Just Another Saturday

Our lilac bush is in bloom, and it smells yummy!  I snapped a couple of shots as we left home this morning.  Our destination today was a nursery in PA, but we were in no hurry to get there.  DH wanted to stop at the Outlets in Gettysburg, so we walked around and did a little shopping.  The only money I spend was in the Pepperidge Farms store.   shhhh.... 

Our bonus for the day was Greyhounds in Gettysburg.  Behind the outlet mall were vendor tents selling anything and everything Greyhound, and there were Greyhounds everywhere.  Almost all of the mall stores had a sign in the window stating that dogs were welcome inside.  A few had signs saying that owners were welcome inside, and dogs outside.  Somehow I just missed the large parade.

What a beauty!

Styling in the cold.

Travelling in style

About a half hour later, we arrived at Ashcombe, a nursery I had visited many years ago.  We oohed and aahed over the flowers, loaded up our cart, and pretty well filled up the back of my car. 

It's too early to plant in the ground yet, but several of these will go into pots, and we can go ahead and get them potted.  The others will stay safely on the front porch until all threat of frost has passed.  We've had such strange weather lately, that we don't want to take any chances. 

Our next stop was a fabric shop, Needle & Thread, which specializes in Civil War reproductions, and fabric for reenactment costumes.  There were two men in the store while I was there, purchasing fabric and trims for their costumes.  As you can imagine, Civil War Re-enactments are big business in this area.  There was also a family in the store with a greyhound, so I asked some questions, and learned a little more about the group.  And yes, it WAS a fabric store, and some fabric and a couple of books may possibly come home with me.

And lest you think I did no stitching today, rest assured that I did a tiny bit of crocheting while DH was shopping, and I intend to spend the rest of the evening settled comfortably in my chair, with cross stitch and applique at hand.

Contentedly stitching away.....Sunny

April Flowers

We started with April flowers, then came the April showers.  It's been quite cool here the past few days, but we really needed the rain, and the flowers and Robins are very happy.  Even the hexie flowers are happy!

I was too lazy to go downstairs to cut more white fabric this afternoon, so I made a bunch of centers.  White fabric is now cut, and my garden will be blooming!  The end is near for this particular hexie garden.  If you'd like to see more hexies, visit Karen's blog for a linky list to more beautiful flowers.
I've completed my Christmas Through the Year gift for April.  The part that looks black is actually a nice dark green.  I think this will make a lovely candle mat.  This will also count as OPAM for April.

Another finish was my April BSA block.  Jessica requested a cat block.  Not surprisingly, I have at least three cat quilt patterns, so this was a fun one to make.  I did the applique by hand, but it is NOT needle turn! .

 I'm working on another needle turn project at the time, and this method is NOT my friend. But I am improving.  Fortunately, the applique is only a small part of the project, so I might possible have it finished by month end.

There are a couple of cross stitch projects in progress as well.  I always have either a needle or a crochet hook in my hands.  The high light of my workday is sitting in my car at lunchtime, working on a needle work project.  Am I pathetic or what?

"Sew to your heart's content."        Sunny

wanna play P-I-F?

About a year ago, I signed up for a P-I-F, and while I was unemployed, I set about making 3 gifts for the recipients who signed up.  And although I never received my handmade gift, I'm going to play again this year.  I signed up with Teresa at Quilting Stitching and Sew On.  Here are the rules:

I will send a surprise gift to the first three people to comment on this post. This gift will be made by me and I will send it sometime within the next year. Exactly when you will receive it will be a surprise (it will probably be a surprise to me too :-D).

Of course there are some rules in this game. Here it goes:

Rules:1. I will make a little something for the first 3 people that comment on this post. It will be a surprise and may arrive at any time in the next 365 days (yes, a year).

2. To sign up to receive a gift from me you must play along too. Share the giving love on your blog by promising to send a handmade goodie to the first three people that comment on your blog post.

3. You must have a blog.

4. After commenting on my post, you have to post this (or similar) on your blog to spread the love. If you haven't posted in 48 hours then the next commenter will be chosen

 

Would you like to play??

 

 

 

Mid Month miscellaneous

I didn’t realize how long it has been since I last posted.  I’ve been managing to keep myself quite busy.  We had houseguests for Easter weekend, which required a little cleaning on my part.  I would much rather stitch than clean, so cleaning does not happen as frequently as it should. 

We went to Annapolis, MD on Saturday, where we enjoyed a tasty seafood lunch, some shopping, a boat tour of the harbor, and then a tasty seafood dinner. 

Easter Sunday involved a lot of cooking for DH, more guests, good food and lively conversation.  Sadly, I didn’t get out my camera all day. 

I’ve been doing some crocheting, making my monthly rectangles, and working on a pink afghan that has been a long-term project.  Perhaps it will be a finish later this year?  I’ve been keeping it in my car and I work on it most days on my lunch hour at work. 

I’ve also been making hexies.  I had run out of white fabric, and had to go on a hunt for more.  I thought I found the perfect match at JoAnn’s, but upon closer inspection at home, I realized that it’s not the same.  But close enough, so I continue with my white flowers.  I need about 20 more, along with 17 half flowers, and approximately 200 connecter ‘petals’.  A few other small projects are nearing completion and will be appearing in this space in the coming days. 

I’m off to stitch a few hexies now!

Spending a contented Sunday…….Sunny