Spring is Such a Beautiful Time of Year!

 Hi Everyone!  I hope this post finds you all well!  Spring has to be one of my favorite times of year.  It means renewal, flowers start blooming, plants waken up, birds start making nests and laying eggs and everything is so green!  Is Spring one of your favorite seasons?

This weekend and yesterday was so warm, sunny and blue skies.  I took an opportunity to sit on my patio and knit for awhile.  I brought Riley out with me.  I have to take his lease, which has a loop at the end, and put it under the leg of the loveseat out there so he doesn't escape.  He likes to me out there with me.

Riley and I on the patio.  I'm knitting a throw called Travertine.

Riley and I went to the park yesterday for a much needed walk.  We did 2-3 miles, I lost track after awhile.  It was 85 degrees and the humidity was in the air.  We really broke a sweat and was Riley ever tired.  That was the plan!  He slept all afternoon.  While we were walking through the woods trail, I smelled a lovely scent and figured something had to be blooming due to the heat and warmth of the last few days.  I was right!  A beautiful sweet meadow rose was blooming.  They are so dainty, but their fragrance is very powerful.  So pretty.

Meadow Rose

My orchid in the house in my little conservatory has set a bud quite awhile ago.  It is getting ready to bloom.  I'm so glad because I thought with the move not one would set buds but it did.  Nothing on the other ones, but maybe soon.

Little orchid bud getting ready to open.

I went to Harris Teeter the other day to do my grocery shopping.  Well you all know I usually get flowers for the house while I'm there.  They had so many beautiful choices, but I chose these delicate roses and some baby's breath-just gorgeous!

Roses in my green Depression glass vase from my collection.

Roses in the vase that was my Grandma's.  I always think of her when I see the vase on my nightstand.  Miss her.

These roses are just so beautiful and the colors are wonderful together.

I hope that you all have a great day and that Spring has sprung in your neck of the woods like it has in mine!

Sherri

Is it Winter or Spring?

 Hi Everyone!  I hope this post finds you all well!  I really don't think Mother Nature can figure out whether she wants Spring or Winter this week.  We had 80 degree weather last weekend and the beginning of the week but then Wednesday night it turned into 40 and 30 degree weather again.  Oh well, that is April sometimes.  I'm just thankful we had a little rain but nothing that would make some parts of my yard and garden a mud bath!

Well I went and got my rototiller out this week.  I extended the very front garden and turned it around the corner and went down along side the house.  The ground here is so hard and there is alot of rock here.  I actually got one large rock stuck in the tines of the rototiller!  Oh boy, that took me an hour to get it out.  The rototiller I have is electric and it has a unique set up to keep it running.  I know why it is that way for safety but it makes it awfully hard for this lady to operate for any length of time especially if the ground is so hard and rocky.  You have to push a button on the inside of the handle and pull up on a lever (all at the same time) to keep it going.  I now the button on the inside of the handle is what they call a "kill" switch but it makes it darn hard to keep holding those 2 buttons/lever down.  My wrist hurt for 2 days.  Well I got smart and called my lawn guy to come and till up a bed along the back of the house and one 1/2 way down the other side of the house.  I'm just getting too old for this stuff.  It also made my arm and shoulder hurt.  This 64 year old is done tilling!  I can't wait to plant the beds with flowers, herbs and veggies!  I did go to Lowe's the other day to get a rake.  Of course, I had to go through the garden center part and of course, I had to bring some plant babies home with me and some seeds! LOL!!  If anyone knows me, one of my biggest weaknesses is garden centers.   I will bring you all along on my planting adventure.  Hopefully by summer I will have some real beauties to cut and bring in the house!  Mason came over last night and brought 2 of my roses that lived through the winter and my tree peony that I brought with me from NJ 20 years ago and have moved it with me everywhere I have lived since moving to NC.  I have had it for about 35 years.  I was very thankful that he brought them to me.  

The light part of the area is where I tilled and extended the front garden.

This is down the one side of the house that I tilled.  I had to be very careful because the sewer connection is on this side.  I gave it a big area of no tilling, don't want to disturb that!

I saw this quote the other day and I just love it.  It is how I live my life!

Beautiful Quote

Riley has been somewhat of a teenager lately.  It is just a phase but sometimes he can be a handful, but manageable.  He is still really sweet and I was expecting this stage to come into play sometime soon.  We will get thru it as I have with all my other pups.  He is growing in leaps and bounds.  Love that pup!

Handsome boy!

I received some really beautiful tulips on Easter from a friend.  I just love their color-just beautiful!

The sky at night and in the mornings have been so beautiful!  Some of them have seemed really wintery, like last night.  

Sunrise two days ago.  I love the little crescent moon just hanging there!

Last night this was the sky at around 9:00.  Very wintery looking I thought.

Well I'm off to relax and do some knitting.  I'm working on a throw called the Travertine Throw.  I also have another knitting project to get started, so I might work on that.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Sherri

April 1st Already!!

 Happy April 1st everyone!  It's April Fool's Day today, has anyone been fooled so far?  I really just can't believe it is 4.1.24 already!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Sunday if they celebrate.  I had a really nice time yesterday.  I went to Easter Sunday service at my church at 11.  Then I had lunch with my friend, Ann at Longhorn Steak House.  Alot of my other friends at church was supposed to come too, but their families surprised them and came to take them out.  Ann is a very interesting person and has traveled extensively.  She had so many wonderful tales to tell.  One of my friends at church has chickens and she gave me a dozen eggs.  I can't wait to try them out, I love fresh eggs!

Last week I finally hung the huge Boston ferns on my front porch, put in 2 azaleas to replace the ugly builder's shrubs and I put my bird feeder together and hung that up.  I think the house and outside is looking more and more like my house rather than just a house.  That makes me happy!  

Looking so much better now.

Saturday, a woman in my widow group at church has decorated the altar and outside of the church for 20 years.  She asked myself and another woman to help her this year.  We had such a wonderful time and I really got to know these ladies alot better.

This little daffodil was out in front of the church.  I thought it was so beautiful!

This was the flower cross Janice and I created.  

This is the front of my church.  It is built with granite.  The town that the church is in is Granite Quarry.  I found out Granite Quarry used to be the only place in the world that had pink granite.  I think Colorado has found some out there.

This is the altar with the wonderful Easter Lilies, the bible and a cross that says He is Risen.

This is the back of the church.  The stained glass windows in the church are just beautiful!

After having lunch with my friend, Ann after church, I changed my clothes and went outside with Riley on my little patio and knitted for a few hours in the fresh air and sunshine.  It was wonderful!  I'm working on a commissioned piece for a customer.  What a warm and wonderful day!

In the beginning of last week I bought some white lilies, some small bright pink roses and baby's breath.  I made 3 bouquets like I usually do.  Easter morning this beautiful lily bud opened.  The smell heavenly and I have enjoyed them so much this past week.

Lily that opened on Easter Sunday.  Just beautiful!

Well that is about all I have for all of you today!  I am going to go outside this afternoon and start rototilling my new flower bed up.  I'm extending the front garden to be in line with the front walk that goes out to my driveway and then I will be tilling up along side the house.  I have had plants and roses arrive this past week and they need to be planted real soon.  I hope it all works out like I have planned in my head!

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Sherri

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