Ornamental Gourds - So colourful.

Look what I bought for a $1.40 CAD!  Yippee!

I just love ornamental gourds, they are so photogenic, plus their textures are wonderful.

  I plan to keep them just to admire until after Halloween.

 Apparently if they dry out properly, they will keep indefinitely.

Then again, at only .35 cents per pound or a $1.40 for the whole basket, they are easily affordable to replace annually. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure I have already got my money's worth, playing with them last night and today.

 There may be more photo shoots with these little beauties.

 

 

 

Perhaps they can be props with quilts or sewing machines.  It seems that the simplest things in life can bring such pure joy.

Dear Readers, I have been thinking about watermarks on my pictures.  Many folks are marking photos with copyright year and name.  Have you ever had your photographs stolen?

I feel the watermark takes away from the photo, plus if someone really wants to steal your photo they can remove the watermark. 

Your thoughts?

Bee Maid Honey - A most excellent day!

It is no secret that I love honey.  Yesterday, I visited a local bee keeper who I have been buying honey from for years.  It was my lucky day as they were processing honey.  So sweet.

This is my friend Merv with a giant caldron of melted bees' wax.  The melted wax is poured into molds, that harden in blocks. 

I dipped my finger in the liquid wax, it was hot.

Merv had 600 colonies of bees this summer, it was a good year for honey.

After the bees fill a comb full of honey, they seal it shut with wax.  These wax seals are removed by machine.  This is sticky business.

 

 Little bits of wax remain in the combs that are scrapped off manually.

 Honey is processed using heat. 

When honey is heated, the bees, wax and debris float to the top as honey is heavy.

 This is a 45 gallon drum full of yummy honey.

The whole shop smells wonderfully sweet. I bought honey and bees' wax.  Like I don't have enough hobbies already, I'm going to make some candles.

Remington zigzag sewing machine & threading instructions

Look what I bought for $40 CAD in Winnipeg.  I'm pretty sure this beauty is from the 1950s.  I'm just tickled pink with it.

Even the carrying case is in great shape.

Original pink instruction manual.

Notice the accessory box is still wrapped in plastic and surrounded with a cardboard sheath. 

 Unpacking... was like opening a Christmas gift.

A new motor belt and bobbin winder tire were included. These Japanese vintage machines have the best paint jobs.

 The tension dial is painted pink as well.

I haven't cleaned her up yet but Ms. Remington is in pristine condition.

 Serial Number

Brother International Corporation - Made in Japan

 The accessories were still in original packaging.

Six bobbins packed in plastic as well as two little green felt circles for the thread pool pin.

 An extra light bulb, I hope it still works.

A stitch sample.

 

As her third owner, I promptly unpacked her suitcase.  Ms. Remington is beautiful.

 I love the smooth lines, she looks fantastic.

And she is a wonderful stitcher!  Light pink thread in the needle.

 Just look at that satin stitch.

 Hot pink thread in the bobbin.

I just wiped the dust off her, brushed out the feed dogs and the bobbin casing.

Haven't even oiled her yet.

 Now she has been relocated to a cabinet, I have big plans for her. 

First she will be outfitted with a new electronic foot pedal as I do not like using a knee bar.

Then she'll be sewn with often. 

January 12, 2020 - update I received an anonymous comment requesting threading instructions. These photos are from the manual.  

Threading instructions:

Unfortunately, Ms. Remington is so much lovelier than Pinky.  That I may need to find Pinky a new owner.

For many years I wanted a pink sewing machine... now I have two!  My cup runneth over!

Dear Readers,
Does any one know the year Ms. Remington was manufactured?
Do you have any pink sewing machines?
What is your favourite colour of sewing machine?

mouse feeder?

This little guy was eating just before dark last night.

The first photo was shot through the patio doors.  That feeder holds Niger bird seed for American Golden finches.  Sure wish I had time to put the zoom lens on my camera.

After I took these photos, I let the dog out in the backyard.  The mouse jumped to ground which is at least five feet.  This mouse not only thinks he is bird, he is also an acrobat.

summer salad

I just love fresh veggies grown in my own garden.

Peeled and chopped green cucumber
Washed and chopped red tomatoes
Washed and chopped fresh dill and chives
Washed and chopped barlet pear
Washed fresh blueberries
Chopped cold chicken
Chopped old Cheddar Cheese
1 tablespoon roasted unsalted sunflower seeds

Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top.
Dash of seasoning salt and fresh ground black pepper.

I made this one a few weeks ago

It has freshly shelled raw green peas and I didn't peel the cucumber.
Bon appetit!