The Blue Birds have selected their home for the spring. They act as if they're incubating. I did see them both earlier, but couldn't get a shot of them together.
I've created a new blog, Needle in Hand, to post all my needle tatting endeavors. It is not simple to move posts from an existing blog to a new one, as you well know if you've done it before.
Most of my craft time has been spent on tatting recently, but as I proclaim, "So many types of crafts interest me... novice of many, expert of none." What is it that drives where the interest of the moment lies? I'd be happy to hear your ideas...
Today is the first day of spring - and spring fever has really taken hold of me. It has been a long time since I wanted to really work in my yard, but that's where I'd love to be now - but the mortgage has to be paid.
From a distance this red Dogwood looks like it's still winter, but look closer... see the first blooms?
As posted earlier, I planted some rose bushes. Hopefully there will be some pictures to come. There is one peony next to the deck (last year's photo under Home Outside label), and there were two others in a more shady spot, but they've had no flowers for a couple of years, so I moved them over with the one that did bloom. I put Dianthius in a pot on the deck steps, and several that need to be potted on the front porch. Oh, and the pear trees have bloomed, and it looks like snow falling when you walk out at first. Just beautiful. The plum trees had bloomed as well, but the frost earlier this week took it's toll on them - although there are a few that are still white.
The pansies are still looking pretty, even though spring is here and they don't typically like the warmer weather.
These trees are blooming for the first time - and I've been waiting for two years! They're Red Buds.
What else do I want to do? Well, in a couple of weeks it'll be time to work on the veggie garden. I could spend a good deal of time in the herb garden - once it was overtaken by oregano, but now it seems to be rosemary who wants to spread her wings!!
"Rosemary, the herb of remembrance, friendship and love, has been used as a medicinal and aromatic herb for thousands of years. In ancient Greece students wore it in their hair to improve memory. In the Middle Ages sprigs of rosemary were placed under pillows to ward off evil spirits. Rosemary was carried by brides to promote love and used in funerals to insure remembrance. It is said that if a rosemary bush grows vigorously in the garden, the woman is the head of the household."
Ah, yes - the ornamental Bradford pear trees are in full bloom now, and even though they don't smell the greatest, I think they're beautiful. When I walk out the door in the morning, it reminds me of snowfall... NO, I don't want that now, but it's just the glow they give.
This is a swan pattern by Lindsay Rogers. It took a while to get it going in the right direction, but she turned out pretty well! 13
Today I'm off work, and supposed to be painting the guest bedroom, but ... Just wasn't in the mood, so I dyed some lace motifs. These are a little bright, but better than some previous attempts. I use Dy-na Flow dyes, mixed with water to get the colors I wanted, then put them in a zip bag and microwaved for a couple of minutes.
I've heard a lot about Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, so decided to give it a try. The first in the series is One for the Money. Stephanie lives in New Jersey, and is out of work and money. She goes to her cousin for a secretarial job, but finds it's already been filled. There is an opening for a bounty hunter. Thus begins the funny, fast paced story with several storylines that is a quick read. I've got Two for the Dough waiting.
It has been so spring like these past few days, I've been working outside when the chance was there. Guess that made we want to do spring inside as well. I found this design by Nell Corns of "Morning Blossoms" that were so pretty I couldn't resist giving them a try. 10
A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for two days after surgery.
It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important...please take the time and do it really quick!
Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.
If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're reading this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.
There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the link above. You need not give more than your name and zip code.
This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family and, on behalf of all women, THANKS.
Last weekend I planted three rose bushes - yellow, yellow-coral, and white. There are already three red ones around the yard, but I placed these next to the deck in the back yard.
Rose are one of my favorite flowers! They are beautiful in bud, some smell spectacular, and they have meaning! Many places tell of the rose's meanings, but this is one I happened upon at Morrison Gardens.
While writing this, the need to record their names in my garden journal, or here, strikes me. I have been very complacent in doing that, and the others haven't been recorded and I don't remember who they are!
 |
