been busy

I know it's been quite a while since I sat down to post or even visit the blogs I follow. I tried to get caught up today...and was so impressed with what everyone has been doing. I didn't take much time to comment but sure enjoyed the visits.




So here is what I've been up to...I was away for a couple of days then had my son and grandson visit for a day. It was wonderful to have them and even PopPop had fun! They love to play trains...note the Thomas shirt. Wish we had stock in that company.

I worked quite a few days and then we spent a couple of days visiting landscape companies to get estimates on a patio we'd like to put in the back yard....there are so many decisions. I so love flowers and being outdoors.

I haven't done much quilting because I broke my glasses and had to have them replaced. As a result, I had to wear ones with an old prescription and they didn't work very well for close-up work.

We got our taxes done....ouch!

Hubby is in the next theater production of the Second Street Players (Milford, DE) titled Jake's Women. He plays Jake. He has been involved in community theater for years first in PA with the Winding River Players where he did everything from board member to tickets to tech to lead roles. He joined the Second Street Players shortly after we moved to DE. He's been in three shows here but this next role is his biggest. We spent one day working on the set for the upcoming production.

Soooo ..that is the Reader's Digest version of my life lately!

Thanks to all who sent messages about my friend. She is holding her own.

Spring Garden

The last two days have been great for working outside. I took the opportunity to work on my front flower garden. The tulips have been blooming and I am so pleased with their vibrant colors. They are all ones that I planted last fall. Some of the other plants from last summer are also peeking through and I added some new ones to fill in some spaces. I especially like the lily that is in bloom. The garden is now freshly mulched. I need to find some nice plant markers. Last fall I marked the plants and bulbs with plastic markers but the writing wore off over the winter. Thank goodness I kept the brochures that came with the bulbs so I can identify them this year.

A nice thing about retirement is that I actually have time to work with my flowers. At our old house, I had several big gardens but got frustrated that I didn't have time to tend them. There is just something about a flower garden that makes me feel good - it may be the colors or just the experience of seeing something grow. I planned this garden so I can sit on the front porch with a cup of tea and enjoy it. It is a little too early for the annuals in the pots on the porch - I can't wait for them!

Yellow brick road

I finally got some Wizard of Oz fabric....now I have to decide on a pattern. Will probably design my own so that the fabric can be featured. Can't wait to start but have to finish the project that I am on now...that is one of my resolutions...finish one project before starting another!!!! The one I am working on now is coming together well. The blocks are almost all made. The cutting directions were for a twin sized but I am going to change it into a full/queen sized. It will be easy, I'll just have to cut and sew 10 more blocks. Since I always get extra fabric, I will have enough I am sure. I hope to have it done this week but since they are coming Thursday to install the Murphy bed and the weather is supposed to be nice this week and I want to work outside, I may not be all done. We bought a rosebush at Lowe's today that we want to put in a flowerbed we started in the backyard....it is a beautiful dark red tea rose that is supposed to have 4.5 - 5 inch blooms.

Creative Weekend

I just spent the weekend with about 200 writers from all genres at the Writers at the Beach Annual Conference. The conference benefits mitrochondrial disease research....you should check out the website...just type in "Writers at the Beach" on your search engine. My head is still spinning from all the inspiration.... I ate dinner next to Carolyn Parkhurst, the author of Lost and Found. If you watch reality shows, you may like this book! Her characters are interesting. I aslo met Jacquelyn Minchard, the first author whose book was chosen for an Oprah's Book Club selection...she is as charming as she is talented. I'm reading her latest one now. What made the weekend special was that four friends from PA spent the weekend at our house so they could go to the conference...72 hours of creativity!!!

To top it off, Friday a big package of fabric that I ordered came by FEDEX....I put in an order because I was having trouble getting the new Wizard of Oz fabric locally...but it was backordered anyway. The local quilt shop is small and does have lovely fabric but their selection of solid colors is limited, thus the on-line ordering.

I can't wait to get busy on a new project!

At our next guild meeting we are going to have instruction on the Lonestar pattern. I had been hesitant to try it because of the biases....I am going to take the quilts that I posted here for show and tell....I like that part of the meeting because I get so inspired by the beautiful work some of the members bring to show.

Also, this weekend was special because the first daffodils in my garden bloomed!!! Spring is really coming.