May Daze

 May brought lots of sunshine and flowers ...

quilts, swim days, concerts, theatre, coffee on the deck, convertible ride,

Relief Sale, and bull frog watching!

I'll let the pictures tell the story here.

First batch of Rhubarb Muffins.

Keeping out the "wiley wabbits"!

The Good Lovelies came to our area and a lovely evening concert was enjoyed!

Rhubarb for Rhulief - we sold over $1,000 of fresh rhubarb at the Relief Sale!

My first ever quilt donation to the Relief Sale - sold for $325

Three girls in a Mustang!

Wendy and Peter Pan with the fam jam.

Till next time ... hope your May Daze were wonderful. Here comes June!

Where the Orioles Sing

 It's apple blossom season at the farm

and true to every year, the orioles return to play in the blossoms.

These beautiful elusive birds can be heard singing but hard to catch on camera.

Their song was once referred to as a Robin that's had singing lessons!

I agree!

"Waterlogue edit"

This time of year at the farm is so pretty and I am privileged to spend some time there.

Besides the Rhubarb that is growing so fast,

The ferns are unfurling and the white bleeding heart 

is as beautiful as ever.

What a week it's been!

A very rare witness to Aurora Borealis sighting here in SW Ontario

and I captured some of the colour right from my front porch in the city!!!

Did you see this too?

So amazing ...

Since my last post of another celestial event (the total eclipse)

my sweet Sully finished another trip around the sun.

He's SIX!!!

Yup - he love's hot wheels!!!

The Leis Fam Jam got together for dinner and an ear-splitting

Eric Clapton tribute concert.

It was a fabulous concert, however, I now appreciate my unplugged

CD version even more.

I am old!

A bit of quilting happened too.

So thankful for sister time creating a quilt for another one

of her granddaughters who will be heading off to university this Fall!

Hope I'll still be able to help when her youngest grandchildren 

are ready to head off to college - they are still toddlers - eek!

Maybe we should start now?

Mother's Day was delightful spent with family at the farm.

Rhubarb Pie was baked (of course) and a bowl of my mom's potato salad recipe

was added to the table.

Patrick served a mouth watering meal of smoked chicken sliders with

all the fixings!!

Till next time ....... stopping to listen for the oriole's song and keeping my eyes looking up!

Eclipse clips

 Did you experience today's eclipse?

Truly a once in a life-time experience.

My day began with a gathering for coffee with my fellow

retiree co-workers.

We try to meet once a month and it's always a blessing.

This morning was extra special on this "eclipse day".

Here are a few "clips" captured on my walk.

There was a strange light right at the time when the moon covered the sun,

lasting for about 3 minutes.

We did not get a total eclipse here in Stratford but it was very close.

The skies cleared just at the right time for the best viewing.

Weird Shadows 

The street lights came on

Folks gathered on the Theatre lawn to view

Eclispe on the Farm ....

Best picture of the day! Thanks for sharing this Patrick.

Oh, and one more thing ... this post happens to be my 500th!!

Till next time ... have a great week wherever you are.

Spring 2024 is Springing - as it should

February was mild and rather unpredictable.

 

March came and went (like a lamb both ways?)

April has arrived, with some showers

and even some snow!

It's been a busy almost 9 weeks since my last post 

and I can't tell you where the time has gone.

A sparse few pictures on my phone help remind me some of the highlights.

February brought warm sunny days with a few porch lunches,

even tho the porch cushions are yet to be put out.

Also a time for hockey games, kitten cuddles and sleep-overs.

These are a few of my favourite things 🎶🎶

My first ever quilt donation for the upcoming New Hamburg Mennonite

Relief Sale in May, was finished and safely delivered before the deadline.

Here is the quilt that was hand quilted by our church ladies, also for the May sale ...

A true beauty!

Beautifully pieced by Joyce Erb

February and March also caught me in the sewing room to work on

a few projects.

Here is a fun small quilt designed by our quilt club member,

Henny Bremer, who is becoming well known for her fabulous extra small scale quilts.

This was such a fun project.

It measures approx. 17" by 24" - the perfect size for hanging.

This quilt creates an optical illusion of curves!


This sweet little quilt might be hung in my slightly "refreshed" office space.
I purchased a new carpet and a wee display cabinet to make it more 
welcoming and comfortable.
I DO NEED to spend more time in here.
There is much work to be done ... the quilts are such a tempting
distraction and procrastination enabler - eek!

Am now in search of a nice office chair.
Should I go upholstered bucket type or perhaps a comfy wicker??
I hope I will know it when I see it!

Some crocheting projects were also a distraction this Spring.
Momma said the kids could use warm snuggly blankets so off to the wool shop
I went, with my dear friend Anita who is a crocheter extraordinaire!

Made just in time for Easter ...

Easter was very meaningful to me this year with a moving Maundy Thursday

evening service, Good Friday family gathering, Easter morning sunrise service,

and our wee family gathering for Sunday supper.

Complete with an exhilarating game of Bingo!!!

And of course, the annual butter lamb and onion skin dyed eggs!

And so, this is the beginning of Spring 2024.

So many dear ones on my prayer list right now ... humbled and praying!

Thankful for our Risen Lord ...

Till next time - being intentional and living this life one day at a time. 

My snuggle bunnies!!!!

Leaping into February!

 

Just turned the calendar page for February

and LOVE the caption for this LOVE month on the doorstep.

...  and, there were tulips at the grocery store today!!!

What could be better?

A sure sign of Spring to come.

Looking back over the past few weeks in January,

there were some good "stormy" days which allowed for

a bit of quilt piecing.

A difficult pattern for a novice like me.

Fabric and pattern donated by a friend.

I've dubbed it "Storm Daze".

Hoping to donate this one to the MCC Relief Sale auction?

It's at the quilters!

If nothing else, it sure got my quilting "mo-jo" going.

I have two more that are in the works so I may need just a few more snowy days?

Our pastor had us pick a "word for the year" the other Sunday

and mine was the word HARMONY.

A hymn sing last weekend, learning songs from the new Voices Together

Hymnal was a good start for this special word.

Thanks Ruth for inviting me to the Menno Singers event.

A "lonely heart" warming service of beautiful Harmony.

Today I spent time with a dear friend Kathy.

We shopped, lunched, ordered Theatre Tickets

for the coming season,

and it felt like a good way to start a new month.

Income tax prep is under way,

the home office is getting some new decor,

the grandchildren have a PA day tomorrow

(spa time has been ordered)

and...

The weather man is promising sunshine this weekend!

Not so great, however, for the beautiful outdoor rink that is melting.

My favourite little hockey players!

I can't wait to see what February has in store.

Till next time - how is your leap year month shaping up? I'll be striving to "Live in the Light".

A Fresh New Year - 2024

"Another year over ... and what have I done?"

 

This quote from "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse"

by Charlie Mackesy,

touches me in this fresh new year ...

A nice way to started off the new year was a fun gathering of friends

for a Mexican themed party.

So many good treats with Enchilada's (made by my friend Jan),

Gary's homemade Salsa, Chicken tacos, Guacamole, Mexican Street Corn Salad,

and so much more.

Punch bowls ready for mock Margaritas and Pina Coladas

So nice to be able to gather again with this "gang"

Another trip around the sun completed for me!

A holiday sleep-over for wonderful moments to reconnect

and enjoy the last days of the school holidays.

My favourite days!!!

The sparkly lights, tree, and scant decorations have been stored away.

The extra pounds from wonderful gatherings and delicious food

has also been stored away - on my hips unfortunately - sigh!

The time is now, for me to get back into routine and to make 2024

a really good year.

I will soldier on and try to stay hopeful and gracious.

God is Good!

Till next time - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

So That Was Christmas!

 

Christmas 2023

First and perhaps last attempt at making a Yule Log.

It was yummy though.

The vintage Nativity Set always gives me joy ...

Mom's China Cabinet truly makes it feel like Christmas.

Oh how she loved that cabinet and I'm so privileged to be the "keeper" for now.

My skinny tree on the antique wagon fits perfectly beside it.

Christmas morning at the farm ... so much joy!

Brunch was delicious too.

Tasting the delicious cookies that came from Germany.

Truly blessed ... Happy New Year Dear Friends!!!

Till next time ... till next year ... stay well!