All Decked Out!

You may recall we have a little cabin in the woods? Or not, as we haven't been in FOREVEH! Well, we finally got project numero uno done over there... the deck stained. Actually this is not the first on the to-do list, just the first on the "not-done-yet" list, until today! And here's how she's looking! Sweet!

The After Pics:

These photos were taken by my stain guys, Ozark Wood Care. Steve there is a real pro and did the job in a timely fashion, and did it right. They stripped the old muckety-muck green off and sanded and applied a new stain, and by golly, it looks like a new deck!

Here are some pics that are nearly three years old with the old green stain. Imagine how much worse it was looking before Ozark Wood Care got a hold of it!

The Before Pics:

These are from the previous owner. I did clear some of their clutter, and got some different porch furniture, but I still have not completely created an outdoor oasis there yet. But soon!

I linked this to Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. I have never linked to that party before. I hope it is the kind of thing her followers enjoy seeing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dana and Daisy

Daisy Likes It! And so do I.

I have dreamed of having a screened-in porch my whole life. It appears I am not the only one who will enjoy this latest project...

Daisy has never seen rain before. She's been an indoor kitty since about week 5, when she was abandoned at my doorstep.

The view thru the raindrops looks like a painting to me. Daisy figured out right away what this porch is all about....

Until something got her attention... another new discovery.

This is the brave warrior pose, ha ha!

Oh, it's just a worm! So screened in is still outdoorsy, a little bit.

When it was time to go in, here's the look I got.

Seriously, Daisy, I'm not staying out here all day, now c'mon!

It's funny how the former patio is now called the porch, just because it's screened in. I foresee many gallons of iced tea being consumed here. The floor is not done, but so far we are loving it!

Weaving Challenge, c'est finis!

Let us review: this is my sketch for the Pics to Picks weaving challenge... (hosted by Meg at Meg Weaves aka: Unravelling.)

Which was inspired by this piece of artwork which was sent to me by Kaz, the Curious Weaver and one of my fellow challengers.
So I began by dressing my Cricket Loom, and I decided to get a little funky and experimental. I chose three different types of yarn, a worsted weight wool (far left yarn), a lace weight mohair (center black section) and a raw linen I guess it is kind of a sport weight. I frequently use knitting yarns on my small loom. It makes it very affordable for me to experiment as I can buy a skein instead of pounds of yarn.
Right off the bat, I knew I would be fighting tension. Each of the three yarns has different amounts of stretch or spring in them and I knew I was in for a challenge. But I had not anticipated the problems of using different weights of yarn. I found that the thicker yarn advanced at a different rate than the lace weight and I struggled during the entire weaving process.
Even as I began to weave with a leader yarn, I noticed I was having problems with the selvedge, so I actually retied my warp a second time...
And I fixed this culprit also... The paper sandwiching my warp was not quite the width of my scarf, I should have known better than this. Ah well, I learn something new every time I weave.
Even after all that fussing with the tension... this is what I saw the very first time I advanced my cloth. UGH!
However, I did continue coaxing my tension to some manageable weaving ability, and eventually, I ended up with a weaving that looks like this...
Not exactly an award winner for technique, but I like it none the less. (Notice I took these pics right off the loom, my fringed ends are still crimped from being tied to the beam. ha ha)

I alternated various yarns and with the varying colors in the warp, I ended up with something akin to a plaid, although looser in spirit.
I like to think of it as an "artsy scarf". I used my artistic license so to speak.
Some areas are loosely woven and airy, others are balanced. There is nothing special about the pattern... it is simply plain weave.... thankfully, as I don't think I could have maintained any semblance of a pattern with so many tension problems arising along the way.
Still... I love it.
I think it does kind of represent the loose style of the art work that inspired it.
I hope you like it too.

Thanks for looking and bearing with my tale of the Pics to Picks Challenge.

If you build it, they will come.

I always wanted a guest room. A place friends and family could come and relax in a comfortable cozy place while we visit the weekends away. So, as our first kid room was abandoned, I saw my chance to create a lovely haven that guests could enjoy in tranquility.

And apparently, Daisy thinks it is a nice room, too...

Yes, that is my cat, coyly sleeping on white bed linens, that were reserved for uh hum... guests.
She does not even look ashamed of herself for her obvious self-absorbed behavior.
Although, she is a bit annoyed that I interrupted her afternoon nap!
But, when I tried to shoo her off the bed, she retaliated with cuteness. So not fair.
And in case that doesn't work, she just laughs at me when I say Scat Cat! Shoo! That is not your bed!!!
Now doesn't that make you all want to come and visit me? Just in case you're allergic to cats, you might want to bring your own benadryl... or gas mask.