Spring is trying to come back!

Hi Everyone!  I hope everyone is having a good early Spring where ever you are in the country.  I know some of you are still getting snow or snow squalls and for that I am sorry.  It has been chilly here this week and the end of last.  The plants aren't acting like it though, they are blooming and thriving!  I love this time of year with all things awakening.  I follow a woman on IG who has a farm up in the mountains of NC and it is lambing season.  Those little lambs are jumping around and baaing for their mamma's.  They are so cute.  John and I had a farm in NJ and we raised sheep.  This time of year those little lambs are so cute but lambing season is very demanding and alot of hard work.  Atleast you have the reward of seeing those cute little faces and all the hopping and jumping they do!

I received some roses from Jackson and Perkins and some dahlia tubers from Petal Pickers in Greenville, SC.  I still have to till up the gardens where I want to plant them.  We had alot of rain so that put it on hold for a little bit.  I really have to do that maybe on Monday.  This week has been busy.  I went to Harris Teeter yesterday to get my groceries and I always buy a few bunches of flowers and make 3 bouquets for around the house.  Well they had these beautiful white lilies (I think they are called Casablanca) and they were gorgeous.  They came home with me and so did some baby's breath and some miniature pink roses.  Here is one of the bouquets:

Easter Bouquet I made.

I painted the 2 rocking chairs I had on the front porch.  My parents had them on the front porch of their house in NJ.  They were bought many, many years ago from Cracker Barrel.  They were very weathered, so I sanded them lightly and painted them black.  I love how they turned out.  I also finally put the bird feeder together.  It didn't come with any directions, so that was a little challenging at first but then I figured it all out.  I love how it looks and the birds have found it!  

These are the chairs that are all done and the bird feeder.

This is what the chairs looked like before I painted them black.  I think they look much better!

I was able to go down to visit Jenny and the boys last week.  We had a great time!  I brought Riley also.  He ran around their fenced in backyard like it was his job!  It was wonderful for him.  We went to lunch in Lake City and then we went to my favorite place Forest Lake Greenhouses.  I bought 2 azaelas, 1 Lady Banks Rose, another rose and lemon thyme.  While I was at Jenny's I was able to snap a photo of one of her many camellias.  This one was so pretty!

Camellia at Jenny's House

I decorated the house for Easter a little bit the end of last week.  I have a collection of bunnies, but I really love this bunny in the arrangement on my Dining Room table.  The dough bowl everything is in was handcarved by my Dad.  It was one of the last things he made before he passed away.  I think I have to get some more of that Spanish Moss that is dyed green, it seems to be shrinking every year.  

This little bunny I bought almost 35 years ago!  It is handcarved and has this little basket on it's back filled with eggs.

I was going through some old photos and it also showed up in Memories on FB of the boys when they were little.  They were watching the squirrels playing in the backyard when we lived in Mint Hill, NC.  I love those boys!  Then there is our wedding picture.  I love that photo of John and I!!  The other one is me with a group of my friends celebrating my birthday a few years ago.  We had such a great time that night!

Celebrating my birthday with friends 2020.  I am the second from the right.

The boys many years ago watching squirrels in the backyard of our Mint Hill, NC house.  They group up so fast.  Owen will be 13 in July and Jack will be 11 in April.

Our wedding 8.11.79.  One of the happiest days of our lives!

I was watering my orchids and misting them the other day.  I saw a little bud scape coming out on one.  I think the others won't bloom this year.  I think the move shocked them.

Orchid with a little budscape on it.

The last photo I'm going to share and then I really have to get some more things done in the house, is a sunrise I took a few days ago!  It looked like the sky was on fire.  Just beautiful!

Sunrise in my backyard.

Well I think I have caught you up on everything.  I really hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Sherri

Drift Cowl Knitting Project All Done

 Hi Everyone!  Well it is another rainy day here!  I think it is supposed to rain until Sunday.  It is bringing all the flowering trees, daffodils, quince, and regular trees out.  I see green everywhere, which is wonderful!  I love this time of year!

I finished the Lucky Coasters I was working on and then I picked the Drift Cowl up and finished that last night.  The Lucky coasters and the Drift Cowl were all designed by Margaret at Heidi and Lana.  I buy all my yarn from her and I love her designs.  The Drift Cowl yarn, pattern and goodies were in her Winter Box.  I really love her projects.  I've just ordered the Spring box.  Can't wait to see what the project is.  She said it is something to do for the home.  Here are both projects completed.

Lucky Coasters-just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

Drift Cowl

Closeup of Drift Cowl

This is taken from ravelry.com courtesy of Heidi and Lana.  This is Margaret wearing her Drift Cowl she made.  The pattern is available on Raverly.com and her yarns are available on her website:  heidiandlana.com.

I will go back to working on my Travertine Throw, which was also designed by Margaret.  I am using her Patreon Monthly Mini Skeins for my throw with Farmhouse in between the colored oblongs.  When I get further along I will share that with you.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Sherri

Be Aware of Your Pets with Yarn

 Hi Everyone!  Yesterday after I posted my last post, I had something happen to me that has never, ever happened with any of my pets before.  I had completed knitting the Lucky coaster and put all my supplies back in my yarn basket (which I keep up on the couch so Riley can't bother it).  Well I went in my office/craft room to look something up on the computer.  About 5 minutes later I heard Riley gagging and choking.  I ran out and he was in the hallway.  I saw a trail of yarn (2 different colors) coming out of his mouth.  I started to pull the yarn out and I couldn't believe how much he had swallowed.  It was like the clown acts that they have scarves coming out of their sleeves or mouths.  I got it all out and he never had stopped breathing thank goodness.  He gave me a scare I don't ever wish to repeat.  Below is a photo of the yarn I got out of his mouth, throat and it had to have gone down even further.  

The dark green yarn I had rolled most of it back on the ball before I took the photo of what was in him.  The lighter green yarn represents the true amount he swallowed.  

Very scary and I now keep my yarn in a basket with a lid so he can't help himself.  I think it scared him as much as it did me!  

I'm just glad he didn't stop breathing or have other complications.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sherri

Happy First Day of March!

 Happy first day of March my friends!  I don't know about where you are but it is chilly, gray and rainy here today.  Not a great beginning to this month, but I've been knitting and reading.  

This is another good day to drink hot tea and that is what I am doing right now.  I took Riley out and got so cold.  I thought it would be good to have hot tea to warm up a bit.

Talking about Riley, yesterday he decided he wanted to spend some time just sitting (very regal I might add) on my bed for part of the afternoon.  He does this every once in a while.  He usually needs to be right up against me.  Here is the photo I snapped yesterday.  Sorry some of it is a shadow, but I still think he looks very regal!

I had gone to Harris Teeter on Monday to do my grocery shopping, I had picked up some roses and baby's breath.  I was able to make 3 different arrangements with them.  I put one in my room in the vase that was my Grandma's.  This morning when I woke up they looked so beautiful against the wall, I decided to take some photos.  This is what I took with my phone.

I thought they look so pretty and I especially like the one with the black background.  

Because it is raining here today and no walks in the park could be done, I decided to knit the Lucky coasters (I got one done) from Heidi and Lana.  I have 3 more to go.  Just in time for St. Patrick's Day!  The one I took a photo of needs to be washed and blocked when the others are done.

Yesterday I hung my Spring/St. Patrick's Day wreath on the front door also.  I made this wreath when I lived in SC.  It brings freshness to the door.  I'm still working on the pattern for the stained glass window for the door.  I lost momentum and I also was trying to draw the last flower part for the window.  I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should have the last flower partially opened or another fully opened one.  I don't want to make a mistake because once I start cutting it is pretty much the way it is going to be or I be wasting glass.  I'm going to work on it this weekend and decide.

I truly love this time of year!  It means renewal for me, new beginnings, flowers, trees coming back with their leaves and flowers, and this year it will be a labor of love creating all my new gardens!  I'm ready for this season!

Everyone have a lovely weekend and remember to take some time for yourself.  

Hugs,

Sherri