The sun is out today and above freezing!  Progress that is.
AND I spied a small flock of Red Robins!  They are early I believe,
Good news to me for Spring surly must be arriving ahead of schedule!
Oh Pretty please!

THE ROBIN is the one
That interrupts the morn
With hurried, few, express reports
When March is scarcely on.
The robin is the one
That overflows the noon
With her cherubic quantity,
An April but begun.
The robin is the one
That speechless from her nest
Submits that home and certainty
And sanctity are best. ~ Emily Dickinson ~

May the sun be shining down upon you today!

Hugs, Mary

"Snow! Snow go away come again some other day" .  
I just recalled this from my childhood.  I do believe it is supposed to refer to rain, not snow. 

There is an upside to snow and cold weather!


mmm. Just perfect on such a day where there is 2 feet of snow outside {over night this landed in our yard!}.



Not the snow blower, that we had from my Dad and Mom {thank you Mom}

The snow.  The wind howled all night long and the thunder! wow!

But when you have this waiting for you...

A cup of very very special hot cocoa!
This is made by Andrew, the cousin of my son's Fiance'.
He is a chef and actually is one of the designers of flavors
over at Black Dog Gelato.  This cocoa was so amazing!  A creamy, velvety,
rich, thick deliciousness! I guess they have hot cocoa there also...
so when you are in the City make sure you go there!!! Cold or hot they have you covered!
Unbelievable deliciousness!!!

SECRET Ingredients!!!  {my lips are sealed}



And look what I found in my cup!!!!




links ~
Black Dog Gelato

xo,

Mary

Big News

My year is starting off with some excitement.




So I need lots of Inspiring visions around me.
And remembering where I started at here in the Big Web ~




And remembering some  of the special people I have met



And The Parties tht Ensued ~




Friendships forged and sealed.






Now for my news!
I am so very excited to have been invited into The Everyday Is A Holiday Design Team for Jenny And Aaron!
I am Thrilled to get started!
You can click on the "Everyday Is A Holiday Design Team" Button on my left
side bar to hop over to their place at any time ~
OR click "HERE" Jenny and Aaron to start meeting the Team as we are introduced!
Thank YOU!

XO, Mary

Take Me Out Tonight

The New Year has begun with all of us, including Doug, Monica, Caitlin and also James still being down with the cold/flu bug...
not exactly energizing but it is inspiring. Once one is FINALLY well again, we are talking weeks here, a grateful feeling washes
over you and you are ready to get out there and meet 2011.

So I begin 2011 AND the Valentines season (oh, yes there is a Valentine Season) with
a cute video and song that will inspire everyone wherever they are at *(notice the line "dust off...").




Hobbes also enjoyed many naps over Christmas and New Years... I once saw him emerging from the folds of a VERY
fluffy comforter that was on a sofa.
Any talking or movement  I make he interprets as  "she is going to feed me"," she knows I am HUNGRY for the third
time this morning!"  This guy will eat all day if you let him, but I will not let him. Must not let his cute face bother me,
nor his paw as he ever so gently taps my shoulder or arm.
Soo cute is he.

XO,

Mary

... I had a moment to play around with sprays at the top of this wreath. 



It has not been often this fall that I have found time to re-charge like this.



Putzing around, fluffing the nest.... a favorite activity of mine ~ in need of restoring.





Here is a link to a new friend who has done such a lovely and sentimental job of getting
her nest feathered!   Do please stop in to say hello to her.

Merry Christmas!

xo,

Mary

I hear Christmas music!
I am almost ready to add to my shop, which has been neglected for sometime!
So sorry about that and Thank YOU all for waiting so patiently!
I will see you Tomorrow, Sunday Evening... shop fluffed up a bit.

Here is a little peek ~
~

With Kindness,
Mary

Trudi Temple!

  
I heard about Trudi through my local nursery, The Growing Place, where I had the honor
to hear her speak of her life and love of gardening.  Trudi started her life and her lessons
in Germany during WWII.  To hear her speak of her journey is as if she is telling
it for the first time... she has such life and JOY within her.
Do you have Market Day at your school?
Trudi STARTED Market Day!
But read  in her book how it started!!!
    
I greatly encourage you to get her book*

and read about how her life was as a young girl  and how she came to America.


Above, in the second photo, is Trudi's front gate and yard...
She uses every inch of space for her beautiful gardens!
Whenever this gate is open ALL are invited in to enjoy her gardens.
Such kindness and hospitality.


Above is a note on the back carriage/garden house door. ~
It invites you to use her "powder room"!



See the water lilies!







My photos do not do justice.
Below is a small view of the BIG protected vegetable garden. (deer, bunnies...)


A view from her terrace~


a beautiful planter~




Oh, need a little cat nap?


Notice the lower structure of this "flower bed" also.



Here is a tip I learned from Trudi~
Save your garden and household vegetable waste and dig a hole, I dig 12"X12" holes.
Cover with dirt and place a garden marker on top like a stone...
this is so that you remember not to plant her for 6 months when the soil will be rich with nutrition for you plants.

If you get her book you will find out how big of a hole Trudi has dug and what
in the world she put in it!

I went to Amazon and found her book.
HOWEVER, for some STRANGE reason the two new books
are priced at $99.99!!!! Something must be incorrect with the listing.
It is a great book... for $29.95, NEW HARDCOVER.  

* Links

Trudi Temple

Book info:
Tittle:
Trudi Temple's Garden ~ The Story of Trudi Temple, Founder of Market Day
Authors:
Laurie Bohlke & Trudi Temple
Publisher:
Goblin Fern Press, Inc.
3809 Mineral Point Road
Madison, Wisconsin,  53705 U.S.A.

Hugs,

Mary

One of my new projects was a result of an early morning feeding ~
our cat wakes me up with the birdies ... or earlier! ~  So during one
of the early morning sleep walks downstairs to "kitty food central"
the lid slipped out of my  hand, fell, and shattered into many pieces.
All the  while flying into several rooms!   sigh.
Clean up in aisles 3,4 and 5 please.

So I solved two issues with one... a new painted project for a show and
a new kitty kibble jar for Hobbes.  {I voted NO GLASS LIDS}
I also
voted on a nice seal to keep the food fresh...easy open!


I love gingham and of course you guessed it, I love aqua!  So I took some paint
I had ordered up for another project,and made my  own custom shade and painted
a gingham pattern. I love it!  It makes me smile every time I use it... which
believe me is way too often for  Hobbes!
Hmm, I think Hobbes would like a picnic at the shore... fish :0
I think he actually prefers chicken!


The beautiful knob I found at Anthropologie a bit ago. I love this knob!
A friend has a similar one that is all white and it is amazingly beautiful!!!
The little aqua one works fine here.

Now who is ready for a trip to the beach!?  

Hugs,

Mary

I chose to do something in my 40th square.

#40 ~  This represents DREAMS.
Dreams that must be dreamt inorder for foundations to be built.
All of the wonderful ideas and plans.
The dreams for Amy's 40th year!

Cheers to Amy!!! HOORAY!!!

*the long stemmed sequin is a dream almost ready to pop! :)

Here is my finished sampler!



I really had fun doing this project and I met many wonderful women... such TALENT wow!!!

Thank You for following along as you watched the squares unfold and
Thank You to  those that followed as we stitched together.

And here is to New Friends!  Cheers!

Links ~ 

Amy.. stop in to see all of the finished pieces as they are completed :)

Hugs,

Mary

Here it is... the final piece of my little puzzle...  can you tell what it is?  Does it remind you of anything?? hehehe.
Square #39
 

Does this give you a clue?


And what about this one  these two!
LOVE IT!


 And baby will make three ~


So then you have the petit version ~



Yes, it is in celebration of the banners that my daughter has designed. I love them!
And as you can see, BIG girls and boys love them also!!! :)

Oh, want one too!  Just pop over to NICE.

Links ~
NICE ~ my daughters shop
Wedding photography
"HOORAY For Babies"
Amy :)  See her finished embroidery sampler!!!

I will show you my finished sampler tomorrow for I have one more to share with you #40!

Hugs,

Mary

This rocker was painted a few years after we moved here.
An early piece of mine
My home looks so funny in this photo... you can see the wood
moldings that the builder put in before we moved in.   Now
every room has painted white moldings.  I still have the rug but
it is not down on the floor anywhere.  The curtains are just panels
I made for windows in our previous home that worked in this home. 
I can not even remember where I found this great rocker! I found
the fabrics and made new cushions and even new burlap strapping
that support the seat. I think this rocker is is in a vacation home in
Wisconsin now.

Here is another piece to to my little puzzle :)
#38


Last puzzle piece tomorrow!

Links ~

Amy 

Hugs,

Mary

I have yesterday's square a of "39 Stitches and today's also.  
I will be disclosing the last couple pieces of my "puzzle" over the next several days.   
By the 39th square the final piece will be disclosed :) 
And the little story along with it :)
I LOVE IT and I hope and believe that you will also :)

I do have a 40th square also... it is a special one to honor Amy.

#36


#37


I did not re ~ do the french knots for the fabric is a bit fragile.
I did back the fabric with a feather weight inter facing (iron on).

Links ~

Check out Amy's squares!!!

Happy Easter

Joyeuses Paques  ~ Merry Easter ~ Blessed Easter Day.
So many things going on in our Country, and all over the world.
I do wish each and every one a beautiful day full of only love.

On This special day I choose to do a hyachinth plant, full of fragrance,
life, beauty.  I love to get these plants, usually white but this year PINK,
and enjoy them inside with their scent swirling through our home.   Afterwards,
I let them sit in our garage all summer then plant in my garden in the fall.  This year
I am going to try planting them after they are done flowering.  We shall see :)
I have a very special plant that arrived to day via a friend.   She gave me a beautiful petit  daffodil plant!!!   I {and my husband} had the joy of caring for her families dog,  Kailey for the past week.  She is a wonderful petit little lady who will jump up into your arms when she tires from our long walks*  (*long walks for little legs).  She is petit but her legs are long, a very pretty pup!  When she plays she reminds me of a cartoon of a lamb frolicking and enjoying the fields... in this case our carpet.  She loves to chase after her toys and she even herds them!!!  OH dear!  I am rattling on.  But she is cute!!!
back to today's square :)

#35  Easter Hyacinth Plant



Links ~
To see The cutest pup ever ~ {except for yours of course}
Amy ~ 39 Squares :)

Happy Easter!

Hugs,
Mary

Today is the day, the Saturday before Easter, that my family decorated eggs.   My Mom would "cook" up a huge batch of eggs so that we all had several to decorate.  I had one  older brother and 4 younger sisters.  (We had a lot of fun!)  For our own family we had the same Saturday tradition.
I remember the very first time my daughter Caitlin  was old enough to color Easter eggs.   I was in the Kitchen with the eggs all ready, and getting the dyes in the coffee mugs ready for her.  In she comes ~ about 2 years old, with her paint brushes!!!!  She wanted to "paint" her eggs just like she saw  the "Easter Bunny" depicted doing!!!  So I let her do it this way and they turned out beautiful :)  A few years later,  my second child, Doug, liked to dunk his eggs... as much as possible :)
#34 Easter egg .... ready and waiting in the Easter basket!




Links ~
Amy

Hugs,
Mary

I have been busily stitching away while tending to home and family this week.  I am also helping out a few friends :)
So let's play catch-up today!

The next in the series for Amy's  "I'm Stitching Along" group ~ 39 Stitches is a very special one which is actually second in a series of, mmmm six squares.  A puzzle if you will :)
#26


The next square is actually two for one. We all like a deal and this one is a pretty one. I love how the curtains in our home blow in the breezes that come in the open windows. I also love a big window ledge so that plants and things (pies?? hehehehe) can be placed on it. In this case no pie, but a pretty plant like I used to put on Caitlin's bedroom window sill when she moved out of the nursery to her big room.
#27 & 28


As I stated earlier in this wonderful stitch along, I love hearts. This one is very similar to a logo I have used for quite some time when I paint pieces for others.
Oh, minus the "LOVE".
#29


Somewhat self explanatory.  "H" for our last name.
#30


Have I told you in the last week how much I love Shabby Chic?? ok, ok. So another O'de to Rachel Ashwell :)
This photo shows one side of the iconic Shabby Chic Tags AND rumpled vintage "corsage" with "Simply Shabby Chic fabric:


And then my attempt to write at least as small as a June bug:


Next we have a square doubled up with love. My mom had a wonderful pin cushion with two beautiful strawberries. Then, Caitlin loved strawberries while growing up. OH, I guess a third, a favorite fabric since I was a little girl. velvet! :)
#32


Now we are caught up to today. For my family, an important Friday. Something that I appreciate much more as I grow older.
#33 The Lamb


Now we are caught up and will see you tomorrow! Yes REALLY!!! :)

Thank you for visiting with me. I do so appreciate it and Welcome all new Friends!

 Links ~

Sailing and curtains

Amy

Hugs,

Mary