Just This and That Stuff

[asirimarco]

First off does anyone know what kind of tree? bush? this is. It just appeared and is growing like crazy.

Another picture of it --sumac? maybe?


Bill has finished his wooden wall sculpture of the covered bridge
In its working stages

Close up

Its outside on the deck wall

Now he is working on another one - just started it - should keep him busy for a while.
Here is my quilted wall hanging - same pattern he used but in material working on it

Finished - don't know what I'm going to do with it


The roofer just left - hope the news isn't too bad. With all the rain it started to leak into my bathroom.
We have had 18 inches of rain since April 1st. We are all starting to look like prunes. But the landscape is REALLY green! I'm begining to long for rocks and cactus.
Also found some moisture under paint and causing some bubbling on motorhome - So Bill had to fix that amongst much muttering.
Thinking about writing a book - or I should say turning my web site into a book - about our trip to SoAmerica in '78 Don't know if I want to work that hard though.......

[soisew]

Great artwork both of you. My hubby does intarsia and I quilt and we've been considering doing a duo project like that -- love it!

anyways -- the tree. I've had those before -- I called it a katelpa tree but others have called them sumac (not the one that makes you itch). It's what many call a "weed tree". They grow fast, don't live more than about 10 or 15 years but are very nice to add a touch of lacey accent to your garden. I let them grow in my yard for interest and a free plant. In the fall they will lose the frond type leaves all the way back to the stem and just looks like sticks in winter. But in a couple years time you'll have a 20' tree, not a full bushy tree like an elm or oak but nice. They don't get large enough to really use for anything so -- if you want to keep it -- you may enjoy it's graceful frond type foliage.

[carold]

Both of you do beautiful art work. Have you guys always been so creative or is this something you grew into? Know nothing about that bush. carold

[avalen]

definately a sumac, and they grow like weeds, depending on the type they can be
quite invasive, so if you don't want it dig out the whole thing. Otherwise, if you
like it and want more you can just cut off a stem and stick it in the ground, it
will grow. My neighbor once found that out by mistake when she pruned her
tree and tossed the branches alongside the garage in a pile and they started
growing!! I had a very large sumac tree back in colorado and I loved it, provided
some really nice shade in the back yard. It was not itchy, but I believe the itchy
kind is a bush, but I won't swear by it.

[Cedar518]

yepper, Ava named it .... it's sumac and will take over everywhere.

roots spread underground all over the place,.... not just for one plant but a long root will sprout many plants above ground. they can get very big and "woody". I've killed a lot of sumac. still have some left over that defies my backpack sprayer. Been at it here for 15 years and it's not totally gone. Brush B Gone by Ortho will get it. spray it on a hot day when no rain is forecast for a few days, add a drop or two of dish soap into the spray/water mix to help cut the natural plant oil on the leaves.

i have a fit when I see plant nurseries selling it as a ornamental plant because i know what it will do given enough time.

Good luck!

[Cedar518]

p.s....... and what a wonderful piece of art that covered bridge is. I got so wound up on the sumac that I didn't tell Bill how great a job he did!

[mtngal]

Very beautiful work, both of you, very talented couple! and I think your adventures would be a super book!

[snowball]

beautiful work!!!!
sheila

[Nasoosie]

Beautiful work both of you did! I must say, I prefer your material version, as the water below gives me more perspective on the bridge! Not to take away any of the talent and artistry of Bill's-----just my preference.

[AlmostThere]

Carold, not a catalpa. We had one on the farm and they have those long skinny banana looking pods and the leaves are totally different.

Love the artwork!! Isn't what your hubby did called marqueting or some such? I love that medium. What fun to be married to someone so artful as yourself!

[retiredhappy]

Wow, you guys are so talented and artistic. I'm so impressed.

[sunshinecruiserTN]

Wow, carol, beautiful work from both of you. You could work your way across America and Mexico selling your beautiful crafts.

[OutandAbout]

Carol, you and Bill do such beautiful work. how about a pillow for the rocking chair, or would that be too much of the same thing? Anyway, I really like both. Linda