Tote Bag
Another sewing class; another bag.
This one was not quite as easy to make as my usual straightforward bags, but I like how it turned out and I’ve learned a few new things. These handles stitched onto the side of the bag hide the stitching of the outside pocket.
This was a different way to add handles to a bag, but as you can see in the next photo …
it also has D-rings sewn into the sides for clipping on a longer strap if I want to carry the bag over my shoulder.
Inside the bag, I have a pocket for my phone and my keys, or whatever else I want to have handy so it doesn’t get lost in the depths of the bag.
The zipper is one of those that you buy by the meter and cut to the length you need. You just have to be careful not to lose the zipper pull before you get the zipper sewn into the bag.
Now I’m ready for a short trip where I only need to travel light. Not sure where I want to go when the best place is home, but who knows? I may think of something.
A Happier Door
happy metal door
embraces springtime sewing
draped in joy, it smiles
Too Little, Too Late
Too little, too late, but a nice try.
apple blossoms drop
making up for winter snow–
skiing, anyone?
About Awards
My thanks to fellow blogger, Thomas at leonbergerlife.com who has nominated me for a Sunshine Blogger Award.
While I am flattered to be thought of in such a positive light, I can’t help thinking that the award itself is a bit like a chain letter. Remember those from the old days?
So after pondering many aspects of this award business, I’ve made some decisions about how to respond.
First of all, I appreciate very much that Thomas felt he wanted to nominate me for this award.
Then I thought about the length of the post if I had to answer ten or eleven questions.
I also wondered if anyone I would nominate really wants to do that much work.
So, I’ve decided to compromise.
I will make up my own questions (and answers). There will only be five of them.
I will nominate five other “victims” (as Thomas called them, tongue in cheek).
Those “victims,” if they are willing, would answer the same five questions (and/or make up their own), and then name five more “victims” of their own. Please visit those nominees to let them know of their award.
Copy and paste the Sunshine Blogger Award logo onto your post.
*****
Here are my deepest, darkest secrets, told in the form of Q and A.
Questions
1.What is one quality you consider extremely important in a person?
Empathy. If you think about how another person or animal feels, and have empathy, it will make you a better person yourself.
2. What advice would you give a child or teenager?
Keep your ears open and your mouth shut. This has to be said in a kind way, and of course it is not an absolute rule. Generally though, it is good for people to listen to each other before jumping in with their gums flapping.
3.What advice would you give to a young couple who are about to spend their lives together?
Talk to each other!
4. Where did you get your love of animals?
My mother. She was always kind and compassionate to all animals. She continually reminded me that animals have feelings too.
5. What are five things you are passionate about?
Good music, puzzles, languages, writing/editing (shaping language), and nature.
*****
And now for my five victims, whose blogs I hope you will visit:
Pam at roughwighting.net
Brad at writingtofreedom.com
Belinda at belindagroverphotographydotcom.wordpress.com
Mags at littlethingsmatter28.wordpress.com
Lauren at baydreamerwrites.com
Western Tiger Swallowtail
It’s haiku time again.
swallowtail’s outfit
so fancy and elegant
attracts the ladies
A Tale of Two Dogwoods
Big Dawg
Big Dawg has been here forever, growing naturally from some seeds that birds probably brought in. It has revived from being almost crowded out by other trees at its base. My friend Pat cut away many of those small shrubs and trees trying to steal Big Dawg’s nutrients and water. He freed the area around it so it got more sunlight, and it is saying thank you now by reaching up tall and blooming its appreciation.
Little Dawg
Little Dawg lives in a shadier place and is a more recent planting, bought from a nursery. It is slower to grow in this semi shady spot, but it seems to be quite healthy. You can see Little Dawg if you click on the dogwood posting I made two years ago. I still am fascinated by what I found out at that time about the Fibonacci number sequence and how it relates to nature. It will be familiar to my faithful followers from that time, but the robin sitting in the arms of Little Dawg is worth a second look.
Robin Robbin’ the Garden
I’ve hired some help in the garden this year. She’s done a beautiful job of sorting out the weeds and making a lot of bare soil ready for planting. I love it, but the robins love it even more.
When they see a patch of newly disturbed soil, they move in to mine it for food to feed their children.
“Look what I found under the rhubarb plant!”
But wait! There’s even better shopping along the fence. Watch the video and see what the robin comes up with.
“Want a closer look at what I found?”
“What? You feel sorry for the worms? We don’t worry about that. The kids love a feed of fresh earthworms.”
“I’ll be there soon, my darlings!”
Welcome to the world, babies!
Contrary Spring
Remember the poem:
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow,
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
We used to substitute a phrase for the last line and say, “And all those (blank-blank) weeds.”
But here is a little tidbit:
It is thought that the Mary in the poem referred to Queen Mary I , 1516 – 1558, (daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon) who tortured and killed about 280 Protestant religious dissenters who were trying to break away from the influence of the Pope and the Catholic Church. According to one explanation on Wikipedia, the “garden” was the cemetery of those she had killed, silver bells and cockle shells represent the instruments of torture, and the pretty maids all in a row were the guillotines. This version is not certain. For example, she had many of the dissenters burned rather than guillotined.
But here we are all panting for spring, lauding every hint of new growth and warmth, when, after a poor season for the local ski hill, in the middle of April we get a dump of snow in the hills.
It reminded me of all those cowboy shows where the old John Wayne type would sit on his horse and say to his sidekick, “Yup! Arrgh-h-h-h! Thar’s snow in them thar hills,” and then he probably spat a big gob of ‘baccy juice onto the ground.
Here is my very tame and very polite version of Contrary Mary’s poem:
Spring, Spring, you’re quite the thing,
Where is your warmness hiding?
With sunny heat, then snow so neat,
Our time we’re tired of biding.
And again, our contrary, waffling weatherman has given us hope by melting most of the snow and sending us a few rays of sunshine.
The maple tree, now “flowering,” soaks up the sun, looks at its choking bark, and says, “Take that, you clingy north-side moss.”
Here, Kitty, Kitty!
I’m assuming it’s okay to use this photo taken by Janice Hayward, who glimpsed this young cougar as it came up the road where I live. Luckily she was in her truck as she took the picture and a video which she then posted on facebook. It’s because of her posting, that I feel it is now in the public domain and she won’t mind if I use it, while giving her credit for the photo.
I live near the end of this road on the right where the squared off hedge is so nicely clipped, thanks to our friend Pat.
I’ve come from the greenways that lead here and there,
I often see deer and, yes, sometimes a bear,
But mostly I like being near to a house,
Where stray cats are out at night chasing a mouse.
I like to eat meat, please, no salads for me,
The unaware rabbit or squirrel pays a fee.
I’m sorry to pick up a puppy or cat,
But if I can’t find one, I’ll settle for rat.
I’m stealthy and beautiful in my fur coat,
I lick it and preen if I’ve time to devote
To how I might look if Miss Kitty appears,
A fine looking cougar, she’ll give me three cheers.
It’s sad that I’m lonely and can’t find a mate,
I’d love to find Kitty and ask for a date,
I know when I find her, I promise you now,
She’s going to be pretty, a real “Cat’s Meow.”
wordsfromanneli 