Patina Moon

Fall color, it's everywhere!  Whether it's just outside my door, driving on the freeways or simply  walking around the neighborhoods, I take note of it all, wherever I am.   I'm grateful for all of Autumn's Glory! On this day however, I visited the Japanese Garden here in Seattle.  It was a rainy morning but promised sun in the afternoon which was  exactly what I was looking for with my camera.  A peaceful, zen like garden. Sprinkling rain in the sunlight sparkles on the water. This blue heron was still for so long, at first I thought it was a  statue.  Turns out, he was just keeping an eye on me.  As the sun came out, the colors looked even more saturated in the light. Reflections in the water. Lace Leaf Maple I've been enjoying visiting some blogs and seeing your photos and activities  this...

October. My favorite month.  Even when I lived in the Nevada desert I loved October.  It's when things started to cool down from the hot summers.  Now, even more than ever,  I love this season/month!  This year, I made an autumn wreath for our front door.  I am REALLY excited about decorating for fall.  Even two of our cats fit into the colors of fall.  There's been a lot of squirrel watching lately,  ...and bird watching,  when it's not nap time. ...and burning beeswax candles and incense  when it's damp and rainy outside.  Even though today was beautiful and sunny, you can just feel it in the air  that the colder, rainy weather is just around the corner.  I hear that November is the wettest month around these parts.  So, until then, I shall soak up the sun and play in the dirt  when I have t...

You know you're living in Seattle  when you have your own  Coffee Bar at your house.  :-) When you live in an old house with a small and  very outdated kitchen,  you kind of have to get creative with the space you do have!  This space kind of evolved over time...I just keep changing  and adding to it. We both love coffee, and I'm a big tea drinker as well.  Oh be still my heart when I found this vintage coffee grinder at an  antique shop here in the area.  Pretty different from this, but oh so quick and easy!  Who'd a thought I'd have a special place to display this  collage I made a while back.  Not to mention the glass table I got in Las Vegas years ago,  and it sat in our garage because I didn't have a place for it!  How about you?  Do you like to create special nooks where you live? Hope yo...

Hi Friends!   I've had the hardest time trying to find the "right" kind of  round rug for my craft room.   So, when I found a pattern on Pinterest,  for a crocheted one,  I had to try it!  (you can find the pattern on my Pinterest board...Crochet) I'm so happy with the way it turned out, and the size is just right. The night I finished it, I just threw it on the floor, and happened to  catch a shot on my iPhone of Lucy trying it out.  From the look on her face, I'd say she approves,  wouldn't you? Then, just a few minutes later, Fetzer came in and curled up on it, so  I was thrilled.  Hopefully Shatzie will get her turn too. :-)  You see, the reason for a rug in the first place was to make  a comfy place that my kitties would enjoy hanging out with me when  I'm in my room. The last place we lived, my craft room was the guest room so...

Time for another doily fix!  Yes, I finally finished this lavender doily that I started a while back.  This one will be a gift for a friend that just  celebrated her 50th Birthday. We've been friends for 40 years! This pattern is from Book 5 of  A Year of Doilies. It was the first time I've ever worked the  "popcorn" stitch with thread.  I love the texture this stitch creates. In this piece it makes me think of grapes or lilacs.  Then, while I was out in the garden one day, I saw this!  An artichoke plant. I've really never seen anything like it, have you?  I mean, is this the same artichoke that we buy at the store and eat?  I didn't realize they were so pretty. This bee was SO busy, he wouldn't sit still for me to get a  shot of him.  Look at all the pollen on him!  So, tell me what you know about this pla...

Hello Friends!  I can't believe it's been over 2 weeks since my last post!  I've been such a terrible blogger lately, and I hope that  once summer slows down and the rainy "indoor" days begin I will  be spending more time on my computer!  I didn't forget however, that I promised you a wonderful recipe!  This summer I have been making  Lavender Shortbread Cookies!  Let me tell you, they especially go well with tea if you are a tea drinker.  Every Christmas, when someone makes Shortbread, I always "swear" to myself that I  will make shortbread cookies on occasions other than the holidays, but it  never seems to happen!  However, "Lavender" is defiantly something I tend to think about  this time of year, so this recipe  is a perfect summertime cookie!  Below are some of the simple ingredients  mint, lavender and lemon. I hope you will ...