OK. Yesterday I didn't get much done in the way of kits. This was the first one. It's a Chrysnbon hutch. I am still only putting together. It looks complicated, but it was fairly simple and straight forward.I also finished the white rocker and foot stool in the next photo.
Today I got back to work and finished a china cabinet, a dry sink, two pedestal tables and the little plant stand that came with the china cabinet.
As you can see, I still have a few smaller accessories to finish, but most of them need to be painted before I can finish them. I still have a number of HoM kits in line, but most of the rest have to be carved and upholstered. I want to do some needlework to cover some of them.
Now about the flowers. Many people are under the impression that the desert around here is dry and colorless....I am here to debunk the myth. I took these photos in the front yard a few minutes ago.
This purple prickly pear was looking very sad after the frost. It is fighting back with everything that it has got. The perfume coming from these flowers is astounding. It is almost a strong honey scent.
The color on these is not exaggerated by the photos. If anything it is toned down. They are the brightest yellow I have ever seen. In a few days the whole cactus will be covered with them.
When I went out there, there was a whole swarm of bees to prove that they are irresistible. I had to dance around them. The neighbors probably thought that I was out of my mind....Heat stroke maybe? No. It's only 85 degrees.
Have you ever seen a drunk bee? I have. See the flower to the far left of the photo and the black line down the left center? That is a bee. They get in there and roll around in the pollen until they are covered with it. The have trouble getting back out and when they do fly away, they look like they are wearing little yellow fuzzy coats. They are really fun to watch. They look like they are having such a good time.
After the flowers fade, the remains turn into red fruit. People around here make jelly out of them. I have never tried, but I am tempted just because there are so many flowers this year. Maybe....
See you tomorrow.
8 comments:
Fun! My hubby and I recently went to Phoenix to see some desert wildflowers. Unfortunately, there really weren't any, because there had been so little rain. Glad to see that the cactus flowers are so prolific in Tucson. Did you have much rain this year, or do they bloom with or without a good downpour?
Oh Yes Casey! You have to make jelly! I should have enough black berries this year to try some here too... We should trade jellies:) The yellow flowers are really pretty!
Loving all the little kits you're building, but what are you going to do with them...hum???
YUM! Prickly Pear jelly is soooo good. Give it a try and let us know how it goes...bet Tessie would like it too...
Your furniture looks really fabulous! Years ago, I attempted to make that dry sink. Months went by and I gave up and years later finally gave away my partially done dry sink...but clearing out my home before a move. You make all this look so easy. Makes me wonder what I did wrong.
Minka, You didn't do anything wrong. For being one of the easiest looking kits that Chrysnbon puts out, it was really one of the more difficult to do. I don't think that it is designed as well as some of the other ones.I still have to stain it and put on the finishing touches. It took me over an hour just to get it together and make it stay that way.
Yup, if plants have had a rough 'off season', they'll bloom extra hard, in order to make sure they procreate and pass on their genes in case they get another hard off year later on. Wow, so much Chrysnbon stuff...you have quite a stash! Tessie must be beside herself with anticipation.
Now just pray she doesn't look under your bed, and find all those houses, right? LOL!
Merri! Bite your tongue. I am not letting Tessie anywhere near the underbed. I have a lock on the bedskirt!LOL
the cactus are so gorgeous! I never knew you could make jelly from the fruit!
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