Wordless Wednesday

Plein Air

Miss P loves to draw. She has a few "how to draw" books that she has been studying and has gotten pretty good at drawing animals. The other day as we passed the neighbor's horses on our way home from school she had the idea that she could try drawing a horse by looking at an ACTUAL horse and not a drawing of a horse in a book like she has done before.What a great idea!It was fun but she did say it was a little tricky because the horses kept moving.

Mute Monday - azalea time

Thoughtful Sunday

(Photo taken at sunrise on Wind Rock - near Blacksburg, Virginia)

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”― Rachel Carson 

Norfolk Botanical Gardens

After our canoe trip in Maryland we traveled to Norfolk, Virginia and visited the Botanical Garden there. We reached azalea overload there but also saw many other interesting sights and beautiful flowers in bloom.

A Bit of Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!It seems that we may have skipped spring altogether. The calendar say's it's still winter but we have been having summer temperatures. We've started work in the garden and today we planted four rows of peas! Yes, we are enjoying a bit of green today.Someone really enjoys using the shovel - and it's NOT me!Oh, and Happy Birthday, Shirley!

May Merriment

There is always a flurry of activity in May. There is much to do outside in the yard and gardens, in addition to end of school activities. This year we also have a lot of graduation related events.This weekend P and I worked a bit in her fairy garden. The plants from last year all look happy there. We put in a few new plants but still have quite a few seeds to get in the ground.We put in fence for the peas and weeded the vegetable garden. B did a bit of mowing and working on the house. D installed the toilet in our new bathroom upstairs! M wrote a term paper and had a couple of music gigs. P had her spring recital with others in the studio. I also made 20 books covers from these papers for the art club students.  We have all done a bit of spring cleaning.When it gets crazy busy like this I do try to make time to walk the yard and see what's in bloom.I don't want to miss any of that!Since on the go knitting seems to be all I can fit in for now, I have also been progressing on a few portable projects like new socks for B.That yarn in the background is making its way to the top of the knit pile too! I need to decide what to make with it.I'm currently working on socks for myself using the same rib pattern as these mitts.Today I hope to make M's graduation and recital invitations. He has a much bigger list of people to invite than his brother had two years ago.  

Fun Filled Day

I hope you had a great weekend. We had a busy but very fun filled Sunday that started with strawberry shortcake!After lunch P had her Twinkle Cupcake Recital (five versions of Twinkle on the cello and cupcakes for an after treat).We did a little tree planting - and look, short sleeves!The day ended with a walk in the woods.I think we may have scared the fairies but I am pretty sure there were some there.It does seem like just the sort of place for woodland fairies.Don't you think?I couldn't have asked for a better day!

Merry May

We had a great weekend. It was finally warmish and we spent a bit of time outside and saw lots of signs of spring. Our bloodroot is in full bloom. The redbuds have a tiny hint of red and forsythia are blooming. We have several kinds of daffodils blooming all around the yard and lots of grape hyacinth.The frogs are making noise in the wetlands.We have plants coming up in the herb garden. Rhubarb and parsley are making a good show.We also spent some time pulling up garlic mustard, an invasive weed which has gotten started in a few areas on our property. We pull it each year before it goes to seed. Hopefully we can eliminate it.Now I need to gear up for the business that is May. We are always busy with planting and weeding and general outdoor activities that have been neglected during the colder months. Everything grows so fast that it is hard to feel caught up with it all.May is also full of end of year school activities and will be even busier this year with M's graduation. The first of the senior activities will be the Concerto Concert this Wednesday. I am really looking forward to it.  This year there will be thirteen performers. A few will play with the full orchestra back up. It always a great show and I love watching the kids who I have known since they were in Kindergarten or even preschool. P is also having her first concert this week, the Kindergarten spring concert.I hope I can fit in some sewing and crafting time this month.

Almost Spring

We had a beautiful "almost spring" afternoon, yesterday. I even went outside WITHOUT A COAT!P and I walked around the yard and found our FIRST flowers!The chickens also enjoyed the warm sunny day.They were soaking up some sun and pecking around. I gave them a pumpkin that I had been saving.Cluck, cluck. I forgot how fun it can be to photograph the chickens.We still have some snowand lots of mud.Still, it was a beautiful, blue sky, spring like day.I guess I'm really not much of a winter person. 

Think Spring

After a busy week of sewing I took some time yesterday to do some cleaning, and sorting, and putting things in order in my sewing room. I even found the top of my desk again!One of the things I went through was a bag of thread that a friend recently gave me. Just look at all that pretty thread!It sort of makes me want to drop everthing else and find a tiny crochet hook or tatting shuttle and make yards and yards of fine lace like this.For now, the thread is piled high in a basket in the living room and called spring decorating.That will keep it out of the sewing room for a little while longer.Seriously.I think I could happily work on projects the rest of my life with materials I already have in the house.

Spring Colors One Way or Another

I have been quite busy with projects this week. Today, I finished the little quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap. I ended up quilting in the ditch around all of the pink sections. All of the other ideas that I had seemed like they would be distracting to the small pieces.The quilt measures 13 inches square. It was fun to work with some bright springy colors. We still have about six inches of snow on the ground here so we aren't seeing much spring color outside.I hope my partner likes it. Shhhh. It's a secret; I can't tell you where it's going yet.

In Bloom in the White Garden

Color in the Yard Today

Today

In the Pink

We are really savoring the spring show around here.

I hope you are able to enjoy some natural wonders this week.

Thoughtful Sunday

"It's nearly as difficult to stay beautiful as it is to become so."The Wonderful Farm, Marcel Ayme, 1951.

Spring Transition

Spring means clothes dried outside on the line,playing in the dirt.planting,and tending the gardens,and generally spending a lot more time outside.An early bedtime for small children is not to be seen again until fall.

Thoughtful Sunday

"'Spring, Spring, Spring!' sang the frog.'Spring!' said the groundhog.'Spring, Spring, Spring!' sang the robin.It was Spring."Home for a Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown, 1961.

Brighter Days

We have been busy around here lately. Last night P's preschool performed the 3 Piggy Opera. Oh, my what a sweet performance that was!M was up in the wee hours of the morning to head out to Detroit. He anda few others from the House Orchestra were live on the radio (WJR) from6 to 7 this morning. I, however, slept right through it. I am hoping WJR will have it available on their website. Tonight he and a few friends will be performing at the local pizza place.   This morning I went went bowling with P's preschool class. I love how preschoolers are not worried about form. They are happy just to get the ball to go the length of the lane!We have enjoyed two beautiful days of sunshine and blue skies. How wonderful it is to be outside without the full winter armor.I hope you are enjoying some brighter days too.Ah, spring is in the air.