Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...blog and run. Not much new in the garden. However, I did remind myself to look up instead of always looking right in front of me. I saw these wonderful clouds on Tuesday. Have a good weekend!

 ...and it's Happy Gotcha Day for the girls! 5 years ago, we brought home two kittens to fill the cat-sized holes in our hearts. They were an early birthday present for me. 😊 We love them!! Now that our water is working better, the Husband is replacing some of the flowers that dies because he couldn't water the yard well enough. He planted a yellow hibiscus: and replanted the hanging baskets with petunias, vinca, and pentas. The gaillardia is going string: as are the Frida Kahlo roses:

...and I'm still trying to figure out what crafts I can do without my studio. It occurred to me that while I can do somethings in the living room, it is right inside the front door where the contractors will be going in an out to do their work. I don't really want to deal with constant distractions and potential dust. So it looks like my bedroom is the only choice. 🤷 At least I can see our backyard from the bedroom. Right now, in my line of sight are petunias a yellow dahlia, and a lot of marigolds (no photo).  Plus, there are snapdragons that I can see from the kitchen window.

...I can't believe it's August! Our garden path in August: The naked lady flowers are blooming: the sunflowers continue to bloom: and the snapdragons are trying very hard:

...and another finish. I chain plied Jingle Bells [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/23/2025 Finished 7/25/2025 Merino-Camel-Silk (4.0 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 233.3 yds. chain-ply, 14 WPI

 ...and a Tour de Fleece update. First the eye candy. Our yard is in and in-between state. There are only a few things blooming. In the courtyard, the hibiscus is blooming again: < and the purple calibrachoa is going strong. Tour de Fleece, 7/23 I started spinning Jingle Bells [ Ravelry ], a merino-camel-silk blend from Greenwood Fiberworks. Tour de Fleece, 7/24 I finished spinning the singles for Jingle Bells [ Ravelry ]:

 ...and Tour de Fleece 2025, 7/17. I spun the singles for Alice [ Ravelry ], another Falkland from The Yarn Wench. In the garden, an omega skyrocket is blooming by my bedroom door: Another sunflower has popped up: And the pomegranate bush is busy making the transition from flowers to fruit:

 ...on Independence Day 2025. Our garden path in the morning sun: Ageratum in the courtyard: Coneflowers: and a pink dahlia in our backyard:

 ...I missed last week, oops. :) I'm enjoying all of the color in our backyard. The plumbago is going strong: The pink dahlias are starting to bloom: As are the canna lilies: The sunflowers are popping up: and the vervain appears here and there. The cats love watching the lizards sun themselves by the bedroom window in the morning. It's real kitty TV our there!

...and the end of a very trying week. I'm keeping away from the news as much as I can without being completely ignorant. So much wrong going on. :( The garden continues to bring us joy. The apricots are a day or two away from being completely ripe.  This new tree has more fruit than it did last year, but still not enough to feed us and the squirrels. Those @&%! rodents are stealing the fruit already. The hydrangeas are blooming in different colors: And the blanket flowers (gaillardia) are going strong. The Love-in-the-Mist flowers are in different states - some in bloom and some setting seed pods. It looks like aliens invaded the garden. :)

 ...and not looking forward to the upcoming heat wave. Hot days are difficult in the studio. Because the studio used to be the garage, the only natural light sources are the glass French door and a skylight in the center of the room. I can leave the drapes open on the French door, but  I have to cover the skylight because the afternoon heat beats down through it. At least it's not glass - it's an opaque plastic(?) - but the heat is still unbearable. The lighting in the room is OK, but not great for crafts.  The big plus about the glass French door is that I can see the flowers planted in the courtyard. The Husband just planted some lobelia: and some petunias for more color.

 ...another week has gone by very quickly! And I have a finished object! This is The Sea Merchant's Wife: Specs: Started 1/6/2025 Finished 5/22/2025 Pattern: Mirabilia The clematis is blooming: as are the marigolds: The pink lantana is popping up under the cherry tree: and this sun face is peeking our through the trumpet vine.

 ...and I've been playing with my macro lens. Foxglove: < Baby nectarine: Alstroemeria: and Frida Kahlo rose bud. Have a great weekend!

 ...and a finished object. I finished spinning Red Alder [ Ravelry ], another top from Greenwood Fiberworks. I really love their fiber!  and the close-up: Specs: Started 4/28/2025 Finished 5/7/2025 4.0 oz. Merino-Tencel from Greenwood Fiberworks 235.4 yds chain-ply, 14 WPI Our garden path is looking more lush: The Husband has planted more petunias: The Marc Chagall rose is going crazy.  The peonies are now blooming: