Buttons...Pollen...Stones...

 This is something so simple that I wish to share.  Sometimes sharing brings even better ideas and ways of doing something so simple and I welcome comments and techniques.  I had occasion to use some flower buttons and wanted to tie them with string before gluing them.  So I threaded a needle and "sewed" all of the buttons onto my string.

 Now when I tie the string the only waste I have is a tiny little piece from the cut side of the string.  The long side goes back to the spool as I move the buttons along and tie them off.  I used to do each button one at a  time and that was very time consuming and wasteful.  Henry Ford really knew best with his assembly line production.  Thank you Mr. Ford.

 Here is a sneak peak using my buttons on ATCs for the "Sew Many Flowers" May swap.

 We are in the height of pollen season with all the pine, cedar and oak trees that surround us in this beautiful country.  Here is a photo of a supposed to be black truck that sat out for the day.  Mr. C is a fuel injection and carburetor guru so we have an extra vehicle right now that he is working on for the owner. We normally fit 4 vehicles into our 3 garages but certainly 5 do not fit, especially when they are trucks.

 I am impressed with this artistic patterning that the flying spiders make all over the truck and walkways and trees and open spaces and then how the pollen attaches to the webbing and makes such a great look.   Mind you I have not really seen the flying spiders however they must be able to fly because some of their web strings are in mid air and span 30 feet.  Amazing.  Some of the web strings shine rainbow colors when hit with the sunshine.  The red web strings are the most beautiful.

If I were to get in my truck and drive there would literally be a giant cloud of pollen flying off all the way down the driveway and onto the road below for a mile or so.  The ground is covered with the pollen and I have learned the hard way...do not sweep it as it rises right into my breathing path.  If you hose it off with water you get rivers of yellow that run deep.  This is a yearly occurrence however it is said that the pollen is worse this year due to the mild winter we had.
On a personal note:  I had my left kidney stone surgery yesterday and I am happy to say all is well.  No complications and no stent so I am very relieved.  Thank you to each and every one who wished me well and said prayers.  I believe in the power of prayers and I know they really helped me get through this.  The stone is being analyzed so I can find out if there is something I can change in my diet or lifestyle that will mitigate further stones including the larger one I have in my right kidney at this time.
Now I feel like I can get back to my normal life.  I had lost all energy due to the exhaustion of such intense pain.  I had no creative mojo at all due to the extreme tiredness I felt every day.  I wasn't walking or doing my beloved Zumba for the past 6 weeks.  It will be so good to get back in my groove next week.
My mind has been busy and I have been reading.  Now to get into the studio and sewing room.
Thank you my dear blog friends and followers.  I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.