Spring is in the air...

     The weather has been absolutely perfect here in these parts as of late.  It seems that I try to find any reason at all to be outside enjoying the smells of lilac everywhere, the warm spring breezes and the sounds of bees finding all the bits of pollen that they can.  I just can't get enough of it all.  I even get giddy when the mornings are warm enough to have the windows open as soon as the sun is coming up.  I look for any possible way to be outside just to absorb it all in.

     Hours were spent outside working a special blanket for a special little someone who is due to make her debut any day now.  Fun springy colors for a spring baby.  New pieces have been cut in the early morning hours for a quilt for my littlest.  Not that another quilt is needed.  But who cares.  Special fabric for a special girl.

     And as the sun goes down in the evening I find myself standing in the kitchen looking out the window at all the changing colors outside.  I just can't get enough.  I just wait for the next morning when I can start it all over again.  Windows open, listening to birds singing, lilac perfume in the air.  It's just about near perfect.

~*~

Kar

   

12...

     So many mixed feelings about our youngest turning twelve over the weekend.  Such a special girl.  She is our "surprise!" child.  Full of spunk and a bit of stubbornness thrown in to make things that much more interesting.  She knows what she wants and works her hardest to get whatever that is.  She is happy.  Still wakes up every morning saying that "this is the best day ever!"  She's cuddly, lovable.  She has the prettiest freckles all over her face, just like my Dad did when he was young.  I so hope they stay with her forever.  She has quite an imagination.  She loves being outdoors and investigating everything.  She is my partner in crime in the kitchen, which I absolutely adore.  She loves flowers as much as I do.  I just wish she would leave some out in the yard.  She's a talker.  I hear that she gets that from me.  Apparently I was the same at that age.  Don't remember that.  And she still greets dear ole' Dad at the door everyday when he comes home from work with the biggest hug and kiss.

     Love this girl to the moon and back, forever and ever.

~*~

Kar

Sprouts and blooms…

     I just love walking around the yard, when the sun is starting to set,  to see all the pretty colors that are starting to show themselves off.  It's one of my favorite times of the day.

~*~

Kar

Superstar quilt...

     This quilt has been in the planning stages for awhile.  It all began when I bought special fabric (Rocket Age by October Afternoon/Riley Blake Designs) to make quilts for the grandsons.  The minute my dear husband saw the fabric he fell in love with it also.  It reminded him of all the comics he read when he was little when he saw the comic advertisement print.  And then the little boy playing with his toys with his special bear brought back memories of the endless imagination and hours upon hours of playing he did growing up in Northern Minnesota.  So more fabric was bought just for him.  And it sat on the shelf for awhile until I could think of the perfect way of using it in a quilt.

     Then it hit me.  It was all in the fabric.  Stars!  My husband loves watching the night sky.  So I broke out my book from Lori Holt (Farm Girl Vintage) and went straight to the Simply Star block.  Both small and large blocks were used.  Then I started thinking about putting special "things" into the quilt that had meaning to my husband.  He has a favorite number so that is how many big stars I made and put into the quilt.  The small stars were just filler after that.  I then came across fabric that had aged dictionary pages printed on it.  That was absolutely perfect because one of his prized possessions ever is a huge two volume dictionary set that he found years ago.  No one is allowed to touch them.  They are so old that there is a section in the second one about learning different languages including Yiddish.  Very cool indeed.  He loves words.  He loves reading.  He's all about books.  So that had to be the entire back of the quilt.  Then I used some of the extra dictionary fabric to make a cross for the front for his enduring faith.  And in that cross is one small star block in the center to symbolize his Dad in heaven looking down and watching over him and who will always be in my husbands heart.  Even the small star block on the back is up near the top to symbolize the North Star and the North Star State from where he was born and raised.  Once all this symbolism started it was hard to stop.  Even the quilting had meaning to it.  Three lines grouped together for our three children.  After the quilting was finished we both noticed how the came together to make diamonds throughout which could quite possibly stand for stars in the sky again.  The border around the quilt is denim because that is his favorite kind of clothing.  And last buy not least is the scrappy binding, because that is just his favorite.

     It's only been finished two days but it is loved and has been well used already.  Relaxing at the end of the day, with a good book, curled up on the bed, wrapped up in his favorite quilt ever.  It's hard not to smile when you hear things like that from the special people you adore making things for.

     I have to ask, am I the only one that when making special things for others, symbolism must be put into the object you are making for someone.  Just wondering.

~*~

Kar 

     

Spring arriving...

     Spring is finally showing up here.  Everyone here is so happy about this change in seasons.  We have had our share of hibernating for a few months and it is time to move on.  Windows and back doors were open yesterday much to everyones delight.  I may have even forgot to turn the heater on last night before getting to bed.  I for one did not notice or mind while wrapped up in the comfy quilts that lay on my bed.  The others in the house were a bit put off by it while proclaiming that they were a bit too chilly after crawling out of bed this morning.  Upon looking at the thermostat I saw that it was only 1 degree off from what it would be if the heater was on.  Oh how you get so used to things being the same after months of indoor coziness.  I am happy about the heater not being needed due to the fact that the gas bill will have a significant drop now.

     I am an early bird.  I try to get everyone moving each morning as early as possible just so that they don't miss the sun coming up in the morning.  It's one of my favorite parts of each day.  I know that I annoy others with this some mornings.  This morning I sat in someones room with the curtains wide open, sunshine streaming in, listening to a rough draft of a story this certain someone has been writing for some time now.  She's moving closer to her publishing dream.  I for one couldn't more proud of her for her drive to accomplish her dreams, goals set and met, her imagination with these tales and the smile that comes across her face as she reads the tales to us.  Love it all.  God, thank you for this!

     Getting up early also provides a great opportunity to get moving along the river for hours of hiking with just the sounds of the water rushing by and birds singing before the sounds of others spoil it all.  It's also great for the simple fact that there are areas that can be explored before the river flow increases this weekend.  Then there will be months where we will not be able to get down to the most interesting spots to be explored.  Oh well, we will have to be patient because that time will come again.  At least there will still be the sounds of birds, water and the wind in the trees to enjoy.

     There will be lots of outdoor gardeny things happening the next few days as seeds are planted for delicious, tasty treats and lots of eye candy throughout the yard.  And hopefully as the day winds down there will be time to work on finishing a quilt.  So much to do.  But so much that keeps me happy.  And excited.

~*~

Kar