Thursday, June 2, 2011

Squirrel Stepping Stone and Reasons to Garden

 Ta-dah! My first stained glass stepping stone.  Surfaced with stained glass, Chinese roundels and colored aquarium chips, the mosaic is a hard-surface patchwork sampler.  


The project started with the desire to  fill the Nyger bird feeder and walk back in the house without creating a dirt trail across already polished floors.



At the suggestion of my compadre, Glenda Thompson-Bona, I started with the standard octagon kit from Michael's. Having pre-measured concrete, a form and instructions to guide the placement of a free squirrel pattern  from Beveldine, all I lacked was the the perfect color and texture glass for the star of the production- the squirrel. 

What crafters love about Beveldine as a retail supplier is the store is directly across the parking lot from the legendary glass wholesale supply house Hollander .  If the retailer  doesn't have a glass that is not custom matched to the glass project - their friendly staff will walk you in and check you out from the glass warehouse. A brilliant arrangement for everyone.

Anyone who communtes in Southern California should find a gardening style that takes away stressors if the Southern California commute.

In So Cal it could be lines in the wedding contract- to promise to be together through sickness and health- and to provide a rider so we can slide into town in the carpool lane. 
It can make a tight schedule coordinating our stops- but with half the commute time to Pasadena, it is worth it.   

Roses, Feverfew and Geraniums make welcome Hostess Gifts with zero calories  

Fashion magazines declare a confident woman  should not give into trends. We should be true to our sense of color and style. The same goes for our gardens.   

What in your garden takes away your stress? 

9 comments:

  1. Lydia,
    Oh I love your stepping stone! So adorable and clever! Me? I would have just told John to pick up a cement one the next time he went to Home Depot! :)Not as interesting tho!
    I do so agree about fashion. I have never been a trendy dresser. Good thing too with the $$ I have invested in clothes! My mother who was/is a beautiful dresser always taught me that if you buy classic and most of the time, expensive outfits(preferably on sale) that they would last for years and years. This is true.
    A beautiful garden and a bouquet of flowers are never out of style.

    Hugs, Trisha

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  2. Lydia,
    I so enjoy these vicarious visits to your garden as our seasons change, things are added or moved or turned into mulch to live again. Lots of "life" lessons are found here as well.
    Today's blog reminds me of a classic movie with Margaret O'Brien and a very young Dean Stockwell? The Secret Garden.
    The river rocks that line some of my flower beds were picked up and carried home when I drove the Colorado River from the headwaters down the Western slopes of the Rockies through Utah, etc.in '97. Now a permanent part of my landscape and provider of so many memory triggers.
    Your new stepping stone is a "beaut". XO E.
    .

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  3. How gorgeous is that, Lydia? You're very talented. It looks great!!

    And I'm so impressed that you made it!!

    Sarahx

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  4. Fabulous job on the stepping stone, Lydia! Love the squirrel (although I would like to do something evil to the real ones that keep tearing up my garden!) and using the aquarium chips was a wonderfully creative idea! Will send you a picture of my flip flop stepping stones. They make me laugh!

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  5. Trisha, E, Srah and Sue- Thank you for getting my day off to a good start with your nice comments.

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  6. Back tonight from babysitting BD and I'm catching up with you via the blog.

    Finaly we see the 'infamous' squirrel! It did not disappoint! Too cute. Not as wonderful as that window you made, but I doubt you'll ever top that. Just can't imagine anything more beautiful than that garden window with the bird.

    Judy

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  7. Thank you Judy and Glenda for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed my new "friend." Plan to make a matching stone tomorrow. So e-a-s-y.

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