And the other new addition. . .

So far, this is the only picture I've been able to get of Jaden - she seems to be particularly camera shy as well as shy in general.  I managed to get one shot of her at the feeder, which unfortunately is brown also, so she doesn't show up too well.  But she does exist!  Happy to see her eating because she is really small.

PatH/SWquilter

New Addition to the Family!

 Was able to get pictures this afternoon of one of my new additions to the family.  This is the former Little Anne, now Chelsea.  Jaden is still hiding under the rocking chair for the most part?!  This little girl is much more people-friendly.

PatH/SWquilter

More Sanctuary Garden

 On Monday, we added more to the Sanctuary Garden.  I ordered some native grasses from High Country Gardens.  They are very tiny right now - and all looked like they had been given mohawks!  But at maturity, depending on variety, they could be anywhere from 3 to 5 or 6 ft. tall.  Once they were in the ground, the fronds started to fan out and they look very happy.  Also planted some stonecrop that I purchased early this summer.  It's a ground cover, so hopefully it will spread out and cover more area over time.  The last picture is an attempt to hide all the electrical stuff, DirecTV cable, etc. - of course, that will be awhile before the grasses are tall enough!  ;-)

PatH/SWquilter

Sanctuary Garden

 Sandy came over today and we started work on the landscaping for the backyard.  Native grasses, lavender,  red yucca - lots of drought tolerant, xeriscape plantings.  Also pictures of my rain barrels - everything seems to like rain water better than Estancia water, so I figured I might as well be capturing it since we've had more rain this summer than we did last.  I picked up the metal cacti and javelina (if you look closely in the first and second pictures, you will see her) at a nursery in Phoenix before I moved to NM.  Found the metal Deer Shaman at the flea market in Santa Fe.  It's going to be a long process, but we have a start!  The picture of the front patio shows the two barn wood benches that we chalk painted in a lovely dusty turquoise color called Dancing Slipper.  I finished polyurethaning them today so they would be a bit more weather resistant.  Sandy painted the chair for me as a birthday/Christmas gift.  I wish I had talent for that kind of thing.

PatH/SWquilter

New Fence!

 It has taken me forever to get pictures taken of the fence.  With Sandy here, we've been busy doing this and that, and I haven't kept up my blog.  But the fence has been done for several weeks and I really love it. 

PatH/SWquilter

Life Cycle of the Agave

 The first two pictures were taken earlier this summer, the last two today.  The earlier pictures were kind of at the height of its blooming cycle.  The lower ones show that the agave itself is beginning to die and the seeds/pups/whatever are dropping to the ground.  It has been so interesting to watch - too bad I can't predict when it might happen again with the other agave in the grouping.  I was shocked that this one bloomed this year, since it has only been planted in this place for a year.  When the cycle is over, we'll cut down the stalk and put it in my sanctuary garden area for the birds.

PatH/SWquilter

Doll Quilt on Display!

Hilda helped me make blockers for the windows of the studio.  First picture shows window without a blocker.  Second picture is the same window with blocker installed.  Patti Laird - Hilda suggested that the blocker would be the perfect place to display the little quilt you made me in the last doll quilt swap I participated in.  It looks great and I'm so happy to have it up where I'll see it every day!

PatH/SWquilter

Finally, a pop of color!

The first picture shows the black & white section of fabrics.  Second pic shows the neutrals, blacks and, finally, I'm starting on the reds.  A bit of color to brighten things up!  The top shelf has backing fabrics.  Still not quite sure how I'll wind up displaying those to best effect, but for now I'm working with a few tubs I've emptied and will take it from there.  I did a little work in the house today, then spent the afternoon folding and shelving fabrics in the studio.

PatH/SWquilter

Comforter-Kind-of-Day

 Today was a lazy day for my girls.  Both seemed to want to curl up next to one of the comforters at the foot of one of the beds.  So sweet!

PatH/SWquilter

Window blockers!

Hilda came over yesterday and we cut the insulation for the window blockers and made covers for them.  Mostly, Hilda cut and made!  Today, I did the hand sewing on the open edge of the cover for the largest window blocker.  Two more windows to go, but the largest one is dealt with so the other two should be a piece of cake!

PatH/SWquilter

Coming Soon!

I noticed yesterday that my agave is to the point where the blooms are about ready to pop out! Can't wait to see how it looks when it is fully bloomed!

PatH/SWquilter