Cleaning day in the loft...

Well, cleaning is not my favorite thing...and I'm pretty good at avoiding it :-) but this arrived at my door yesterday. It goes in the loft - but where! 

Over the last couple months I've managed to cover floor and tables with patterns, projects, and miscellaneous things. Actually, it's been kind of fun. However, it's time to clean and organize. This new dress form is for Ashley's garments. Yes, I'm getting pretty spoiled. No more readjusting Emile between the two of us - I'll have two dress forms! I did get a great price on this, I've been keeping an eye out for one for a while now. It will be super nice, since I usually having sewing in progress for both of us at the same time.

I'll take of pic of the girls once this is set up and named. Ashley is pondering the latter.

No pics of the mess, but the loft is now nice and clean, even dusted and vacuumed. Wow.

 Looking at these pics, I realize I have a lot of stuff in the loft! But it is the only room in which I craft and sew and work on my stamp collection. I'm really fortunate, because it's a good-sized room. And that double closet holds a 4-drawer chest full of supplies, more fabric bins, and a tall file cabinet with my life in it!

The loft is also the only place in the house where I have lots of pictures of the family, travel treasures, my dolls, sewing books, and silly things I love. Great little TV and good light.

I have a couple new blouses ready for the camera, but the leaves have kept me out of the yard. They got cleaned up today as well! Meanwhile, I finished my 'muslin' of the Rosemont Cardigan a couple days ago and have started blocking it.

It's meant to be a little funky. I wanted to use up some small balls of yarn left over from mitten and cap projects. It's 100% acrylic, so the blocking is different from that used with wool. I use a 'hovering' steam iron, very carefully, so I don't 'kill' the yarn.

Parting shots...it's a little fruity around here.

The biggest coconuts I've ever had!

All the areca palms have seed spathes for the first time, they are about 8 years old. Very exciting!

This is a mahogany tree seed pod! They're very heavy and dangerous...

And they're beautiful. Pure wood, in beautiful deep tones. 

Strawberry guavas...the anoles should be here soon! Meanwhile Ms. Squirrel eats hers green. Miss Piggy.

Speaking of Ms. Squirrel...in the front yard, going for dates from the Chinese fan palms (below - and nearly gone!)

These have been a great favorite with the doves, blackbirds, mockingbirds, and blue jays as well.

Bye for now! Coco