AND THERE IS YARN

I have been 'busy' plying the spun singles 

and wound them off the bobbin.

And now I have 225 yards of DK yarn from Blue Faced Leicester wool;  very soft and prettily colored.  No, I have no idea what I am going to knit from it yet but hope to find something to spark my interest soon!

Here is a bonus photo--A deliciously aromatic rose that was from Bill's Mom's house, she planted down here in 1979 and in 2019, Bill planted near the pond out back where it has more moisture.  It is thriving despite some loving attention from the deer and a few floods!  

 

A FINISHED OBJECT!

The tulip runner is completely completed! 

 That feels good, let me tell you!  

I might take long to make a 'quick' project 

but at least I am beginning to' make' again!

Today, I am meeting my friend, Mary, for a quilt show

 at our local quilt shop!  

 

A STEP BACK

We finally had the burial service for my grandson, Ethan.  It would've been so much more respectful to do this right after his death, instead it was like ripping off the scab to our heart's wound. 

The other day, I did finish the quilting for the tulips table runner

and today I will trim and bind it!

 

TWO THINGS-NO FOOLING!

In the morning yesterday, I drew the cross hatching with an erasable pen on the table runner and then had fun using the faux hand stitching on my domestic sewing machine to do the quilting! 

 I couldn't do all of the stitching

 but I'm ready to do some more today!

And in the afternoon, I spun 2 ounces of the wool! 

 It was so relaxing the spin again!

 

SOME SPINNING THERAPY

I've been inspired by Deb's recent spinning adventures 

so I ordered some BFL wool from Greenwood to spin!

I am ready to add something new that 

I can do and still rest in bed!

 

SPRING IS MOVING THROUGH THE YARD!

The Fringe tree is a little late this year 

but it has been very dry so it will not be in bloom long! 

This type of tree is called hysteranthous in that it flowers before the leaves form. (Like dogwood trees and redbud trees!)                    

This bloom is big-10-12"!  And they smell delicious!

This is the last azalea bush in bloom.  Usually the whole side of the driveway is in bloom but this year the bushes all took turns!  Again, the lack of rain shortens our time to enjoy their color!

The clumps of amaryllis are still showing off--just impressive!

The delicate miniature wave petunias are adding a beautiful pop of color to match their big pot!

And a little more painting is happening!  

 

PRETTY

The phlox are blooming along our highways! 

 So pretty and much better than mowing it all down!

I've not done much but a little painting...

both are things I would like to do again someday!

 

CAR KNITTING

 

I have been able to knit the top down sweater and so far no problems!  I am even bringing it in the car when we go to church this morning-for the first time in 7.5 months!!!  This pattern is in two colors-I'm only doing it in one and it has bobbles and I am not including them either--I need simple!

AND IT'S TULIP TIME!

 Ta-Da!  Now to decide if it is going to be a table runner or a front for a bench pillow!  I think I am leaning towards a table runner because I love to change them out for each month but I'm thinking!

It is 16 1/2" by 36 1/2'

IT'S ALMOST A GARDEN!

I find it is going together much more easily

 and I managed to stitch two yesterday!

 Having all of the pieces cut out makes it go better, too!

And I did some knitting! 

 First time in a long time, I picked up the needles and made a swatch with the naughty yarn!  I washed and dried it and now I am making another swatch to get gauge!  I might not make a sweater but I am knitting, even if it is only swatches for now! lol

 

A TULIP

I managed to stitch one tulip block!

 The pieces are much smaller than I usually work with 

but I did suffer through the tiny piecing! lol  

Only 7 more to go! 

 (3 1/2" x 8 1/2")

 

DE-KNITTING

I have nothing on the needles;  quite frankly, I haven't felt like playing with yarn at all.  So I thought I would rip out this cardigan that was a fail-it fit terribly-but I would be touching yarn, right?

From the comfort of my bed, I unraveled the whole thing. 

 I will try and make something from this yarn.  It has a bad track record because I have tried twice to make a cardigan from it and both were horrid.  It's tempting to just make some hats on the Addi knitting machine but I will try once more to make a sweater.

 

IT'S MID-MARCH ALRIGHT

 They are just beginning to open up around the yard--

the amaryllis are just show stoppers!

I had to head back into the lab for a re-draw;  one of the vials was 'corrupted' and so the tests couldn't be performed.  The tech told me it's a code word for 'someone dropped a vial'! lol  As long as we were in town, Bill ran a few errands, too.  I was tired when I got home, but I could sit and group some colors for tulip blocks!

SOME FRAME WORK!

Yesterday, I took forever to load a quilt and layer it up, arrange the panto and then to begin to quilt.  I felt so rusty and then realized it has been a long time so of course, I was rusty!

But like most skills, with the continued practice, 

it becomes more natural again and I got two rows done.  

I am slow but I did it.  I had earned my bed time!

 

A LITTLE YARD WALK

Remember last summer when Bill and I built the 'old ladder lattice' and planted wisteria at the two sides?  Well, there are flowers!!!  

The vines have greened up and blossomed so quickly in this warmer weather we've had lately; very exciting.

This is one of the last calliandra flowers.

Likewise, the camellias are just about finished.

Giving way for the azaleas along the driveway

to show off all their colors!

I do love to see color in the yard!

There were quite a few plants that were bitten by the frost, this is my cereus cactus but it will recover.

 

WORK AND REWARD

I had to fast for four hours before the CT scan so I figured I needed to keep busy so I stitched all of the blocks together into a real top.  I was whooped afterwards but pleased that I accomplished something for a change!

I had several hours of imaging; first a CT scan , which was the first one I have had to do and then it was time for the dye which was quite a surprise because it was very different than the one I have for the MRI!!! (a bit overwhelming in the warmth throughout my body from the dye!) I was glad they could leave in the same IV when I next moved to the MRI room because it was a struggle to get one in my vein.  I am quite used to the MRI and all of its noise!  When I was finished, two hours later, I waited outside to enjoy the beautiful roses.  I appreciate the beauty added to a space that could have been left barren but wasn't! They have several beautiful roses and I sniffed every one of them!

The creamy one smelled the best but I do love red roses!

On the road side of the imaging center, they have a retaining pond.  While waiting for Bill, I saw a mud turtle and a skinny snake slithering on top of the water and over the lily pads! 

 I was far enough away to just be curious!

Since the technician suggested food and drink to flush my system of the double dose of 'glow juice', Bill surprised me with a visit to Corky Bells restaurant!  The front of the building has plenty of garden beauty here also!

Our view southward...

and also the view toward the north along the ST Johns River.  

 

It was calm, warm (80*) and a perfect reward for the end of the testing!

ANOTHER SET BACK

It's been a hard week, we started out with a bad reaction to meds, then getting a new one.  It is so hard to get in touch with the doctor's!  Anyway, here are the green beans I planted--

all growing nicely.T

The radishes are growing quickly

 and I am anticipating a good crunch soon!

The summer squash are off to a good start 

though it will be a longer wait for these to be ready!

And I did pick the last of the carrots!  I sure did enjoy them!

I have an appointment for an MRI and then a CT scan today. 

 Lots of fun ahead.  It's a good thing I excel at just laying down.

 

WATERCOLOR FUN

I enjoyed my last book so much,

 I ordered this one of different landscape scenes!

Yup, it is so wonderful to just savor the joy of color!