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:)

Thinking of the Spring Garden

I wanted to show a little wall hanging I just finished up. I had bought some cute fabric with tiny carrots that inspired this, but I ended up not using it. I found a piece in my stash that matched better and even looks like little radishes.

I used some felt for the radishes and peas, and added embroidery. Like I've said before, I love texture and these small touches add so much. No binding here, just right sides together with rickrack, some quilting and done! After the time consuming (for me) design part, the project went very quickly.

We are having a fairly warm day, about 50 degrees and I'm getting spring fever. I can't wait to get out and start digging in the dirt!

What To Do With All These Scrap?

I didn't mean to be gone from the blog so long, but "things" kept me away. Like family - son # 1 going back to Europe, so we went to Chicago to see him, son #3 moving back home from the dorm. And work - even though I work part time, my hours are all over the place and I'm still acclimating.

I started this project a few days ago. I'm going through my huge stash of scraps and cutting the small pieces  into usable squares. Since my color choices are changing, I need to use up the dark reds, blues and greens. I'm thinking a huge nine patch quilt. We'll see...

I also want to come up with a new way to store my fabric. I have been using several drawers in a dresser, but it is hard to see what I have without taking out piles of fabric and risk them getting all jumbled up. I would love to hear how every one organizes their fabric. 

Since I didn't post about Valentine's Day, I'll leave you with the one decoration I actually put up. I made this wreath after admiring one at Joann's that was still $30 on sale. I made it for about $4!

Time for Tea

I've had this design in my mind for awhile now and finally had the time to come up with a workable pattern. 

I haven't done much designing, so it was a real thrill when they actually came together like I envisioned. I think I will be adding a vintage button to each and next time do the quilting by hand. The next batch will be in my shop soon, I hope.

I couldn't resist these tulips from the grocery store. The pink really brightens up the kitchen and makes me happy.  And it's a reminder that spring really is just around the corner!

A Good Day

What a nice Sunday we had, just staying at home. In the morning, our son Andrew came by with Tad, to give Alison a little break. We played and  walked around the yard, watching the chickens and soaking up the sun.

After Tad's nap we had a lunch of homemade vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. (Well, Tad didn't eat that, we did!)  After they left, Rick and I spent the afternoon trimming the fruit trees. It needs to be done in late winter before the trees start to bud.

As I was putting a dish of lasagna in the oven, some friends stopped by with a plate of chocolates they had made. Aren't they pretty? Yummo!

In between all this, I got some hand quilting done and talked to our other 2 sons on the phone. Have to hear from them at least once a week or this mom gets anxious:)

The only bad part of the day was finding out the bees had died. These days it's not unusual, but we were sad. The guys cleaned out the hive and collected the honeycomb.

Andrew took two big pans of comb home to render the honey. 
And look at this comb without honey. It is so pretty and you can really see how perfect the hexagons are. I'm going to be making some lip balm with this.

Now Rick is watching the game. I'm watching the commercials and quilting. Yes, I'd say it was a good day!

Valentine Swap

Earlier this week I came home from work to find a box on the porch. Don't you just love that?! And this is what was inside - all from my swap partner, Terri from http://tinkerthroughtime.blogspot.com.  We had entered the Valentine's swap hosted by Vivian. 

 

Terri included so many beautiful things! Take a look at that trim, the sparkly hearts, and the velvet and lace.
She also made this cute little box with stickpins and charms.

Thanks so much Terri! I'm going to enjoy using and admiring all these lovelies.

Job Update - I just finished my first week at the library and I have to say I love the work, but not the hours. After being a full time mom for 25 years, I have tried several part time jobs in the last 5 years looking for the right fit. (I'm not interested in pursuing interior design, which is my college degree.) The other jobs I tried had great hours, but left me bored. So even though I have to work some weekends, I'm going to stick with it. What can I say? I love books!