Taste of Spring

We are finally having a taste of spring and how refreshing that is!  Not that we had a terribly cold and snowy winter, I am just ready for spring.

Last Sunday found me with my middle guy on a hike for some of the boys in his scout group.  We went to a trail that we had not hiked before and it will be one we visit again.  There were many of nature's things and some man made remnants that caught my eye.  Hope you don't mind that I share a few.

Do you see that stone wall in distance? Curiosity kicked in and we hiked a bit faster.



Stones and bricks...love the combination.

Remnants of the old fireplace.

The boys will love exploring here in the summer! 

Further down the trail were more stones..

This creek will provide hours of entertainment for my boys this summer.  We spotted many great swimming holes along the way. 

And finally, my middle guy, with his "please don't take another picture of me" face.

He also had his first year band performance.  He decided to give up the Cello and started the trumpet this year and he really seems to enjoy it.

The post brought some wonderful smelling goodies in the mail this week.  Autumn, from Whispers of Autumn, had a giveaway.  One for chocolates, and one for chocolate smelling goodies.  I received the smellies!

This lotion definitely smells chocolaty and is hard to use when one is craving chocolate!  She is having another giveaway for a Chocolate cookbook and some chocolates, so hurry on over!

The stitching has been completed on a project for my mother.  The pattern is from Pineberry Lane and is called Treasured Blossoms Pinkeeps.

It took some time practicing, but I think I finally got over my fear of French knots, but only after some choice words mixed in with some ripping out and starting over!

I moved the bottom line of the chart down just enough so I could place the married initials of myself, my mother, my grandmother and my great~grandmother.

Now to pick the frame!  I am planning on this being her Mother's Day gift she may just get it early though.

I am almost done with the stitching for my exchange piece, but can't show that yet.  Don't want to spoil the surprise!  And I must get going on the ornament for March.  I am thankful I am doing this ornament a month with June, otherwise, I may have given up by now!

Time to go enjoy the Spring~like weather we are having today!

“The spring has sprung, the grass is rizz. I wonder where them birdies is?”
― A.A. Milne

My Favorite Day

Today is Leap Day! 

Is this my favorite day?  No.  I don't like having only one favorite. My favorite days are those where I am able to spend time with needle and thread, where something related to the craft touches my day.

I've had some favorites lately.

June sent me a wonderful package that arrived the other day.  I had commented on a linen towel that she shared on her blog and soon after, she let me know that it was headed my way.  What she didn't tell me was that there was more!

Isn't this the perfect towel for spring!  (Excuse the wrinkles, I have to iron this yet.)

Three of my spring favorites...lambs, bunnies and birds.

 

There were some fun goodies ~ a chart, note cards and little nail files.  And three cards with the sweetest notes! 

June made this card.  Just look at the detail!  I will use this in a summertime display!

The final item in the package really surprised me!

Simply beautiful!

I love the chocolaty brown color and the mother-of-pearl thread rings!

Thank you June!! 

Maybe I need to start a basket of chocolaty colored smalls...hhhmmmm....

June is also my partner in the grand scheme to stitch one ornament a month.  Even though the month flew by, I managed to get the stitching done.

I have the fabric that I think will be used to finish the back.  I may decide to go with a smaller print fabric.  What do you think, is the print too large?

Do you think it works?

I am going to wait on the finishing, as I have chosen to do the last stocking from the booklet for my March ornament.  I will finish them both together, hopefully by the end of March!

Another favorite day brought more surprise mail.  My partner from the last Stitched With Love Exchange, Tricia, sent me a thank~you.  I'm so glad she loved her exchange goodies, and certainly wasn't expecting such a wonderful surprise.

 

I just love this blue fabric!

And the front.  I love this santa and the light he is holding!

 

Then there was the card, handmade by Tricia!  Such a sweet little sheep!

Thanks so much Tricia.

Finally, one more favorite day brought me this.

 

The blue flowers remind me of the forget-me-nots I have in my garden, replanted from my grandmother's garden.

 

Pink tulips are another favorite. 

Look in the square ~ my initials!

Such soft, beautiful colors!

This was stitched, for me, by my mother.  Her initials are just to the right of the year.  Believe it or not, this is the first thing that she has ever stitched specifically for me!  I will treasure it always. 

I love you mom!

I hope it is easy to see why I don't have just one favorite day! With that, I'll leave you with this quote and the wish that your life be full of many favorite days....

“What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
― A.A. Milne