Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!

The sun in shining, it's 75 degrees and the clouds are gorgeous.
It should be in the mid 80's today.
Wish you were here!

It’s A Brigadoon Day Today

I knew there was fog today but could hardly believe how thick it was when I opened the blinds. It's much thicker than the photo shows. It also is playing with the perspective. The palm that looks closest is really quite a distance away.

The fog was so thick it is raining fog on the screens…something I’ve never seen before.
It should burn off soon and we will have a mid 80’s high today.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

No I am not talking about Christmas, snow and all that embraces.
It is perfect Florida weather now. We have had strange weather here just like everywhere…hot/old/hot/cold, etc.
It is now beautiful tropical weather and most days a fan with it’s gentle breeze is all that is necessary…no AC.
It is also the beginning of the quieter season as some snowbirds have left. I used to be a snow bird….now I am a chicken….A chicken doesn’t leave until the weather up north warms us to some degree.
So while I enjoy all my time here, this is what I love most.

How Many Ways Can We Say Ice?

This picture is from New Years 2000. We made ice lanterns from 5 gallon buckets filled with water and emptied the water from the center after the shell froze. The temperatures were about like we are currently having….around 0 with wind chill in the teens.

This is one of my ice dyes I created. It is a much warmer look! About the only similarity is that the colors are swirling around like the winds we have been experiencing.
Right about now I’d prefer my ice in an Iced Tea or a Margarita!

Violet Vest Components

I have the back and both fronts ready to put together. I used ALL the fabric I had to make this happen.

Each of the 5 pieces was a fat quarter. I love a challenge and this definitely was a challenge.

I measured the pattern and knew I would need 176 inches of binding.

I was able to piece a bias binding with the fabrics I had left after making the patchwork vest pieces.

I have 182 inches of binding. It took a lot of math and a lot of creativity to make this happen!

I can’t wait to put this all together later today.

I Guess The Weather Woman Wanted To See My Coat!

I didn’t expect to be able to wear this coat in Florida since out temperatures have been in the 70’s and 80’s.

Today we expect a high of maybe 50 and we haven’t reached it yet at 2:30 p.m.

So guess what I wore to the grocery store?

That’s right………….

Fall In Wisconsin - I LOVE It!

I'd like to share a bit if fall in Wisconsin with you.
You can't see it yet, but you can feel it.
The weather is cooling off...that is until the next warm day.
You pile an extra quilt on the bed since it is not time to turn on the heat yet.
You wake up in the morning and snuggle under the covers, not wanting to get out and face the chill in the air.
Once you finally make the move the air is invigorating.
You choose something from the closet that you haven't worn since last year and delight in the cozy warmth.
You head to the kitchen for a hot beverage and a hot breakfast.
You are now ready to face the day which can turn warm again before it cools off in the evening.

It's a wonderful time of year as you anticipate the colors that will soon be changing and the leaves that will be falling. It makes you think about football, pumpkins, corn stalks, taffy apples, cider and how fortunate you are to be spending fall in God's glory in such a perfect setting.

It's also perfect quilting weather.

It's my favorite time of the year in Wisconsin.

This just in: I gave up and turned on the furnace!

Sometimes Life Gets In The Way

This post is being written Thursday night to be posted Friday morning.

I had a message tonight asking if I was going to post another Tessellation lesson.

I certainly am. I have a new computer that is being set up and Windows 7 has created a few issues which are taking time to resolve. That has taken the time I could be working on the lesson.

I am sitting here watching a BIG rain, thunder and lightning storm. There is no TV connection available so my entertainment is watching the storm.

The electricity is flickering on and off. Let's hope it stays on and then the only thing I'll have to do is reset a few clocks.

Even with the camera set for night snapshot I can only get almost black photos so you won't be able to see what I am seeing.


After weeks of cloudy rainy weather I knew I needed a bright stylish raincoat. No tan trench coats for me. I made a raincoat out of this bright print and sprayed it with a water repellent. It was really a sharp coat but I gave it away years ago. When I was excavating the attic recently I did find the hat I made to wear with the coat. I had to have made this in the late 70's or early 80's.

Before and After - Summers Beauty

Everyone worked hard yesterday and we got the deck furniture cleaned and on the deck. The lawn was cut and trimmed. The sidewalks and deck were spotless.



The gazebo furniture was cleaned and I put the cushions on it and put out the accessories.



This is a pleasant spot for a snack, lunch or a game of cards.



This spot makes you want to curl up with a book on a lazy summer day.



Our yard is almost total shade. We have given up on growing flowers for color. We now grow gazing balls. They don't require watering!

About 4:30 p.m. a storm with high winds and a rain that came down in sheets came through our area. The beautiful neat yard is now littered with branches. There are small branches and clusters of leaves all over the yard. We lost at least 4 large branches.



BEFORE



AFTER



Another view.


I'm including a puzzle for you today.

Let A Smile Be Your Umbella

Today's agenda was planned to include a walk around Market Square in The Villages, a late lunch at the Lighthouse Point Bar and Grill, a visit to Fresh Market and a ride around our community in my "convertible".

About 10 minutes before my friend arrived the skies let loose and even with an umbrella there was no way to get from the car to my house without getting 50% wet!


When the rain let up a little bit my friend went to the car and brought in a large bowl of gardenias from their established gardenia bush. I wish you could be here to enjoy the delicious fragrance they impart to the house.



I have always loved to look at gardenias. My parents had two gardenia paintings on their wall which I now own. This is the first time I have ever had real gardenias in my house.


The rain let up enough for us to get to the car. As we drove it rained so hard there were times when it was difficult to see the road.
We decided to skip the walk and shopping the sidewalk sales around Market Square as it was threatening more rain again as we arrived.


The rain let up as we parked to go into the restaurant. Knowing it could return at any minute I decided to use my magical powers and took my umbrella with me. It worked - it was NOT raining when we left.
I enjoyed my crab cakes, fries and slaw. My friend had a pasta dish with shrimp. Both were very good.



This photo taken by my friend is the view across Lake Sumpter after lunch. You can see what a gray type of day it was.

We then also decided to skip the visit to Fresh Market for the day. We were full and the thought of buying food did not appeal to either of us.



We returned to my house hoping to go for that convertible ride. It was just too damp, humid and wet to enjoy it so we decided to save that adventure for another day.

We sat on the lanai for a while to catch up on some of our mutual college girlfriends and then it was time for my friend to head south.

Temperature in the 90's today

When the temperature reached 91 degrees today I had to decide whether to turn on the air conditioning or drive over to the ocean.
When I looked in the mirror and saw how pale my skin is the beach won.
Like my friend Oprah I really don't want to be seen in a swinsuit in public, but I decided I'd grin and bear it.
I'm just glad I'm here where the weather is so wonderful.


I think those bird puzzle pieces are sea gulls!