African violets

I was so excited when I came home from Texas, because while I was away my african violets got together and decided to surprise me.  They look so wonderful all in a row on the window in my bathroom. They must love the location, since they do so well there.  I got a starter plant from my mother in law a couple of years ago. I started all of these plants from the original. It did so well last year, I decided why not a whole windowsill full?

Spring has sprung! Spent the weekend finishing up our outdoor tasks. The biggest one was weeding the beds and getting them mulched. It looks so wonderful now. I came across my strawberry patch, and noticed many flowers covered the plants. There are also some berries starting to form. Hopefully with some wonderful weather we will soon have some strawberries. I guess I need to get out my shortcake recipe, so that I am prepared. I also got out my hummingbird feeder this weekend. I hope they were not too mad at me for not getting it our before my trip to Texas. I guess if they were mad, they forgave me for it didn't take long for a hummingbird to come along and enjoy the sweet nectar. I was glad to be back in time to enjoy the short lived blooming of two clumps of tulips that I have. They are the glitter in my landscaping right now along with the cushion mums that bloom in early srping. I have a clematis blooming at the front door, it is a pale purple variety. I haven't had the same luck getting my white clematis to bloom. It seems to come up every year, but I think it may be in a spot that gets alittle too much sun and heat in the summer. Maybe in the fall I will give it a more suitable home. I moved a nikko blue hydrangea last fall. I cut it completely back the first year we lived here, because it was covered in leaves. It always would tout a few blooms but then the summer heat would hit it and it would look rather pathetic. Hence, I moved it to the north side of the house to keep it out of the summer sun, and it is right next to a outdoor faucet so I can be sure it gets plenty to drink. I doubt it will bloom this year since I cut it completely back in order to move it. Hopefully, in the long run, moving it will pay off. All of the crepe myrtles that I moved last fall to the back bed have survived. The clearance hawthornes have also survived. I added some iris in the mix and moved some robin hood bush roses that were barely surviving where they were planted by the previous owners. They look wonderful this spring but the summer heat will be the test as how well they will do. Today is a rainy day, not complaining since I hope it will get my garden off to a good start. We put in our tomato and pepper plants and planted some beans, zucchini, and cucumber seeds. Now, to sit back and hopefully enjoy the fruits of our labor.

This was my favorite block. Doesn't the little dog remind you of somone you know?

I finally got caught up on my BOM (Block of the month ) project from last year. I have to make sashing and add a border and get it quilted but at least I finished all the blocks.  I wish I was a better photographer, but at least I got them all in the picture.

Over The River and Through the Woods

I started a new quilt a few weeks ago. It takes three embroidery scenes and incorporates them into some piece blocks and then adds a border of flying geese around it.  I just finished the first embroidered panel. The whole quilt will be done in browns and blacks.  It is called "Over the River and Through the Woods" and is a pattern by Crabapple Hill Studios. I love doing embroidery along with quilting. I am not sure what kind of handquilting I will do around the embroidery, but I am up for the challenge.

Amen!

Well, it is 1220pm and I can say Amen, the dining room is painted.  I have been living with the blah walls for almost three years.  Even Tom agrees that is looks so much better.  Now it is time for clean up, but first I think I will take a trip to Sonic and treat myself to a Route 44 diet cherry limeade!  I think I deserve it.  Then back to work doing the clean up.

March and April

I made these a month ago, but just got around to taking the photos. I really need to work on May and June so I get caught up. Hopefully I can do that Wednesday on my day off. It has been so hot here the last two weeks, sure hope we get some relief and we don't have to endure July and August with 100 degree days.

Well, It has been awhile, but I have finally finished my hand appliqued hawaiian quilt. I can't remember when I started it but I believe it was sometime late last summer. I really love two color quilts, especially red and white. This was a fun quilt to handquilt, it is very heavily quilted, no marking. I did a little research on hawaiian quilts and the echo quilting that is done, represent the waves in the ocean and the appliques represent the islands. I am glad to get it finished, as working on something new is exciting, but am also glad that I had what it takes to finish this project.