20 days without a check-in???

Sheesh......my oh my, how time flies! It's not like I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. I've been a very BusyLiz!!! My daughter Kelley was planning on throwing a surprise bridal shower (tea party theme) for her friend Brenda. We had been busting our chops fixing up our little backyard for the event. We never really had much happening in our backyard because we had two dogs and travelled so much with our girls for softball. Well, those softball days are long gone and we had to put down one of the dogs a while back but we never really did anything with the yard until this bridal shower was planned. I guess it was just what we needed to get some things done around here. Our humble abode is just that, humble but I'll share pictures anyway. Oh, and the shower was postponed because the bride-to-be decided she had to have her gallbladder out!!!! Okay, the doctors decided but still, the shower will be at a later date. You know, when it's 100 degrees outside. Ain't that the way it goes!! LOL

We had blocks stacked in the backyard but not in use so we had the gardener stack them up against the back wall to create a planter. (I'm getting too old for that kind of stuff!!). We didn't have a way to cut the blocks so they aren't staggered like they should be but that's okay. I got some flowering plants that will stay green all year (if my brown thumbs stay away) but are all in bloom now. We also planted some annuals for added color. I can't wait for everything to fill in. The tree on the left is an apricot and the one on the right is a peach. Yum! Probably only have to wait two years to get some fruit! :o(

Mostly, we planted agapanthis in lavender and white, a stephanotis on the trellis and a couple of hedge roses (pink). We put lights up for fun and got a new canopy on the patio. We've had some warm weather and I'm thinking we need to see where the drip system is because it seems to be missing a few of the plants. We've had a few casualties.....

And some over-achievers......

Besides all of the work in the garden, I made new cushions for the patio set. I was trying to figure out a way to make them without attaching them to the wooden base my husband cut out for me two years ago but stapling the fabric down was easiest. I guess I'll just make new cushions every couple of years or until I figure out a way to do it without attaching them to the plywood. I got the fabric at Joann's with a coupon and reused the foam. So for about $15.00, I got pretty new cushions.

We touched up the chair frames with a little Rustoleum and ta-da, pretty seating! This set was a cast off from my BIL's dad when he passed away. I grabbed it up and have enjoyed it ever since. They just don't make stuff as sturdy as they used to.

AND.....I made two graduation cards yesterday. I know most people are past graduation but I had a few cards come in over the last few days so I'll tuck a little som'thin inside and get them in the mail.

I used my Big Shot to cut out the shaped pieces, called Top Note. The printed papers I used are from Joann's and the solids are Stampin' Up! I used my SU! tag punch to cut out the "You did it!" sentiment and had been saving these itty bitty paper clips for something. They were perfect for this card.

Now that all the yard stuff is done, I need to pull the fabric out for those bridesmaid bags I need to make. I put them up when I was doing all this other stuff but I guess it worked out okay. The wedding isn't until November and now when it's 100 degrees and too hot to be outside, I can sit in my air conditioned house and sew away the hours. :o)

Cleaning and sorting

Argh, I hate doing it but sometimes I just "have" to clean up! I'd much rather be playing, let me tell you! Just like a little kid! :o)

So, we're cleaning up the storage shed in the backyard and having some sprinklers and plants put in. Nothing fancy like Home & Garden but it's an improvement so no complaints from me! It is loooong overdue. I'd share some pictures with you but it's scary and I don't know if people who read this blog have a good heart. You might not be able to handle it!!

The shed has held bins of 'stuff' from our girls while they were little up to when they were off to college or when we had one of the great floods (from the washer hose or toilet) in our house, I would pack up stuff from file cabinets or wherever with the thought that I would go through it "one day". If that wasn't enough, two of our three daughters had accidents during their college years and they were pretty serious (but thankfully they are all okay now) and they came back home to live for a little while. When that happened I packed up my sewing room and like a kid at Christmas, I just found some of those goodies in the sorting. Sniff, sniff.....brings a tear to my eye. hehe

This printer drawer has been hanging up in my sewing room for a few years now. I found it at an estate sale. I put some thimbles and collectibles in it but I was missing thimbles people had brought me. It was one of the things I packed up when I swapped sewing rooms a few years ago. Now that I unpacked the ziplock of thimbles that are so precious, my little drawer looks nice and full.

I love these little scissors and the sewing machine is from when my girls played Barbies. You wind it up and the needle really goes up and down. So darn cute!

I need to dust and clean off my shelf so I can put my little Singer sewing machines up. I missed them too.

I have already put some things aside that I need to either sell or gift to friends and family. They are cute but not enough room is this itty bitty sewing room. I've already "oozed" things in the entry way, dining room, etc. I'm thinking my hubby might notice. LOL

I used to collect Lucy & Me bears. I have them wrapped up and buried somewhere around here. I should probably decide what to do with them too but that can wait. I will keep these two and try to find a good spot for them.

Well, I better get busy. Just wanted to let you know I'm alive and being a "Busy Liz"!!! :o)