Garden Evidence

See? We really did have a garden planted this year, honest. Here was one of my nightly bean harvests. I love, love, love string beans. I will definitely be planting more beans next year.

Vibrant Whimsical Butterflies

This kit is called Whimsical Butterflies and it is from the company Dimensions.

I love how each of the critters turned out, so full. But I did have a little difficulty getting started with the contrasting edges. I couldn't figure out if it worked best to do the edges first then the fill, or the other way around. I don't think I ever decided. The puffy satin stitches makes such a neat texture. A lot of work, but worth it. I think these would be perfect for a little girl. I don't have anybody in mind at the moment, so I just have this set stashed away for now.

By now you know I didn't use the recommended colors, mostly because I didn't have them, and partly because I liked these better. I love, love that green. This time I used regular embroidery floss.

Dark purple- DMC 3350

Light purple- DMC 3835

Bright pink- DMC 154

Bright yellow- DMC 728

Bright green- DMC 581

Summer Flowers

We had a lot of gorgeous sunflowers this year, as well as some other really nice flowers. The garden got started so late because of all the rain, then I neglected my plants because of the major life upheaval. The plants were lucky mother nature was looking out for them, raining a bit almost every day for most of the summer.

Unfortunately, since I was too tired to tend, weed, or even water the plants, I also didn't get around to taking any pictures of the garden this year. I wish I had realized this a few weeks ago, because the front bed looked really nice all planted with tomatoes, zucchini, swiss chard, marigolds, basil and cosmos. This was my first year of making a concerted effort at companion planting, too. Oh well. There's always next year.

I did take a picture of some cut flowers Lewis brought into the house for me one day. Pretty red sunflower, some cosmos, calendula and a black-eyed susan.

More Sidewalk Talk

Ta da! There it is, all shiny and white, making all the sidewalk around it look bad. John and Bart really did a good job. The town inspector said it was one of the best in town, and you know he has seen a lot this season! Many of the sidwalk repairs were done by professionals, too.The guys put a shiny 2009 quarter into the cement before it set. See that little smear on the right there? That was supposed to be an imprint of Oliver's paw, but they waited a little too long and Oli was slightly less than co-operative.

House Numbers, Finally

At long last, we finally got around to mounting the new house numbers on the front porch!

We've only had these pretty metal numbers for the last four years, and since we installed the new old door last August we've been completely without house numbers. This became a big problem a few weeks back when I was expecting guests who had never been to my neck of the woods.

So, my friend Marc got roped into helping me put these up one day a few weeks ago. He's such a good sport. Please forgive the bug dirt, dust and pencil markings. Actually, does anybody know what will remove those pencil markings from the metal siding?

Pretty Posies

This set of pillowcases was a kit from Bucilla called Pretty Posies. Posies! I always think of my grandma Gloria when I hear the word posies.

I used DMC cotton perle #8 again. I have so much of that kind of thread, I'll never use it all! In fact, three of the four colors I used on this project were new. I'm trying to use the old stuff up, but the colors just weren't right. I'm so pleased with how this set turned out. The pattern is simple, but so pretty. I had intended to do this set for myself (a first) but when it was done I couldn't help thinking about how much my grandma Gloria would like this set. She was very pleased when I gave them to her. Now I just have to do another one for myself!

Medium green- DMC 703

Pale green- DMC 369

Yellow- DMC 726

Pink- DMC 899

Sidewalk Saga

Let's take a trip back in time a few months, back to May. You might recall that we had the front sidewalk all torn up. The guys had leveled it, added the 2B stones, the wire grid, and had the frame in place, ready for the cement to be poured. Then the sky opened up and dumped more than 4 inches of rain on us in May. Then another 4 inches in June. We just couldn't keep up.It rained buckets almost every day for weeks, and every time I came home I had to check on the basement, mop up as much water as I could, put the fans on the water to dry it out. I even had my two little space heaters running down there. Of course, none of these fans could be left running when Oliver was home alone. I'm too afraid of something happening. I'm also very afraid of mold, so it was a major effort to get the house dry. Every. Single. Day.

Exhausting.

We think the reason we had so much water in the basement was because of the gaping hole where there should be sidewalk. Which was prepped and ready, but of course cement could not be poured in that kind of weather. Couple that hole with the fact that we had much more rainfall than normal. The water table was saturated. I know I shouldn't complain, really, because there was so much flooding in the area, many people were far worse off. But still, it was a pain.

You see, normally the rainwater runs down the street past the house, the low spot being between my property and the factory. But with the sidewalk unfinished, well, the water had a new low spot. And it could hold lots more water!

As you see, when we finally figured out this connection (geniuses that we are) we made effort to create a mini sand wall, to encourage the water to flow right past the inviting hole in our sidewalk. These pictures were taken during a "light" shower.

Eventually, more than two months after this project began, the weather cooperated for a few days, and we were able to finally pour the cement.

Then Lewis borrowed the camera, so I don't have any pictures of the finished product right now! I'll take some tonight and post them tomorrow.

Alright, Where Did We Leave Off?

We're back. We are fine, just adjusting to the new job, schedule and routine. This has left us with very little energy. Feel sorry for Oliver, he hasn't been going on as many walks as he would like. Wait. Actually, that's not new. Some nights I get home and all I have the energy for is about an hour of television with cheese and crackers for dinner. Bad, I know, but what can you do? Anyway, this has put blogging on the back burner. Forgive us. How can you not forgive us when we give you sad puppy eyes like these?

More tomorrow. Promise.

Getting Caught Up

Gosh, I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. So much has happened.

The house has kept us busy, what with all the rain we've been having here in south central Pennsylvania, and all the water we've had in the house. Much in the basement, some on the second floor, from the chimney. I've even dreamed about floods, and I don't sleep well when it is raining. Not because I am afraid of storms, but I'm so worried about water in the house.

We finally got the sidewalk poured, so that is all done. Wait, did I forget to tell you all about that? Okay, I've got pictures, so that post will be coming soon. But we had hoped the large gaping pit that was the dug-out section of sidewalk was the reason for the excessive amount of water in the basement. Unfortunately not. I can go into more detail later.

And remind me to show you my giant rock pile. I have yet to figure out where to store these nice field stones. I've used a small amount as flower bed edging, but there's plenty more. For now they are taking up half of the front walk!

Hmm, what else... Oh, yeah. I left my old job three weeks ago to accept new employment. Where I will get a paycheck in a timely manner. I won't see my last three week's pay from the Commonwealth until the budget is passed. When ever that may be. I'm not holding my breath.

The paycheck is most certainly not the [only] reason I took a new job, but the fact that my position will be eliminated when this budget is finally passed, that was the deciding factor.

So. Quick recap of this summer so far. Dig, dig, rocks, rubble, concrete, rain, rain, rain, basement stream, dry before mold takes hold, interview, rocks, rocks, dig, veg garden, offer and accept new job, rain, rain, rain, more water in basement, sad goodbye to old job and friends, rain, rain, rain, water in basement, sick from nerves, start new job, bargain on Oli food!, rain, rain, rain, water in attic, West Nile carrying mosquitoes in York County, dump standing water daily, rain, rain, rain, giant veg and flower plants, damp basement, rain, rain, rain...

Happy Fourth, Oliver!

Oliver is four years old today. Unfortunately for Oli, both Mommy and Daddy had to work today, so it was a pretty uneventful birthday. But don't worry, he had a busy holiday weekend, and we will make it up to him later this week. I'm thinking, maybe a trip to P-e-t-S-m-a-r-t or L-o-w-e-s or B-a-s-s-P-r-o-S-h-o-p...See, here is Oliver helping me with the garden and the landscaping. Doesn't he look like he's ready to spin some tunes? D.J. Oli Doggie!