Autumn or Winter?

      Today is November 5.   The Mustards, Turnips, Kale, Collars, Brussels Sprouts, and Cabbages have long been planted and are producing well.  Persimmons are ripening and I have collected quite a few for the coming months of cooking.  It is the season for all things baked. I will probably have "Greens and Cornbread" sometimes this week.
      Our local Harley shop had their 10th anniversary 2 weeks ago and I have an order for a double size T-Shirt quilt. They are also going to display the current quilt for me.  So exciting!  I'll post a picture of the quilt when it is finished. 
      My Mom is coming to stay the week and we are going to work on some more quilts. The quilt I have been working on for my bed is on hold because the material I need has been back ordered three times. I hope this is not a problem because I have put in a lot of time to not be able to finish it.
      Here in Louisiana we are never too sure whether it is autumn or winter because of the type of climate we have.  It never snows and rarely gets below freezing. There are only 2 indications of season change,  the leaves change color and the rainy dreary days multiply. Not that I am complaining, I love the colors and they inspire new color combinations for quilting and it just gives me more time to spend sewing, quilting, and crafting Christmas presents.  Hope your days are as productive as mine.  Cherish the season and time given shut inside spent with family and friends. 

BELL PEPPERS

Did you know that BELL PEPPER plants produce male and female fruits.  The male fruit has 3 humps on the bottom and is better for cooking.  The female fruit has 4 humps on the bottom, is sweeter, has seeds, and is better for eating raw.  Picture thanks to produceplanet.blogspot.com    They have a lot of interesting ideas.  follow them!

Quilt , Sew, have fun

IF LIFE GIVES YOU STRIPS OF CONFUSION.  MAKE A STRING QUILT.

Master Artisan Bread Recipe | The Bread Makers

Master Artisan Bread Recipe | The Bread Makers

Cherry-Pecan Bread Pudding Recipe | The Bread Makers

Cherry-Pecan Bread Pudding Recipe | The Bread Makers

SEE! I do Quilt.

This is my current project.  After making quilts for grand kids and my son(5 in all).  I finally decided to make one for myself.  I painted my room slightly lighter than the Teal color in this photo. 

in order to make a quilt for my KING SIZE bed, I have to make 81 squares.  I have made only four.  I have really been procrastinating!  I can make a square such as this in about 20-30 minutes.  But, instead of sewing on this project I have made a dress for my oldest granddaughters 6th grade graduation.  Cut out a dress for me.  Hemmed curtains for a friend of mine.  Everything except this.  I'm not sure why I can't seem to get motivated to complete this.  I guess I need some accountability from my Internet buddies.  If I have any out there, it would help if I had some intervening comments and encouragement.  I think it will be gorgeous once it is finished.  I haven't decided on a design for a border.  I would really like to incorporate a pretty soft yellow.  What do you think, solid or small print?  or none at all?  

IMPATIENCE

Have you ever had the feeling that you were absolutely sure that you have no idea what you are doing?  THAT'S ME!!  I am completely lost as to what to do about this blogging stuff.  Not that I can't find anything to write about.  Just that....I am impatient to create a useful, productive, interesting, creative, thought provoking page.  In other words, EYE CANDY, stop and peruse kind of page that people will want to come back for more.  Some of you know that place.  Some of you are just more talented than others or have helpful others that promoted you site.  Oh well, once again I say IMPATIENCE!  How do I do this.  What will others think is interesting.  What did I think I was doing when I started this.  All the pages I have looked through and followed have been absolutely mesmerizing to say the least.  Again, what do I do with out having to empty my pockets to fulfill a dream of sharing, caring, instruction, fun, and enticement for those out there willing to be my "curser"y friends.  So there it is.....the musings of a sleepless night.  Its almost 4am here and sleep is elusive.  DH will be up and out to work in about 3 hours and I will be taking my mother-in-law to an appt.  ANYWAY,  I will be here again soon.  Hope all of you out there have wonderful days, or nights as it would be.

Always a Problem

I have finally got the problem fixed.  I couldn't use my camera on my "Surface Pro" computer, so I took  it back to the store and after the "Geek Squad" muddled through the programs they decided that the computer was defective and replaced it with a new one.  That was Thursday.  Friday, Windows 8 wouldn't activate and I couldn't connect to my email.  After several hours of trying to get it to run and sync, I gave up.  Then comes today.  Again I attempted to get the thing to run and sync without luck, so back to the store.  Again, updates; program analysis; the ingenuity of one special computer annalist, and WALLAH!  up and running.  I wish he would have been there Thursday, maybe I wouldn't have been as frustrated with the whole thing.  Now, I can give ya'll more animated and interesting and hopefully inspiring. Trips, Tips, and Techniques.  If you look, you will see a button to help you follow my post.  I would appreciate it if you added me to your following or at least +1 me so I will know if I am doing anything interesting.  And if there is something you would like to know about, or any tips that you can give me, leave me a comment. Hope to hear from you soon. Happy Blogging!

P.S.  I would like to take the time to thank bakespace.com  for adding me to her circle. 

Don't be confused

I know that I have been posting a lot about veggie gardening issues but don't be alarmed.  I really do quilt, put by food by canning, sew clothing, crochet, etc.  I have even been known to change an electrical outlet or two and rebuild a carburetor.  I promise I will be posting on my quilting and sewing soon.  It just happens to be gardening season.  Don't go away, I promise to continue posting my antics.....

Not a Leaf Hopper, but related!

The small bug that I was calling a Leaf Hopper is only a relative with less harm.  A Spittle Bug or Frog Hopper is actually what it is.  It really doesn't harm your plants but,  you will wonder what in the world that icky, sticky foam is on the underside of your plant leaves.  These Spittle Bugs make a foamy liquid that helps to cool them, prevent dehydration, and protects their young.   The eggs of the bug are lain on the bottom of the leaf then covered with the spittle that allows the young to feed on the leaf while they are protected.  They only stay around a couple of weeks so its really not a big deal.  Thank goodness, because I was almost sure that this was the culprit that produced the Squash Vine Borer Worm.  I still have to be diligent though, just in case the little rusty colored grouping of eggs show up on the under side of leaves on my wonderful squash.  Then, I will carefully cut that leaf off and burn it in order to control the Borer infestation.             http://bugguide.net/node/view/409146  You can see pictures of all kinds of Leaf Hoppers, Tree Hoppers, and Frog Hoppers at this web site.

Squash Blossom End Rot

Due to my bout with "Fibromalgia" yesterday and today my update was delayed.  I checked my squash and the "Tumms" trick seems to be helping. Yea!  The blossoms on the squash are falling as they are suppose to, before the squash gets more that 2-3 inches long.  And the black rotten ends have diminished greatly.  I have to now be diligent in the amount of water they are receiving because this also will effect the quality of the squash.  Too much = rotten ends.  Too little = arrested development.   I also have to figure and effective way to rid them of leaf hoppers, you know the little burgundy bugs with red stripes that hop from leaf to leaf.  So far they haven't really hurt the squash plants except for a few holes in the leaves, and I don't think that these are the ones that lay eggs that become the worms that bore into the hollow stems of the squash vine and kill them..    I haven't seen any eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Stay tuned...... 

trouble

I intended to post pictures today but my camera fizzled. I have a beautiful square foot garden.  In all Ive 4 4x4 foot raised beds and 1 4x8 foot bed. I'll post pictures later.  The reason I mention this is that my squash has "blossom end rot".  That is when the developing squash get black soggy rotten areas on the end where the blossom started.  After doing some research and testing the soil, I found that I needed more calcium in the soil.  I couldn't eat enough eggs to provide the shells for calcium for the garden so I called the ever present mother(don't know what I'm gonna do when she is gone), to discuss the problem.  After hashing out sources of calcium, she told me that an elderly man had advised my brother to put "Tumms" around his plants to provide them calcium.  Ding-ding! being a nurse I immediately knew that "Tumms" is pure calcium carbonate.  Duh, why didn't I think of that!  I prefer doing solely organic but, needed a quick fix. I removed the blossom from the end of the newly developing squash and faintly scratched the end in order to make a "scar" then just before the Frog Strangler rain, I placed 3-4 "Tumms" around each plant.  I just hope it works.  I love squash and I can't bear the thought of not having fresh from the garden veggies.  Updates and pictures to come.  (Fingers crossed).

Pure Laziness

this is the third time I have attempted to start a blog.  For some reason I seem to not be able to carve out that little bit of time for adding information to my posts.  I am making a resolution to be more mindful of posting the information that I feel will be productive for all.  Starting now.  I hope that my following will increase exponentially in the next few weeks.  posts will not be just about gardening. It will also include other interesting things such as quilting, sewing, putting by food, and generally anything that is as the title suggests, homemade an handmade.  come by and lets see what we can get into.  enjoy!!