An Engagement!

My daughter and her boyfriend just moved into their first house together this past Thursday. That evening he proposed!

Hubby and I are very happy for the two of them. We wish them many happy years together. It is so nice to have some very happy news to share!

On another note. I finally finished the Granny Square Rose Afghan.

I love how the border came out!

I am seeing lots of flowers right now as my azaleas are in bloom.

My favorite lavender azalea wasn't as pretty as it usually is. 

This little one enjoyed a corn-cob snack in front of it though.

I have one rhododendron bloom so far...

and a few irises.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. I will be working on the Advent Calendar again. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are up to.

Thanks for stopping by!

A New Start

Those of you who follow my blog know from my last post that my brother-in-law, my husband's only sibling, passed away unexpectedly on Mother's Day. This past week has been hard on our family, especially my husband and his mother. My father-in-law passed not quite 14 months ago.  We were a small family to begin with. Now our family is just 6 people.

This year has been one of losses. My Aunt Emma, an artist, passed away earlier this year. Then last month the father of one of my daughter's best friends passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was one of her early soccer coaches and we have been friends with the family for years. He was my age. Two weeks ago a friend's 25 year old daughter passed away after battling a progressive disease since birth. It has been a difficult and sad year.

Yet, Spring has sprung today with sun and warmer temperatures. It spurred the need in me to start something new, something small.

This is "Jingle as ye enter, Jingle as ye go" from the Victorian Sample Shoppe. It is a small banner stitched over two on 32 count linen. Sitting on my porch in the sunshine with a new craft started is just what I needed today.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching today. I am also linking with Kate at Life in Pieces. Pop on over to their sites to see what other bloggers are stitching. 

A new member has joined our bunny family also.

Can you see how tiny it is. That is a small cardinal statue in my back yard that is bigger than the bunny!

It makes me smile just looking at him/her.

I am hoping for more smiles and less tears for the rest of this year.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sad news

On Mother's Day my brother-in-law passed away somewhat unexpectedly. 

He was my husband's only sibling. My children's only uncle. My mother-in-law's baby. He loved Walt Disney World so I posted this happy pic from his last vacation. He was an esophageal cancer survivor for over ten years. Please pray for my husband and my mother-in-law. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom and my children make Mother's Day special to me. 

Wishing all the mother's out there a special day with the people they love.

Final Exam

Crafting has taken second place this weekend to writing the final exam for my university class. This was the view of my laptop for most of yesterday. 

The exam is almost completed. I want to be able to print it out, check for mistakes and write an answer key before I photocopy it. I hope to do all that by Tuesday as I have to be on campus for my last lecture so I can complete the photocopying without making a separate trip.

I received this fun book from Kathi Clower at Design Originals by KC. 

I love Mary Engelbreit designs. They are so whimsical and colorful. Thank you Kathi for your generosity.

The only crafting that I have managed this week is crochet. I finished the second granny round and now I am working on a round of chain loops. 

I am following the Granny Blanket Edging over at Attic 24. I think its the perfect complement to my Granny Rose Afghan. The crochet is going very quickly. This UFO should be completed soon.

My tulips are in bloom around my flower beds. These have all been planted from past Easter planters that I have received.

I really love this ruffled, double tulip. I have to plant more of these.

This little bunny and two of its friends have been spending a whole lot of time in our front and back yards.

 I walked out my front door the other morning to get the newspaper and all three froze and looked up at me. They are pretty used to Hubby and me and don't run away unless we walk towards them.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. She talks about the idea of "behaviorceuticals" , the idea that working with our hands can change brain chemistry to help us feel better. Several years ago I had a severe neurological reaction to Lipitor, a cholesterol drug. No one knew when or if the symptoms would subside and it was quite concerning. To keep my sanity I turned to crocheting an afghan that I had long wanted to try, but had no real need for. Well crocheting that afghan was very calming for me. My hands shook too much for stitching of any type, but I had no trouble crocheting. It took 6 months for the side-effects to subside. I have a beautiful afghan and a wariness of drug side-effects now.

Pop on over to Kathy's site to see what other bloggers are stitching. 
I hope to add another piece to my Advent Calendar......that is after I finish writing my final exam and go grocery shopping.

Thanks for stopping by!