I'm baaack...

My gosh! I haven't posted or spent any time on the computer for 2 weeks! Thanks to all of you inquired if everything was OK--everything is fine. I've been very busy, and every free day, I've spent working in the garden. From 7:00 AM 'til 7:00 PM on many days.

I had all the old foundation planting that went in when the house was built removed, and we had flagstone put down in the entry area. Huge old shrubs that were not my favorites to begin with and that were terribly overgrown had to go.

Fee & I had a great time choosing what to put in our new beds. Right now, everything is relatively small and neat, but the shrubs will take off, and I'll have to be careful not to let them get out of hand. When we finished, it looked so nice and neat, I decided to bring the wilderness of the back garden into something more orderly.Because I've neglected things so badly for the last couple of years, this has meant hours and hours of work. Almost my entire back yard is garden...I was trying to eliminate mowing and have almost succeeded.

I've potted up and moved or given away countless plants, dug up and thinned, filled about 10 huge yard bags, and still added plenty to my compost pile.I've made progress, but there is still plenty to do, and it must be done before the heat and humidity get to be too much because then I quit any strenuous out door activity. :)
Now, I've got to find time to answer email and comments and visit blogs...a little at a time.

Finished!

This morning I decided it was time to make the binding and finish the little wall hanging for Mila's teacher.


Labels on back.Corner triangles for hanging.Now, I can get it in a package with a few other things and get it in the mail to Erin.

One WIP down and several more to go...

Mila's Art in Fabric

Mila's drawing has made it into fabric...I traced the picture with light pencil and had some difficulty following the lines, but I've found my water soluble pen now and won't make that mistake again.

I decided to try machine stitching instead of hand embroidery on this one and added some color with the raw edge appliques for the dresses and the wagon. (note the wheels on both sides of the wagon...)
It isn't a perfect match with the drawing, but close enough, I guess.

I'm not sure whether to make a pillow or a wall hanging with it. Erin, which do you think Mrs. White would prefer?

We will be heading down to Raft Bayou later for an Easter Egg Decorating Contest organized by Amelia.

Early morning view from my sewing room window--Happy Easter Weekend!

On Cancellations and Alternative Plans

The doctor's office called yesterday and postponed my annual stress test, lab work, etc. So I found myself unexpectedly free this morning and loved it. I hate those things--you know "nothing by mouth after midnight," and I have to starve as we go through all the testing.My alternate plan :) -- and much preferred -- has been to look through Mila's kindergarten journal and choose a couple of pieces that I can turn into a gift for her teacher, Mrs. White for the end of the year. Mrs. White is one of those true treasures, and Erin has been so pleased with the relationship between teacher and student. Above Mila and Max are playing in the sprinkler. Mila in her red wagon (Mardi Gras Float) for the class Mardi Gras parade. Below is a light box tracing of the scene in pencil...because I couldn't find my water soluble pen.I have a few other things I want to prepare for handwork while watching my Netflix series Island at War, which is very, very good. If any of you have read the WONDERFUL book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you might want to watch this version of the occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it!

Other good Netflix movies from March were Vitus and All Passion Spent. Loved them both and love being able to combine handwork with a good movie.

Wednesday Wanderings

Some pictures of the Norton Art Gallery Gardens where we went on Sunday. We missed the height of the azalea beauty, but the gardens were still lovely.







Erin and the kids left yesterday afternoon to head back to Baton Rouge. It was a nice weekend, and I'm so glad the expected rain didn't happen, but it was cold and windy on Monday so playing outside wasn't too much fun.

It got down to 34 Monday night, but yesterday the wind wasn't as strong so it was a little better. What a strange Spring this has been. Mitcham's Peach Farm in Ruston had some luck--they were afraid they might lose their entire crop of those wonderful peaches. The entire Ark-La-Tex and Ark-La-Miss breathed a sigh of relief.

No sewing for the last week as things have been so busy, and I have meetings and appointments, etc. for the rest of this week that will have to be attended to.

Also have to finish catching up on a couple of book reviews for A Garden in the Pocket, my book blog. I really enjoyed The Beach Street Knitting and Yarn Club and The Thief (a YA fantasy for the Once Upon a Time Challenge).

Catching up on blog reading and emails is another item on that infamously long "to do" list!

Weekend Review

Erin, Mila, and Max came in this weekend, and things have been a LITTLE hectic! Max loves digging in the garden, and Mila loves the snowball viburnum.

Saturday the adults attended the Cork Festival (babysitter for Bryce Eleanor, Max, and Mila); billed as a wine-tasting, the Cork is more of a huge party with hundreds of wines and the best restaurants in town serving small samples of their best dishes. Whew! Marty had reserved a table for family and friends. A very full afternoon...

Sunday we had lunch and then went to the Norton Art Gallery for pictures. They've done so much work in the last year, and the gardens are truly beautiful. Bryce Eleanor before...
and after getting dressed.Amelia, Bryce Eleanor, and Erin watch Mila and Max.

Thoughts...

The eye pillows were a big hit! In fact, I expected a couple of casual thank-you's and was a bit overwhelmed with the excitement and appreciation! Tonight, the Wednesday class will get theirs.Love my new smiling Buddha that Fee brought me. I'm thinking about making some eye pillows for Christmas gifts... And maybe a dream pillow like ACey makes (which I intended to make a while back, but didn't).

I felted these on the machine, then wet felted, fulled, etc. If my idea works, I'll show you what I intend these for soon. Such a simple thing, but I'm not optimistic, so they may fall of the radar all together.The spiral block little quilt is still hanging on the design board and needs some loving attention soon.

This snowball bush delights me each year! The flowers look like hydrangea blossoms, but the shrub itelf has grown higher than the house...like a tree.I really enjoyed this article about the Centenarian Quilter. She made her first quilt 92 years ago! (found via The Quilting Gallery)