It's Spring! No, Winter! No, Spring ....

Greetings and welcome.

I am delighted to be able to share a finish with you today!

Here is Little House Needleworks design with a few little

changes here and there to make it my own.   A cute design

that is perfect for this warm and green growing time of year.

Um .... yeah!

These pictures were taken on Sunday, May 15th.   Phil

went out to mow the lawn even though the sky was heavy

with clouds and it was obvious that we were in for some

sort of precipitation.    When the lawn requires mowing

there is just no stopping Phil.

Clicking on the pictures will allow you to see and fully

appreciate the irony.

I looked out the window and there was my husband pushing

the lawn mower up and down the yard with grim determination

while the snow came down in a steady, fierce curtain.   At one

point I could barely see him through the snow!   I opened the

back door and suggested that perhaps he might consider taking

a break until the worst of it had passed but ... oh, no! ... he

motored on through it all.   

We had several periods of this throughout that afternoon and

since I'm much more pragmatic and sensible about these things

I just locked myself in my craft room with the heater humming

at my feet and refused to look out the window. 

One week later and it was the Victoria Day long weekend.   The

sun shone for all three days and the temperatures soared into the

mid 70's Fahrenheit and we relished every second of it.

Our cherry trees bloomed at the beginning of the week and put

on their usual glorious display of blossoms.   One day of 

strong winds has pretty much finished off the display unfortunately

and the driveway now looks like it's still snowing out there.

We painted our three year old red bench ... which was

peeling and shedding it's red coat alarmingly ... a cheery

yellow colour last week and have been accenting it with

matching flower baskets to enhance the results.   We

still have to get more flowers and stuff but this is a nice

start.

Martha Washington geraniums are one of my favourites.

Pretty, frilly flowers in a wide range of colours including

this sweet little plant.   The garden centre where I found

this had just the one like this and as soon as I saw it I

had to grab it.    It's in the pink watering can .... see

the previous picture.

I'm a fantasy geek.   Did you know that?   Fantasy books, TV shows,

movies and graphic novels are all things that make me very happy.

This week's book order (yeah,  I order books every week ... why?)  

included the above two Elfquest graphic novels and they are 

as gorgeous as ever.   Not familiar?    This series was created by

Wendy Pini who writes the stories and does the art work.   Her husband

Richard also writes the stories with her.    First published in 1978 the

story has continued until present day and is the longest running, 

independent fantasy series published.

I found the series way back in 1978 and have been a fan ever since.

The art work is breathtakingly gorgeous and the story is exciting,

captivating and engrossing.

A few other books arrived as well,  and of course as soon as

I'd removed the books from their box Rupert took over.  It's

an agreement that we have.

I'm also a Trekker.   

Whilst at the post office this week I found these specially issued 

collector's packs which are to commemorate the 50th (!!!) anniversary 

of Star Trek.   I thought that they were pretty cool and decided to 

add them to my collection.   I can't believe that it's been 50 years

since the series began.     

We've been having rain and thunderstorms off and on today

which also makes me happy since I love the rain and a good

thunderstorm.    We've managed to do some planting of our

pots between each performance of inclement weather and then

we take refuge in the house again until the next wave blows over.

Ah summer.

Cheers!

Spring is Everywhere

Greetings and welcome blog friends.

In the past few weeks the weather has settled down and

warmed up a bit, the snow has left us for good (well, until 

next November or December or whatever anyways)  and 

things are greening up nicely.

Phil has been out in the garden raking, mowing, mulching

and digging, getting muddy and wet and grass stained

 and basically enjoying himself thoroughly.   And as goes

the season so goes my stitching mindset.   A theme of

green growing things and gardening outside inspires the same

indoors with my stitching.

Or I could be honest and admit that I just wanted to have a

new start.   Whatever.

So here is Little House Needleworks design "Garden Pleasures".

I have been working on this since my last blog post and as is 

always the case with LHN designs I've been enjoying it so much!

While I've been stitching I put on Flosstube vlogs and listen to

the stitchers chat away and so many of them have multiple projects

on the go all at once .... and by multiple I mean LOTS!!!!   The idea

has a certain appeal to it, and I can be a chronic starter if I don't 

watch myself anyways sooooo .... away we go!

As long as I have a finish once in awhile I can handle that.

We've been making plans on how to enhance the enjoyment

of our backyard during those precious, short months when

the weather is kind and warm and welcoming.   Our old

gazebo's awning shredded itself last Fall so we have to get

a new gazebo this year for the deck.    We've been looking

at other garden furniture and stuff and decided that we 

really, really just had to have a garden swing!

So we went out this week and picked one up and Phil spent

yesterday afternoon setting it up.    And we're thrilled and

delighted with it!    That corner of the yard is sheltered from

the wind and gets the afternoon sun and has a great view of

the bird feeders and the rest of the garden looking toward

the house so it's a perfect fit.

And it's just the thing for any book lover!!   I took it out

for a test run with my latest book and it works beautifully!

It also suits napping and chatting and the consuming of

beverages and meditation (another form of napping for me)

and bird watching.    I love how versatile it is.

And speaking of books (as I often do) above is my latest

finish.   I devoured this book in two days and could not

put it down.

Jennifer Robson is a new to me author who has three books

published, all of which take place during the early part of

the 20th century.   A favourite time period for me.   I'd

seen her books around, had read the descriptions for them

and knew they'd be right up my ally so I got all of them at

once and I'm so glad that I did.   

Jennifer Robson manages to write a fascinating story with

emotional impact,  she presents well researched historical facts

woven expertly into the narrative and her characters are 

so real and clearly imagined .... no matter how big or small

their roles are in the story.

I did not realize that Jennifer Robson lives in Toronto until

after I got the books but that's pretty cool too .... being able

to support a local author who so clearly deserves it.

I can confidently say that Jennifer Robson has been added to

the list of my most favourite authors and any new publications

from her will be automatic gotta-haves ... right-NOW!!!! 

Walking around Georgetown, camera in hand, enjoying the

sight of everyones gardens bursting into colour.   It's  mostly

tulip time now and we're slowly easing into tree and bush

blossoming season as well.

We're nearing the end of the daffodil season but there

are a few still popping out here and there.   Not as 

colourful as tulips perhaps but when it comes to their

shapes it's amazing how diverse they can be.

The summer movie season has begun and my movie

viewing partner Darlene and I began it on the weekend

by going to see two highly anticipated movies that

headed our list of must sees.

I'm a Marvel geek and love to see whatever might be

released from that stable of super heros.   The Avengers

are a great favourite and the Captain America movies 

have always been fabulous!    We could not wait to see

"Civil War" and it did not disappoint.   WOW!   Great

story and lots of action both of which were well balanced

with great performances.    I'm team Captain America by

the way.

And then there is the magic of this newest production of The

Jungle Book.     Again the story and the performances were

spot on but it's the seamless blend of real and CGI that is 

jaw dropping amazing.   You can't even tell what is live and

what was created in a computer lab.   And the young boy who

plays Mowgli was wonderful.   And Bill Murray providing

the voice of Baloo is just perfect casting.   I mean ... who else?

Did you know that over on Flosstube the one and only Vonna

of The Twisted Stitcher fame has just posted her very

first vlog post?   You must go and watch it.   

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWvK7wgkW8Y

And as always we finish off with a picture of the cats.

Rupert with his face buried in Phoebe's fur.   I have no

idea how he's breathing in there.

Cheers!!!