Berries, blooms, kitty boys, and bonnets

I've been slacking off on my posting, and I still haven't done the last three days in Canada, but I decided to do some catch up on random pictures from around here.

First of all, the Beauty Berries are now magenta colored throughout the woods.
Floral shops sell the branches with the leaves stripped off, leaving the berries as clustered knots.
I'll probably post a few more shots of these later, as the berries color continues to intensify throughout September.

Along the road to my college there are fields of this flower/plant.

I caught a "lovebug" in the middle of this flower. Lovebugs are a drag, as they hook up with other lovebugs and fly around connected, hence the name. They can really get thick around gas stations for some reason, and they stick to whatever they land on.
Even the fact that they have almost a heart shaped dot on their back does not make me think any kinder of them.
No PDA's, please!

While I was in Canada Bernie had to go out of town.
Which meant that Uncle Scott came to visit.
He left Tiggie and Hart a new toy....

...a snake for the boys. It is a soft velour fabric tube on a clear wand, and boy can Tiggie get some air when the snake is flying around.
I'm not sure who has more fun with it, Bernie or Tiggie.

My orchids in the kitchen continue to bloom nicely...

...and my brand new African Violet (new in January) has bloomed with surprisingly large blossoms.

See how much smaller these blooms are on another plant?

I do love a variegated leaf on an African violet. This one blooms in bands, like two lines of flowers going across the plant.

Whereas this one blooms in cluster formation. These violets are around my garden jacuzzi tub, which overlooks my back yard. It's a nice place to hang out and enjoy a glass of wine and the fall color change or the spring time azaleas.

I just finished this hat this morning. Another Daphne style, it is going to Virginia, my co-worker, who has now successfully completed her chemo, and is now, at the very end of all the chemo, finally going sans hair.
I promised her I would make her a hat if she needed one.
Actually, I chided her for NOT needing a hat for so long.
I figured if she needed to wear a hat at work, then I could wear a hat a work, and maybe everyone at work would want to start wearing a hat in solidarity with Gin.
(Her chemo blog is on my side bar, but she has another blog somewhere called "Gin in the Library, Don't tell". How funny is that?)

The top of the hat is a treat provided by Lovella. When we visited the quilt shop in her little town, there was a table full of yardage pieces being sold by the kilo. Lovella threw my selections in with her fabric purchase, so Virginia's hat has a touch of love from Lovella in it too.
I thought the fabric with four circles like the top of this hat was very cool. Each circle was a variation of the look, and Virginia selected this particular panel.
She wasn't at work on Tuesday as she developed blood clots (a chemo related issue), so she hasn't seen it yet.
But my other co-worker Hope saw the hat, and immediately said the hat looks like Virginia, so that is a good sign.
(Those are peacock hurls clustered behind the button bouquet on the side of the upturned brim.Just in case you were wondering...)

Here's another view.
I'll try to get one with Virginia wearing it if I can.

A few weeks ago I posted a link to a pattern on another blog for a cap.
I finally found some fabric that I liked and some time to make it up.
Just finished it this afternoon.
The bill/beak is made from black velveteen.

Velveteen is SO messy to work with. I've got little black specks from it everywhere in the house now.

I got enough fabric to make this cap several times over, and I think I will do just that.
This first try is just a bit snug, and I think I'd like to position the print a little differently next time.
(And figure out how not to have velveteen specks go all over the house....any suggestions are welcomed!)
It is such an easy pattern, and looks so cute on that my brain is racing with ideas for making more of the caps.
Stay tuned on that one!

(PS: Do a good deed: The pattern only requires 1/4th of a yard of fabric. If you don't have a sewing machine, it wouldn't be too hard to even tackle sewing the hat by hand.
If you have a problem with fabric addiction, this may be the way out for you.
First, admit you are powerless over your addiction.
Second, Sew up a bunch of these caps and donate them to your nearest cancer treatment center.
Get together with some friends who share your addiction. Have them bring some of their stash, and their sewing machines. Mix and match your fabrics to create some really great hats.
Tell the truth: Don't you have several stashes of left over fabric that you don't really know what to do with anyway? Get creative, have fun, and donate!)

Tiggie isn't planning on staying tuned or sewing anything.
Chasing the snake just wore him out.
Good boy Tiggie! You wear the same outfit everyday anyway.
No fabric addiction problems here!

Thanks for reading!