PINKS

I used to really not like pink. There are still certain shades of pink that are weird and not normal. But these... Now these are just like  sweet, pale strawberry ice cream... Amy has some quilts pieced with various shades of pinks and coordinating colors. I've always liked those quilts and they are on her bed here. So the other day when Theresa at the fabric shop helped me coordinate Sunbonnet Sue pieced wallhanging fabrics, they could not have been more well-matched if I had taken that heavy quilt with me to the store. Somehow my "mind's eye" got it! I wanted something vintage looking using some shade of the primary colors. There are three "Sues" in the panel, each doing a gardening activity. One of the ladies at the quilting meeting last week said she thought she could do the applique more easily than oh, a nine-patch, and that's all I know about that. (To me, this seems way more complicated, but I was just overwhelmed and that's where Theresa helped me out with the shades and print size. So I wanted all the dresses, bonnets and aprons to coordinate. This may be my purpose: just to write about what I want to do. What would that be called besides wishful thinking? Getting easily distracted: monkey mind. Theresa was so kind, patient and attentive and I got in so much trouble (you know what I mean) that I will feel really bad if I don't make this thing. I mean... I used to make lots of things. I used to buy 40 or 50 skeins of embroidery floss and cross-stitch intricate patterns with varying shades of many of the same colors. I used to make clothes - mine and Amy's (till she got to the blue jean stage). I have made jackets for Paul. I've made "cabbage patch-like" dolls, stuffed rabbits and their sweet little clothes. Oh, right. That was when I was younger, had more energy and less time to do those things.

These are the pretties. Don't hold your breath. But just wanted to share the colors and how wonderfully they coordinate.  Theresa was even so kind as to label each piece and what it was for: bonnet, dress, apron, and rubber-banded each outfit together. I think most or all of these are Moda fabrics, which just feel wonderful and are 100% cotton but have a silky feel to them. I won't be pre-washing these. If it has to ever be cleaned, I'll just take it to the cleaners or wash it whole - then it'll pucker like the heirloom I hope it becomes. If I put it all out there - my expectations - then I have to do it.

Now pillowcases... Yes, I could do that. I do have to pick up cleaning in Corinth, and the fabric store is just on the way.  Pillowcases would be wonderful with the quilts.

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

I've had two migraines (auras) in the last two days, yet here I sit looking at this bright screen. I think they were mostly caused by heat, travel and heat. But here are a few recent pictures. We had a wonderfully quiet Memorial Day, watering plants. I cooked pinto beans and cornbread; Mike came over and ate lunch with us. Marsha had to work. Last night Paul and I went to David and Sandra's for a cookout. Jess and Jenni were there and many of Sandra's family. Aunt Ginny has been suffering with a bad knee for some time and Jess took her a hamburber and stayed a while. I did have a nap today. Those are the most luxurious things - a nap in the afternoon...

Every day is a blessing (even injections for bursitis - again - which I had to go to Memphis for last week); I have a great husband who drove me. The shot was relatively painless, and the relief thereof was huge! I just can't keep up with pictures, it seems. I know I have some of me, Paul, Frank (an old friend), the 20th Century Club social, and our Sunday School class trip Saturday to Memphis to Bonefish to eat, and of course, to shop. I'm just glad I can remember I do have them. They're just on another camera or on my phone. Meanwhile, here's what's happening in our Two Acre Woods.
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GARAGE DOORS, FEATHER TOYS & RABBIT

Tull Brothers of Corinth installed the garage doors this week. Today, Paul (mostly) and I moved the three remaining big items from the carport to the garage. We would have been a sight to behold rolling/pushing them across the back yard!

I got Lucy a new toy and she has a "ball" with it!

Whenever some new and tender plant comes up I can almost be assured it will be eaten off to the ground by the next day. My canna was Rabbit's green salad one night; another time it was a hosta. Since I haven't seen deer in the yard per se (they do come around in the low garden) and I have seen the rabbit in the yard, I'm saying it's Rabbit. I watched Rabbit from the back door for a long time and he kept a steady bead on me with his big eye. I'm sure the other eye was watching his get-away trail through the woods. When he started nibbling on my shamrock, I shooed him away. The shamrock was still there this morning, but that's no promise of it growing and spreading. I'm sure the creatures have had a ball looking at and snacking on the new plants. Theyreally haven't eaten many of them, I'm glad to say, but I do have to keep an eye on them. But what good is that? I can't watch them 24 hours a day! Maybe some are not as tasty as others. One nuisance creature I haven't seen but plenty of evidence of his being around is Mole. We have many tunnels. This morning all the ground right up next to the carport at the back was hilled up as if he was trying his best to get from the back to front yard but all he ran into was a concrete pad!

Oscar likes the rocker on the carport. We very rarely do "free-range" any more since the snake episode. Also, one day Rabbit was beside the carport, O and I were just going outside and Rabbit took off about the time the door opened. If I hadn't had him on a leash, O would still be chasing Rabbit. Oscar was sunning a little today and I was watering down in the shady part of the yard, and he went to potty, but immediately I made him go back to the house and inside. That may be part of the reason he doesn't like to go out any more - or he's just letting me know, "I DO NOT have to go now! Stop pulling on me!"

A volunteer organization I was asked to be part of had a little party yesterday and I, being the newest member, was the "social director" - the one to come up with the idea for the theme and the entertainment. The theme was oldies/'50's. But that's another story for another day.

(We are hoping for more grass...)

WHO KNEW?

How were we supposed to know Oscar just wanted to go to the park? Today he walked outside (on leash) just fine, with no balking or pulling back. I also had given him a dose of Metacam...

Late this evening I finally caught our one and only hummingbird - on camera.

Tommy and Lucy, discussing important happenings in the back yard.

"Did you see how slow that bird was walking? I know we could have caught it!"

"I see no way out of here."

"Wait I'll tell you a secret about those birds. They taste like chicken."

"Well, you just never know." Sigh....

 "Too much for me. Think I'll just take a nap."

SCAREDY-CAT

The scaredy-one in this case seems to be Oscar! As you may know, Oscar rarely backs down from anything, at least not in anyone's presence but ours.

The other night I took him out for his last potty break around nine-ish, and we went through the front door. (He's always on his leash now - I never know when another dog will trot down the road.) The whole front yard is better lit from the porch light - no corners. About the time we walked out I heard the loudest whippoorwill I think I've ever heard, it was so near the house. Oskie went on with his business, reluctantly - I think I may have had to go down the steps with him. For the last several days now he has had to be dragged off the carport. I know. I hate to do it. So then I pick him up and carry him to the grass. Still nothing. A couple of times I've gotten him down to the paved road, thinking his feet have gotten tender and the rocks hurt (oh, yes, he is so spoiled...) or his knee is hurting. (I haven't been giving his Metacam since the flea spray, and he seemed to be doing fine; I've since started back, though, because he grunts when I pick him up. If you don't have a dog or a cat you may not understand. This is our baby....) Anyway...

This evening Paul said, "Let's take him to the park and see what he does." So we load O into the truck, drive five miles to Mineral Springs Park and let him out, on the leash. He loves it!!! Walked almost all the way around, avoiding curious children, which is a shame because he pressed his little paws and nose to the truck window as we were leaving and wagging his tail, looked longingly at them as if he wanted to play, too. So if he's hurting physically (knee), he didn't show it. I'm thinking definitely a fear factor here. He was afraid of the whippoorwill and associates the noise (which isn't even in the day time), or he can smell something that he doesn't like, or who knows? Maybe he is my appointed guardian angel right now trying to keep me from danger. Like snakes. In our yard.

Hopefully, after a reasonable time, he will get over this phobia and we can get on with potty breaks. I can't see us taking him to the town park for his constitutional every day. But then, one of my mottos is, "Never say never."

DRIVE TO THE OLD PLACE

Saturday Paul and I drove to Tuscumbia, west of Corinth, to his family's (Nicholses) old home place and church. He and his family lived here until he was about nine, when they moved to Iuka, near Mama Nick's family. We visited the cemetery where his dad is buried; Mama Nick's information has been engraved on the marker now. There were quite a few old houses and barns and one or two Paul remembered who had lived in them. I didn't remember that their children's names are on there as well. Something I'd like to have done on Mama's.

I told Paul maybe he should have gotten a red roof for his garage. All the old houses and barns had metal roofs which aged (rusted) and the boards weathered to a pretty gray.

There was some detail work on the gables of this one. I'd love to see inside; someone still lives here. (I didn't edit the antenna out of this one! Well, modern times... I didn't see a satellite dish.)

Love the stones of this fireplace. Tarpaper brick siding...

Paul's Aunt Ruby's home near the church. She has passed away - all his dad's siblings have - but someone lives here - there is a small well attended garden at the back. Ruby's name is still on the mailbox.

Beautiful pink climbing roses. There are some like this at the end of our driveway. This house was at the top of a small incline, a fence across the entrance.