Rohling Studios

Eat Apples

   The kids were here from Arkansas.  We went to the Apple Farm.  I sat out on the apple picking this year... but...I look forward to walking through the apple orchards next year.  In two weeks I get my new knees!!!  I am looking forward to next year at this time.  Mostly I just want the six weeks after the surgery to pass quickly).  They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away....so....I'm planning to eat a lot of apples during my recovery. 

   The grandkids put up the halloween decorations while they were here.  We hung orange lights in the bathroom and my Little Man said it was like having a festival when you go to the bathroom!  I love it!  I think I should leave out lights in the bathroom year round.  I like the idea of it being a festival in there.      

Vacations, Holidays, Family ETC ETC ETC

   It is Sunday afternoon.  The holiday is over.  My daughter and her family are on their way home.  The vacation is over.  Everything is quiet except my mind.  It jumps from one thought to another.  Snapshots of the last month keep clicking through my head.  I went to San Diego to celebrate the birthdays of my son and grandson.  They were born on the same day in June.  Ben as usual put a lot of thought into it and the time and it was great.  San Diego is a wonderful city!  I love the weather!...and the Ocean!

We spent much of our time by the water.

 

Flocks of pelicans are not something we see here in Wisconsin.  What a thrill!  It is not unusual to see seagulls  because we live on Lake Michigan.  However, in all my years of living here I have NEVER seen a seagull nesting!  So I have to kind of wonder where they nest around here.  I caught this one just as she was sitting back down to keep keeping her babies warm

The sky was full of birds and other things....

The ocean had a few sites we don't see here either....

But the best things that were in San Diego are right here...

the hands of my son holding his son's hands!  That is the very best thing in the whole city of San Diego!  They playfully refer to this little guy as "The Beast"!  It is funny when you see him because he is the farthest cry from a beast....he is sweet and beautiful...but the nickname has stuck.  He will probably be forever nicknamed "The Beast" or maybe "B" for short. 

The day after my return my daughter and her tribe came in from Arkansas.  To say the least I have been spoiled by my children for the last month.  Pictures will be forthcoming!  Of course they will have to be limited to little fingers and little toes but that's ok....pictures will follow none the less. 

Paul and Peter Rabbit

ARRRRGGGGGGGGGG!  I just typed my whole entry and then it disappeared!!!!  So I won't be as wordy this time around....more pics instead...Sunday Paul and Laura and I went to the new Indiana Jones movie.  I loved it!!!!  Laura sat on the edge of her seat most of the movie!  It was as fun to watch her as it was to watch the show.  Afterward we went back to their home and sat on the porch.  It is a second floor porch and Jimmie (seen above being loved on by Paul) thinks it is his MANOR.  There is not a worry that Jimmie will jump up on the railing, bark at anyone or stick his head through the bars.  He is the world's best mannered dog!  Paul is very good with plants so the porch is lovely.  There are hanging pots...

and pots on ledges......

He is very good at mixing flowers that I would never think of mixing together...

It must be the artist in him....

 

He has the green thumb that I don't have!

  (I just love these!)

It is here that Jimmie spends time on his chaise....never jumping up on the railing...never knocking over a pot or disturbing a flower....

It is here that the story changes!!!!

I have a very large maple tree in my yard.  I also have two mischievous dogs...well...one more so than the other!  Because of the shade and the dog activity in my yard I have to reseed a part of it every now and then.  This happens to be another one of those years.  I bought rabbit fencing to keep them out and that worked until Jimmie visited and showed them how to jump the fence.  (Something he would never do at home.)   This year Paul built the rabbit fencing to be two stories tall so that no jumping would happen while the grass is seeding.

Lanterns were hung to make it appear more foreboding and even an orange electric cord was added to  emphasize the danger of jumping the fence.  (Note Gus sniffing the border as if this were the Berlin Wall!)  Below you see Rosie respecting the three week boundary.

And then you see Gus checking to see if I see him....

He decides I cant see him and proceeds to pull a Peter Rabbit stunt....

And under he goes!!!

He pulls his back legs through last; while checking to see if he has been spotted.

Yep!  I caught him!!!  the head goes down...and he acts like he is invisible.  I think of Peter Rabbit and Mr McGregor.  He scampers back to the fence and Rosie lets him know he was busted!

She is really barking at him like she is his mother as he pulls himself through!!!  Both of us lecture her and talk in low firm tones.  He looks very innocent and sorry.  The next day when I catch him...this is his exodus shot!

I again let him know how disappointed I am.  He tells me he is sorry but that he can't guarantee that he will not do it again. 

ooooooooooooOOOOOOOOO  there are some scarey looking clouds coming and the wind has picked up so I'm signing off and getting my dogs away from the electric rods I have as a fence!!!  (As I close there is an ominous roll of thunder and Gus is running for the door!)

The Trip

I am back!  It was really great to see my daughter, son-in-law and grandkids.  We had a wonderful time and the days flew by.  Joan (Jake's Mom) and I got to the airport and the kids were waiting with signs that said "Welcome Grandmas".  They were so cute!  It was such fun to be with them.  I love the house rules on the refrigerator.

Isn't it great?  It says so much so simply!  We picked up the turkey and Jen spent the next day cooking and baking and getting ready for the next day. 

And then it was THE day!

Jen is a super cook!  Here she is...

 

And here is her turkey all done!

We had a wonderful time! The next day we all went out to get a tree.  While we were looking I saw these little mini trees that were actually Rosemary plants!  Mmmmm they smelled good!  It was a great time!  Thanks to Jen and Jake for being such a great hostess and host...Thanks to Joan for setting up the flights....Thanks to my grandkids for providing such joy....Thanks to Amy, David and Pam for watching my puppies so I could go!

Let's Make Walnut Ink!!!

We have had a bumper crop of walnuts this year! 

We can't sit under these trees for fear one will fall on our noggin!  When they come down.......they hit hard with a very loud *THONK* kind of sound. The squirrels are having a great time "hiding" them.  How is this for a switch?

They are putting them IN the bird feeder instead of taking the bird food out!! 

I am finding them everywhere.....from on my chairs to

being tucked carefully on the bumper of my boat.  I grilled out the other night and found one in the grill basket. 

They have torn apart my flower pots and left them there...unburied.  I always thought they buried nuts!

I even almost tripped over a stash by the front door.  I admit that I became just a bit irritated after finding  the nibbled up remains of one on the hood of my truck!  There are so many this year they can't even eat them all. They stain your skin if you pick them up.  Do I need to tell you what happens as the hulls are left behind on the patio or where ever the furry little fellas leave them after their feast?...

  There are stains all over the patio this year...and, on the picnic benchs.  Which in turn means on my pants!  The trees are beautiful in the summer and yet, I have been told that the wood is very valuable.  I might consider selling them because the roots are toxic to other plants and not many things grow well around the area.  BUT...You know what they say..."When life gives you lemons, make lemonade".  (I have walnuts....maybe I'll make walnut ink!)  Click HERE, HERE, or HERE if you wish to choose a recipe for walnut ink.

Red Shoes Blog

                          

Meet Catherine Thursby, artist, seamstress, shop owner, and designer of Red Shoes.  I love the eye candy in her blog, and on her website for her little shop located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Aren't these pillows eye catching?  The little soaps, each with its own colorful face peeking out are cute for any child or for some of us who still treat ourselves to fun little things. 

  When visiting her, be sure you have lots of energy to keep up! I have a feeling that Catherine is overflowing with ideas and that a paintbrush, needle and thread are attached to her at all times!  Here is what she says about herself:  "I like to make things, I am a mom to two children, 8 and 3, a wife, and small business owner.
I have a little shop called Red Shoes, I am never on time for anything, and I bring my dog to work with me daily.
I tend to obsess over things, love my family, friends and music. Am
crazy about vintage goods, and love Art."
Visit her!  She is truly and refreshing person to meet!

   

Black Pansies

Have you ever seen anything like this?!  I have always loved pansies and violets.  I thought I had planted every color pansie there is and then I found this one!!!  I can't even think of another flower that has black petals.   It really caught my eye.  Sure hope it makes it through the winter...(actually,with as much time I put into my flowers... I sure hope it makes it through the summer!) 

  When we got our first house I spent a great deal of time planting "posies" with my grand-mother-in-law.  She was a wise old Danish lady with lots of knowledge under her belt and we shared a love of pansies.  She always managed to find her way to the side of the house when she was visiting and would nip the flowers off the plants.  We had an onrunning friendly arguement over just how early to pick the blossoms off.  Yet, every spring we would be back out there planting more.  Then "Grandma" got Alzheimers and she told me, "Don't cry for me when I die because I NEVER wished to be old".  I told her that was ridiculous because I knew how much I would miss her.  It was December when she passed away.  That night there was a howling snow storm that lasted into the next day.  The next morning when we were pulling into our driveway snow was everywhere except for one small patch on the front side of the garage.  In that very small clearing was one blossoming pansie that wasn't there the day before!  It was a breathtaking purple blossom surrounded in snow!  I can not believe anything else other than it was a "message" from Grandma.

 

Returning Home Tomorrow

      This is a picture of my front porch as I left it almost two weeks ago.  I am visiting my Son, Daughter-in-Law, and my new baby grandson!!!  I have been in my bliss holding a new baby and loving every minute of it.  However, tomorrow I return to my own home again.  The flight is always a pretty one...I love going over New Mexico on a sunny day.  I always yearn to be down there walking in the red rock canyons. 

  A dear friend, Faye, has been watching my dogs, house, and yard for me.  She has been busy planting flowers while I was gone.  I'm sure everything will be prettier than I left it!  She would be the kind of person I could see having as a part of a "Golden Girls" household...you know....the T.V. Show....I really would like to do that someday.  I would have to find the right mix of people.  Here are a couple of other spots in my yard...as I left it...

A friend's Mom gave me this.  It's cute in the garden!

This is what I made my bean tripod out of....an old shovel and an old post hole digger! And....this is one of the reasons I have a chain link fence! I have really missed this goofy little fella!  California seems to be so much more dog friendly...people have their dogs everywhere!  I like that!

Mother's Day Weekend

What a great weekend this was!  Friday I got some of my CEU's out of the way for relicensing.  I need to get in 30 every two years.  When I got home Paul and Laura had dropped off Jimmie!!!  I love this dog!

He has the sweetest demeanor and loves to come and play with Gus and Rosie.  I love it when he comes to visit.  Be sure to read all about his story and what makes him so special at Petlover Art.  Saturday I went to the stage play, "Chicago" (in Milwaukee) with my friends Gig, Jeremy, Michelle and Tina.  I always have a wonderful time with them.  They are really like family to me!  The funny part is that I am far older than any of them but they don't make me feel that way.  I was kidding with them that folks might have thought I was their mother and they were "The kids" taking "Mom" out to the play.  Jeremy and Tina both are fair and blue-eyed so I called them the twins all afternoon. Laughter is so good for the spirit! Afterward we went to the Five O' Clock Club for dinner and then home. 

On Mother's Day I got video calls from Jen, Jake and the kids and from Ben and Sibylle.  I love it that we can connect with each other like that.  I couldn't bare it if they were so far away without the technology that we now have.  At noon Paul and Laura came over with bagels and flowers and veggies to plant.  They worked their little butts off in the yard for me.  It is so nice to have the gardens weeded, trimmed and planted.   Later that evening I got a phone call from Paul.  Unfortunately he lost his wedding ring somewhere in the yard.  I checked the gloves he wore and around some of the lighted areas we were in but it was too dark to find anything.  The next morning he and I combed the yard...checked the gardens and finally went out and rented a metal detector all to no avail!  Sadly I think his wedding ring has gone the way of lost wedding rings.  I like to think that the fairies have found it and have blessed their marriage a hundred fold in exchange for it! .....me in my little world of magical thinking!

International Quilt Festival/Chicago/Country Threads

While at the Quilt Festival I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Etherington from County Threads.  She gave me permission to film her for the blog while she was doing a demonstration of rug weaving.  A chicken house in north central Iowa became home to Country Threads, Inc. in 1983. Connie Tesene and Mary Etherington, two friends who loved to sew, started a small quilt pattern business, which has become Iowa’s largest and best known “quilt shop in a chicken coop.” Country Threads is based and located in Garner Iowa.  Be sure to visit their web site and go out of the way to visit them if you can. ("Four Miles West of the Garner Stoplight on Hwy 18...Look for the signs.") Their next stop is the Spring Quilt Market May 4,5,6 in Salt Lake City, UT.  Then they are on to Minnesota Quilters June 15,16,17 in St. Paul.  They have a fall Camp from September 18-22.  The cost is $175.  The two entrepreneurs, who started by designing four patterns, currently have designed over 800 patterns and books. Country Threads patterns are sold in quilt shops around the world. They also put out quite a newsletter called "Goat Gazette".  See for yourself....Their booth was packed full of the most wonderful things! 

I'd like to make these great banners and I know my daughter would love their punch needle patterns. And...

I'd love to order this to make!  Isn't it just the most adorable Quilt (with a capitol "Q")?  To visit their online shopping click HERE.