Dust If You Must

Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better                                      

To paint a picture, or write a letter,

Bake a cake or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?
 
Dust if you must, but there’s not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;

Friends to cherish, and life to lead.
 
Dust if you must, but the world’s out there 

With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair;

A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.
 
Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it’s not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.
 
            ~  by Rose Milligan

Dazzleberry Sedum is Blooming

Brilliant Raspberry colored flower clusters.

Plants in the genus Sedum are commonly called stonecrops because they are typically found in the wild growing on rocky or stony areas...but you'll find this one growing in our birdbath which has been converted into a planter :)

The Trees Were Green ...

 The trees were green

     The sun was hot

Sometimes I worked

     And sometimes not

             ~ unknown

Roll Up Tote Market Bag

I pulled out some batik fabrics I had stored away in my stash to sew this very versatile Market Bag. 

 

Roomy for standard size magazines, books and a few other miscellaneous items! Great tote to take to the flea market for those extra special finds! It rolls up and fits in your bag! Has a tie closure to keep things snug as well as handy when you roll it up when not in use. And it's reversible!

Birdbath Planter

This is our birdbath converted into a planter. I've planted some Wingpod Purslane (aka Portulaca) that's blooming. Right behind it is an Elephant Bush that is an evergreen succulent. To the left and below is a Dazzleberry Sedum that is beginning to bloom and will have huge, brilliant raspberry colored flower clusters. They may outgrow the planter and I'll have to replant.

 

Our cast iron hummingbird rain gauge is staked in the ground and perched over our planter which sits atop a tree stump.

Succulent Planter

I feel I hit the jackpot when I picked up the Succulent Combo from the Garden Center! I planted them in our concrete planter and they are thriving!
 

 

 

 

 

 

The plethora of plants from Left to Right, Top to Bottom are:

Paddle Plant Kalanchoe, Coppertone Sedum, Topsy Tury Echeveria, Rainbow Bush, Pencil Tree Spurges (Sticks on Fire), Leatherpetal, and String of Pearls. I love my Plant ID App!

Summer Canvas Tote Bags

I sewed these Tote Bags and used outdoor canvas for the exterior and natural cotton canvas for the lining all of which I had in my stash.  Each has 3 interior pockets. Measure 13' H  (with 9" handles) 15" L x 5" W. Very spacious and durable bag. 

Versatile tote. Great to pack for summer day trips. Use it to go shopping, head to the beach, use as your book bag when you visit the library or to store your knitting.

 These tote bags were inspired by Laura over at Sew Very Easy. She offers a free downloadable pattern that's easy to follow.