Some New Stitching Finishes

I am so in love with the "hello summer" stitch by Plum Street Samplers. I waffled back and forth between a flat finish or a pillow. I will be honest, I feel I am a tad bit better at the pillows than the flat pieces. I am learning with each finish and getting better, but I can't stand it if the corners don't come out neat on the flat fold. I feel it is easier to fudge and adjust on a pillow. However, I decided to go for it and if I couldn't make it work I could always change course.

I did lace the back and that seemed to help with the corners a bit. It is always difficult to get two pieces to match up perfectly too, but cording helps there.

I am in love with it. I know I will enjoy it on a little easel this summer.

I backed it with the same fabric as the patriotic piece I did last month called Happy 4th by Threadwork Primitives. I hope maybe I can display them together.

I also finished up my Bless Our House by Country Cottage Needleworks. For all my fretting over the lighter colors I finally figured out what I wanted to do with it and just love the finish.

I decided to make it look a bit older. I really like how it turned out. I was hoping to make a longer piece. So many of my little pillows are all square, so that was my vision for it. I perused all my favorite bloggers until I had some inspiration for it. 

I think I will use it with the Summer piece I did last year. 

Maybe one set of darker patriotic pieces and maybe one set of more muted colors. I am thinking a little pattern with some pink roses or at least pink flowers would be cute with these two in a display basket or bowl.

I will use all of these pieces in early summer.

I have some other plans for late July and August. 

For late summer, I hope to use some sunflowers.

I still have to finish my bunny with the sunflower and then I can use that with two sunflower pieces I did last summer.

Currently I am stitching on two pieces. 

I started with another bunny from my old Leisure Arts book. It is a patriotic bunny dressed in red and blue. However, I thought I might need to get started on my June wordplay so I started that one as well. These two will keep my company in May.

Can you believe it is May already? 

I will leave you with some family and doggie pictures.

When Jeff comes in and gets out of his work clothes, Gus knows right where he is headed and lands in the chair first.  He wants to sit and snuggle for a minute.

Lemony is slowing down. I don't really like to think about that, but she is getting her white face and a little stiffer these days. We are doing more swims than ball chasing these days.

Tucker went out to eat with his other grandparents this week. He decided after a few minutes to use his high chair as a recliner.

Too funny! Check out that cute foot.

I guess it is  almost hello May.

Spring on the Bayou

I am about to let April get by without my "spring is here" post. 

I don't know if you can fully see the coating of pollen on the bayou that I captured on Easter Sunday morning or not, but the bayou had a layer of yellow dust all across it. I walked out Sunday morning and thought everyone will be sick next week. Paul Allen has been for sure. He and Mama are the worst for the sinuses.

Also you might note the tree across the way that the leaves look bare. That is a southern live oak. They loose their leaves in the spring. 

Our drives and yards are covered in the small leaves.

Here is the top of one right next to my deck that I took Sunday morning as well.

Sometimes the deck feels like you are in a treehouse.

Anyway, rather than the usual green lush tree that you will see 11 months out of the year, April brings the leave drop and seedlings. IT all happens rather quickly. Almost too quick to notice in our fast paced days.

If you look closely at the above pictures you can see the golden brown seedlings that I like to call worms. I knew they would drop this week and that rain would follow almost immediately. 

That is the routine.

I have watched it for decades. 

The trees are the most lovely trees of all time to me.

Here is where they grow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_virginiana

I actually remember the first time I noticed the lovely trees. I was about 6 or 7 and we were headed to the commissary on Pensacola NAS. I know that is a very random thing to remember, but I do. They were simply amazing and still are on the drive into the base. Loaded with Spanish moss and their twisted trunks they are really quite a sight.

Here is the entrance to our cul de sac with my house on the right...tile roof. You can see that they are somewhat bare. My retired neighbor makes it his mission to get up the leaves for the month of April.

I just decided to share that because I doubt most people know that in Florida we have to pick up leaves. It happens so quickly  that one even might not notice it. 

I am not kidding that it seems like overnight they have brand new leaves.

This was taken early this morning. Most of the seedlings fell off yesterday followed by heavy rains last night.

There are new leaves everywhere and very soon they will be so very green.

I guess I should have walked out to take a picture of the drive covered in leaves and those seedlings because it is covered!

I have schooled you up on the southern live oak, so let's move on to birds.

I see every kind of water bird imaginable from the deck. Mallards are definitely my favorite followed by herons, but I see various geese, wood ducks, osprey, gulls, pelicans, and even an occasional eagle to name a few. 

I love little birds though and get so excited about them. We have had an abundance of robins much earlier this year. There are no pictures of any of my birds because I am not a photographer. I long to be, but haven't had time to take up the hobby.

I see lots of cardinals and they have really been blessing me lately.

Blue jays and mockingbirds abound.

Last spring a bluebird visited the cul de sac. I have not been lucky enough to see those often so I get completely giddy about them.

He is back this spring. He was two feet away from me on the driveway yesterday. I was doing cartwheels in my head. Trust me I have never done one in real life. I get so excited over things like that because they are rare. I have loved birds forever. I have no clue why.

Anyway, they love the live oaks and magnolias that line our yard. 

The magnolia leaves are dropping like crazy as well, but they are about to be exploding this year with blooms. We get those in May along the Gulf Coast. There are tons of blooms all around the neighborhood.

Between us and the neighbor is a line of both trees and a few others and the birdies just love them. My sewing room window looks out to this and I often see them in the trees when it is all quiet in the early morning in there. 

The sewing room window is not far past the picture below.

I am hoping the geraniums will fare better throughout the entire summer when the 90s are the norm for daily temperatures. 

This month has been cooler than most and I am loving it. 80s are arriving this week. 

I have more posts coming soon, but I have just not had time lately, but I am going to make some.

Tucker is almost sitting up all on his own. He works with a pillow and is eager to be sitting.

Spring is coming for y'all because it is here.

Easter Recap

I had such a busy day yesterday that I just couldn't get my Easter post out, but not to be undone...here we go.

The weekend was quite full and I must say I was exhausted Sunday afternoon when all left. I laid down on the couch and fell into a hard sleep. I needed it! I had an outing Saturday morning to attend, baking to do, and I worked two services with the kids at church and attended one over the weekend... hence, age had me pooped.

 After church, I had both kids this year. I also had one of my dearest friends whose husband had to be out of town. He has a defense job and was gone. They have two daughters and the oldest was spending Easter with her boyfriend's family so Tami and daughter Peyton shared Easter dinner with us too. It was fun listening to all Peyton's plans for the future. She is graduating from high school this year.

Oh and church was especially good this year. The music was amazing.

Nothing warms my soul better than my chickadees all with me and cooking and baking and having them around my table.

Here are the family pictures made on the deck Sunday afternoon.

Lindsay, Tyler, Tucker, and Hallie, the Boykin.

Paul Allen and Katie with Gus:)

Mom took the family picture of us, so I got one of her and Tucker.

He is 6 months old now and wearing 9 month clothing. He has put on a growth spurt which might explain the next thing I am sharing.

I had a first last week. I went to a chiropractor. That word rang fear in my head all my life, but I had done something to my shoulder and it simply wasn't getting any better. I have really been hurting for a month. What I did? I don't know! but it was sharp and burning all at the same time and had started to affect my sleep. My husband and daughter have gone to this guy and assured me he was very conservative and wouldn't pop anything I didn't want popped. Turns out he didn't pop anything😁

I can officially say he made it better. I got some kind of machine that vibrated it with some voltage and a shoulder massage last week and chose to go back yesterday. Yesterday, I got another thing I didn't think I would ever do... A massage. 

This girl who didn't think she could ever relax for a massage found it to be pretty darn nice.

Now, I am not ready to add it my list of things to be done often, but I wouldn't say never especially if I do something to my shoulder like this again.

I have a few stitches to share too.

I finished the little house. I didn't add the words or at least not yet. I have a finish in mind and I think I will leave the bottom border off for that finish so stay tuned for that.

I also finished the little bunny with the sunflower. I am totally in love with this bunny and sunflower. I plan to do one more of the bunnies in this book for summer as well, but 

my next stitch will be the June wordplay.

Actually I need to stop stitching and take care of the three finishes that are now sitting in my sewing room.

By the way the weather is just about perfect right now, but this is the coolest Easter in a long time and definitely the coolest one this late in April. I have some weather and outdoor pictures for later in the week and some sewing machine talk.

Happy spring,
Sandy

The First Daylily

My first daylilies are blooming. I get so excited when they bloom. 

I got pine straw down in most of the beds this weekend. I am trying to wash windows as well. I never really shared the debacle of the house painting story and I really plan to spare you that troublesome story. I basically had to stay after him. Nickel and dime him...by that I mean...I would say if you come and do this much today I will give you this much:) Yep, it was no fun, but the house is painted and it is good. He didn't clean up one thing. Left all of his ladders! I mean that in itself was a ton of money. I gave them to another worker that I figured could use them. Anyway, my windows didn't get cleaned and so it will take me awhile to get them done. At one time I did them regularly with the spray wash and that kept them pretty good, but pollen has really stuck to them this year so I may have to do some actual wiping them down. It is taking me longer.

The weather is really nice so I need to do a few a day while that lasts.

Here are some pretty rose pictures to pick the mood back up.

I am in housekeeping mode this week. I have a ton of tasks to do. How things get so behind I will never know, but last week Lindsay had two late days at work. Hopefully they are the last of them. They have hired some help. That wore me out and Mom was on a trip. I really missed her help:)

Lindsay's friend's baby came home from the hospital. She nows weighs 6 pounds, but she is doing well. Happy to hear that bit of news. Lindsay and Tucker went to see them this weekend. Lindsay said Tucker seemed giant next to her. He is growing and Grammie does love him so much.

I am stitching on two things currently. I should have some patriotic things for summer. I will do some finishing when I finish both of these.

First is my muted blue cottage. I ended up staying with the muted colors. I think I was too far in and I can make it work with the finishing selections.

I pulled an oldie from my stash and am stitching a bunny with a sunflower for use in the summer after the patriotic stuff is put away. I did the sunflower in the pot awhile back.

I am doing it on Aida...such fun stitching.

Oh and my begonias are perking back up after winter. I moved one up front with the Christmas cactus. They both love this spot and are both trying to put out blooms. 

It is fun when you find a magic spot for a plant.

Oh well, that is all for me today.

Enjoy the week,

Sandy

Oh My

Y'all I got on to read my friends this morning and noted that I had a lot of comments, but almost none had come to my email. I checked all my settings and nothing looked amiss.

I then went to my email and just decided to look at the Spam account...well, there were many there.

People like Arlene and Mrs. T so, it wasn't weird emails but people who I talk with lots.  Some were not anywhere. I guess Blogger is doing some weird stuff again. I guess we can't complain since it is free.

BUT, know that I would reply if I saw it and I am sorry:(

Sincerely,
Sandy

Tis so Sweet

I was giving my little hunk of love a bottle the other day. I love how contented he can look when getting his bottle. He is completely at rest in his Grammie's arms; eyes close after a bit and just pure enjoyment at getting a bottle and being in my arms.

My mind wandered to how I love that look and that my Heavenly Father loves that look from me too. 

Do I give Him that look often enough? He certainly deserves it. He loves and provides for me far more than I deserve.

If I am honest, I probably don't give Him the looks of contentment nearly enough. I have found Him to be completely faithful, yet, I worry and fret rather than resting in His loving arms.

This hymn came to mind as I sat there...

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.

Great words indeed...

So grateful for the little church that taught me all those hymns in my childhood. They still go with me today.

Hey,

I didn't intend to stay away this long, but the days have just gotten away from me. I sort of feel like I am working again only I like my job. I am exhausted at the end of the week, but I have to admit I love the excuse to stay home. I love my little boy! He is completely delightful. I also love just being home and puttering around the house.

I realized I had been away so long that I couldn't remember all that I had done and thought blogworthy:) at one time.

I know that part of it was watching Auburn basketball. To make it to the Final 4 was exciting around this house. I stitched on a piece through the first few games and had hoped it would bring good luck all the way, but the luck ran out. I didn't really think that, but basketball is a game that kind of makes me nervous to watch so stitching was the way to go.

This is the stitch I worked on throughout March Madness.

And I was immensely proud of Auburn. The loss didn't really even sting...I was just excited to be in the Final 4.

We did go to Auburn last weekend and watched the game with close friends. Here I am at their house stitching and our dogs and their dogs made 4. WOW!

Oh and I got some cute new shoes!

They have labs and the newest one is just a pup as you can see. She and Gus had a big time while Lemony and their older one who is the same age as Lemony (they once played together as pups) rested and looked for hands to pet them.

I finished that stitch today. It is still in the hoop. Looking forward to doing something cute with it. 

I really love how it turned out. I am now back working on my little blue house with the flag outside. I should have a nice little display ready for summer of patriotic stitches.

One more picture of Gus in Auburn. He found a big stitch to fetch. They have the most amazing dog park at Auburn and the dogs love it up there. They have figured out that this is home away from home now.

I got Tucker a cute little Easter basket. I ordered it from an Amish website. I think it will be around for a long time. It is quite sturdy. Lindsay used my Easter basket that I had as a kid, but I felt like it probably wouldn't make it through another child's youth. I wanted him to have a nice one. The liner came with it. I thought I had ordered a cream colored one, but I guess not. I added his name to it.

It might be a tad big for now.

Mom is a huge help with Tucker. I think he has been so good for her as well. She loves to come over and see him and when he is fussy about his nap she just rocks and holds him. We might be spoiling him, but he is sleeping through the night, so I guess we are ok.

I am enjoying roses now. Hip hip hooray.

I will try and update sooner, but no promises.

All is good,

Sandy