8/15/12

Cat Over Tea Kettle

Ever heard that expression "ass over tea kettle"?  That's what happens when Smitty runs. His back legs go faster than his front legs and he ends up with his rear end getting ahead of his front end.  Then he goes sprawling, ass over tea kettle.


That's how our morning went.  We went outside to water the tomatoes.  After all the moaning I did last week about green tomatoes, you might think I would be delighted to see these.


Actually, I am.  But now my anxiety has turned in a different direction.  I'm no longer worried that they won't ripen before we leave.  Now I'm worried that they will ALL ripen before we leave.  

I started pulling them from the vine, and the more I pulled, the more ripening ones I saw. This is a good thing because I'm hoping to make some sauce before we take off during the month of September.  Still, I may spend days and days and days at it.  Days I don't necessarily have to spend.  As I write this, however, I can't help being a little excited about the prospect of all that tomato sauce.  It makes my mouth water just to think about it.

My sweety is in the process of setting up a drip irrigation system in the greenhouse, which will cut my work out there significantly.  The watering has to be done at least every other day, and it's better on hot days if it's done every day.  This takes up a significant portion of my morning, and so I'm happy he'll be getting it set up to water automatically.  Then I can just sit back and wait for the tomatoes.

After the watering was done, I finished the top-stitching on the 2nd door for the Doors of Ireland quilt.  As a reminder, this is the original door.


This is my version.


The nails, door knob, and plant hanger are all hot fix nail heads.  I love those things.  They are great and I have a huge assortment of them, all different sizes, colors, and shapes.  I'm thinking as I look at this image that I want to add some heart-shaped ones to the window like in the original door.  I meant to do that and then forgot.

I stitched the chains for the plant hanger from metallic thread, which was kind enough to behave itself.  I want to try doing some shading under the bench, but I need to explore what kind of markers would work best.  Suggestions are definitely appreciated.  I have some oil crayons (the name escapes me now), but they are too shimmery for this purpose.  I need some kind of flat color for this.  I think I should also do a little shading at the door stoop and around the menu.  There is top-stitching for the door stoop, but it isn't terribly visible.  It doesn't show at all in this image.

After all that running around this morning, Smitty spent the rest of the day as you see him here.  It's a good thing because he gets into things in my sewing room.


I've had to kitten-proof the room, but it's worth it.  He is a lot of fun to have around.

I'm hoping to have some time to do a little sewing tomorrow, but the next two days will be spent getting ready for our camping trip this weekend.  I have a lot of food to make, and I need to "update" things in the trailer.  It's been a full year since we took it anywhere, and so things get a little disorganized.  Sometimes I rob things from the trailer if I run out in the house.  Then, when I return them, I generally open the door and toss said thing inside without bothering to put it away.  I figure there's time enough for that when we actually go somewhere.  Like now.  That means it's time to pay for my sinful ways.

How did your Wednesday go?

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Smithy is so cute, him run sound so funny and cute, I guess I'd have to see it! Wow, your tomatoes are nice! Sure hope you get things done before you have to leave...It would happen this way, huh!

Kate said...

Beautiful tomatoes. Hope you get the chance to make all that sauce.

Love the stories about Smitty. He's quite a character.

Jodi said...

love your granny's kitchen. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has some good ideas while sewing and then forgets to DO it! And thanks for sharing a few posts back about your son. It gives me hope for mine. He's 23 and pretty aimless right now. Working less than 15 hrs/wk at Home Depot, sleeping half the day away, hanging out with friends, etc., etc. Has some college under his belt but keeps signing up for classes and then dropping out. My husband is totally losing his patience! He says he wants to be an engineer, but that's not quite working. (sorry for blabbing on and on!) xo

Needled Mom said...

That drip system will be a life saver or at least a time saver.

Love the work on your door.

Teresa in Music City said...

Good news post all around :*) Love your yummy tomatoes, so pretty and red! Your door block is really taking shape and looks marvelous. I love all the little special touches. You do that so well. I remember all the little details you added to the girls' doll quilts to make them perfect. I could never come up with all those great ideas. I think I'm going to go join Smitty now and get some sleep :*)

Syed Zeeshan Ali said...
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Vroomans' Quilts said...

How cute is that face! I just love the direction you are taking your door quilt - this is just going to be wonderful.

sandyb said...

I just love Smitty. Kittens are so much fun - kitten proofing is not. I thought baby proofing for my grandson was hard. He is so intrigued with the sewing area. The other day I didn't cover the sewing machine. Well, lets just say the expensive Superior thread was having fun or was it Charlie having fun. I said to my husband that he makes me keep a tidy house. Charlie does rolling around like an armadillo while holding onto his bone on his back leg. It is a blast but my husband is wondering if he is "normal".

Love your block. Tomatoes, I am praying for mine to keep doing well and not get hit by the awful blight the northeast has been hit with. I lost my crop for the last two years but so far we are good.

Lynette said...

Awesome - getting a drip system. :D That's too funny about Smitty's running snafus.

JLVerde said...

That quilt is so cute. So much detail.

I just want to grab Smitty and kiss him right on his super pink nosey.

Diane Wild said...

Good luck on those tomatoes. You do know they will be ripening for you over night. My refrigerator is full and I'm giving many away. But the sauce will make a huge dent in the crop. The door is shaping up great. I really like that one.

Mrs.Pickles said...

Lovely tomatoes and block!!

Snoodles said...

Love how that block is coming along...always enjoy seeing Smitty - boy is he growing! :)

Junebug613 said...

Your "doors" quilt is going to be spectacular, based on the blocks you have already done! Congrats on your tomatoes! Wait, what? You kitten-proofed? I didn't think it could be done! LOL

quiltzyx said...

Instead of all sauce, how about some salsa?
Granny's Kitchen door is looking great! I know there are some brush tip permanent pens, maybe that would work for your shadows.
Smitty looks so cute when he's sleeping. And playing. And dashing. Oh heck, just plain cute all the time!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

I had never heard that saying but Smitty is sure a little cutie and it sounds like you are having fun with him! Good luck with the tomatoes and I love your Granny's Kitchen door! Thanks for sharing.
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