Lavender Festival

I've finished working the first four days at the Lavender Festival and I have one more to go before my official retirement! It has been fun. The farm is beautiful and just being around all the lavender is relaxing. People who came were all quite impressed and appreciated the whole experience. One day, I worked part of the day in the kitchen preparing sample plates for the cooking demonstrations. I also worked at the cash register, in the store, and at the gate. I harvested my first lavender plant and made some cute little sachets with fresh lavender in them to sell as well. Yesterday, after work, I went to take some pictures. The sky was beautiful, but it was quite windy. I'll have another chance on Thursday. I did get this good one with the bee on the plant though!

HOLLYHOCKS!!!

This will probably sound silly to most people, but I am very excited that I finally got my hollyhocks to bloom! I planted several from seed behind our cabin and the plants came up, all looking quite promising. I spent much time thinking about how all of these beautiful flowers would look blooming on the back wall of our cabin. Well, that was 5 years ago! Over the years they died off except for this one plant that I have been nurturing along and at times have been quite rude to. When we arrived here a few weeks ago, I noticed the plant was quite green and there appeared to be buds on it. I waited patiently, talked nicely to it once again and 2 days ago, I was greeted with a flower! Now there are 3, with more to come I am sure. So I guess this is a sign that I shouldn't give up and probably shouldn't have ripped the hollyhock in the planter in Tucson out shortly before I left and thrown it away. Who would have thought I'd have to wait 5 years?

Soldering...soldering....

Well, the wind continues to blow here "on the mountain" as they say around here but, I have been busy as you can see. I made 23 glass slide pendants, actually 25, but 2 of the slides cracked in the process. The pendants on the top right are made with metal trays and Diamond Glaze. I have trouble with air bubbles using the glaze. Even when it is poured and looks smooth as glass, five minutes later there will be bubbles. I don't shake it and I have done everything I can think of to prevent that from happening. Any suggestions?? And by the way, the "coffee diva" is one that I am keeping for myself!

Spring in the Mountains

We took our first mountain bike ride of the season today and it was gorgeous! The bright green leaves on the trees with the sunlight shining through was captivating and I found myself wanting to stop and take pictures everywhere. All the stopping, was probably good since neither one of us had been on our bikes all winter. It felt good to get out in the fresh mountain air!

Yoga

Thank goodness for yoga at the end of the day that's all I have to say!

Windy day

Today was a rather windy day. We even had rain after lunch which I know Carlanda would have loved! Unfortunately, it didn't last long enough to get myself to the loft with a good book and take a nap. I worked most of the day today on scrapbooking and journaling a road trip to Texas that we took in April of '08, and yes, I am a little behind. I thought I'd better get caught up before we go to China. I got a job today too - working at the Lavender Festival in Concho, AZ at a Lavender Farm - I'm only working for 5 days so don't anyone panic - especially not me!

Gardening

Today I planted flowers to perk up the sunburned plants that I brought to the cabin from Tucson. They are much happier and perkier here. As we drove in, I think I heard them shouting, "we're here, we're here!" or was that me? I posted a picture because I know reading is much more interesting when there are pictures. Anyway, once the planting was done, I became the white tornado inside, swept and mopped all the floors, dusted, and vacummed most everything including the places no one ever looks! The place will be ship shape soon. Tomorrow, we'll work on the window cleaning. Does anyone do windows??

Header

Well, here it is, I've posted the header! I bought the piece of old tin from a great scrapbook shop in Pinetop, AZ called Embellish. The dried flowers are sunflowers that were all over the mountain last fall and the dried pods still dot the landscape in some places. The rusted tin bird and bird house have been hanging around here for a few years just waiting for the right project.

Uneventful

I realized at the end of the day, that today was quite uneventful. It was relaxing though. We ate lunch at our new favorite lunch place on the mountain-Cafe Bocado, went to a farmer's market, bought some plants and transplanted some sunflowers that sprouted in the driveway. I did work on a banner for the top of this blog, but it is drying so that will have to wait. A day just the way I like them. Do what you want, when (and if) you want.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Wow, here I am in the blog world. There's a first time for everything and this is my first post. I also signed up for an etsy account today. I guess this is a big day! This is something I have been thinking about for a long time and just decided today was the right day. We are at the cabin in the mountains and it's windy outside. The weather is cool, but not too bad. I should be cleaning the floor and calling my mother, but here I am. OK - I'll call my mother!