PINEAPPLE TABLE RUNNER

​What can I say, except that I’m in a crocheting mood again.  So I took advantage and looked up some free vintage crochet patterns I can make. 

I chose this pattern because it is easy to make, like I’m just reminiscing past designs I made back in the day. A pineapple design is one of the easiest and the most common design for doilies, placemats, table runners and even bead spreads. 

The design is great for any of the above, but since I’m into table runners recently, I decided to make one more. 

Here is a green motif that I connected to two pineapples on opposite sides 

I made 9 green round motifs, 7 of which I connected 2 pineapples on opposite sides while the ends required 4 pineapples like so below. 

I then laid out the finished pieces on my table to see if I made enough for my desired length. 

Next I joined them together by putting a fill-in motif; I chose apple green to make it more attractive. 

To finish off, I made one round of edging to keep the pineapple tips in place so they won’t move any which way. 

And my runner is done! 

I think I’ll need apple green placemats to match this runner. 

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. 

. 

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. 

MY BACKYARD, MY HAPPY PLACE

​This backyard had gone through a lot of transformations; it has always been a work in progress; but now I’m liking what I see. 

It has become my happy place that it always beckons me when I’m indoors. 

This picture on the storage shed sets the tone of the day; a reminder that it is a pleasure to be alive; to smile, to laugh, to eat, to love, to dream.  It truly reflects our sentiment every time. 

It is really a wonderful life! 

The garden is a breakfast nook

A place to share coffee with a friend 

An entertainment area or a garden party

Being in the garden gives me a fabulous vibe; when the weather is fine, I love to sit under the mango tree and read, browse through Pinterest, compose my blog or crochet the time away. 

Jim loves to sit under the umbrella to watch videos or just listen to Spotify on his iPad or just be. 

Aside from plants, I like to put unique items I already have. I know this is not a garden decor for everyone; but I just thought it will give it a playful edge. 

This grouping of jars under the prolific calamansi tree is the first view of the garden as we approach. I thought I’d put them just so. 

The “pang bayo” or “ pang dikdik) looking like a baseball bat, a giant pestle was just sitting somewhere to rot, so I painted it yellow and it brightens the corner, don’t you think? 

The orange ball is a water tank floater in its previous life. And that old garden light, not working anymore brought from our previous home made up that corner. 

A pot of alocasia is flanked by two big shells that came from Jim’s ancestral home.  

The white basket on the ivy/covered wall came from a neighbor who discarded it. It had violet stains on it; it  contained mangoustine, so I painted it white. 

The hanging yellow fish used to hold a big smoked salmon gifted by a friend one Christmas party years ago. It had a natural finish but I felt it would call attention better if it’s yellow. 

Across the garden sat my old green bowling ball; visitors often mistake it for a watermelon. 

I’m sure in every home, there is that happy place where we can relax and be ourselves. If there is none, I’d say create one: be it in the front lawn, the backyard or even the balcony; anywhere that can be turned into a happy place to enjoy anytime. 

As the song popularized in the 90’s goes: 

“don’t worry, be happy”.