Trying to Get a Plan

Wow what a week! The orders came in along with the cold weather. I added more items in my online stores, took a day off to go to Springfield and tried again to clean my room (fail). Here's what I am working on:

1. Three slouch beanies to go to Canada (eh) I did the prototypes and while I thought they would just take those nooooooooooooooo they want black acrylic. Eeeek!
2. No less than 6 owl hats for adults
3. Making pins from flowers I have been doing from scrap yarns (see pics)
4. A pink and black crochet hat with a large flower for Sharie's grand daughter
5. More black and orange doilies (see pics)

That's about it and trust me that's enough. I'm thinking two weeks at least.

Houston, We have Color!

Ok so I'm not in Houston...it was a movie reference duh!

Zinnia Elegans

Get a zing from zinnias!

Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow, grow quickly, and bloom heavily. They make a massive burst of color in your garden.

Zinnias have bright, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, erect stem. The most common zinnia is "dahlia-flowered" and grows up to three feet. Other types are "cactus-flowered."

Use in an annual or mixed border. Smaller zinnias are suitable for edging, windowboxes or other containers. The narrow-leaf zinnia also works well in hanging baskets.

Zinnias are very popular for cut flowers.

One of the flowers I remember my mom always growing is zinnias. I still love them. What other flower gives you so many colors and sizes and lasts so long in a vase? I have a few up and going out it the west farm garden but these are here at the house on the deck.

I was going to throw that planter thingy away. I think it was a record holder from the 50s or 60s. It came to me from the stuff I had in storage and I suspect it may have actually been Grandma Halley's. It sat on the garbage can to get set out but Brian and Deanna weren't sure so they left it. After I looked at it awhile I realized it would make a great planter. And so it is.

Strange Indeed 207/365

If you know what it is...do tell!

Sedums and Such 188/365

Sunflower 185/365

This came from last year's pitiful sunflowers. Looking spectacular!

Mikey Bloomed Orange (Like Clemson) 167/365

Mikey bloomed orange. I would say Go Illini but he lives near Clemson so I am bowing to their orangeness today.

There's a plethora of orange in my yard this year.

Flowers 2011 163/365

Watering everyday is getting old fast. I'm just too tired . Ugh. I do love my flowers don't get me wrong. I just need some help from Mother Nature.

Of course this picture was taken soon after a day of rain. DOH! More please.

Clematis 156/365

My sister has this same clematis down in Tennessee only she thought it was a weed and tore out most of the vine. Duh. Here's the pic she sent me thinking it was a vinca bloom.

Ok maybe they aren't the same, just similar. I can live with that.

Beating the Odds 152/365

I figure I can pay big bucks ($29.99!) for these hanging baskets and hope the bugs, hail, wind, cold, heat, and/or lax watering habits don't kill them:

Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I can spend $15 at the dollar store for fake flowers and put them in a free hanging thingy from the neighbor. Works for me!

To Be Planted 130/365

Tomatoes of unknown variety (2), strawberries, basil, verbena, dusty miller and lobelia. of course this is assuming it ever warms up! I also have flower seeds to fill in my front beds.

A Sweet Pea named Desire and a Nasturtium Named Mike 126/365

I named this little sweet pea Desire. Desire has many little brothers and sisters finally popping up. I was starting to worry.

The first nasturtium on the left (the big one in the corner) is named Mike. Just Mike. Or guitar_strangler. It's all a gimmick anyway.

Downsizing the Yarn Box and Dreaming of Spring 76/365

I got tired of moving the massive box of yarn around in my studio so I picked some colors I needed and put the rest away in a big suitcase Dakota emptied and left sitting in the living room when the demon child, Dalton, moved in. Now I can maneuver slightly.

Oh it's soooooooooo nice out! I watered and cut down some dead stuff and cleaned up some leaves. I saw a little green here and there. I hope my columbines come back and the clematis and the new rose bush. I meant to water more but I kept believing the weatherman when he said we'd get the snow. I think our total for this winter has been a whopping 16 flakes.

Here's a reminder of some of the flowers out front last summer

Blue Scarf with Daisies 13/365

The daisies were made and put on the blue scarf which came from the pile of  blue yarn. Somehow the pile of blue yarn is no smaller at all even after several projects. This is why I have Mt. Stashmore. I should contact National Geographic and see if they will come do a photo essay on this phenomena.

Same basic scarf recipe, alternate rows of garter stitch, colors, textures. Crochet some basic daisies and tie them on with the ends. Add pearls from massive bead stash for centers. Cute cute cute!

Stop and Smell the Flowers 306/365

About two years ago I published a similar picture of my mom smelling the sweet peas. Bitter Sweet memories.

Flowers - Summer 2010 282/365