Memories of Home

May Days...

Yikes! The whole month is almost gone! Every day seems to rush by in a blur of things to do! This month I have been working very hard in the garden...Spring is such a busy time..but, now everything is blooming and coming in strong, growing everyday! Zach has been such a helper this year, moving rocks, and carrying pots, and doing so much heavy work for me! The pool is up and running, and I think this is the earliest he has EVER been swimming...first time in was May 4! Temps are much better now...it was only 68 when he first went in, now it is up to 78! Still way to cold for me!!!!! I will leave it to my little eskimo:)






So.. I am  such a bad blogger, but I do hope someday Zach can look back at these and remember the beauty of the garden in the Springtime! The school year is also coming to an end, and we have had a round of testing, and field trips, and all sorts of business! Yesterday, Zach and I attended Pioneer Days:) It was a great time! We made soap, and butter, dipped candles, wove cloth on a loom, tried out drop spindles, wathched a woodworking display, and toured a LOVELY old home and museum filled with so many treasures from the past! Such a great day...and I FORGOT my camera:(...I know, how do these things happen???? Oh well! I hope to be back more often to share some of the fun projects I am working on:)

Weekending...

What a beautiful weekend we are having!!! Today, we are forcasted to reach 70 degrees!!! The nice weather has brought on a burst of energy, and we have all been working outside...My husband worked the hardest of ALL, and built me a beautiful pergola singlehandedly! He is so wonderful:) He can make anything!!! Zach played with his friends all day, and was invited for a sleepover at one of his best friends house..He has never slept at a friends..I know, kind of funny, but he is a homebody...At 10 pm, the phone rang, and his friends Dad said, "Zach wants to come home:)" We offered to go get him, but our friend lives 5 minutes away...When he got home Zach told me, "I was VERY polite, Mom...I just told Mr. Tyler..I need my parents":) So big...and yet..Still so little:) I am glad you still need us little boy:) We love you so!

Little things....

Somedays its the little things that make all seem right in a world that is sometimes so troubled...

sunshine...

yardwork...

seeing how big my babe is growing...

being grateful that my husband allows Zach to do things that I am too scared to let him try on his own...like riding the ATV by HIMSELF..oye...

rescuing a baby bird, and providing her with a bit of shelter...seeing her regain her strength and fly away...

sweet gifts from a dear friend that brighten my day ....and make me smile SO much!

So many little things to be grateful for...my heart is saddened by the senseless loss of life AGAIN in this country....Thoughts and prayers to those sweet people who lost everything yesterday....

 

Anticipating...

Anxiously awaiting some warmer weather this week!!!! I am itching to get out in the yard!!! It has been too cold for me to want to spend alot of time outside...still snowing occasionally, and we had some lovely freezing rain the other night!! Ugh..but, it's coming...this week!! Inside, I tried my hand at needlefelting for the first time, and made a little gnome to hang out in a small little indoor terrarium I am making for Zach:) He still needs eyes, but I cannot find a needle small enough to sew the tiny beads onto his face!! He can't see until his whole little world is completed!! I also finished knitting some cozy arm warmers for my sister:) They are called  toast, and here is a link to the pattern:) They are just right with a 3/4 in. sleeved sweater to keep the chill of your arms in these first few weeks of Spring! And then, yesterday....Just look what came in the mail:) My lovely indigo birds made by the super talented Arounna and Geninne.. I am so in awe of their gorgeous handmade items!! Such amazingly talented ladies!!!  Wishing you all a relaxing and happy weekend....

Springy things...

We had a lovely Springy Easter weekend! Zach and I dyed our eggs..as we do every year, always trying a new method..this year we used a scrap of damp material and wrapped our eggs in the cloth, and then dropped coloring onto the cloth..as the colors seeped out under the fabric, it created different designs on the eggs! We also drove out to Pittsburgh to visit my beautiful inlaws..86 & 88 years old..They have been married 67 yrs. They still do EVERYTHING..including cooking a beautiful ham dinner for Easter, to which all the family added to with a dish to share! It was quite the feast, as we have ALOT of family in the area:) My in-laws also had Easter baskets for all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren..and they hosted an Easter egg hunt for all the little kids to enjoy...So much fun! We also visited the Phipps Conservatory! Amazing Spring gardens all in bloom, and then took the kids to the Carnegie museum..What a wonderful place! We saw everything from the dinosaurs, to ancient Egyptian mummies, amazing taxidermy exhibit of birds and animals of America..and my favorite, the American Indian museum..The quilt in the last picture is a quilt that an indian woman made in the 1800's as a wedding gift for her daughter..the center is the sun, the middle signifies the mountains, and all is surrounded by blue skies. We spent quite a few hours there, and still did not see all the museum had to offer! Maybe next visit we will return. Zach took alot of pictures and is planning on making a book to share with his class..He said, "My teacher is going to LOVE me:)"!!!  I am sure she will...Just relaxing today and making split pea soup with the ham bone, and ham my Mother in law gave me to bring home:)

The Great Outdoors...

Despite the heavy snowfall that we recieved recently, temps are beginning to moderate, and there is a whole lot of activity going on outdoors these days...Every day, we see the return of a bird that left in the fall. We saw the first snow geese arrive back home this morning....and ALL the animals..squirrels, deer, turkeys, and rabbits have been frequenting the back yard feeders and seem to be waiting for Spring as anxiously as we are!




 



I even spotted some TWO legged creatures playing outside! They were the most fierce of ALL of the outdoor wildlife, but I found them to be easily tamed by some snacks and drinks! Whew...Whats going on outdoors in your neck of the woods???

March Madness...

The weather up here sure is fickle this time of year!!! One day it looks like Spring is right around the corner, and then Winter is back with a vengeance! We got almost 2 feet of fresh snow this week...Zach was thrilled as he got TWO snow days in a row! He was excited to go and play in the new snow, and today, after school, we are going to build "something epic" according to him:) We warmed up inside next to the fire...I ordered the entire "Chronicles of Narnia" book set for him, and it came on the first BIG snow day!!! Perfect timing:) He told me, "These are the best books I have ever read!" Although, he did just say that about "The Hobbit"...I never read this series as a kid, I might have to read them after him:) I also finished up my bunny!!!! The pattern was amazingly easy to follow...I just LOVE everything she makes!!! I can't wait until the clothes patterns for the bunny are released! I hope Sofia loves her as much as I do! I am also very close to finishing a quilt I started LAST year at this time!!! I am handquilting the entire quilt..it looks so pretty, but it takes FOREVER! Well...I am off to start the errands of the day...XXXOOO

Promise of Springtime:)

Welcome March...Welcome back Daylight SAVINGS:)))) Spring is in the air! The tulips are up...I think I heard a red wing blackbird this morning!!!! This time of year fills me with energy...Promise of the coming weeks when all the green and beautiful things will start to grow again....Heading out today to take a walk OUTSIDE...first time in months...it is supposed to get cold again in the next few days...and even more snow is coming..but the end is near. I feel it.

Passing through February.....

Its been snowing every day....a couple inches here...couple inches there...We have well over a foot of fresh snow on the ground right now...Hard to believe it is going to be Spring in just 26 days....not that I am counting or anything:) The poor little squirrels and birds have been crowding around our feeders non-stop! It must be so hard for them to find food so late in the winter...I finished my "Shalom" cardigan yesterday!!! I was knitting every spare minute to finish it!!! I am happy with how it turned out, except I wish it was larger through the bust to close more over my giant boobs!!! Lol!!! It is kind of snug through there...Otherwise, I am really happy with it:) I used a beautiful wooden button from Wooly Moss Roots to finish it off! I just love their work!!! Next, I am hoping to finish up my "scrappy trip along" quilt" if I dont get sidetracked!!! You know how that happens...one minute sewing a quilt, next minute the urge to embroider mice pops into my head....weird. For now, I am going to go and snuggle with my two favorite kiddos....We have been reading one hour a day, which is harder than it sounds! Once we are into it, the time passes quickly! Zach is in second place in the whole 4th grade for the number of books he has read this year..the kids all have to take a test on every book they read, so no cheating...then they earn a certain number of points, based on how long the book is, what reading level it is, and how they score on their test..I am so proud of him...He got a wonderful report card!  Right now, he is reading "The Hobbit" and I am reading Moonshiner's Daughter..It is pretty sad, but there are moments in the book, where the simplest things bring the greatest joys to the characters! It is also a true story...which I prefer to fiction!! Stay warm...and keep thinking of Spring!!!!!

Hello:) I am still here:)

Hello out there in blogland!!! I wish I was a better blogger..I love so many peoples blogs, and they inspire me endlessly!!! I am still here:) We have been getting pounded with one winter storm after another, but no worries..we are enjoying a real Northern winter, and it will only make Springtime all the sweeter...Speaking of sweet...Fannie Farmer Cinnamon buns! WOW...they were yummy! Took awhile, but they were really good!! and in other SWEETNESS..Just look at the beautiful treasures I won in Margie's giveaway!! They are just BEAUTIFUL!!!! Her work is amazing in pictures, but even more so in real life...They will be treasured always!!! I had SUCH a long workweek this past week...60 hours! Coming home to this sweet package gave me such a boost! and reminded me how lucky I am to have all of my wonderful, talented, friends:)))) Inspiring me as always to create..and I am doing just that with my "Shalom" Cardigan! This week I am OFF all week, so I hope to finish it up! and catch up with my favorite friends:) Hugs!!!!