What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Last week, My Sweet Babboo and I did a test drive to time the route and check the roads for an upcoming drive for our MINI club. We are leading a group up to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a picnic lunch at Pisgah Inn. There is only one road up to that section of the parkway open to us right now. The Pisgah Inn is open, and we want to bring attention to the business and take our club there to support them. This day, the clouds were settled into the valley so thick that they covered the mountaintops ...

A piece of my plant broke and I stuck it in this little single sprig bird vase.

Growth is amazing!

Thank you for all your comments on my POST ...

It's been dreary weather-wise this week. Very wet and also cold. Early mornings flirted with freezing but for one managed to hold at 0C. My winter jacket has been pressed into service again but I'm very thankful it is not snow like so many parts of Canada and the U.S. have been getting.  And the weather hasn't held back the wonderful growth surrounding the Wooden House. These tiny grape Hyacinth type flowers dotted the side yard. Their colour is gorgeous.

 The birdsong alone is worth a very early morning start to the day. A switch has been turned and it's like cue the sun, the birds, and all the growing things too. Here Ned is amazed by the sprouting leaves that have appeared seemingly overnight. 

Note the fallen trees and branches; ice storms are very hard on old trees.

Consider this a catch-up post. I really do always have the best intentions of keeping up with this blog but, as we all know, life has a way of taking over. We did have a wonderful time with my Dad visiting here for three weeks before we headed back north with him at the beginning of the month.He especially enjoyed this copy of National Geographic from April 1928, his birth month and year; gifted

Consider this a catch-up post. I really do always have the best intentions of keeping up with this blog but, as we all know, life has a way of taking over. We did have a wonderful time with my Dad visiting here for three weeks before we headed back north with him at the beginning of the month.He especially enjoyed this copy of National Geographic from April 1928, his birth month and year; gifted

 A few photos of a reluctant spring here..

My sole lilac tree is starting to sprout. It's very old and getting slower to bud every year. In fact I had thought it was done, and am delighted to see these few sprigs.

And just like that, I spy a Dandelion too. 

Though cold and rainy so far, spring is moving along in our neck of the woods. 

Pouring down rain lately made for a couple of  drab mornings. One of those mornings, I used my thrifted umbrella, the one that is kind of useless as it doesn't really keep the rain off just sort of but I love the shape and colour. I bought it years ago and it remains my most unusual and probably most impractical thrift buy. 

Now you see why I'm not a gardener! I got the names of these flowers wrong. These are hyacinths, not hibiscus. Why did I do that? I know these flowers, but obviously had a moment. Oh yes - flowers - love them, but not my thing! I just enjoy the beauty! Thanks for catching that! I went back and changed it! 

Hyacinths!

And I spotted another TREE that's in bloom. What kind of tree? No clue! And I don't really care - it's just pretty! 

A blooming tree in the neighborhood

A lot of things happened yesterday! If you ...

The trails are providing all the workout I need these days. With melting and overnight freezing (-15 windchill -glad I wasn't out there), they are slushy, bumpy and narrow in places. Like walking a tightrope which is good for my balance. But I've had to take a ski pole along as I really don't want to turn an ankle. On the up side, the slightly warmer daytime temps mean less clothing is needed which is enjoyable. And surprise, surprise, the song birds are singing. Last Saturday, early morning, when I was gathering wood at the back basement ...

      It is that time in February where I have had it with dark, cold winter. Lots of ice with constant snow this year. I love houseplants and outdoor plants. I have to settle for indoor gardens this time of year. In the fall I bought some new African violets and some small orchids besides what I already have. I am very grateful for blooming growing things right now. It helps keep me motivated to keep sewing.

When we drove home from Robbie's hockey game last Saturday evening, we couldn't get over how light it still was for 5:30. The season is moving along we happily agreed. 

I had the pleasure of spotting and watching a young Barred Owl recently. There is one wooded area here where I've photographed Barred Owls a couple of times. I always look at the tree tops when I walk through there. This time I was lucky to spy him because this owl was quite tucked away, snuggled against a tree trunk and with its colouring, blending in ...

 I'll speak of weather and get it out of the way as it were. We got advance warning of a winter storm so I was able to fill the feeders, get in my bit of firewood to start the fire and have an extra long walk in the evening thinking I wouldn't get out the next morning.

I had to give up my quilty table for a couple of days. It sported the thrifted vintage Santa table cloth and displayed my second hand store Petit Point dish set. Both big bargains and well loved by me

My retired librarian sister always sends me a book and it is always completely appropriate. It is ...

 When walking Ned one day, we spotted a Barred Owl. I say "we" because it was on the fence and Ned stopped and watched it too. I took Ned back home, grabbed my large camera and headed out to where I'd last seen it. It had moved across the driveway and then as I watched, it flew much further into thick bush and I could get only so far. I couldn't find it but there was a very large shape in a tree I assumed to be my owl. I knew it was unlikely any photos would be ...

View out my sewing room window. The deer and the turkeys take turns dropping by.

The late October warmth meant still more flashy blooms into early November. Like the Hardy Rose Mallow.