Swap#3 Altered Spoons

I didn't even know what an altered spoon was until I googled it. Wow! So many different things to do. Here are some of the pictures of my altered spoon:

News Flash

News flash! SJ has opened her new Etsy shop: Cutie Patootie Apparel. The link is here under my links and I'll post it here as well:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CutiePatootieApparel?ref=pr_shop

Please take a minute and check it out!

First Zucchini of the Season

Jasmine is not loving the first zucchini of the season. It is almost as big as Jasmine so maybe she thinks that it is an alien coming to get her. Who knows what goes through the mind of a little five pound cat?

SJ and I took a ride down the GSP to Forked River today to check out a quilting shop "Quilting Possibilities". Get off the GSP at Exit 74 make a right onto Lacey Road, then a right onto Route 9 South and it is right after the WAWA on Route 9. So easy to get to. And were we ever surprised at what we found! It was a HUGE shop. When we walked in - we were totally overwhelmed by the amount and selection of fabrics. Not only fabrics but patterns, sewing machines, notions, on and on... The store associates were very helpful and very pleasant. We will certainly be going back to that store. It was a nice ride there and back with my sweetie SJ.

When we came home SJ went in the house and I headed into the garden. It is like a jungle out there. I do mourn the loss of my peas, green beans, and kidney beans. I think I saw some evidence of nibbling on my pumpkin stems - but I can't be sure. But the vines for the zucchini, summer squash, pumpkins and cucumbers are all over the place. I corralled them in with the mesh from the bean trellis, the bean tee pees and actually used some left over chicken wire to make a trellis. It certainly looks a little neater. That's when I found the zucchini. I see several more starting. I also see some small peppers and tomatoes starting. The sunflowers look like they should be blooming soon. I can't wait until they do and I can take some pictures!

Next year I need to get some gravel down on the non garden part of the garden, pathways, etc. I also need to make a better gate and really attend to any spots where little critters can get in. Tomorrow I will head to Lowe's to get some wood to make my scarecrow!

Mail Art for July

I can post the pictures of the mail art that I made for July now that I know that Nini received it.

I had a lot of fun making this. I used an old cigar box and covered it with gesso. Then I tried to pick out colors that I usually don't use - just to get me to (excuse the pun) think outside of the box! The box got me to thinking about a door. Then the door got me to thinking about the Joseph Campbell quote about following your own bliss.... and the rest just flowed from there!

I am so glad that Nini enjoyed the box. I really loved creating it for her!

Day at Ocean Grove

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It seemed like a good idea this morning. SJ and I were going to head over to Ocean Grove and spend the day at the beach. The forecast was great, sunny and hot with no chance of storms. The beach at Ocean Grove doesn't open until about 12:30 on Sundays because fo church. We packed a lunch, some ssodaas, towels, magazines, chairs, umbrella - let's go.

The next time I get the bright idea to go to the beach on the weekend I want someone to smack me upside my head. Here in NJ we have lots of...people...who come from the northern part of the state or NY and spend the sumer in NJ. They spend their money here which is good for our economy. But the benefits end right there. We have a special name for these people: Bennies.

Bennies do not have a clue about personal space. Bennies do not have any idea what an "inside" voice is Nor do they understand that certain topics should not be discussed in the middle of a crowded beach. Bennies ignore all local traffic laws. They are loud, rude and mostly arrogant.

Now there are many nice poeple that come to the Shore from northern Nj and NYC. You would never know that these people are from "away". You wouldn't call these people bennies.

You see, being a benny is more than living in a certain geographic region. Being a benny involves a certain state of mind.

Anyway, enough of my rant. We spent only about 2 hours at the beach for several reasons:
1. The bennies
2. The water was disgusting. It looked like milions of scales had been dumped in the water.
3. The bennies

I'll go during the week, later in the afternoon from now on. I am just getting too old to deal with it.

The pictures are of my sweet daughter, SJ. The beach around us. The snack shack behind us and the town of Ocean Grove. And the crazy pasttime of New Jersians- getting hooked up to a parachute and towed by a boat out on the ocean. every time the boat slows to dip the people's feet in to the water, I am reminded of bait being dipped into the water for fishing. I don't know that I necessarily want to be shark bait.

Garden Gossip

Well, more garden gossip. I have been lucky because it has been raining enough to keep my garden happy but not enough to drown it. I just wish I had more tomato blossoms. It seems lke the squash and zucchini are blooming as well as the pumpkin.
I had to clear away the remains of the groundhog eaten peas and beans - so I planted more tomatoes in their place.

The big winner this year seems to be the mint. It s really flourishing!

Next year I am going to plant some nastirtium in with the beans - that should chase away the groundhogs. Possiblt out the poyyed miny around also.

Modeling Cutie Patootie Apparel

This is Abby (you've read about her at Gus and Trudy). She is modeling a skirt that Sara Jane made. Sara decided to open an Etsy shop and she is calling it Cutie Patootie Apparel (after Denise's name for her).

Sara has been very busy, she completed two blankets (so soft), a pair of cute pants and a shirt. Next I am going to ask her to make me sleep shorts and a skirt. She is ordering her business cards tomorrow and we are looking online for sew in printed labels to pt in to the clothing. I am very excited and happy for her!