You Saw This Coming

Or maybe you didn't see it coming, and frankly, six months ago, neither did I, but something exciting has come to pass as you will soon see.

Firstly, let's talk about some plants that are awesome. On my trip to Leu Gardens I learned the familiar name is Purple Prince, aptly named in my opinion. Wildly prolific, it can stand up to the relentless Florida heat, which, by the way, is crushing today, and it changes color depending on how much light it gets. What more could you want from a plant?

I forgot to upload it, but the photograph of these beauties in the side yard shows how dark purple they can turn. These from the front enjoy much more shade. While we are out front, here's how I painted the flower box, and I'm not entirely sure if this is how it will remain. Thinking I would go for the sophisticated look originally, I'm now wondering if that was the best move. What do you think? The door color perhaps?

Keen observers will note that I moved the bird feeder over near the porch because the fallen seed was making an unsightly mound right out front. This way, it will mostly be me seeing the next unsightly mound!

Typing the name of the above plant, it brought to mind something my late Mother used to say about my dear husband...."he's a prince among men." Love that description! Funny how you remember certain things, isn't it?

Look who is enjoying the sprinkler running at Victor's house!

I think it must have been the same morning that I saw one of our owl friends, that exiting Southern Oaks, I saw two police cars on the parkway outside our development. Big deal right? Well, praise God, that is not the norm around here. Then, as I rode into another street leading to our home, I saw yet another parked police car. What is going on? Well, I never did find out, but apparently it was something serious enough to warrant a helicopter search!

In all my years of blogging I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've posted a photo of a helicopter! Doesn't the undercarriage look like an insect? I neglected to watch the evening crime blotter, or news as some call it, so I've no idea what it was all about.

I'm sure I've posted a photo of Regina's climbing rose before, but it is just so pretty right now that I thought perhaps you'd like to see it again.

Lovely isn't it? On Mother's Day, David presented me with a flower bouquet, and is my wont, eventually photographs are made of some of the flowers. Somewhat unusual, the included lilies were a dusty rose with some speckles of darker rose.

Now that we are past the introductory phase of this post, let's get to the title reference, shall we?

In the middle of last week, Pam texted me that she'd purchased a reconditioned sewing machine for her 11 year old granddaughter who is developing a real interest in sewing. Naturally I had to go have a look for myself! Because it is a Bernette, and because I've had a Bernina for the last twenty plus years, I had some idea on how to make it work. Sitting down at their dining room table, I got it threaded, and began practicing some stitches, including a buttonhole. I marveled at how quiet it is, AND the support in front of the sewing surface. Wow! Game changer for a quilter! Mine was behind the sewing surface which is good but in front is better. Well both places are really better for accurate piecing and quilting.

Right about then, Glenn got home from work, joining in on the fun. I'm making some buttonholes in dinner napkins like they use in the first class cabin of an airplane.

Alas, I am also looking pretty darn old...

That was the first nudge, and when we visited the Bernina Center in Lake Mary, a gorgeous store filled with beautiful fabrics,

I had the owner show me a Janome machine. Once I saw what a modern machine can do, my thoughts turned to a new machine for me. Should I, or should I not? Bruce said, "why wouldn't you want a cutting edge machine?" Why not, indeed.

Friday morning, while mowing the lawn it hit me. Although our old mower still ran, it was horrible to start. I mean horrible. Last year we went and bought the Honda, and now it is so easy you forget you are working. That was all the push I needed. Cleaning up, I went to the store with my hair sopping wet, straight out of the shower! Not every day they see that at Wandering Stitches , I bet.

Mickey, like the mouse she told me, the Bernina specialist, went over all of the features, and after some serious deliberation on my part...again, do I really need it? The yes, get it, thoughts won out. Tapping into my business account, I came home with this little beauty, straight out of the box.

Normally I would not have gone for a machine that is decorated, but the extra included presser feet won me over. Oh, did I have fun playing with it. In fact, I dreamed about it Friday night!! The minute I got up on Saturday, I went to work finishing my Days for Girls liners, and it made very quick work of that. It has a push button to make it go, for crying out loud!!

Actually it was great that I had about fifteen liners to complete because I was able to get used to the speed control that goes along with the push button sewing. The knee lift is for the presser foot, a very handy thing to have when you are pivoting. Furthermore, a presser foot for free motion quilting was part of the package. Quilting in a spiral pattern is something I saw online that looks very good to my eyes. I put together a little block to practice on, and using my walking foot on the older Bernina, I made a big mess of it. I didn't do much better with the quilting foot on the new machine, but I'm posting this nonetheless in case I get good one day, this will be a reminder of how I began!

A slight disclaimer here...I began the spiraling, poorly, I might add,  and then went crazy just for fun!

You might think this will be my last sewing machine purchase, and I do too if the longevity of my other machine is any indication. Shoot, I'll be 82 in twenty years!

Although I am dying to get behind the machine, alas, I have some binding to finish sewing on for a small quilt I'd like to get in the mail tomorrow for Corrine in Alabama. A little something to know we are still thinking of her. When last we talked, I asked her if she ever thought she would live to be 90, and her answer was an emphatic NO!

Sewing away,

Gail