JASPER IS COMING!

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.

Roy Reiman

My daughter R gave me these hibiscus from her garden. She doesn't like them. I think they are beautiful.

Hibiscus

R and her husband B are going away for a few months and I am going to look after their little dog Jasper. P:) has been fixing  the back deck for me to make an enclosure for him.

Enclosure for Jasper

P:-) isn't quite finished yet but it should be great when it is finished. I was just going to do something with chicken wire, but P:-) thinks shade cloth would be more dog-friendly.

Meanwhile I have finished sewing some cushions for their caravan. 

Covered cushions

They weren't perfect but I was quite pleased with them and R was extremely pleased. They are cut down cushions from an old lounge and will squash down beside their bed at the foot and to give their legs a bit more room.


I planted some salad rocket in my garden this morning. This is part of my quest to save pennies.

Salad rocket

This is the type of rocket that can be picked continually, although I think it is only an annual. I love rocket and use it a lot in salads so this should be very useful.

I am proceeding with my next felt name. I need it ready for Sunday for little Lilly's 3rd birthday.

Felt name

There is quite a bit of sewing involved in making these felt names. I had thought I might be able to sell them but there is so much work involved I do not know how feasible it would be. I used to take orders and sell them years ago but I used simpler decorations which would be a bit dated now.

I have been making cards and when we went to Davistown a couple of weeks ago I began pressing flowers and leaves for use on cards.

Pressed leaves and flowers

I began by putting them in a small book while we were away and  then transferred them to a larger one under a heavy pile of books when we arrived home. So they should be ready quite soon.

I can never resist a pretty sunset and took these photos from P:-)'s front stairs.

Sunset from P:-)'s place

Interesting sites

 1.

 Tiny underground home in Oregon, USA.

Photo source

This is Dan Price's tiny underground home in Joseph, Oregon, USA. The interior, slightly more egg shaped than round, is only 8ft (2.4m) wall to wall with a roof only 4ft (1.2m) high at the entrance rising to 5ft (1.5m) at the back of the tiny shelter. The room where Dan hatches his ideas for his publications under the title, The Moonlight Chronicles, is sheltered by 2ft of earth that slopes into the woodland where deer roam as free as his creativity. Click here to read more.

2.

 Beautiful landscapes and rich cultures

Photo credit

Traveling around Thailand and beyond (to China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India),  Weerapong Chaipuck manages to take a peek into the lives of ordinary villagers in fairly remote areas. Rather than hitting up the most touristy spots, he dives deep into each country's rich culture to document their realities. Along the way, he's been able to share images of traditional fishermen who work with birds to catch their prey, local flower vendors that sell their merchandise on worn boats as they drift across lakes, and farmers and foragers who work tirelessly to put food on the table in their modest homes.
Click here to see more stunning photos.

3.

The Old Man of Storr

Photo credit

The Old Man of Storr is a large pinnacle of rock located on the north of the Isle of Skye, in Scotland, in an area known as ‘Trotternish’. The 50m-high rocky outcrop of crumbling basalt is prominent above the road 6 miles north of Portree and can be seen for miles around. It is also the highest point of the Trotternish Ridge. Click here to see more pictures of this beautiful landscape.