stitching

I started it here. (you can click the word 'here' if you need to catch up)
And here it is finished!
Now, I need to figure out if I should make it in to a pillow or frame it to hang on the wall somewhere.
It is not perfect, but I'm proud to have finished it... especially since I have never completed a stitching project such as this.

Happy!

Yesterday was a happy day as we welcomed a new little baby into our family. My niece had a cute little boy and I can't wait until I can kiss that little cheek!

color wednesday

Dr. Suess-like blossom on our Mimosa tree.

                                       
                                          Bougainvillea blossoms.

                                          Summer evening sky during a rain storm.

The Queen Mum posing with my mother-in-law at a local tea shop.

   
                                           My nephew's super watermelon smile.

 
 Rhianna's incognitio hat spotted at the airport. (click to read about it)

            Volleyball pink-out match during her sophomore season. Yay #2!

                                         Spring blossoms on a cactus cluster.

Opening bud on our orchid tree which has not bloomed since the winter-freeze.

                                                    Prom attire her junior year.

                                      Flowers on the ever-blooming Oleander bushes.

Really big chair spotted in downtown Mesa.

Clouds that look like cotton candy.

Taking a moment to enjoy the really big chair.

Today's post has been brought to you by the color pink.



In honor of: October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   
  During the month of October, volleyball teams typically hold a pink-out match to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Tonight's match is all about pink!


Also in honor of: Berle, Sue, Kim, Julie and Auntie Evelyn.

unruly guests

Driving with the sunroof open really shows off 
                             my gray hairs. 

Is it true that if you pluck one out... two more will grow back in its place?

If so, I've really invited more friends to the party!

sneaky visitors

Look who we saw yesterday.

We have not seen any bobcats in our yard for quite some time. I was glad that spring came and went, without a family taking up residence, like they did last year. I saw an adult once or twice walk through very casually and quickly, but never noticed any hanging around. A few weeks ago however, I saw what I thought was a toddlerish aged one up along the fence where the javelina's are usually spotted. I was in Leah's room at the time and when I pointed it out to her, she said she had seen a couple of them a time or two. That was a quick sighting, as it snuck off through the bushes. Then, shortly after that, I found the remnants of a bunny breakfast in the yard. Our rabbit population is now...zero. Yesterday, right after lunch, these two were enjoying the grass in the backyard. Assuming the larger one is the mom, she is actually somewhat smaller than the adults we have had before. She was alert to the fact that some of us ventured out on the patio to take a closer look and was pretty quick to take off, leaving the small one alone for a bit. I took these pictures through the window, as it offers a closer, more protected view.

Click on the picture of this young one to get a closer look. I think it has the funniest "frown" on its face. Plus, I'm not sure if it was because of the angle, the fact that it was snapped through a window or the shaded lighting, but it has an odd color to its eyes. Seconds after this photo, it was up and over the fence, following the larger one out of the yard.

It was fun to see them again. I like these quick visits. Admittedly, I have missed seeing them just a little.

Whew, "fall" has arrived! The nights have been getting down in the 50's and into the 80's and low 90's during the day. Not quite a fall where there is frost on the ground in the early mornings and the leaves are turning all those fantastic shades of yellow, but I will take this break from the triple digit heat that has been persistent for all these months. It feels great to have the doors and windows open... letting in the fresh air.

Happy monday!

scones

I told you I was going to make some scones to go with the plum jam that I made. They are our favorite breakfast treat. Perhaps you would like to make some too. It is easy. They are not fancy. But, they are enjoyable. Always.


Breakfast Scones

2 c. unsifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
3 T. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. milk
1 large egg
1 t. vanilla

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 F. Grease baking sheet. (I actually use a baking stone, no greasing necessary.) In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. With pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

2. In small bowl, combine milk, egg and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix with fork until mixture clings together and forms a soft dough.

3. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead gently 5 or 6 times. With lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 7 inch round. Cut into 8 wedges.

4. Place scones, 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Pierce tops with tines of fork.

5. Bake scones 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.


We love them best with plum jam, but some other favorites are apricot jam or honey. I have added blueberries to the dough before baking and that it good too. The original recipe had chocolate chips in them which I have tried, but plain is our scone of choice! A little butter to the warm scone and then your favorite topping will make you very happy.

Enjoy!

color wednesday

  

Hot-air balloon gremlin.

                                            Macro view of a plant.    

Vintage soda-pop delivery truck.

                                                                                                           

Cute sweater on a cute little guy spotted in a crowd of people.

Houseplant with the morning sun shining through a stained glass window.

                                             Spring blooms on an interesting plant.

 Field at a Rockies spring training game.

Corn spotted in an Arizona grocery store. (Love)

 Environmentally aware parking spot. Can you only imagine the Dad's excitement when he got to park here?

Raft dwelling cousin on the right.

Shirt worn by brother-in-law during a fierce game of minute to win it!

                                         A sea of lush fern.

                        Pine needles.

Lake water with a school of small fish.

Winter grass in February in Arizona.

Today's post was brought to you by the color green.

three hundred

Today is my 300th post on my fourth corner blog. Go ahead, I'll wait for you to sit back down and stop applauding! That is 300 tid-bits, details, moments and happenings, that you would miss out on if you didn't tune in here once in awhile. In honor of this 300th post, I thought I would share 300 things about me that you may or may not already know. Here goes:

  1. My favorite color is usually red.
  2. I have lived in 10 different houses in 8 different states.
  3. I do not like math.
  4. I do like cookies.
  5. I parasailed once while vacationing in Mexico.
  6. I love sunflowers.
  7. I have a big collection of buttons. See a small sampling above.
  8. I never went to a prom.
  9. I've never been stopped by the police.
10. I don't like to wear lipstick.
11. I always have my toenails polished.
12. I don't like balancing checkbooks. See #3 above.
13. I was a cheerleader in eighth grade.
14. I once was able to do the splits on the balance beam.
15. I sometimes scare my husband by screaming during a nightmare.
16. I can only sit in an aisle seat at the movie theater.
17. I usually can't eat the last bite of a sandwich. It makes me gag.
18. I get excited when I see the moon.
19. I was just kidding when I said I was going to share 300 things
      about me that you may or may not know.

You will just have to wonder about the other 281.

Thanks for reading!