Thank You Josie

I'm no gardener

For years my huge flowerbed overwhelmed me

and so it became a jungle of grass and weeds.

Josie came one day to examine a lilac that wouldn't bloom

and to my amazement offered to come and help dig up my flowerbed

She simply loves all aspects of gardening!

We dug up weeds and roots

and rocks galore

Some rocks have had to stay 

because even Handy Hubby could not budge them.

We dug up plants and cleaned their roots

We sifted the soil

We fed the soil with sheep manure

which thankfully the Rusty Pups were not interested in!

We raked and levelled

After a month..... finally......

....it was time to go shopping!

As Thanksgiving approaches

I am full of gratitude for our friend Josie.

It takes a special friend to come and actually enjoy

helping a non-gardener to tame a jungle!

Thank you also to Joan who was very busy with her own garden

but who helped inspire and shared her plants.

Handy Hubby worked hard too

He replaced all the faded green boards around the front porch.

The flowerbed is kinda protected from wildly interested Rusty Pups!

Rocks are waiting to be placed in the flowerbed.

Mulch will be put down because we all know

I won't enjoy weeding!

What an accomplishment!

Thank you all so very much.

Perhaps now I can stitch again!

Early Morning Inspiration

The best start to my days

Early morning walks with Rusty Pups

Always something new to inspire.

On a dewy morning

Spiderwebs billowed in the breeze

throughout the meadow.

Walking with inquisitive pups can be a problem

When one shows an interest in something

Of course the pups want to know all about it

and so

Apologies to any siders who lost their webs.

I reckon some spiders were still working on their skills!

Some were huge and perfectly crafted.

Some were kinda baggy.

Mist was still lingering over the Basin.

 A new day

A new beginning

Happy Birthday Steven

 Happy Birthday my beautiful boy

though you would be 48 today

practically middle aged!

No matter what your age you are loved and missed so dearly.

We carry you always in our hearts

and treasured memories.

God bless

When Trees Topple

After many months of avoiding it

 the pups and I walked what I used to call the 'Advanced Trail'. 

 After this latest walk I am renaming it the "Ankle Breaker".

We clambered over rock after rock

over moss covered roots

 and through muddy streams.

Every time we turned a corner we discovered a newly uprooted tree

So many trees toppled by wind and rain.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, 

but in having new eyes." 

 Marcel Proust

Every morning the Rusty Pups and I walk familiar trails

through meadows and woods

along an ancient railway line only identifiable because of their straightness!

through marshlands

Over streams

and over oh, so many rocks!

Every morning there is something new that shouts out to be noticed.

Through changing seasons and weather systems

there is always something new to discover.

Today it seems what we are called to notice is roots!

Mighty trees still manage to grow on ground that looks like this!

Amazing!

Root systems towered above us.

Lovely Messiness!

I hope you found something new on your walk today

or as Marcel Proust might say

 on your daily voyage of discovery!

The Evolution of a Piece

Chasing the Moon  50 1/2" w x 40" h

Part of the enjoyment of hand stitching is the time it allows for a piece to evolve and tell me it's story.

In the beginning I started making a piece about the marshlands

after the beavers have left

when sticks and chewed off trees litter the landscape.

The sky called to me but it didn't want to be too clear

and so scraps and bits and pieces of colour interrupts the flow

adding a feeling of blowing in the wind....I hope.

Then the grasses reminded me they had to be included

because they are growing back with renewed vigour

since the flooded beaver ponds have dried up.

I wove them into the running stitch sky.

The Moon asked to be included in the story

among the flotsam and jetsam in the sky

and the title Chasing the Moon popped into my head.

Then the ground demanded attention and so

 I turned to enjoying the luxury of stitching through silk velvet.

 A delicious gift from my dear friend Judy Martin.

And so it is finished

the story is complete

Do you ever feel sad when you've finished?

No more to add

No more days of stitching.

But then a new piece grabs your imagination and off you go again

a new story starts.

I received a delightful addition to Stevie's story this week.

At the age of three she is stitching clothes for her mermaid!

 

With all this distancing I'm missing so many firsts!

Well done sweetheart!

Day of Memory

The tide recedes but leaves behind

Bright seashells in the sand

The sun goes down but gentle warmth

Still lingers on the land

The music stops and yet lingers on

In sweet refrain.

For every joy that passes

Something beautiful remains.

Something Beautiful Remains

by Martha Vashti Pearson

So, my dearest boy

On this 26th day of memory

life has changed because of Covid19

but your family and friends continue to

carry you closely in hearts full of memory.

You were the best big brother a brother could have!

I reckon you were the best best friend a friend could have

and we are so grateful to them for all the stories

they passed on!

Stories of mischief

Stories of kindness and consideration

Adventures shared.

They all helped enrich our memories.

All my boys have always been

the sunshine in my life.

So proud of you all

God bless.

Growing Up Behind the Garage!

She was a great mother

though Handy Hubby reckons

that is the father.

All of a sudden it seemed

all four heads were covered in feathers....

.....One teetered on the edge.....

....and flew into the undergrowth by the stream.

Within four days the nest was empty.

And now we can't tell who is who among all the robins

bobbing about the garden.

In a flash

all grown up.

Makes me wonder how these two munchkins

are getting on.

We had the privilege of having them cross our path

way back in 2016.