A Spring Quilt

I started a new quilt this week to use as a bedspread for our bed. I love working with these colors. Very different from my usual.

Now that I look at it, I should have photographed it with  a vase of daffodils:)

 The pattern is from one of the older Thimbleberries books. I've made so many of her quilts, but I was saving this one for the right fabric combination. I've had that blue and yellow floral print for awhile and now I'm happy to use it.

As I said in my last post, I can't believe how fast the spring flowers are blooming, then dying back. I think we are about a month ahead of usual. The redbuds are open and the crabapples are almost there too. It's like viewing spring in fast forward!

For some reason these pink cupped daffs haven't bloomed for a few years. It's good to see them again.

Our beloved grape bubble gum tree (aka: sand cherry.)

Timber!!!

It's been a busy week around here. On Monday and Tuesday the tree service was here removing a couple of  large elms and and a silver maple. If you are familiar with these trees you know that the elms are messy and easily broken, and you can't grow grass under the silver maples. We had some trees removed last spring and for now I think we are done. We are replacing these trees with better varieties, like pin oak.

This maple was also shading our veggie garden.

I know, it looks drastic, doesn't it? Usually I freak out after we do something like this, and regret it. But this time I'm fine and glad that the vegetable garden will do better. The other trees taken down are on our property line and were too close to the neighbor's house. We are having friends come by to get the wood. We no longer use a woodstove and only need enough for campfires.

Can you believe this warm weather? I've been cleaning up the flower beds and preparing the raised beds for planting. My crocuses are done already and the daffodils are open. This spring is going by way too fast. I love the warmth, but it needs to cool down so we can enjoy this beautiful time of year a little longer.

I'm still working on my afgan and the quilt is ready for binding. I'll be showing those soon. I've got another quilt in the works and many things I want to start. Need. More. Time!

Happy Birthday, Rick!

Last Saturday was my wonderful husband's birthday.

 We had dinner at home with the kids. I made him a favorite, chicken pot pie.

 

I found a chocolate cake recipe on Food Gawkers and had to try it. It's called Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake and it took me forever. (I messed up on 2 of the layers and had to start over!) But it was really good, though I think we decided the top layer should just be whipped cream instead of white chocolate- it was a little too sweet.

Rick got some great presents, including this chess set:

And we admired Tad's newest accomplishment, standing up and trying to balance on his own.

 I have been sick with a bug  for the last few days. Laying around, drinking tea, and watching TV. I don't feel like doing much, but I have done a little crocheting for an afgan (closed granny squares) and some quilting.

The quilting is almost done. Then the binding and I'm ready to start another one. I already have fabrics and an idea in mind. I'll show it soon.

It feels so much like spring out. Is there anything better than hearing birds singing in the morning? Well, I'm sure there is, but I'm loving it right now:)