A Few Blooms and a Baby Lemon

             I have a few things blooming in the flowerbeds!                  

                                                    

My hydrangeas have one bud. One. On three bushes - and it's not making progress very quickly. I've seen many in the neighborhood with lots of blooms. The 'Little Limes' on the side of the house are bigger than they were last year but not a single bud yet.

One bloom here

Two blooms there

There are lots of buds on the gardenias

And one little baby lemon! I doubt it will get big enough to actually use - if it does I'll have to prop up the limb since the tree is still very small. We shall see! Assuming it survives the Texas heat. I'm not sure I will survive the Texas heat. It's way too hot, way to early.

Hope you are nice and cool where you are!

A Two Year Wait!

Way back in 2020, we had tickets to see Bon Jovi - well, as we all know, that didn't happen but last week we finally got our concert!

We went with friends (their 1st Bon Jovi concert) 

We got checked in at the hotel then went for pre-show drinks.

We always have a great time when we are with Bobby and Tonya. 

(he and hubby have been friends for 50+ years!)

Gates are open!

We are ready!!!

And just like that, 

it's over. 

Can't wait for the next one!

 

Happy Easter!

Well, once again, it's been a minute since I've been here. 

Life happens and I just have not spent a lot of time on the computer and I've not had a lot of stitching time. 

A few weeks ago I went to my annual stitching get-away (okay, it's been a whole month) We always get several projects while we were there, this was the first one. A lot of people finished this at the retreat - I finished it last week. I haven't started the others yet.

I finished the stitching part of this chart last year but I didn't get it 'finish finished' early enough to display for Easter.

This is More Chocolate Bunnies by Hands on Design. 

I stitched on 32 ct Lambswool with the called for colors (except for 3781- I used 898).

I put magnets on the back and I'm using an enamel easel from Hobby Lobby. The bow also has a magnet so I can swap this out for other seasons.

My galvanized tray and rooster that always sit on the corner of the bar.

Seems I only took a picture of one side of this tiered tray.

and all 'three sides' of the small one.

I dunno. . .

My azaleas are late blooming this year but they sure are pretty this week!

This is one of the new ones we planted last year. We did two of this pink, two lighter pink and two white. Had I known the dark pink was going to bloom so well, I would have done them all one color. There are a few hostas trying to pop up this week too!

Yes, mulch is on the list. 

My hydrangeas are putting out leaves - hopefully we will have some blooms this year. There was only one bloom last year. Looks like bigfoot is making his way out of there today. I never know where he will be. Hubby likes to move him around.

The shrubs that nearly froze to death last year are putting out well this year. We cut them all the way down to see what they would do.  I'm still debating whether they will stay, but they are staying for now. I haven't even been to look at any plants this year.

We have a couple of home improvements in the works but they are moving slowly. I'll share when I actually have something to show.

There are a couple more trips coming up but I'll try to not be gone so long this time.

I know I keep saying that - I do mean it when I say it. 

Happy Easter!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Good afternoon! Hope you are all having a great day. Things just seem to be busy, busy. I didn't get anything new stitched for St. Patrick's Day this year so I'll just have to share the ones from the past.

Yes, my jewelry tree stays out all year.

And a little luck around the kitchen!

We had visitors Tuesday/Wednesday.

Middle kidlet and family came and brought the newest family member, Bella. She's beautiful and sweet, but at almost 5 months, she's all toddler - busy and fast! She wanted Nicholas to play but he wanted no part of it. Her chew toys are bigger than he is!

Until next time!

January Stitching

 All of my January stitching was from the book The Snow Ball by Brenda Gervais

I got four of the seven designs finished

I think this one is my favorite!

The pictures are horrible but I had a hard time getting them with no shadows and if I waited for the perfect time to take pictures I don't know when I would get them.

I did iron the fabric but you can't tell it. 

(they are all on the same piece of fabric)

I can get two more on this same piece of fabric then I will have to find something else to do the last one. I haven't decided if I want to make them into small pin pillows or ornaments but I've put them away for now and I'm going to stitch a couple of Valentine pieces before moving on to Jelly Bean Jubilee, also by Brenda Gervais.

I'm a pretty slow stitcher and have had days I could stitch at all because of dry cracked fingers so I was surprised that I finished 4 pieces in one month!

It's cold here in Texas - is it cold where you are?

Catching Up

  I didn't get here much in the fall so let's catch up a bit.

                                        

In November we had a visit with all three boys (along with their young ladies - and their pups) 

So rare to get them all in the same place at the same time. Short, but sweet.

While Jason was here, some friends came by to visit. They spent so much time in our home when they were in high school - it's nice to see the young men they have grown into and that they remain friends.

At Thanksgiving we took Tyler to 'Santaland'. (drive through Christmas light park) They have added a lot since the last time we were there, granted it has been many years since we have been. 

Tyler had the primo view.

Mid-December we joined Timothy, Cindy and Tyler and celebrated Tyler's birthday at Medieval Times.

Since we are already over half-way through January, I won't take you on the whole tour, but here are the three main trees. I don't know why the big tree looks like it's leaning in the picture - it wasn't.

I will show you my mantle - I completely changed it from years past and I loved it so much I took down the stockings and the trees are still there! They will probably stay there until I put out Valentine decorations.

Last but not least, our outside lights for 2021. 

Hubby likes to add something new each year - this year he added the ground lights and wrapped the two trees. I prefer all white lights but he pushed me out of my comfort zone and added red on the ground. I'm still undecided.

That big, bright blob is a snowflake and is really pretty but does not photograph well.

What will he add next?

A Little Stitching

I always start out trying to keep track of what I stitch every year and then I flop.

I feel like I might have finished a few more - maybe I've already posted them, maybe not. 

Sometimes I give them away before I get photos, which causes a problem when I try to remember who I gave it to.

Anywho - here is what I know I haven't posted yet. I'm so far behind these people who stitch 100+ a year.

This is the only new (handmade) ornament on my tree this year. I decided to give punchneedle another try. I used Lori Holt's Stitchy Starts cross stitch pattern and just drew it off on the weavers cloth and picked some reds and greens so I could use it for Christmas.

Hey There Pumpkin by Hands On Design.

This is a random piece of evenweave fabric from my stash that I dunked in some tea/coffee. I think I used the called for colors. I hope to get it something done with it before next fall.

I Wish You Lived Next Door by Heartstring Samplery.

Sitched on 36ct Light Coffee with the called for DMC. Ones strand over two. 

I finished it into a small pillow for a friend's birthday.

The next four are all from Jack-o-Lantern Jubilee by Brenda Gervais.

They are all on yet another mystery fabric from my stash that was dunked in tea/coffee.

I think there are two more in the book that I would like to get stitched (and ffo'd) before Halloween but I'm not sure if I have any more of this particular fabric. (which is a shame because I really like stitching on it!)

The next three are from Stitching With The Housewives

Chicken Joy

Stitched on 29ct Glenshee using the called for colors

Mrs. Claus on 28ct Black Cashel Linen with DMC except for the white and I used Anchor for that.

Mr. Claus stitched on 28ct black Cashel linen using DMC floss.

I hope to get all these fully finished before next fall/Christmas. 

I usually take pictures of all my Christmas decor as I put it out but this year life happened and photos didn't. I plan to start taking it down tomorrow so maybe I can get photos before I take it down. If I do, I'll post them next time.