Deodara Cedar Tree

The tree is down.

PG&E tree guy.

The last of the chipping.

Tree rings.

Mike planted this tree approx. 30 years ago.  It had grown up into the high voltage lines and was leaning toward the fence and was about to become a hazard for fear of falling over.  Mid April is the date scheduled for our new shed to get installed.  So looking forward to organizing our packaging materials and things.

Once the shed is up and things organized, next up will be a utility sink installed in the laundry room.  Then we can wash all the paint brushes in that instead of making a mess in the kitchen sink.  That will be a much, much better solution.

Tree Before.

What We Did

Michael worked on the shelf/mirror order and my sewing room cabinets today while I spent the day in the kitchen making chili beans and cake pops.  I went to Angelina and Aiden's school book sale recently and purchased a how to make cake pops book, something I've been wanting to try since eating a Starbucks cake pop.  The book has many more fun and fancy cake pops to try but I wanted to do something basic and simple for my first try, to get a feel for it.  Perhaps I'll get a little more ambitious after I do it one or two more times.  Next time I might try a different cake recipe (nothing tastes better to me than homemade cake) and see if it crumbles better.  Maybe a buttermilk cake, sounds good to me!

I made homemade cake and crumbled it but not into fine enough crumbs, I'm afraid.  I also made homemade frosting to mix into the crumbled cake in order to form into balls. 

Still worked fine for me though.

For my first attempt, they turned out pretty good.  Tasty!

Put on styrofoam block after coating and into frig to firm up.

Transferring from block to plate and back into frig.

Chocolate cake with vanilla candy coating.

Sewing Room

I ordered some curtains online, only to realize afterward they are dry clean only.  Scratch that order.  I'm going to go through my fabric stash to see if I have some fabric that would work for me to make my own valance.  That would be very easy on the wallet as well.

Michael is going to make some furniture for my new art/craft/sewing room.  A large cubbyhole wall unit, a sewing machine table and a large table for cutting fabric, doing crafts, holding supplies, etc..

So looking forward to this being completed and everything organized where it's easy to get at and find things for projects.  I'll definitely post some pictures once it's finished.

Beach Cottage Mirrored Shelf

We just received a custom order to make this beautiful shelf with mirrors.  Isn't it lovely?  Michael is excited to begin working on this.

A Collection of Lovely Things

Lovely Dress Here

Art Nouveau Mucha Pendant Here

Shabby Chic Pillow Here

Bird Gift Tags Here

Rabbit Painting Here

Vintage Fishing Float Here

Rain is Here

The PG&E tree crew was supposed to come yesterday to cut down the tree, but it rained.  And more rain today and it looks like through into next week.  Now the plan is to take it down one day next week.  Then our shed can get installed about the second week of April.

Went to see my doctor for the first time today since my surgery.  Orders are that I cannot lift anything over five pounds for a minimum of six more weeks.

Wrapping Up

11 packages ready to ship.  Whew!  All morning and most of the afternoon, I spent wrapping packages getting them safe for travel to their new homes.

Teddy Bears and Antique Quilt

Our Shelf Ledge

We designed this shelf ledge quite awhile back and it's become a popular seller in our shop.  I love it and Michael designed this shelf to hang on the wall with his special hanger to make it the most secure way to attach it.  He's so clever!  We do live in earthquake country and so I've secured all the things to the shelf using museum wax.  

Teddy Bear

The teddy bear on the left is not for sale.  I'm probably going to regret letting the one with the cute little sweater go. I see him every day and he's sort of captured my heart with his worn nose.

My Antique Quilt nfs

I bought this antique quilt (30's and 40's feedsack fabric) at an antique street sale in Carmel Valley.
I cannot part with this.

Needed:  Minor repairs.

It needs a few repairs and new binding.  One of these days, when my sewing room is all set up I can tackle it.  There are many yards of fabrics that I've been lugging around for years and years stored away in a closet just waiting for me to get back to sewing and perhaps quilting.  Lots of scrap pieces that would be perfect for fixing this quilt.

My New Houseplant

My new Hoya plant is very happy in it's bright and sunny spot.

Many years ago I had the most beautiful Hoya Carnosa whose blossoms were the most gorgeous pink wax flowers.  I cannot remember what happened to my plant, but now, after all these years (about 20) I now have a Hoya to care for and hopefully (fingers crossed) will have many clusters of dainty, itty-bitty, star like wax flowers.  I picked out a glossy cottage white glazed pot with an attached saucer for it's new home.  It's leaves are thick and waxy and can break off fairly easily if you're not careful.

My favorite two birds carved by Michael.

He carved these two many, many years ago.

One for the Irish

CLICK HERE:  Wise Owl Bank

CLICK HERE;  Served With Love

CLICK HERE;  Glass Fishing Float

CLICK HERE;  Like a Grecian Goddess

CLICK HERE;  57 Chevy

CLICK HERE;  Child's Reversible Apron

CLICK HERE;  Shady Path

CLICK HERE;  Cloudy Day

CLICK HERE;  Little Felt Flower

CLICK HERE;  Twirly Girly

CLICK HERE;  Clover

A few of my favorite things.

First day of landscape planting

Sango Kaku Japanese Maple Tree going in!

Mike's tired and hungry.

We went to Mid City Nursery this afternoon to purchase a few plants and our Japanese Maple tree with the beautiful red bark.  A stunning tree!  We cannot plant too much because we have to wait until the tree in the corner comes out and the shed is in place.  Don't want to spend all that money just to have the plants trampled.

Cedar Waxwing Accident

Late this afternoon, I was sitting on the sofa reading a book and WHAM, a bird hit our large front window.  I rushed to see outside and lying on the brick was this little bird.

He was stunned and breathing heavily.

I cooed and gently pet him to try and calm the poor thing down. 

You can see the tiny spot of blood under his beak area.

I carefully picked him up.

And held him.  His right foot seemed a little off kilter.

My precious and darling friend.

I walked across the street with him still perched on my finger to show our neighbors, Richard and Sharon.  They suggested that I put him in a box with some holes and a little water for him.  We were planning on going to see The Artist, so I did just that and left him inside a box while we were out for a couple hours.  When I came home, the first thing I did was check on him.  I took him outside, slowly tipped the box and he flew up into our nearby tree, but not so high that I couldn't reach up and pet him.  Which I did.

I'm going to go outside now and see if he's still there.  Update:  He made it through the night safely and flew off in the morning.

Feel Like a Crafting DIY Day?

Pocket Pixie

Owl Ball Needle Felting Kit

DIY Pinwheel Kit

Little Sheep Felt Kit

DIY Terrarium Kit

Just a small sampling of some wonderful DIY kits available on Etsy.