Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Rewards

My Mother has hyacinths planted near her front door.  They smell heavenly!

Every year I tell myself I am going to plant hyacinth bulbs.

Last fall, I finally, finally planted the bulbs.

The blooms are beautiful, the color is glorious and the fragrance, oh the fragrance is delightful.

It was a cold November day when I planted the bulbs and I questioned myself--these flowers are the rewards of my efforts.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Rabbit Theme

Every year, I tell myself I am going to do more seasonal pieces.  Changing out the dough bowls with seasonal smalls is something I truly enjoy--a remembrance of time marching on and changing seasons.  Here is the line up of prospective candidates for my seasonal spring stitch

SPRING MEADOW ~ Cross Stitch Sampler Pattern/Chart  from Scattered Seed Samplers© 2014 by Designer Tammy Black
Scattered Seed Samplers
Spring Meadow Sampler

Easter Parade - Cross Stitch Pattern
With THy Needle and Thread
Easter Parade



NikysCreations
April Bunny
 
Spring Time Social - Cross Stitch Pattern
With Thy Needle and Thread
Spring Time Social
 
That's the line up of potential stitches--I love them all!  I didn't realize until I started rummaging through my stash that all the designs have rabbits in them.  I always thought I was a sheep motif kind of person but after seeing all these rabbits I am beginning to question myself.  Which design would you choose?
 

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Welcome Spring!


  • First day of spring is also called the vernal equinox.  Vernal and equinox are Latin terms meaning spring and equal night respectively:  twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness (or there about).
  • Spring is a season for ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth.

  • Plants begin to grow in Spring because of ample availability of water, light, warmth and soil (compost).
  • Flooding is common in and near mountainous area because of melting of snow.
  • Hurricane season begins in late spring and Tornado Alley is most active this time of the year
  • Spring marks the transition from Winter to Summer
  • The sun rises in the earlier hours of the morning and sets later on in the afternoon, the days get slightly warmer

  • Spring flowers start to appear, birds start building their nest and the farmers deliver new born lambs




Sunday, March 15, 2015

Yellow

Finally, a break in the weather!  Yes, I was the crazy lady planting pansies in the rain.

These daffodils are tough!  They have survived two ice storms and the snow.

It is so refreshing to look out the window and see bright, vibrant color!

The fields are full with hundreds of daffodils breaking into color.

It was so wonderful to see color, we bought some at the grocery!  Like Grandmother Bessie said:  When life gives you lemons/scraps make lemon aid/quilts!

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Garden of Eden

The annual lawn and garden show was this weekend.

After weeks of freezing temps, three ice storms and freezing rain and snow, the show was a feast for sore eyes.

The colors were glorious.  Don't these primroses just make you want to smile?

Pink and purple Hyacinth's--they smelled heavenly.  I planted some of these in the fall, I hope I am rewarded with colors as vibrant as these.

A very unusual water feature--two crackling crows.

An earthy garden sculpture

Ahh a sweet garden kitty.  

Maidenhair fern--the perfect green

And while tiptoeing through the daffodils, I had a chat with one of my favorite gardeners--David Bates.  We talked about pruning spirea and spreading a pre emergent weed killer.

Come on spring, this gardener is ready to dig in the dirt and smell the roses!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Snow Day Sew Day

Mother Nature and Old Man Winter joined forces yesterday and gave us another dose.


It began as rain, turned to freezing rain, sleet and then snow.


My poor daffodils, they keep reminding me Spring is in fifteen days!


I turned the snow day into a sew day.


Sewing more blue stars for the cheddar quilt.


I started another sampler for the Grandmother Shultz/Shults wall.  This is Margaret Cottam by La D Da. This sampler will be for Great Great Grandmother Margaret Ferguson, Great Aunt Margaret Shultz/Shults and cousin Margaret.  The linen is a coveted piece of 32 count 18 Century Brown by R & R.  

Snow Day---Sew Day
The snow is beautiful and good for the earth, I will remind myself of this day in August when I am pulling weeds and everything has begun to turn brown.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Thinking Spring



In spite of the weather (ice and snow) freezing temps, piles of laundry, and wet boots at the front door, I am turning my thoughts from winter to spring.




Daylight Savings Time begins on March 8 and I am ready to spring forward into longer day light hours.


March 20 is the first official day of spring. I am ready for seeing blooming daffodils and birds building nests, green grass, and digging in the dirt.


To help drive the winter blahs away, I treated myself to fresh flowers from the garden center.


Spring will soon be here and I will turn my thoughts from snow and ice and cold temps to visits to the garden center and planting flowers and fretting about the rabbits eating my flowers.

David Bates, owner of the garden center reminded me next weekend is The Lawn and Garden Show--a great way to see and experience spring!