What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Oh dear, over half way through April already! Time, slow down! 

After days of rain, yesterday was a glorious sunny day and I spent time down by the pond watching the ducks float about. As usual they alarm very easily so this was taken from far away. I wonder if they could be the same ones we see there every year. I identified (with help from some of you) American Black Ducks for the first time visiting us last year. 

We have had a pretty good week here at the wooden house. Tony's medical tests were inconclusive and further testing is needed. A bit disappointing but no news is good news in my book. He's most concerned about being tired and not having the energy to do all the things on the property he used to do. He feels defeated to let others do these things, like he's giving up or slacking off. It isn't easy for him to shake that feeling but we are trying to focus on the things he still can do both ...

 I thought of some of my blogging friends on Sunday...those who spend time in arenas with the children involved in one sport or another. This is where I was this Sunday...the Kingston Invista Centre, watching Robbie with his team at the final tournament of the year. They'd won all their games right down to the very last one which they lost and there were tears. Life lessons of course, but much satisfaction that the boys had certainly come a long way skill wise. Overall, a wonderful season of hockey. 

On my To Do List this week...

I ...

 Easter seems to have crept up on me. I'm just now noticing all the bunny and egg patterns and realizing how fast time is spinning by for us here at the wooden house. We are both convinced a week is now feeling like five days not seven. I remember wondering how would I cope with all the free time in retirement...how in the world to fill all those hours not spent at work. Like so many idle wonderings, this one also turned out to be a waste of time and thought...time speeds up it seems.

So Easter ...

You know you're living in the country when a heading in the local forum reads..." Do Not Approach: Bobcat Sighted". It was noted to look healthy and was not aggressive. One time people did not have to to be told to stay away from such a wild animal. Once Tony showed me a clip of a man and woman being chased by a buffalo...they thought they could pet it or some such nonsense. But perhaps it is not new. Just that with our impressive social networks we are hearing about it. I read the phrase "common sense is ...

 You must be tired of me talking about how much I admire Geraniums. Here, deep in winter, is mine giving out pretty blooms. 

 I have my other winter slow stitching project to share in this post. Snow Days by Crabapple Hill Studio Designs.

My Vintage Seeds Packets jigsaw is moving along...loving all the little details in this one-a superior puzzle.

 I finished three of these large Snow Days embroideries last winter and have prepped three more for this new month and would like to see them finished when the snow outside is done too. Photographed here in the back hallway design wall where the lighting is terrible.

I use General's water soluble marking pencils to trace the design. It was the ...

This is a wonderful time of year for Youtube Flosstube viewers. Most stitchers give a year end review of their finished projects and WIP's and also patterns that they want to buy, etc. Some are true pattern collectors with even into triple digits in their collection. I always learn of new companies or patterns to note. Flosstube has exploded even since I started watching a few years ago. I especially enjoy the stitchers who also quilt or knit or crochet. Like this young woman who does it all so beautifully... Elizabeth Ann Can Stitch

 We got a ton of snow from that last windy snowstorm but by the time I was up in the morning, all was calm. Just lots of billowy drifts all over. Two Blue Jays are regular visitors at my feeders. I love Robert Bateman's Snowy Morning Blue Jay and our snow reminded me of it. It must be tricky painting snow.