getting the ground ready for his GREAT PLANS!!

I had gotten some decorative border grass this week so we started by making a clear border around the cleared area and then.... He took me to Lowes and let me pick out FIVE rose bushes and some ground heather! They are soooo pretty! The idea is, he wants me to have flowers when he's gone! 

I LOVE the way it looks!! 

The only thing left to do is to add the mulch.

We also started planting a hedge between our yard and "the neighbors"! The house next store to me has been empty the whole time we have lived here. The weeds just creep over from their untreated yard and its really annoying. So, we have decided to plant a hedge. The idea is to create some sort of barrier. AND... so we wont have to look at "the neighbors" yard. Recently, people have bought the house. It looks like they are doing alot of work on it. Hopefully they will get to the yard soon. Even if they make their yard pretty, I am looking forward to the privacy. We have over an acre of land so I think this hedge is going to take a while to establish. I have decided to only buy 4 bushes at a time.  

Here is the start of "THE HEDGE"

And I had to throw in a few pics of my Pansies before they are gone!

Alyssa and I planted some bell pepper seeds a few weeks ago. I was pleased to see how well they are doing. I think it is about time to transplant them.

I cant wait to see what he has planned next!

My Mother's Day!!

This last weekend was a WONDERFUL weekend for me! I celebrated Mother's Day & My 12th Wedding Anniversary! It was GREAT!

We started off the weekend by taking Ora out for Mother's Day... We went to the Mount Dora History Museum & Old Jail, we went out for ICE CREAM, and then we walked around downtown Mount Dora... 

Ora was overwhelmed when she saw this stove. She said her mother had the "EXACT SAME ONE"!! She was so pleased to see it!

Her Grandmother had an Almost identical stove. It was really neat to hear her tell us about her memories of visiting her Grandparents in Savannaha, Ga. Watching Grandma cook on the stove, wash clothes and hand them on the line and.... She told ALL about the gardens they had. Even the museum guide was captivated by Nana's Stories. It was really neat!!

Stephen went inside the Jail cell to check out the "dummy"!

The Docent took the QUILT out of a cabinet so I could see the details! It was so AMAZING!! I was in HEAVEN!!

When we went to the Ice Cream Parlor the Man behind the counter made a HUGE mistake... He asked, "Would you like to try some samples of any of our ice creams?" Nana picked up the "PLURAL.. SAMPLES"! She took him up on it and had a mini-sampler ice cream before she picked her two scoop (NY Cherry top scoop and Moose Tracks bottom scoop) Cone!! I was crackin' up watching her ask for ANOTHER sample!!

 Then on Sunday we went to church and then had a picnic with the kids! We went to the boat pier and found a spot on the shore and watched the boats come and go! We even took mini-naps! It was such a beautiful day!! 

 and then we took the kids on a DRIVING TOUR of the Historic Buildings and Homes of Mount Dora... on Sunday evening Detto and I did a WALKING tour of the historic homes in Mt Dora and then we went to dinner! I found the Driving and Walking Tour Guide at the Library and it was a GREAT activity to do on Mother's Day!! We learned lots about our AREA!!

This year instead of Long-stemmed Roses the kids and Detto bought me Potted Roses! I have been talking about starting a Rose Garden and they bought me several GREAT Starter plants! I cant wait to have Detto help me plant them!!

They also bought me CHOCOLATE and a Cd that I have been wanting!! They are so cute!! Stephen and Alyssa's card was so cute! It had a tear out bookmark. They said "We liked what it said about you Mom... AND IT HAS A BOOKMARK!! We know how much you LOVE to read!" It was SOOO adorable!

Overall it was one of the BEST!! I Thank God for such a WONDERFUL Family!!