Launch, Stitching and Flowers

It has been a busy start to the week. I knew it would be hard to blog regularly, so I said no day would be given. I did however, want to mark today. 

We have a liftoff! I have been obsessed with space since my earliest memories. I was known as the "space lady" at my schools. I have done my best to inspire the students. There would be no doubt I would be tuned in today of course wearing "one" of my Artemis t-shirts.

I am excited to follow along with the mission. Most every room in my house has something related to space and more books, patches, autographs and just a plethora of things that would make most people roll their eyes when I get started. 

I will share a picture of Mama and me when we went to a shuttle launch many years ago. Finally one took place in June so I told Mama we were going and staying until it launched. We had the most wonderful day. We met Mike Mullane with his latest book that day.

He was wonderful and sent me a copy via email of a book he wrote for children. I of course read it that next year to my students. The book was no longer in print, but I found 2 on eBay so I do have that one and the one he wrote and was signing the day of a launch. 

Like I said, I have so much stuff. I love it all!

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I wrote parts of this blog post ahead of time when I had a moment to go write.

I have found my stitching inspiration again. I am telling you around December, I was just not feeling it. If I hadn't stitched the sandpipers for a friend I don't know that I would have found anything to inspire me enough to pull out my needle and floss. I hadn't bought any new patterns in ages, but this year's market releases in March have inspired me. I purchased quite a few patterns this year and have been busy stitching and just plain loving it!

I ordered Freedom Flock by Plum Street Samplers. The linen seen below was my second try --- sometimes when you stitch with one strand you have to take into account that something light will not show up on 36 count or higher. 

This is 36 count vintage country mocha with all the called for colors. I still think it would have looked nice on 28 or 32 count to stand out a bit more. I did remove one of the stars on the lower right to add 2026. I also think a grey linen would have worked. I thought about that about halfway through stitching it. It turned out nice and the first weekend I have a little time, I will finish it up in to a cute little pillow along with my Liberty Bell stitch.

Then I started my third patriotic stitch for 2026. The pattern is not a patriotic stitch per se, but....

I am going to make changes. I love the border, but I am replacing "Happy Day" with "America 250" in a blockish font. The rabbit and the little row of flowers below will be gone too. My plan is to stitch "We the People" in their place in a font similar to the Preamble which I would say is somewhat of an Old English font. I have graph paper to mark this all out. I think this will make a cute patriotic finish. OH, and I do plan to do a few color changes.

I will share it in my next post.

All in all I ordered 5 patterns and 2 pieces of linen from the new releases. I am super excited about all of them. I don't usually let myself order that many at one time, but I have been in a funk and really liked so many things so I went for it. I will share more as I stitch.

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Spring is springing and it has been so good for me. Winter seemed to be extra long this year and I know that is silly considering where I live. Some things are budding slowly while other things are just breaking forth. Jeff and I have been really trying to go out as many evenings as possible and sit on the lower deck. It is always good. 

I found the gray rocker in the water one day. It had washed up. WE both liked it so much that we found it online at Ace. We ordered another so we are rocking buddies most evenings.

Now, I am still struggling to get up in the mornings. I do have to set the clock since I pick up Valerie. I hope I will settle in soon to the new time. I LOVE the longer evenings so no complaints. Once I get up I am ok, but I will admit I would love to pull the covers up and just lay there.

My pansies were so pretty one day. I am a horrible photographer, but they were really showing out. Now, they won't last much longer. April will warm up quickly and they will wilt each day from the heat. It will be time for vincas soon, but they were getting in a splash of color for March.

Jeff has actually done the majority of the fluffing downstairs on the deck, but now it is up to me to water. He has made these pots for deciding what will grow down there in full sun. We have put several things together to really see what takes off. The hostas still look amazing and he has some tomatoes and peppers going to. Farmers Palmer are enjoying the spring.

The deck could use some pressure washing but no reason to do so until pollen has stopped. 

Of course, the live oak leaf drop is happening. Leaves are everywhere. If you are unfamiliar with the phenomenon of live oaks- they lose their leaves in the spring.

Spacey and springy here,

Sandy