Beautiful spring day and Margaret Leadbitter

Greetings to everyone on this absolutely beautiful spring day.  The sun is shining and the temperature is a perfect 65 degrees.  It doesn't get much better than this.  Hope the spring weather is lovely where you are.
It's a great day to be a horse, too.  Here's Pip's Affair, looking pretty dirty and scruffy, but ready to go out in the pasture.

Not too much is blooming outside yet.  This is the time for fertilizing, trimming, and planning.  Here is an ancient lilac next the the original barn.  The barn has been around for a couple hundred years, maybe the lilac has too.  It smells heavenly.

Everything is so lush and green.

Some tulips in the garden

And last but not least, some progress on Margaret Leadbitter that I am stitching with a friend.  We are pretty much staying together.  I am going to save the temple for last, as it looks to be great fun to stitch and that way I have something to look forward to.

Till next time... enjoy the beautiful weather!
Melinda

New Garden Plan

Hello....I can't believe the thermostat hit 90 today in Ohio!  Unbelievable!  This just isn't normal, and yesterday I found two ticks on my 85 yr old mother when she came in.  We have never had a tick problem here on the farm, it just didn't get cold enough this winter to kill all the undesirables off.  Well, my mother just had a fit, one was in her hair and hadn't yet stuck, the other on the back of her earlobe.  So now I just we have to check each other, and the dogs, for ticks.  All the cats and dogs are on flea prevention, but I guess it doesn't get ticks.  I don't know what to do with the horses, I'll call the vet tomorrow to see if there is a horse preventative.

Along to happier news... today we got the garden/yard fence moved to accommodate the new part of the garden.  Just last year we were seriously contemplating tearing most of the garden out and just planting grass.  It is all so much work.  Well, somehow tearing up the garden turned into expanding the garden....LOL.  I must be a glutton for punishment!!!

Here is the new space, full of weeds right now until it rains so we can get started on it.

The foundation in the center was once the old smokehouse which was full of worms when we moved in and had to be torn down.  Since it is a shady spot in the evening, will probably have some chairs.  It will be a lovely space to relax and enjoy the view.

Here is some of the other garden, all cleared out already and just waiting for blooms!

Wishing everyone a pleasant spring week! 

Melinda

I Really Must Do Better

...at keeping up with my blog.  I have so many new followers, and I realize I must be more conscientious at posting.  I guess I have been distracted by my decorating projects (almost done with the dining room redo) and with this lovely weather, I have been getting a head start at all the garden clean-up, and even expanding into a new section.    Hopefully I will have the dining room curtains done soon, then I will post pictures of the re-do.

For now, here are some pictures of the Alphabet Samplings book (pattern by With My Needle).  I so enjoyed stitching and putting this together.  Instead of silk for the cover, I chose cotton repro fabrics, and a little wood turned thingy that was laying around for the closure.

Another fun project, also by With My Needle, was the Hornbook Multiplication Sampler.

My most recent finish is by Stacy Nash, the Let Virtue Be a Guide To Thee Sewing Purse.  I am pleased with how it turned out, although it took forever to put together.   Now, what to do with it???

It it does not rain tomorrow, I will try and get some pictures of the garden all cleaned up and ready to grow!

Happy weekend!
Hugs,
Melinda

I'm in Just Country Gardens!!

Hello, I am so pleased!  Yesterday I received my advance copy of Just Country Gardens, Judy Condon's wonderful new book.   I (or rather, my gardens) are featured in this new book along with 20 other gorgeous country gardens.  If it isn't already, this book should be available in stores soon.

Judy's books are always wonderful!

Melinda