What a Difference Some Rain Makes

It has been raining once again, and to that I say hallelujah! The grass is no longer crispy, the plants are perky, and the pool is not only cooler, but fuller. Instead of the 93 degree water from a week or so ago, today, when I jumped in after a hot bike ride, I was almost chilly! Yup the temperature dropped eight degrees, which is considerable. Sunday morning we had an uninvited guest in the swimming pool.

Toads are not unheard of and so much better than Cuban Tree frogs. A week ago Sunday, the water level was at the bottom of the tile, so you can see there has been rain aplenty. Try as he might, Mr. Toad could not get out of the pool so I used the scooper to set him on the pool deck. You could not pay me to actually touch it! Doesn't it look like he's trying to get his land legs back?

Following church we ate lunch at Pepes Cafe in Hannibal Square. Oftentimes Bruce gets home either late, or tired, so lunch is a good option for us. Following multiple reviews, the beard is making a comeback. I had mentioned to Bruce that he looked a little like the guy who does the Dos Equis commercials when he had the beard a few weeks ago. Actually, Bruce is much cuter.

This article from the Washington Post tells the story of the rise and fall of the "Most Interesting Man in the World." Fascinating stuff.

You know how I always say that I write my blog to remember my life? Well, the truth is, it is not very often that I go back in time, but when I do read an old post, I am glad for it. This one, from about the same time last year, was full of goodies, not the least of which is that recipe I'm going to have to make again! Furthermore, I thought I'd already quit selling photography in early August, but apparently I thought wrong.

Pouring as I type. Trying to make up for July, or so it seems.

Cecila, whom I met at the estate sale, and by the way is named for an Uncle Cecil rather than the Simon and Garfunkle song, mentioned how much she loved my bird photos. So, just when you were getting sick of them, they disappeared. Well, I don't get sick of them, so let us have a look at a few of our "outdoor pets." Cardinals...the best.

The color is just so intense, you have to love it. Woodpeckers, on the other hand, are fairly prolific here which is both good and bad.

Neat to see, but very messy. Isn't it interesting how they do not sit on the perch, rather hang onto the feed holes? Then there are the little finches,  another favorite, or at least the colored ones are.

Saturday I had a nice long chat with Matthew who tells me their garden is a bird sanctuary. Plus, they have a fox who comes out early morning and dusk!!! A FOX in the middle of London!

Of late, the raptors that I love to photograph are either invisible in the dense tree foliage, or just plain not around. Returning from my ride today though, I did see an Osprey in my neighbor's pine tree that, by the time I removed my camera from the plastic bag, was taking off.

So, some people read the blog, or probably scan the blog, for the birds, whereas others are looking for weird stuff of which I have two photos in that ilk to share today. This display makes much more sense to me when it is July 4th weekend. Later than that, I don't get it.

Remember the house flippers? Below is one of their properties which is, in our view, one of the best. If you could have seen both the house and the yard before you, too, would be amazed. That said, the new owners moved in, hanging first the hammock, which looks terrific. What do you think of their new little fire circle? Bruce does not think much.

While chatting with Maureen last evening, she mentioned that the NYT carried an article about how the Olympics are outdated. Really? I know it will shock you to learn I stayed up until the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, which is gorgeous, to my way of thinking. That would be 12:30 AM!!! Here's what I think: this summer has been horrific for so many people around the world, why not share in the joy and spectacle that is the Olympics? And who else is going to remind you that the population of Nigeria is 181 million people? 181 million!!!

With so much bad news from every front, why not celebrate hard work, dedication, and families? Yup, it takes a family, or most of the time anyway, to make an elite athlete. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat....we've seen that already. Plus, as suspected, the media made Rio seem like a place to avoid, but from what I've seen, it is flat out both gorgeous, and interesting. In other words, a big city with both good parts and bad.

A lot of afternoons Bill calls to chat during his drive home from work. The first thing he usually asks is, "what am I doing"? I chuckle and say that I'm sewing. Same old, same old, according to him. :) I'm working on something small that I don't much like. Way outside my color preferences, but we shall see when it is complete.

In just a little while I'm heading over to Mary Lou's house to celebrate Irene's closing on her new house!! Won't be long now before she has a place to call her own here in Orlando. Plus, it is only about 2 miles from us. Awesome baby, awesome.

Writing instead of sewing,

Gail

Made My Day

Now we are talking my friends....look at this fantastic storm coming in!

If that weren't good enough, earlier in the day, while doing some errands, it rained as well! One of the benefits, if I was looking to find some, with the dry weather we've had, is how tidy everything has stayed. Driving rain and wind will, hopefully, be changing all that soon, beginning with the Crepe Myrtle blooms all over the parking lot.

At the same time, I saw something else of note. Come to think of it, the colors of the fallen blossoms and the truck are the same. Pink rims no less!!

My mentor, or, that's what I'm choosing to call her, Sharleen from Days for Girls, invited me to attend the Orlando Modern Quilt guild meeting at the Sewing Studio. Why not? While stopped at the light on Lee Road, I felt compelled  to document the highway widening. Again, why not?

As you can imagine, a good deal of the meeting was taken up with discussion regarding the quilts for Pulse which has turned into a much bigger deal than they ever imagined. Should you be interested in further details you can read their blog post here. There was even a woman visiting from Canada who brought four quilts made by her guild in Ontario! Including the ones she brought, the Orlando guild now has 266 completed quilts, with 200 more in various states of completion. Simply amazing is what I have to say about it.

As well, there is a show and tell portion with Sharleen's lovely daughter, Sara, showing off a quilt she made for another charity that serves abused children.

I love how she is on her tip toes! Then it was time for Sharleen to do her own show and tell, with Sara assisting.

She did all sorts of circular quilting which looked fantastic. I'll show mine in a moment--not nearly as good, that's for sure! There were several men quilters in attendance, including this fellow who is showing of his Pulse quilt. Actually, this is the back, the front included some very nifty embroidery.

Following the meeting I had a lovely chat with a young woman, an architect taking a long lunch, who shares some of my same interests as far as sewing is concerned. I'm super glad I went.

Speaking of going places, lately my stomach has been giving me fits, making getting out and about sometimes a challenge. I know you think otherwise from this blog, but truthfully, I am home quite a bit. So it was this morning that I was sewing away when I got a text from Pam. Wait, before I go into that story, I want to show off her latest quilt she made for her Mom who requested a classic blue and white scheme.

Can you believe how awesome it is? She has come a long way since we began this sewing journey last fall. As well, I'd like you to notice a striped quilt on the chair in front of the white door. Glenn's first quilt! He's hooked too. The only problem in their household is one machine for two "sewists."

Okay, getting back to my story, the text was,  there is an estate sale on Dunsany with a serger and some sewing supplies. Still, I resisted. About half an hour later, Irene texted me some photos of a few of the goodies to be found. Hmmm....after more deliberation I got in the car, driving only about three miles away. Good grief, while walking up, who should I see but Bobby Turk, one of the fellows I did not recognize at the funeral. I knew he lived on Dunsany, but I did not know they lived just across the street from the sale! Generally estate sales have a holding area for purses which are forbidden, I suppose because they don't trust estate sale shoppers. This one did not have one, so I began walking the half block back to my car when Bobby suggested I put mine in the back of his trailer. It's not that I mind walking, but the day was already seriously hot.  Score!

So, I'm rummaging through some quilting books when a woman says, "Are you Gail Peck from Camera Crazy?" OH MY GOSH!!! Cecilia explained that she and her husband, as well as a friend named Sandy, followed my blog. I promise, I am not making this up! She talked about some of my posts, and so and so, and I shook her hand, saying, "You have just made my day!" I even scored a huge, good as new, cutting mat (quilting tool), for $4. Retail price is $60!

In nearly nine years of writing this blog, this post is #1551, never once has someone recognized me, let alone spoken to me about this tiny spot on the web. To think I almost didn't go. Unreal.

So, I said my circle was not nearly as nice as Sharleen's, but it is pretty good except for the two largish puckers that I went back and tried to fix. Honestly though I could hardly believe there were only a couple.

Nancy is in LA visiting Carol, who is doing fabulously in case you wanted to know.  Then too, there is the little matter of Nancy seeing Adele at the Staples Center from the 10th row! She's been waking up early, calling me to pass the time until the California folks wake up, and of course by the time she calls me, I am already at the sewing machine. Hearing the machine she asked, "what are you sewing now?" I decided to use the little spiral quilting piece and turn it into a sunglass pouch because the case I was given at Costco snaps shut like the jaws of an alligator! Plus, it's too bulky in my handbag, which is already bulky with a camera!

I used a couple of blocks remaining from the quilt I made for Fallon. Of course, you recognize the orange. :)

The binding is on and the quilt awaits tonight's opening ceremony for the Olympics, during which time I will begin the hand sewing. I sure am hoping the dire reports coming out of Rio are overblown don't you?

Hard to believe it has been four years since the London Olympics...

Finally, there is a little cut through on Sweetbriar I sometimes use. Last summer, I think it was, a large tree branch fell across the path, blocking the way until someone stronger than I could move it. Here it is about a year later...love the mushroom growth. Then too, I guess it matches the quilt, doesn't it?

Nature is great inspiration,

Gail

Singletasking

As far as I can recall, I used to be a somewhat competent multitasker, however, those days are far behind me. More recently, I need to seriously concentrate on what I am doing, which as you well know is sewing! I can vaguely remember having all the kids around playing and talking, while I was at the sewing machine listening to the Magic games on the radio. I used to love those days so much.

 Nowadays, most of my days are spent in silence, well if you don't count the running commentary that plays in my head!! While I don't much like having my picture taken, (I'd much rather be behind the camera), I asked B to take a photograph of me, standing beside the orange wall adjacent to Hawkers, because I wanted to show a dress I made last week. I'm not fishing for compliments, instead I wanted to share what I think is a funny little story.

I can't tell you the number of sleeveless dresses I have but I probably could tell you how many short sleeved dresses I own --only a few. And why is that, you ask? Well, there are not many to be found in the marketplace, that's one reason. Another is that most of the patterns are sleeveless because sleeves can be hard to put in. I've written about that before. One of those times, Nancy contacted me to remind me of a sleeve setting technique I'd taught her years ago. It goes without saying that I'd forgotten said method! Anyway, instead of the double row of basting stitches recommended on the pattern instructions, and all over the internet I might add, you pull out a long piece of thread, enough to cover the entire cap of the sleeve, then sew a wide zig zag stitch over top of the thread. Next, you pull the long thread just a bit and voila...you have pulled in the extra fullness to make the sleeve fit! When she reminded me how to do it, I tried it out on this dress, and it worked like magic! Thank God for younger sisters!

On the way home from church, as we were driving down North Ferncreek, a scene caught my eye and I asked B to turn around. As has been repeatedly documented on this blog, there is a lot of tearing down going on in Orlando for both commercial, and residential properties.

I've no doubt this corner building is being torn down to make way for new townhouses as pictured across the street. There was just something about the remaining blinds hanging in the window that seemed poignant to me.

So, I have not entirely shut down my photographer brain, but almost! Actually I had some good news this week from SunDance. Apparently, World Market will be carrying one of my images soon! Plus, they have been invited back to Hobby Lobby, so maybe something good will develop from that. Since the original HL order, most months I receive royalties from them reordering prints. That's a good sign, right?

What I am to make of these statistics? So weird!

Before I inundate you with photos of the new quilt I'm working on, I wanted to share a few updates. Remember the heron nest we followed in the spring? It's gone now. We knew it was coming because the tree was dead as could be, it is no more. Another blog update, that I only realized myself this past weekend, is that when I paid Mary and Sam for the dresser, I used a little hidden cash stash from my wallet. At the time I could not remember how that stash happened to be. Well, now I know!! My piggy bank money. How fun is that? If you missed that post, here it is.

Another funny thing,well I thought is was funny, is that a friend and I were talking about the city calendar contest during which time she said, "this month's photo is so boring." Ha ha! It was mine! Speaking of that photo, while I was picking up some shirts from the dry cleaners, there it was to greet me. You would have thought I was a celebrity the way the woman at the counter reacted when I told her it was one of mine. :) She did say how customers are always asking where they can get one...

The big mural Andrew Spear was working on at the restaurant is complete; I know Earls paid a pretty penny for it. Driving down Mills Avenue, one can see his work for free.

Well, then, let's talk about a new quilt, shall we?

For at least twenty years B has had a blanket in his car that I gave him one Christmas. As you can imagine, the blanket has seen better days. No, it is really not that worn, but boy, is it ugly! He still loves it, but in an effort to convince him to part with it, I thought I'd make a new quilt to replace it. Rummaging through, what I'm going forward calling, my "fabric pantry", I pulled a bunch of warm colors that I hoped would go well together.

Not all warm, because then it would be boring, but mostly so. Puzzling how to use them, I came across a pattern online that seemed masculine to me. They used various shades of gray, but I thought I could come up with something using what I had. Figuring out the measurements, (!!) I made a few blocks  to see what I thought, then laid them on some other fabric from the pantry to see about using it for sashing.

So far, so good. Thrilled at how well it went together, I decided to hand baste the front, batting, and backing because I wanted to try a quilting pattern that would make removing pins as I went, a pain in the you know what. Bruce's Mom left me both her own,  and her Mother's sewing supplies, and I have many such folders of needles. Isn't it a delight?

Ladies and gentleman....I am in love! First I tried it out on a sample...

and later in the day I got to it on the real thing!

The purple threads across the middle are my basting threads which will remove very easily when I'm done, and friends, I'm almost there after only about three hours of sewing!

Of course the quilt is not so big, so how I would manage on anything larger remains to be seen, but from the moment I saw another quilt done this way, I wanted to try it, and now I have. One reason it goes fast is because there is no stopping once you get going. Happy days are here!

Poor Bruce working so hard on the job site, and now at home. Monday night, around dinner time, both of us were thinking we were hotter than normal. Turns out the ac shut down of it's own accord. B took some things apart,

flushed the line with white vinegar, and finally it came back on. Yikes! This afternoon the pros are coming to give it a thorough check up!

Finally, a major discovery here! Use car window washing fluid, dilute with water a bit, and your windows and mirrors will once again sparkle! I learned this the hard way; trust me on this.

Silence is golden these days,

Gail

And the Heat Goes On and On and On....

Am I the only one who cannot wait for fall? Between the election coverage as well as the advertisements, not to mention the relentless heat we've been having, November cannot come soon enough!

I've been in the pool most days which is actually unusual in July, mostly because we are always soaked, however, this summer the rain is eluding us, allowing the temperature to soar. One of the days I saw this amazing sight in between two of the palm trees.

I've seen these tiny Spiny Orbweavers before, but never with a trapped bee! According to the link I've posted, those little globs are to help birds not fly into the webs. Nature is so darn amazing, isn't it?

Things are pretty quiet in the blooming flowers department around here, but heat notwithstanding, Pam has a few beauties in her yard. I adore the colors of this plant!

Aren't they just lovely? Speaking of color, while writing about the new paint color in the guest room, I neglected to assure you that the coral passed the "paint name test" with flying colors! Jovial!! How about that for a guest room?

Still in Pam's garden, a big fat bumblebee! Or so I think that is what the name is.

Another little fun fact I neglected to mention is the last name our new neighbors next door.

Are you ready for this? QUILTY! How crazy is that?

I have been doing some sewing this week because, frankly it is just too hot to do anything else. Plus, I like it! Every now and again I've ventured out, but who could blame me for staying in when it is this hot?

Actually, it has never been this hot; I really have no idea how the car thermometer works, but it has been mostly unbearable which is why I mow the lawn at 7AM! I read in the newspaper that our average rainfall for July is nearly seven inches with this month's reported amount hovering around 2.5 inches. I don't remember even that much rain, which leads me to believe that what the official record is, and what our own experience tells us, is oftentimes not one and the same. We did get the tiniest teaser last evening.

Later, the sunset does not give me the slightest hope for rain today.

Poor little Baxie has a soft tissue mass in his right groin. Before you get too upset by my description, it does not hurt him, nor does it appear to be anything terrible. Last week I took him to the vet for both his shots, and an examination of said mass. Following an x-ray and two veterinarians checking it out, she prescribed an anti-inflammatory treatment for a week. In the meantime, the groomer came and he looks much spiffier even with his strange little mass. This week I took him back for the shots they did not do during our previous visit; moments before the vet came into the room I took this photograph.

While putting my camera back in my purse, the door opened, and Baxter jumped right into my lap! He knew what was going to happen next was nothing he wanted any part in!

That same day, 10 days after I brought it home, I finally decided to donate the desk that was a part of the dresser set up. Carrying it around in the back of the Pilot because there was no room for it in the inn, it pained me to do so but I had to let it go.

The Goodwill girl, whom I am getting to know because I am there most every week, upon seeing the desk, said "someone is going to snatch it up quick". I bet they are. :(

One of the most important skills to have when making quilts is to have good color sense. Even if a quilt is technically perfect, without a good color scheme, it doesn't work. Because there are endless combinations,working out what looks good together is of the upmost importance. Isn't it really interesting how the same block can look entirely different? I made first one block, actually trying to see if I liked the size, then decided to work it up three different ways.

You may not like the colors themselves, but isn't it interesting how the different placements of light and dark fabric draw your eye in?

As you already know we've gotten into the Jeopardy routine. Yup, once you actually start watching it, you get hooked which explains why it has been on television so darn long! Anyway, one evening I thought we might shake things up a bit and eat outdoors, followed by some night swimming. I, of course, spent more time in the pool than Mr. Peck did, but he did admit it was so refreshing after a hard day at work.

You should have seen my hair the next morning after sleeping on it soaking wet. And that, my friends, is what a pony tail elastic is for!!

One advantage to this dry weather seems to be the lack of Cuban Tree Frogs, so there's that silver lining. Then too, with all of the weird winter rain we had, officially, we are still above our normal rainfall for the year. There's a contradiction here isn't there? We both like ,and dislike, predictability: finding comfort in the same, while at the same time complaining of boredom. Interesting, right?

May your weekend be cooler than mine,

Gail

Days to Remember

If only I could! Thus, a blog that should I wonder about something in my past, I can look it up!!

Speaking of memory, before I forget, I wanted to discuss what's happening in the neighborhood. On our street, the only remaining original resident has now gone into a home. Well, they call it a Memory Care Center, but it is still a home for the aged. Miriam had round-the-clock caregivers for the last five years, however, she now needs even more looking after, which I suppose most of us will at some point in our lives.

So, while her house now sits empty, the rest of our immediate neighbors are now 30 somethings, several with children as young as one. For instance, Elie and Maria, next door on the Appleton side of our yard, decided they were ready to move up in the world, selling their home to a young couple with a one year old son, and moving to Southern Oaks. I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to hear that little one with his family in their swimming pool while I am in mine. Indeed they will look back on this time as days to remember.

Across the driveway, Herb and Corrine have been replaced by his grandson, and the three children. Down at the end of our cul de sac is another little one, a girl of two. George and Lucia are now living in Angela's old house, a really sweet, and industrious couple. I shake my head every time I see them mowing and trimming in the worst heat of the day! They too are in their 30's. Although I knew the neighborhood would be turning over, still when it has now occurred, it feels both weird and refreshing.

While I am on the subject of neighbors, when AT&T were installing UVerse next door, they cut into our yard, and in the process, cut the wires to our back yard sprinklers! I am trying to recoup the $157 I spent on the repair but they are not making it easy. Uggghhh...

What else is going on? Always something! Bruce needed to pick up something at the mall, but before we went to TMobile, I insisted on having a look at the progress. Looking at the photo below, keep in mind B has to know every detail of the restaurant, not to mention handle the budget! At times it is daunting, made even more so these days because of the lack of skilled craftsman available. Bring back vocational schools and apprenticeships.....we all need these types of workers!!!

Andrew is nearly finished with the mural...

So, while Bruce was doing his business I went over to Macy's to use the restroom. Big deal, right? Anyway, on my way back I was pretty amused by this gentleman standing outside the salon, using what looked to be a Blackberry, while waiting for his hair color to take. Seriously?

Maureen called, needing help with her kitchen chairs because the wood was splitting on the legs...Bruce to the rescue! Even after all these years, I take such pleasure in watching Bruce work with wood.

While he was at the men's group on Saturday morning, I actually left the house to do some errands. I am such the homebody these days! The front page of the newspaper carried a photograph of Hillary Clinton visiting Pulse on Friday, and although I did not see her, I did see the white roses she left.

People are still visiting and leaving mementoes,

and you would not need to be a rocket scientist to know that many of the victims were Catholic.

Or gay, for that matter. It is a really, really sad place.

Saturday evening, following the service for Nancy, a group made plans to gather at Johnny's Other Side on Michigan. A rare, at least for this summer, thunderstorm fell as we were exiting, stopping just in time.

I am the absolute worst at remembering most people from high school; they are far better than I, however, it can be somewhat embarrassing when they call me by name, and I am clueless. Two things to point out in the photo below.

The standing man in the black shirt on the left is Doc Holiday. Now Bruce is much better than I at the name business, however, even he was shocked when Doc reminded him that he was the fellow who broke Bruce's collarbone while playing football in ninth grade. He also told B that the whole team was mad at him because Bruce was the center. Come to think of it, he still plays that role.

Secondly, the fellow in the white shirt talking to Bruce is Kenny Lester, or to folks in Seminole County, Judge Lester. I remember reading in the newspaper that he was the judge assigned to the Trayvon Martin case which worried me, however, talking to him about it, he was cavalier concerning the whole thing. A technicality resulted in a new judge trying the case. Another funny thing he said was when someone mentioned family strife, he asked if it involved guns, or beatings. Of course not! Well, you don't know family strife then!  It was good to reminisce about old Orlando with folks who feel the same as we do about how much our city has changed. Mostly bewildered is probably a good description.

During the summer there is no choir at church, instead special musicians fill the musical needs. Last week it was a jazz trio, really great btw, whereas this week I read in the bulletin the music would be provided by a barbershop quartet. Are you as surprised as I was at the make up of the group?

They were terrific! Who knew there were young folks singing in that style?

We tried a new restaurant on the way home--ASH, which stands for Ashley Nickell.

Apparently she was a contestant on both Cutthroat Kitchen, as well as Hell's Kitchen. My bar-b-que, a Sunday special, was excellent!

Sunday evening we gathered at Cheryle and David's home to wish Catherine goodbye for another six months. Returning to her home in the Isle of Wight, no doubt she will be back in January. Nonetheless, she gave a speech about how much she will miss everyone.

Oops, I almost forgot...following church we drove over to Orange Blossom Trail to see for ourself the mobile home park that is home to 13 tiny houses! Bruce is crazy for that show on HGTV. Set amongst the existing RV's, they are cute as can be. The plan is that when an RVer leaves the space will be opened up for another tiny home.

This is one of the larger ones; some we saw B estimated to be less than 200 square feet!!

Thank you ever so much for keeping up with me. Kenny told me that he was Googling something, and he came across this blog. I think I will take it as a compliment that he said he felt like he was a part of our lives. :)

Hoping for rain,

Gail