Color, Color Everywhere!

     I have no idea how these days can be so busy! The countdown is on for the end of the school year; only five more Mondays, that's how I'm counting it.
     We're experiencing what I call a real New England spring in Virginia this year. Mild days alternate with bitterly cold days. Flowers are budding only to be sprinkled with sleet the next day. On Monday I grilled hamburgers outside under a sky that was spitting ice pellets. Today was mild enough to go without a jacket. I'm glad spring is approaching slowly and tentatively. It will be over much too quickly as it is. This way draws it out a little more.
     I realized that I fall in love with spring over and over again, every year. I've lived through fifty-nine springs and I've fallen in love with each one that I can remember. Tomorrow, when the sun rises and I look at the daffodils along the driveway (again), I'll be falling in love with spring (again). Today I got excited over the crab apple trees. They are exceptionally full of blossoms this year. The cherry trees appear to have a good amount of blossoms, too.

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      We've begun a few outdoor projects, one of which was to take down all the horse fencing. We decided that it was a pretty sure thing we wouldn't keep horses anymore. Therefore, we preferred not to keep up fence repairs nor have to mow around all that fencing as well. Our friends came with their tractor and pulled out all the fence posts. Then Steve went around with a pick up load of gravel and filled in about one hundred post holes. Our friends will reuse the posts and fencing on their farm. It's the sad end of an era for us, but it's okay.
     We also tore out the raised bed gardens that we installed five years ago. Those railroad ties already rotted and they had to go. Their usefulness was much to short lived. We had the entire area scraped of sod and we'll install new beds with gravel all around them. I'll post photos of that project as it comes together.
     I've been happily hooking a lot : ) Last weekend I drove my friend and myself to Richmond for the Virginia Rugfest which took place at the Virginia Fine Arts Museum. We had a beautiful drive and loads of fun. I bought a lovely pattern called, "Art Deco" by Joanne Gerwig at woodcrestrugdesigns.com. Rebecca Erb had a great vendor booth set up featuring Joanne's patterns and loads of gorgeous wool. The guest speaker and featured artist was Michelle Micarelli. You can see many of the rugs she brought to the show on her website. The Shockoe Slip Rug Hookers Guild put on a great event.

"Field of Flowers" (large size) Joanne Gerwig Design

"Art Deco" (Joanne Gerwig Design) detail

"Cotton's Cabin" by Michelle Micarelli

    

Detail of mermaid's fin in "Guarding Marina" by Michelle Micarelli.

Violet's Bunny

     With school/work closed for Spring Break, I am using the week to finish up projects and to do some spring cleaning. Sadly, the weather is not cooperating for gardening.
     I call this "Violet's Bunny" because I hooked it for our youngest granddaughter for Easter. It's an old pattern given to me by an elderly lady who retired from hooking. It's really called, "Good Little Bunny" by Primco Patterns and is labeled as, "Sold exclusively by The House of Price, Inc." I hooked it in a #6 cut. I dyed the bunny's wool with Cushing's Seal Brown and I dyed the sky with a dye formula called Wooly Fox Blue (#67) from the book, "Antique Colors in Primitive Rugs" by Emma Lou Lais and Barbara Carroll. The other colors were bits and pieces from my stash. This was a joy to hook and I am pleased with how it came together.
     Now, if I can only finish the "Vermont" rug, all will feel aligned in my rug hooking universe.

Celebrating Christ's Resurrection!

     Easter holds a favorite place in my heart. I think it's because it remains largely unblemished by influences of commercialism for our family. There's not much hustle and bustle leading up to Easter. It's a contemplative time and I savor those opportunities to ponder the history of our faith. The culmination of our Easter celebration is attending church and sharing a traditional Easter meal with whatever family members are able to make it to Virginia. Steve and I went to see the Apostle Paul movie during the preceding week, which made it feel tied in to the holiday as well. I thought it was well acted and directed, especially by the actor who portrayed Paul.
    We filled baskets with goodies for the children and after our meal the children hunted for candy filled eggs. It was all very low-key and enjoyable for everyone.

 I had helpers in the kitchen this year. Matthew (who is three) dragged a stool over to the counter and watched the waffles being made on Saturday morning. He got to eat the first one.

Mari helped make fruit skewers. It was the perfect job for a seven year old. She did a beautiful job.

Jack hunts for eggs.

Violet's has eggs but she is most interested in the grass.

Mari entertains her cousin.