sore and hunting

Friday brought a truck to work, and now sore shoulders, YIPPIE! The whole trailer of the truck was for us. The nice thing was it only took us 2 hours to unload the truck. Now we have all kinds of fresh plants to sell. Some of the tree hydrangeas are in bloom. The blooms have got to be pretty close to the size of my head. I do find myself to be pretty fond of the classic grandiflora. Nice and white, and it finishes with a blush, also gorgeous dried. I had a woman come up to me at work one day asking what was that tree with the white flowers called. I pointed to a hydrangea, she said that was it. I told her what it is, and she was just in love with it. She told me she was from Texas, and she had never seen them before. I guess hydrangeas are more of a New England shrub. Has anyone seen them down south? In Texas? I have to wonder if it gets too hot, or maybe they would just prefer the shade more in the south?
I will have to go on a mission to find a really nice old hydrangea to take a picture of.
The gardening season is getting close to finishing, so I am out looking for the winter job. I have worked as a barista the past two winters. I have loved the job, and the great customers, but the environment, behind the scenes was not good. I did work with some really great ladies, but I won't say more. So I have filled out applications, a few at coffee shops looking to hire. Hopefully I will hear back soon. There is still two more months of actual gardening, but most people are not completely convinced they can garden in October.
It's all good!
Now I need to get ready to drive up to my dad's for a BBQ. Can't wait to see him, my brother, sister, Sue and her kids. Must remember to not be so shy with the camera.

Have lots of fun today!

finally what's blooming at work

Good Morning!

I finally got my stuff together and got a few pictures of my favorite blooming plants. This is what is blooming at work right now!

Astrantia major 'Venice'

Coreopsis 'dream catcher'

White Stokesia (Stoke's Aster)

None of the mums or asters have started to bloom, but the buds on the early ones are looking pretty big! I will definitely be getting pictures of those. The ornamental kale is huge this year, at least as big as my head! No I don't have a large head, I think mine is proportional to my body.
Also I wanted to document Tyrell at work,

He is the male of the three barn cats at work. I can't say he is a complete Maine Coon cat, because he seems slightly small. He won't let anyone brush his fur, so when it matted up, he had to get a fur cut. He won't show his face on camera. His tail is still really fluffy too.

Have a great day!

Tuesday off!

Monday I got a hold of the dentist, and they were able to see me that night! 7pm. Turns out I had two cavities, an hour later, and I now have composit fillings. No metals, lasts longer, not as expensive. I am getting use to the way it feels. I have never had fillings before, I will have to try harder not to get anymore! It took a small chunk out of my wallet, but is worth it, for my health.
I was busy sewing today. I finally took on the invisible zipper only to find out, it isn't that scary. I finished the sun dress, from Anna Marie Horner's evening empire dress pattern. I am pretty pleased with it.
Also I have made another pair of recycled shorts.

Good things, good thoughts!

Weekend Update

I am pretty pleased with myself. I did quite a few things on my to do list. I finished the slippers for my friend. First Christmas present down. Woo Hoo! Check 'em out

Here I am modeling them!

I also finally dyed my hair. I have been hankering to dye my hair red (I use to be a red hair 4yrs ago), I kept thinking about it, and finally picked up the red hair dye at Target. I want to get pictures, but I need to do it outdoors, better light.
I have started in on another crochet monster.

Also I have been thinking about Elise's 4 simple goals. I think it would be a great way to help me focus in.
My 4:
Do more yoga
       It is good for you, but it has always helped me to be more present, and focused. I let myself get overwhelmed, and anxious over what might happen, or the stress that happens in the day. Taking the time to slow down, and focus on the moment, has always been a great way for me to relax. Yoga has always helped me to do that.

Take more photos

          I have seen a lot of people mentioning this. For me, I am a novice at photography, it is a good way for me to get better. Also a great way to capture the moments I get with family, and friends. 

Speak up for myself

         self explanatory, I try to make others happy, but I need to speak up when it is just too much. 

More handmade, less store bought

I want to buy less on new clothes. If I want to add to my wardrobe, I want to upcycle something I have, or thrift, or buy from someone that has made it. Also do more handmade gifts for friends, and family. 

Good thoughts!! Good night!

Switchfoot - The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)

What I am listening to

Lately there are certain days, I dread going to work. I enjoy what I do, I don't even mind unloading trucks. I do mind drama. This summer two people have been creating drama. Unfortunately one is my manager. The other is a co-worker,  that should work under the manager, but he wants to be the giving orders. So he has antagonized the manager, and done things that are complete opposite of what should be done. At this point in the season, the manager has had more than enough, but won't fire co-worker, because he does sell plants really well. So both are miserable, and the rest of us are stuck in the crossfire. The other thing, they are the oldest on the crew, you would think they could be adults, and sit down and try to talk this out.
So what do I do? Well I hook up my I pod, on my way into work, and listening to music. Recently I have been listening more to my Switchfoot play list. It just makes me happy, and if I get one of their songs stuck in my head for the day it should keep me in perspective.
I first heard about them maybe 11, 12 years ago. I was taking dance classes and we used one of their songs, for our recital, learning to breath. I got the album, and loved all the songs. I think each album, has brought great songs, and beautiful words. Just one of my favorites, off the first album I bought:

Workin'

Awww, Shucks, I get to unload a truck today. Thankfully it is mostly perennials. I also heard some news, that the weather may only be in the 70's, no humidity?! I can only hope! No pictures from Tuesday's truck, too busy putting stuff away. I would like to get some pictures today, because we got some lovely Astrantia major (Venice, I think), all red and straw flower like.
I can't believe we are already starting to sell mums, and I have seen them bringing up the ornamental kale from the field. I am hearing about children going back to school, and fall has got to be next. Am I really prepared for that? NO I am not trying to rush it, I sometimes feel like I am being rushed. Why can't the good days just slow down, so I can fully enjoy them.

Enjoy the day

Work day

So after all that talk of chai ice cream yesterday, I churned it this morning. YUP! 5 am, I was churning ice cream. It finished pretty quickly since it had been in the fridge over night.I tried some this morning, and it is so yummy! this is the recipe I used.Sadly my tooth screamed, with the cold. I think it is time I buckle down, and find a dentist to take care of this (cavity?), even if the idea of bill scares me.

It is a work day. A truck came in yesterday, I got to miss unloading that one (shucks). Although, I will probably be putting a lot of it away today. Lots of trees and shrubs, and I very excited to see the fruit trees. I wish I had enough land, and was closer to the coast (warmer winters), so then I could grow the cherries, and peaches. I could grow the plums, pears, and apples but,  I live near several apple orchards, I am happy to visit and support the local orchards. Honestly I would love to be in a much warmer zone to grow lemons, and have an olive tree. Daydream!
There should be a lot in bloom, and I will try to get some pictures. It is a great way to work on my picture taking skills.

Keep hydrated and enjoy the day!

Alas, but hooray

Sadly I must report, I could not find all the ingredients for the from scratch chai ice cream recipe. No cardamom seed pods in sight, and no bulk whole white peppercorns. I could buy a jar of whole white peppercorns, but there are no seed pods, so I can't see making the investment just yet. I think I will have to investigate over the internet for those seed pods. So I am taking the easy way out I guess, and just using the concentrate.I like the concentrate mix, so I imagine the ice cream should still be pretty tasty.
I also finished my first pair of shorts. I am very pleased with how they came out. I even reused a fabric. I had originally used it to make my first sundress, I was not happy with the results, so took it apart, and reused the fabric for the shorts. I will be wearing them more now. Yay for me. Keep in mind I am not a professional seamstress, nor do I have an actual spot dedicated to sewing. I just use the dinning table when I can, and I have been known to cut my fabric out on the floor. YES! on the floor. It isn't easy but I am pretty determined, and it takes a little longer, I imagine.

 TA DA!

 My knees look weird, I should remember to bend them.

On a mission

I have now got it in my head, that I need to make chai ice cream. On the look out for a good recipe, or I might get adventurous and come up with my own. I haven't made ice cream at all this summer, can't wait to do this one. I also love the  fact we have a great ice cream maker, and it only cost $5. Yup, goodwill find!


So I have two choices I can make an easy batch of chai ice cream, using concentrate. OR I can do it from scratch, using black tea and spices, to make my own chai. My only concern is finding the cardamom seed pods. I might just find it them at whole foods (I hope). I want to do it right, so if I can't find all the ingredients, I will probably cop out, and use the concentrate. Please don't judge me. I am really hoping whole foods, carries the cardamom pods. The rest of the spices (star anise, whole cloves, whole all spice, cinnamon sticks, and white peppercorn) should be pretty easy to find. I will also need to pick up black tea, since all I have is Earl Grey, and that has oil of bergamot in it. 
So I am determined to do this recipe.

This weekend and Saturday Farmer's Market!

Hooray I got it!

So excited, I love how it feels, and it feels me better than I could have imagined. I have to try not to wear it every time I have a day off. I have been considering having her Oxy a Maine shirt for me.

What else have I been doing? Crocheting!

I don't have a name for this one, but I have more coming, all kooky designs. Friendly monsters.

Saturday was such a perfect weather day (Sunday has been just as nice!) so in the morning, David did the shoveling, and we got this lovely Viburnum in. 
This is it, still in the pot.

Now free in the ground. Grow little one Grow! White blooms in spring, burgundy fall color, with red and black berries for the birds. It will be so good to see this grow up.

Also Saturday we bought some A-MAZE-ING corn. Roasted on the grill, it had to be the sweetest corn I have ever had. I ate three ears, I probably could have had two or three more. I also bought more doughnuts from Beep's bakery, love 'em. David had to get some more cheese from swallowtail farm, tasty. I also had to buy a gorgeous Italian eggplant purple and white stripped. That will be grilled up tonight. I have never worked with eggplant, and the only time I have ever had it, is in eggplant parmesan. I hope it comes out well.

Have great Sunday evening!

Oh Susan!

Well I said I would get a picture of the 200 black-eyed Susan's here it is!

I don't know if it really shows off how many we really have there, but there are a lot!
I also had to get a picture of this anemone, also called a windflower, this is actually a spring bloomer, but has decided to re-bloom.

I love how when it finishes, the seeds become like cotton, and float off.

The humidity is supposed to be down today and the temperature is supposed to be low 80's. I hope so, it is so much easier to work without the humidity. I am also excited to have the weekend off again. I hope a get a couple more.  The mums are getting big, and probably in a few weeks I might just have some pictures of blooming mums. It still seems so early to me, but summers always seem to fly by for me.

Oh I also did end up buying that lovely item from Poor Pitiful Pearl. This summer has been so great here for summer clothing. Last year was all rainy and cold, I think I wore jeans for 3/4 of the summer. This year I can wear skirts, dresses, and shorts. Yippee! 

Have a great day!

 

muggies again

So Maine got some relief for maybe 4 days. Nice comfortable weather that makes it oh so easy to be outside. I have to admit though, after all that 80 and humid weather, it kind of felt like some fall weather.
Shhhhhh! don't tell anyone! I do love fall, for all the colors, and cozy clothes. Fall also brings our trip to Salem, Mass. Yes we go to some of the witch trial attractions, but after 4 years of going, we have been to all of them. Salem is also a gorgeous town. A lot of the house are kept up historically, and there is the oldest candy shop there. Also every year we have gone we have found something new, although I will say the coolest thing so far has been this person's backyard.

We were just walking down a side street and found this. HOW COOL!! I love how they used all these things that other people would call junk, and brought it alive.  That is why we go back, there is something you could have missed the first or third time around.


I love seeing things get reused. I have some jeans that got pretty torn up last year at work, but I am inspired by Poor Pitiful Pearl, Violet Bella, and Craftster. I can reuse them as shorts, but they would be a bit shorter than I would like, but I have some great fabric left over from other projects, to lengthen them.
Oh I also got my sundress from Lucy Magnolia on etsy. I love it.
I have been in love with this, and with this summer we have been having, I would totally wear this a whole lot. Can I convince myself to buy it?? I am always so careful about buying things, but do you think looking at it over and over again for over two months, means I should own this?

Poor Pitiful Pearl

I might be thinking about getting this one all day.
Well I need to go get ready for work. Muggy all day today, should be fun!

Have some fun today!