MY MEXICAN TABLE RUNNER

​Out of the blue, I suddenly wanted a crocheted table runner made of different colors, like a Mexican print. I made one using my left over threads I used for doilies. This is what I made. 

I chose this Queen Anne’s lace pattern, a vintage design but I consider it a classic; I remember making this back in the days of my teen years. 

Fortunately, I learned to read and follow crochet instructions; thanks to my Mama who guided me until I could do it on my own. I looked on line and found this specific pattern for free. 

Summers found me crocheting with my Mama and Aunts when I was old enough to handle a hook and managed to hold up the thread with the other hand. Crocheting is one of the many things my Mana taught me; one of the best memories that I treasure most. 

Here is a sample motif of the pattern that I put together. 

I was discriminate in choosing which color would be joined next to each other; first the light colored one, then the dark and light again to establish a contrast. 

Crocheting needs concentration because there are a lot of counting to do, so there is a need to focus. I only have my  thoughts when working on the project  or listen to music. 

Almost there, I felt I needed motivation. I tried scrolling through YouTube when thanks to Jim who downloaded Spotify on my iPad. Listening to music encouraged me to crochet fast and reached the finish line quickly. 

I completed the project listening to the tunes of Air Supply, ABBA and Celine

Finally done, I thought these placemats would complete the Mexican theme I was trying to achieve. 

HOW I ACQUIRED BOUGAINVILLEAS WITHOUT SPENDING A CENT ….. well, except one.

​I am one who do not buy plants except the one on the photo below I bought during the pandemic. I bought it to assuage myself because I knew that propagating and waiting for them to bloom would take months. 

To work on a project is often fired up by an inspiration we saw, we read, we heard or experienced it ourselves. And in the case of artists and writers, a muse. 

I was inspired to propagate bougainvilleas when I saw the home of my walking/jogging buddy, Tess. I was impressed how such amazing blooms enhanced the charm of her already beautiful home. 

I wanted to take photos but held myself; I didn’t know Tess that well then. Nevertheless, I decided then and there that I also wanted bougainvilleas in my garden. 

Earlier,I thought that bougainvilleas are wild and uncontrollable. That changed after I saw that they could be tamed, allowed to be wild, or trimmed anyway we want or even made into a bonsai. 

Here are some of the flowering bougainvilleas in Tess’ home that inspired me. These are from Tess’ Facebook posts. 

Well, what do you say? Aren’t the flowers amazing? 

During the pandemic I was not one of the plant aficionados who bought expensive plants. Instead I propagated them from cuttings given by generous friends and neighbors. 

It took a bit of trial and error. I tried YouTube suggestions without success. And I wondered: how hard could it be? 

Frustrated, I just stuck cuttings in pots of soil after dipping in cinnamon powder because I know that it is a growth enhancer and hated by pests. I left a small leaf or two to indicate whether the plant is thriving if they remain fresh and intact. 

Finally, Success! 

I’m happy that I now have quite a variety of bougainvilleas. Here are some photos taken after 6- 8 months. 

RUBBER PLANT PROPAGATION

​Today I am overly excited that my friend Josie cut her lemon rubber plant and gave me the branch to propagate. Well, it has gone wild anyway and the plant needed trimming. 

I got the inspiration to propagate rubber plant when my younger daughter sent me a photo of the Ruby rubber plant she propagated. 

So when she came home for a visit recently, I asked her to show me how it’s done. She cut my burgundy plant halfway from the top where the trunk is a little woody already. 

This is how it looks after it was cut. It used to be as tall as the stake I put earlier to set the trunk straight. 

Three weeks after the cutting, I now see red shoots sprouted on the nodes just on top of each leaf’s base. These shoots will come out as leaves and eventually grow into branches. 

What happened to the top part of the plant that my daughter cut from the mother plant?  She cut each and every leaf along with a part of the trunk just so in the photo below

I then put half of the cuttings in water to grow roots

After three weeks, I noticed breaks on the”trunk part” of the cuttings and this was where roots came out. 

Soon longer roots are coming out

I’ll wait until the roots will grow about one centimeter long before planting them in soil. 

My daughter urged me to plant the rest of the cuttings in soil to see how they will progress in another medium. 

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So what did I do with the lemon rubber branch from my friend, Josie? 

I did the same as my daughter taught me with the burgundy; cutting each leaf with its trunk like this leaf. 

I put some in water to grow roots

The rest I planted in soil 

Using a tried and tested method of propagation will definitely ensure a greater chance of success. Let’s see how my plants will pan out. I’ll keep you posted in the next.blog.