Weekend

Happy Weekend to you!  Weekends are my favorite time of the week because I get to spend quality time with Joe.  We love to work out in the garden and go out for dinner and do interesting things together.

Today, we went to California’s Maritime Academy’s graduation ceremony.  My niece, Kate, graduated cumma sum laude and won the award for top of her class!  We are very proud of her and wish her well in her first job post college.  She will be working outside of Washington DC with a govt agency.

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Remember my old house- the one where my studio was out in the garden?  I had a very large garden, here’s a picture to refresh your memory:

Anyhow, it is on the market once again.  The current owner invited me over last weekend to help myself to many varieties of perennials, plants and rhizomes for my garden.  I brought back about 50 different plants, and planted them in a temporary location until this fall.  I hope to go back tomorrow and pick up about another 50 variety of plants to transplant.  Did I mention I used to garden on a BIG scale??

I haven’t gardened really the last few years since I have been so busy building the new house, decorating the inside, finishing the gate, etc.  Seeing my old garden really re-sparked my love of gardening, so now I am drawing up plans to implement this fall and new spring.  I’ll show you when I draw it up, I promise.

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The Woody Gate is getting really close to being finished!  The two spots on the top of the rock wall were fixed to my satisfaction!!  The lights have been installed and actually works.  All that is left is all the security and communication devices.  Did I mention I LOVE my gate now???

So… what did YOU do this weekend??

Hugs, Carla

Woody Gate- slight glitch…

After I waxed poetic about my stone mason in my last Woody Gate post, I was checking their work last night and immediately discovered an issue that will need to be re-done. It might not be noticeable to most people, but I spotted it right away.

Background on Woody and the Woody Gate is found HERE and HERE.

Here are some photos of what I am talking about:

Left entry gate wall:

Right side:

Do you see it?? I am paying the big bucks, so it is important to get it done right. If you scroll down, you can see the photos where I point out what needs to be re-done.

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If you click on it, you can see where I drew a straight line on the first picture:

I already tracked Woody down to discuss this. Turns out he already mentioned it to them, in Woody’s words he said that “you better fix that! She’ll spot it right away and nail you on it.” LOL, of course, if you add a few cuss words, then that more accurately reflects what Woody said.

Keep you posted on this. Other news… Youngest son has come home for a visit, tomorrow my niece graduates from the CA Maritime Academy, more quilts to share…

Enjoy your weekend! Hugs, Carla

Fun Friday

Woody Gate: Busy week here on the ranch! My rock mason, Robbie, and his trusty helper have been doing a bang up job on the Woody Gate walls and pillar. I’ll take a picture later today to bring you up to date.

We have always been a fan of Robbie’s work- he did the rock work on our house, too. In fact, we are so happy with the job he is doing that we are now planning future jobs for Robbie. A retaining way on the front slope of the house would be nice, then we want some more rock work on the back side of the house surrounding the nooks. After that is a retaining wall and steps in the back slope. I’m thinking my garden would look great if I had Robbie create me some raised stonework beds, too.

My Crochet Purse Class ended yesterday. I love teaching this class and enjoy seeing how each student’s project is different from each other. The women in the class were funny and wonderful, too, they were a great bunch!

Quilting– I finished one quilt this week and I’m working on two more. Here is a sneak peek at this quilt block design for a lovely friend named Teresa. Notice the prairie points I needed to pin out of the way so I didn’t quilt over them. The border was Carla freehand, the border just inside the prairie points was a daisy design:

Here is what the block design looks like- once again, my freehand work:

I like how the secondary flower design happened by mistake. Anyhow, my friend was happy and loved the quilting. Teresa does not like dense quilting, so the quilting above reflects her taste.

The weekend is already here…. time sure does fly! Anyone have fun plans for this weekend to share?

Hugs, Carla

Woody Gate Progress

It is almost half done with the rock work!!! Every day, it just looks better and better!! Here’s some pictures:

You can see how pretty the ranch is this time of the year.

I’ve gotten a few funny emails about my gate. The biggest laugh goes to Vicki Welch for her suggestion that all my entrance gate needs is a matching Madonna statue!! LOL!! But shhhhh…. don’t say it too loud in front of Woody- he might actually get me one!!

I’m about finished with my latest quilt, I just have 2 more hours to finish it up. Woo-hoo!!

Enjoy your day! Carla

Stone Masons and Entrance Gate

Last time I posted about the Woody Gate, Woody disappeared once again.  He does this from time to time.  He did organize having Robbie, my stone mason, to start rocking the wall for me.  I am using the same material that I used on my house- a product from El Dorado Stone.

Here is the scratch coat and how far they have gotten to date:

and a close up:

That is going to be some gate, isn’t it?  There will also be an electronic panel, video camera, communication system to keep out the riff-raff-…um, I mean cows.

This weekend, Joe and I planted some more in our vegetable garden.  We picked up about 10 new heirloom varieties of tomatoes, plus we needed to replace plants from when the frost got them one night.

I decided to take a few hours off from gardening on Saturday and learn how to do a beadweaving stitch called a Russian Spiral.  I’ll take some pictures to show you what this stitch looks like.

Hope your weekend was productive!  Regards, Carla

Artistic Goals & WoodyGate

It is time to update my current artistic goals. I like to reflect on my long-term goals and short-term goals (which are smaller goals to attain the bigger ones).

I’ve decided it is time I learn how to paint on canvas. I briefly took up oil painting in my youth, as I’m reminded every time I visit my parent’s house and walk by my early work hanging there. I have always wanted to work with a variety of mediums- with the exception of chalk because the texture and feel of it makes me cringe.

Anyhow, starting new month, I am taking 2 classes on painting with acrylics. I will give you more info about this class as it gets closer. I am excited to take a class as I am mainly self taught.

I am also thinking of taking art classes at my local college. I had hoped to sign up for metal arts this semester, but the class filled before I could register. Perhaps I should improve my drawing ability by taking a drawing class. Since I like to draw anyway, it would be helpful.

What are your artistic goals?

Woody Sighting!!

Lynn will be jealous to know I have been spending quality time with Woody the last few days. The Woody Gate is coming along nicely, today I ordered the 4 light fixtures that will hang on each gate pillar. Woody spent alot of time explaining to me why the gate needs to be HIGHER… I just think its a redneck ploy to make the gate as “bitchen” as possible.

I still have to order my flat screen monitor that will be next to my telephone in my Great Room. The system works like this… Car pulls up to our “bitchen” Woody Gate and presses a button on the keypad control that is mounted flush to my rocked entry gate. This rings the house and give us the ability to see the person on the monitor by way of a minature color camera. We can then open the gate and let the person in- or not if they are simply lost.

Family members and emergency personel will have a special code they are given to gain entry. Joe and I will have special electronic gizmos on our vehicles so it senses when we are nearby and opens automatically.

Fancy system to keep Rancher Ed’s cows out, don’t you think??

Plans this weekend include Easter Hill, putting in my second garden, and hopefully a visit to see Jack on his first Easter. Oh… btw, if anyone can help me in my last minute search for a Parsnip Pete Chocolate Easter Bunny, please HELP!!! It just isn’t Easter without Parsnip Pete!

Hugs, Carla