Finally, a Stitching Post

I am doing my stitching post finally and very soon after my gardening post. I am doing so because I am going to focus on Easter starting tomorrow. I will pop into my blogs and check once a day to see if anyone posts, but other than that I am letting all other computer activities go until next week.

Wow, my stitching has been all over the place. I am usually a one stitch at a time. I lose focus when I skip around. I have no FOCUS at all right now, so I allowed myself to just stitch all over the place.

I don't think with the mindset that it will be a bad thing. Nothing that I have started or worked on do I think will get left behind forever. I want to eventually finish all of them very much and many more.

I have said I never have a lack of things I want to stitch and really tried to stay away from being too lured in with new purchases this spring when everyone was showing their wares.

All that said, here is what I have been doing, not doing, and thinking about.

Have Stitched....

I made one purchase from the spring line up. The blue bird by Heart in Hand. Actually, Faye of Carolina Stitcher showed the fully finish of this and that was what got me.

Along with the red bird they are awaiting a full finish.

 Guess what? With all my fabric stash there is absolutely nothing in there that matches. Part of it is the muted colors that were called for. I placed them in the project box and when life settles down a wee bit, I will make a dash to the quilt store and check out their fat quarter bins which is where I usually find the best stuff. Hubby suggested a yellow to go with blue bird and I think he could be right.

Mrs. T from Across My Kitchen Table sent me the PERFECT sunflower button to finish my bunny. I can't wait to have this on display this summer.

I am still working on the blue jays, but they take intense concentration so I am just not there on some days. Just to let you know where I was going with all these birds. I wanted to do three of them and put them in the master bedroom in the Auburn house. Mockingbird, bluejays, and a third one.
I haven't chosen the third one. I am torn between the orioles, bottom right of the pattern below, OR

the chickadees below. I am leaning towards the chickadees. It could change many times. 

Remember I said 2020 was the year of the large stitches. I have the linen already for this third one.

One day and it probably won't be in 2020, I would very much to like to stitch these birds. I would love them for myself, but I thought I might do them for Lindsay. I have the linen purchased and she doesn't know about it so I feel no pressure.

They are pretty big and would look amazing in her home.

I also started the Eagle Has Landed on this chart. I have the shuttle done and framed and this was always in the plan to do another one. Stitching on black may undo me and there is no way I can stitch on this only and not do something else along the way. It would kill me, but I want this one done really bad.

I also started a new one this week.

I told you I was all over the place. I have had this one for ages, but hadn't purchased linen. I pulled out some Aida and this is just such fun stitching and kinda what I needed in my state of mind as of late.

I have always loved this verse and My Big Toe has such great patterns. I have another one that I am eyeing that says, "This too shall pass." I grew up with my Aunt Faye saying that and it seems rather timely right now. I think I will eventually get it and stitch it. 

I was at her house back before Christmas and spied a stitch I had done for her decades ago. I had completely forgotten that one. Made me happy that she still has it.

I have 9 project bags loaded so you have only seen a few ideas. I have a bag with patriotic, summery, fall, and Christmas so you can see there is no lack of ideas. I am not even looking at new...

Oh and there is an idea is this oldie but goldie that I maybe would like to do for Katie. I had a short sleeve version of this shirt that I did and wore in the 90s. 

Let's round the stitching up. I have made a basket of masks for giving out. I sent one over to my sister-in-law and a really good friend yesterday. I am prepared for those that need one as we go.

I then cleaned up my fabric stash cabinet. It is all tidy and makes me feel happy seeing it. I have two bins with small pieces too. 

I don't think I will be so quick to throw things out again. I had plenty of elastic in my stash due to being that  "can't get rid of stuff" kind of person.

I will leave you with this sweetie because I am missing him this week something awful.

Who couldn't love Chik Fila lemonade?

This the fourth post in one week. Probably won't happen again.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.

Sandy

My Gardening Notes

I use the blog to document life in the yard and my flowers, so if you are not into flowers you can skip onto the next blog because that is all I have today. I plan to do a stitching post this week.

I made big changes this past year and so it is important that I note what has worked and what is not working. I love to TRY and grow things. I have learned with age that I can't do it all.

That has been the big change. Less is more. I still have a lot and may over more time have to wean it down some more.

On the front where the roses once were the new beds are really coming to life. The day lilies are starting to pop. The bottle brush is starting to get some buds. I can't wait for that. I am hoping it will bring in lots of hummingbirds.

By the front door the three big pots are coming to life.

The lilies of the Nile have been going in that pot for years. I probably need to thin them, but they come back each year very healthy. I have never lost them to cold and I think it is because of the location of the pot so close to the house and the number of them in there. The swans can't do plants. If things are surviving in spring they don't stand a chance in summer, so basically it is bows to keep them cute.

The middle pot has an assortment of things in it and that seems to work there. Enough of the things that will last all year and some fill ins when seasons change. There is still a ornamental cabbage growing in there.

It surprises me that this geranium is still ticking. If we have a night or two that goes down below 30, I will put it up right by the door and cover with a sheet. It has been ticking for over 5 years too.

One side has hostas that die down in winter but pop back every spring.

That wraps the front door porch. 

Now to what has worked on the wall by the garage.

I didn't plant these until the beginning of November this year due the extreme heat of October this past year.  These pots have been amazing and so pretty when you drive up into our cul de sac. I got almost 5 full months out of them and probably could have gotten more if I had planted them a bit earlier. Pansies just don't like heat and October this past year was too hot for them. 

The dianthus has been spectacular and should continue for a while. I want to note that.  All of the fillers such as the lambs ear, foxtail fern, and dusty miller have all been super workers this winter.

I took these pictures this weekend and those violas have already almost expired.  The pansies are kaput. I have loved them and will use white pansies again. They were amazing against the green. Best color I have ever planted.

I plan to try and get some fillers for the violas and pansies at some point. The won't look too bad when I pull them out if I can't go shopping this year. It is just what it is and I don't plan to dive back into getting out too quickly.

Waiting in the wings behind the wall are the lilies of the Nile for the summer heat when basically nothing survives.

I have almost lost my one and only hydrangea this past year. I have been babying her and she is popping up. I so hope she will survive and flourish this year. 

On the bottom deck Jeff has some tomatoes planted. We did something totally different this year. We started with seeds and planted them in the house and just this past week he put them out in the pots. That is where the one rose left over from last year landed. She is thriving in her pot, but it is April. 

She is a hybrid tea called Oklahoma. 

I so wanted to be a rose grower, but you have to have the right conditions. In our previous home I had a little better place and grew several there. I always brought in a jar of blooms in fall and spring. One of my favorite books to read to the 4th graders at the beginning of school was Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary. Below is a quote from the book and I of course would always share the names of my roses that I would bring in.

I guess I thought I was a rose snob since my roses had names. 

I was inspired to grow them when I was in high school Our neighbor had the most beautiful rose bushes I have ever seen. No botanical gardens topped his. They got morning sun and I think that and the soil were two things I can't replicate here.

If Miss Oklahoma can't produce I will continue to purchase some grocery store roses, but I loved a Mason jar full of all the colors mixed up sitting on my desk or counter.

Spring is one of my favorite seasons and rain is expected tomorrow so April Showers will hopefully bring lots more May blooms.

A stitching post up next. 

Sandy