Who needs water, anyway?

This is our backyard, dock,and beach. Normally the water is well up into the grassy area, but we have had a drought and the water is well below that. Our neighbor boys, however, don't need water to have a good time. They have gone back and forth over the beach all weekend, pulling each other in the tube and generally being boys. I love seeing them outside, having fun.

They saw me taking pictures and came up close to the dock so I could get a good shot.

William is successful in standing while big brother is doing his best to prevent that!

Even one of our adult neighbors had to try his luck.

March finishes

I am taking a cue from my friend Dee and posting all the craft/quilted/sewn items I have finished in March. We won't talk about how long ago some of them were started, but they were all finished this month.

First up is these citrus themed potholders. I started them for a class that never materialized, but they are so cute I finished them anyway.

Next is this "Stack N Whack" quilt. I originally intended it to be a table runner, but the color fit perfectly in our bathroom, so it is a wall hanging instead. The centers of each block are all cut from the same fabric. It's all in how you cut it!

I wanted a new purse for summer, but didn't want to have to change purses all the time. I knew I needed something neutral, so I purchased this black/white batik fabric at the shop where I work. The faux-leather handles are from Jo-Ann's.

I love this black/white knit top! It fit perfectly on the first try, which is almost unheard of. I will definitely be making this pattern again. Jacki wants one just like it. Luckily I think I have enough fabric to do that.
This red bag turned out much larger than I expected! It is made from 5" squares of fabric, all from my stash, and lined with a lightweight vinyl, also from my stash. It is great for groceries, shopping, etc. Just don't let the bagger fill it full of canned goods, or you won't be able to pick it up!

Last but not least, I finished this blue/white top today. It is made from a very lightweight cotton, and went together very easily. I had to make a few fitting adjustments, but that was easy enough. I have a navy linen skirt from Kohl's clearance that I will wear this with.

Our honeysuckle plants are growing quite nicely along our fence. aka, hiding all the neighbors junk!

I have been watching the buds on this orchid since Christmas, waiting for it to bloom. It was worth waiting for!

GROWING THINGS--Steve got some white Pineapple plants from Costa Rica, so we potted them up and have them on the porch. Maybe they will be safe from the racoons. We also have banana peppers, and bell peppers, and lettuce.

Our lake level is wayyyy down, so we decided to make the best of it, and plant some beans along the dock support posts. The soil is still nice and moist, so they should do well. You can see in the picture on the right, just how low the water is. A few years ago, the water covered the dock.

Saturday, we went biking with some friends. We started at a trail near Oveido, and ended up in Winter springs. It starts out in a small town, and crosses some busy roads, but the majority of the trail is rural. It was a beautiful spring day, and we took advantage of it.

The water level is waaaay down. These oak trees grow any which way they like, including out over the stream. On the right, you can see the air plants that live on the trees.

Blackberry blossoms, and the fountain in Winter Springs. We stopped at Barnie's for a snack.

The town of Oveido is famous, or infamous, for its feral chickens. They roam the town, and tend to hang out near the Popeye's, for some obscure reason. This on was very tame, and nearly ran into my leg, it was so intent on getting a bug.

We are privileged to live where we can see the space shuttle launches from our yard. Last weekend we watched the Discovery lift go into orbit. There will only be a few more launches before the shuttle program is retired, so I want to get as many pictures as I can before that happens.