Strawberries & Alan's Play Toys

This is Mom's strawberry patch last fall. We had good intentions of getting it done and planted but it never happened. We did a lot more talking about it than working on it after we bought the dirt. It was so hot that day so we thought if we put the bags down it would kill the weeds. Worked like a charm.

We got the urge to get it ready since it was so warm and sunny Sunday afternoon and so we moved all the bags out of the way and hollered for Alan

and he brought his tiller, sure made short work of what we needed done

then we opened the bags and played in the dirt for a while getting it just so

Mom could moved her strawberry plants to their new home.

Now here is Alan's newest play toy. Doesn't it look grand and just the right size for me and Mom to play with - not that he agrees of course. He is a truck driver and gone during the week so we will have all week to practice driving.

Can you just imagine the look on his face if he were to come home one Friday afternoon in his big ole truck and come up behind one of us driving and the other hanging on the roll bar riding his tractor down our road. Just Priceless!

Cross Stitch

Finishes

Chow Time

Denim Darling Bibs from Charles Craft

Baby gifts for friends along with one of

Mom's baby afghans each.

Of Farm & Field

Dragon Dreams - Jennifer L. Aikman-Smith

Stitched on 26 ct White Salem Fabric Over 2

DMC Floss

We Have Blooms

Finally, we have something blooming in the flower garden. This past week end was beautiful. Made it to the 60s and sunny both Saturday and Sunday. I worked at the racetrack on Saturday but Sunday we piddled outside in the strawberry patch and Mom pruned a few things. So much to do and still too early to do most of it.

gorgeous crocus

lent0n roses making their appearance

surprise lilies in the shade garden

more surprise lilies by Alan's shed

This entire week is supposed to be spring like weather wise, in the 50 and 60 range with lows in the 40s and 50s with rain starting tomorrow. By the end of the week we should have lots more budding and sprouting. Spring is trying to arrive!

Baby Afghans

I thought for today I would show you some of Mom's gorgeous baby afghans she crochets.

pink, mint green, yellow, blue,

antique white and lavender

It is so nice to be able to pull one out for a gift to go with a cross stitch bib I made.

Mom does make these to sell along with full size pineapple afghans. If you are interested, please check out our Peonies & Magnolias -- For Sale blog.

Camellia

!! Our Camellia is Blooming !!

This is the Rosea Superba and is a double, old fashioned showy camellia. Jennifer and I went to Destin, FL a few years ago after Christmas and went to the Eden Gardens & Mansion. While there we bought this to bring back to Mom. It is not hardy to Tennessee and we bring it in every winter. Usually the buds fall off about the time we can see pink in them. This year it decided to treat us with blooms.

My 2 winners for the PIF Drawing are:

Marsha @ Littlebit

Terry @ Chocolates for Breakfast, Stitching for Lunch

Thanks ladies.

Looking for Green

Looking for More Signs of Spring Coming

buttercup blooms getting nice and plump

mums coming back

sedum peaking through

snowdrops in abundance

and tulips making a good stand

This past weekend was sunny and beautiful with the temps in the low 60s. Amazing what a couple of days of pretty weather can accomplish in the flower garden. Now we are back to 30s-40s and snow showers/flurries. We can't wait for spring to arrive.

Pay It Forward

I am one of the lucky winners of a PIF from Barb at Around Barb's Bend so I'm now going to have a drawing of my own and it is open to everyone. I don't mind mailing to other countries.

This one is so easy since no stitching is actually involved and is especially great for those that don't have any stitching time available or don't care for the finishing part of stitching.

If you would like to receive 5 stitching items from me, please comment on this message or e-mail me directly, clearly indicating that you would like to be included in my Pay It Forward drawing by Monday, March 1 at midnight. I will announce 3 winners on Tuesday morning, March 2. Please remember to include your e-mail address so I can send you a note if you are a winner!

Here are the rules:

1. Send no less than 5 stitching related items per person within the next 365 days.

2. Items can be DMC, other threads, stitching needles, straight pins, buttons, scissors, ribbons, etc.

3. The items must be new and not used -- Send things you would like to receive.

4. If you win you must be willing to post this PIF on your blog and do the same for at least 2 people.

This is a very simple PIF and very easy to do so I hope you'll give it a try.

Cross Stitch Baby

Finishes

Sylvester - Looney Tunes

The Big Book of Cross Stitch

by Leisure Arts

Pre-Finished Baby Bib

Block A

Care Bears ABC

Paragon, by Gloria & Pat

The first of 26 letters and 4 corner blocks with care bear cousins in the corners. The care bear material will be the backing and the orange/gold behind the bib will be the sashing. There will be a very small dark green edging around all the blocks before the orange/gold sashing. One down and lots to go.

White Wednesday

I'm joining Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday this week. I have one of Mom's white pineapple afghans she has made. They are 12 block afghans and are perfect to curl up with during these cold winter months. This particular one will be a wedding present for a friend's son.

just gorgeous

pineapple doily with my new scissors

from Yuko at Be Happy

Aren't they beautiful

full size picture of Mom's crochet afghan

Looking For Signs of Spring

One ground hog said 6 more weeks of winter and the other said spring was coming. I'm afraid we are in the part of the country that is getting 6 more weeks of winter. It sure is hard to find something green in the garden when it keeps snowing. We had more this past weekend but it followed a 1/2" of ice first.

wind chimes have a hard time blowing in the breeze

when they are covered in ice

we do have some green on our pots

by the driveway

old fashioned buttercups coming up in the backyard

what a wonderful site to see

green on the back porch flowerpots

more buttercups trying to come up in the garden

thank goodness for the red birdfeeders

at least they add some color to the garden and the

birds eat their food almost faster than I can fill them up

more green in the planter flower pots

good stand of buttercups in the flower garden

we can't wait for them to bloom

birdbath base showing its green

Mom said our snow is hanging around waiting for more snow. Seems she is definitely right on this one. News said this morning we have had a record 7" of snow this winter which is the most in about 15 years. Our average is 2.2".

Cross Stitch

Finishes

Winter Dragon

For Jennifer's Valentine Present

Cross My Heart - Dragon Fire

28 Count Evenweave, Over 2

DMC & Kreinik Blending Filament

Guido

For Connor - LDI

Dreaming of Spring & Flowers

With our 4th winter storm warning coming through since January 1 we are more than ready for spring to arrive, the flowers/trees to bud and the blooming season to start.

cross stitch flowers Jennifer stitched for Mom

Iris, Peony, Hydrangea

dried hydrangeas Mom did last summer

Blue Old Country Roses picked up at TJ Maxx

tulip candlesticks and little pitcher

chocolate set

mini teapots

magnolia, iris, peony

gardening books to help with the new season to come

old crock in the kitchen

Just some of our flowers in the house. Spring can't arrive fast enough for us. Then it will be back to weeding, mowing, planting and watering.