Game Plan - Part 3

When I return to the studio, I don’t plan to “cross the cattle” guard for a good while! I hope it works out this way! (It's already changed! Must attend training to work the November election! Oh well, at least I'm working!) Setting up a game plan has been a big help to keep me focused and on point. After I get a bunch done shared in Part 1 and Part 2, I plan to create a few things I found during the September long National Sewing Month’s celebration ~ for myself.

I recently made a camo handbag but it needs to be a bit larger for all the stuff I carry around with me. The next one will have an internal zipper like Craft Passion explains in her tutorial.

Although summer 2013 is over, I think the wide brim hat is perfect protection from the Texas fall/winter sun rays as well. Before I start the much needed work on our keyhole garden before winter hits (readying it for a spring garden), I need something like this. I’m thankful The Weekend Designer provided a great tutorial.

I have a bit of muslin fabric in my stash I’m sure won’t be used in the other projects previously listed/planned. I believe it will be perfect to try my hand at printing… oops, reminds me, I need to put celery on the grocery list! Wonder what I could make to display the original printed fabric? Maybe a pillow?

I know I have to wait a while before tackling the suitcase. I would love to work on it, to get it done to help organize my dolly things, but I must place it on the bottom of my list. 

And, Last But Not Least … I want to learn how to use my new embroidery machine!!!! I need quiet time to study and practice…

Now, something fun for you…

• When you see a post on my Facebook page, something like: “Part 1, DONE” or “Part 2, DONE” etc. ~ you’ll know what I’m talking about!
•  Be the first to comment on my Facebook page, mentioning at least three (3) items I should have completed to be “Done” and win a handmade prize!

Good luck!

Eighth Day of Christmas

Within the song Twelve Days of Christmas, today we get to the Eight Maids-a-Milking, the first “active” symbolism which represents the Eight Beatitudes. We can find the blessings, the set of teachings by Jesus, in Matthew5:3-10.

I found this interesting 2009 photo depicting Eight Maids-a-Milking. Someone took it while visiting the Butchart Gardens, located near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I glanced over other beautiful pictures taken there and wondered if any of my readers have ever actually visited the gardens?!?

I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be in person!

One of my 2013 goals is landscaping a large section of our yard. We have about an acre within the fence, with the house sitting in the middle. The east side is “his” – with the barn, ranch equipment, and car park. The west side will be the “gardens” I’ve always wanted and only dabbled with here and there. The Butchart Gardens, and the Dallas Arboretum, are my inspirations.

Living in a drought area of Texas, I must keep a Xeriscape landscape focus – without using cactus! Google images provide great visuals to get the juices flowing! I also try and watch the PBS show, Central Texas Gardener, or read over their website, for ideas, tips, and what to do when.

We constructed the Keyhole Garden in 2012.
The area, the corner of the yard behind the Keyhole is where I'm talking about!

It may not happen in 2013, but it is my hope to eventually stroll through the garden, sit among the flowers and greenery, and do handwork, or read, or crochet, or write – or pray.

The End is the Beginning - Part 3

As I mentioned in Part 2, the concept behind the Keyhole Gardening method just may be the answer for us! It appears to be working nicely in Africa. Since it gets mighty hot and dry here in Texas from about mid-June through October, this method of gardening is certainly worth a try!

NOTE: I HIGHLY recommend NOT building a Keyhole Garden on a slope, but it was an area once used for tomatoes and definitely needed attention.

May 1, 2012

Silly me, I thought the wall could be / would be constructed in a few days – not! Once I got the hang of what was needed and how to best position the rocks, the construction went relatively quickly.

May 10, 2012
I had to totally re-do several times and this wasn't the last time! Totally started over the next day!

Yet, without my dear husband’s help harvesting rock – truck load after truck load (at least 12 trips: some on his own, some times we went out together), this project would not be finished for at least several more weeks!


Yes - at least 12 hauls like this!

Before and during the process of building the keyhole site, I checked google for more information and got back 3,980,000 results! The most informative article I’ve found is from the Texas Co-Op Power Magazine. Another informative place is Dr. Deb’s website where she has an outstanding .pdf document with step by step instructions. I did a search on Facebook, too! Yes, there is a page for Keyhole Gardens.

Although it’s the end of building the formation, it’s the beginning of actual playing with the insides!

May 17, 2012 - LAST rock - DONE!

Today I begin the process of placing cardboard (will be so happy to get the collection out of my kitchen!) and newspapers and cow poop (must gather some from the pasture – which won’t be a problem after experiencing the collection of rock!) and watering it all as I go.

One more thing we must figure out, how to / what to use as a frame over it to support a shade cloth.

To see additional pictures of our process, I created an album on Lanetta’s Creations Facebook page. As I continue on this journey, pictures will follow!

Will it be ready for a fall garden? Certainly hope so!

P.S. What should I plant for a fall garden? Suggestions welcomed!

Domino Effect - Part 2

If it weren’t for neighbor George, then new friend Gail, I would have a lot more sewing done over the last two weeks! I just couldn’t help myself! However, I’m not complaining. I think I’ve lost a little weight, too! Which all are good things!

Reading Part 1 first may help to make a bit more sense of this article.

As a few of us waited for folks to gather before The Lampasas Mystery Book Club meeting (April 29), I discovered where Gail and her husband, Mark, lives. It was interesting to find out that I’ve waved to them for years when driving along our 19 mile stretch of road into Lampasas – and beyond all points south. If memory serves me correctly, while attending TAMU-Central Texas, I watched as their house was being built, their land cleared, fences constructed, and noticed when goats appeared on the scene. Many times as I headed to Fort Hood (still daylight), I would see them walking along the road. We all would wave (Texas friendly) but I never had the time to stop, introduce myself, and welcome them to the “neighborhood” albeit 7 miles away!

It wasn’t until I saw the notice about the book club meeting, crossed the cattle guard for fun, and got myself into Lampasas that I actually met the folks I’d been watching and waving to for years. I added my email info to their roster and received a group email from Gail that evening. Of course, one of the first things I did - looked her up on Facebook. Yep. There she was. We friended one another. It was then I saw posted to her wall a project she was working on. It caught my eye: a Keyhole Garden.

I didn’t see the article about Keyhole gardening in the Texas Co-Op February’s issue! I gave the magazine straight to Daddy without glancing through it.

I took a good look at our west yard… our pitiful former tomato bed.

I’ve so wanted to have another garden area to grow veggies. The watering issue July-September while gone to Dallas put a stop to wasting our time. But with this technique, the ole light bulb went off! And, it’s all because of Gail! Thank you, Gail, for calling this method to my attention!