Extreme Bloodloss due to Tomato picking......

I think I lost several pints of blood today while trying to talk my garden into behaving. The cucumbers are joining black bean families and the pumpkins are VERY big social climbers that enjoy entertaining the tomatoes and reaching across the "walkway" to the "left" side of the garden over the cucumbers where the winter squash and sweet corn are. Its a tangled mess of vines you could get lost in . While your lost in this jungle wonderland the huge new crop of vampire insects drain you of your lifeblood.
I chose NOT to pick the ripening tomatoes or even attempt to weed or police the border crossings....just 5 minutes and a huge cloud of voracious mosquitoes had covered me. I read that the mosquito traps that generally trap about 150 females are now trapping 2,220 and up. That is a significant increase for sure and I am thinking I need to invest in a bee suit. Or wait to garden until winter.....sigh.........

Laundry soap and other makings....

Today I felt like I ought to be making stuff as my chores were done pretty early thanks to an "early bird" in my house that finds it her duty to awaken me whenever she needs to "pussyfoot". She isn't too fussy about when either as she sleeps about 17 hours a day and 4am looks just as good to her as 8am. She is on the left and Escher, her father is on the right....

Anyway I love to make my own laundry soap for a variety of reasons. Its of course economical but also free of dyes and imitation stuff. I make it in patchouli and lavender so it smells divine. I think I may have to order some rose petals and see how that smells too. It occurred to me that others may enjoy this little treat as well and I will be offering it for sale in quarts. Mason jar quarts are my choice as they can be reused and shaken as which is recommended for each time you use it. Simple ingredients like borax, soda ash, ivory soap or unscented with Fels-Naptha for heavily soiled laundry are used . I maybe experimenting with Plote which is a pink bar soap for laundry and works well too.

I am going to work on my daughter's double wedding ring quilt started 2 years ago and finally finally just needs some hand applique'd pictures applied. I bought a 1930s top made from some gorgeous feed sack fabric, hand pieced. This February 14th will be her 3rd wedding anniversary and I made it for her wedding....hmmmnn....It took me almost 2 years to finish hand quilting and sewwing the border. I hope I finish it before their 25th anniversary....

There is her wedding picture in the center circle and then outward are her hubbies parents, and grandparents as well as Chantel's and I found great grandparents and added in her brother and sister as well as other relatives in the circles. There is plenty of room for her to add children ect...if she ever has any....I, for one, tire of waiting.

Since hubby is on 12 hour shifts 2 and 3 days a week I find I have LOTS of time to get things done. I have the urge to once again create fall pumpkin head dolls and linens as well back to school and baby boutique clothing. I have slacked off this summer sewwing but its time to get back to... my machine has been getting a busy signal when it calls me. I am also eager to try my new serger that intimidates me just looking at it and havent even removed it from the box.