Tying up some loose threads and some blog related questions

I'm not sure how relevant this post is going to be considering I mostly sat at my computer and blog hopped yesterday. However, now would be a good time to get some of the photos off my camera, so I can take more when I take Wendy on her first shopping trip today. After all, we gals have got to eat.

Wendy was willing to join me in the garden, yesterday. Can you see her peeking through the peas? Looks like it will be a bumper crop this year. Wendy doesn't have a hat, nor do I, so we both need to keep in the shade. She is being protected by the pea vines. I'm not so fortunate.

Since I hadn't shown my now overgrown garden for about two weeks, I got some help from Wendy. You can barely see her face and boots, because her skirt might as well be camouflage material.

From this angle, you can't even see Wendy, but you can see the lettuce which is trying to grow back after being cut twice. I fear its days are numbered, since we've had a full week of 90 degree F days and more on the way. I look for it to bolt any day now.

Everything is starting to become overgrown. The peas, originally planted in neat rows, are now developing a life of their own.

As the sun came out, Wendy decided she'd had enough excitement outside for one day, and wanted to return to the cool of the craft room.

Bleubeard guarded the porch while Wendy and I picked peas and spinach.

He looks so intense here,

and defiant here. At least I've been able to take photos of him.

Switching gears (and days), here are some photos you might enjoy.

Monday Bleubeard also stood guard on the porch. He watched as neighbor after neighbor took off for the cemetery or started barbecues in their back yards. I on the other hand, had other thoughts

which originally involved black and day glo orange spray paints. When the day glo refused to glow or spray, I switched my plan to gold on both the inside and outside.

As I returned to the house, I noticed Bleubeard had moved to the steps, where he defiantly forced others (OK, guess it was only me) to walk around him.

Once inside, I prepared to make my sewing machine cover. If I only had a hardcover, as one WOYWWer suggested, I would not have made this. However, you can see the materials I used for the stencils. And yes, I put a flat rate envelope in between the two layers of fabric to keep the fabric paint at bay. I found I didn't need to protect the fabric from the stencil cream, which is very similar to my Shiva Paint Sticks, but doesn't require curing or ironing like the paint sticks do.

Now for a blog question.

I've seen "Links to this Post" on so many of the blogs I visit. I used to allow them on mine, but then I noticed that the links never linked to anything that pertained to my post, but were automatic and sent the reader to a blog that had nothing to do with my blog or that day's specific post. I no longer allow links on my blog. I would love to, if they were actually relevant to my post, or my blog. I believe this is a blogger (blogspot) feature, not wordpress or typepad. So, does anyone know what these links are for, who uses them, or why they appear when there is no relevance to the current post? I would love to understand more about this.

Guess that could be considered a multi-part question! Thanks so much for your thoughts and comments on this subject.

Since I have so little art content (or substance) in this post, I thought a blog from a serious artist might be just the thing today. Gera Scott Chandler takes her art very seriously. She is a mixed media artist who works in polymer clay, resin, and nature inspired art. I found her blog during OWOH and took the time to revisit last night.

Much of her art supplies come from nature, specifically near her home in Victoria, Canada. She is known for her beach stone pendants, bracelets, and mixed media wall hangings. She is also an environmentalist, something close to my heart. Her blog, aMused Studio is a great read for anyone who plays with polymer clay or resin. She offers detailed first hand information on these products and processes. Hope you'll check out Gera Scott Chandler's blog today.