Quilt, Garden, Life
Donna Young @ 18 June 2007
Filed in Categories: Garden Appliances
http://donnayoung.org
Not long ago, I declared my vacuum cleaner useless and I threw it in the garbage. Shortly after that, I ordered a vacuum cleaner from Amazon to replace it. The vacuum cleaner that I chose is a very cheap model, even cheaper than what is normally considered cheap for a vacuum cleaner, just $79.99 [price varies]. It is like the vacuum cleaner that your 2 cousins might pitch in together to buy you for a useful wedding shower gift that also happens to be in an impressively large box. 
The vacuum cleaner I bought is the Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright Vacuum
. [update: April 05, 2008 - vacuum still works great] I choose it because it is listed in the January issue of a certain consumers magazine as being a good deal. :wink: I was looking for a good deal, I can not spend hundreds on a vacuum cleaner at this time. The vacuum works and so far I am happy with it. I've set the box up for the cat's enjoyment for now. The image shows the box and our homeschooled cat at the back door.Garden
Below are some images from our yard today:
The zinnias have started to bloom. I planted pink and red zinnias, the large variety. These are some of my favorite flowers. My photography skills are not shiny today. After coming inside and looking at the pictures, most of them have the right side cut off. I wasn't up for a do-over.
Here we have a mystery sunflower. This one is from seeds from the bird feeder. It has many flower buds along the stem. Several of these came up from seed. It is going to be interesting to see how many different varieties of sunflowers came from the black-oil birdseed bag.
This image shows a pink daylily. I don't know what kind it is. I bought it over 10 years ago. It's one of my favorites. Daylilies are called that because each flower is open only for one day.
Here we have a Monarda Bee Balm. Isn't that a cute name? The plant is in the mint family, it has a square stem. It is spindly and spreads by underground runners. It is prone to downy mildew. The leaves have a very pleasant scent and I imagine, though I don't know for certain, that it might be good in tea. Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers.
This image shows the trimming job of the bushes in front of the front porch. Severe isn't it? Hubby wanted the bushes no higher than the porch. I told him that would mean there would be no leaves left on the bushes, neither of us cared so we now have lovely bushy branches out front. They certainly do not take away from the house; you can barely see them from the road.
My son came in for the day Sunday and I told him that I am making The Quilt for him. Briefly a smile appeared and that means he was happy with the news. I have not worked on the quilt much at all. I am still getting together the pieces for the border. Yesterday, I cut the printed continuous design strip pieces and if you are familiar with that sort of design, then you know that next I have to join the pieces by hand to insure a continuous design. The image shows what I must do, however, it doesn't show it very well. Basically I have to decide where to join two pieces. Then I fold one piece over the other, matching the design, pin, and hand stitch from the top.
Donna Young Copyright © 2007 by Donna Young
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I love the picture of your vacuum box and the cat. :D
I eagerly await the pictures of the finished quilt.
I love the colors in the border...those are some of my favorite....can`t wait to see when it is done....:)
The sunflower bud is quite interesting in appearance. I almost expect it to open up and say "Feed me, Seymour."
Love the homeschooled cat photo. I think your cat is keeping a good eye out for the `lost cat`.
Sheri!
I haven`t been working hard on the quilt, I put in around a whole 15 minutes today. Isn`t that pathetic?! I need to step it up!
:) Sheri, I was wondering if anyone would remark on the lost cat flyer on the refrigerator. I feel sorry for whoever lost the cat. I hope they have found her.
We have had a lot of rain lately! :) I was standing in the garden today looking at all of the new weeds (mostly morning glory seedlings). As soon as I finished this thought, "I need to till," it started raining. It rained long and hard and it stormed. Our power kicked off several times today (hugs APC battery back up system). I did not get to till. I hope that I can till soon before the morning glories take over.
Your bushes look great.
We are in a drought here and my flowers aren`t looking so great. :cry:
Today I am actually working hard on the quilt border. I am changing the border. It is very time consuming and tedious. It has taken hours to sew on the first 4 strips. They are the most important ones and I am still not certain whether they are just right or not. I have taken them apart and re-sewn them several times.
Later, I will have to till the garden. Now that it is raining occasionally, many weeds have sprouted.
Bee Balm Tea:
(flavor is a mix of citrus & mint)
1 tablespoon bee balm fresh edible flowers chopped up (you can also use leaves)
1 cup water
honey or sugar (optional to taste)
Bring water to a boil. Place bee balm in cup or tea ball, pour boilb water over bee balm, add sweetener, if using to taste. Let steep for 10 minutes and enjoy.