Category Archives: Spring

Daffodils, Magnolias, and…

 

This is daffodil season here in northern Illinois.  They are blooming prolifically alongside the roadways and in gardens.  Last week, on the way home from picking up my daughter, I took a little detour to see if this roadside garden of daffodils was blooming.  It was!  Isn’t it gorgeous!  I snapped a few pictures to show you this glorious garden of daffodils.

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I thought there was only one variety blooming here (basic yellow), but on closer inspection saw tiny daffodils and cream/yellow varieties as well.

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This was my very own little clump of daffodils ten days ago.  Ugh, snow!  Luckily, the snow didn’t kill my daffodils; they are fine and still blooming.

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We are starting our second week of springlike weather.  So happy, happy, happy!  It is finally spring and oh, so wonderful outside.  These are my daffodils today.

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Truthfully, I think they liked getting snowed upon.  They are still doing great ten days later.

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The magnolia bushes didn’t like the cold snap much, but luckily they were just starting to bloom, so we didn’t lose many blossoms.

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And, here is a photo from about a month ago that has nothing to do with daffodils or magnolias, sorry, but I wanted to share it anyway.  When I was with my mom in January she gave me this puzzle.  She saw it at the store and thought of me as it depicted many of my favorite things.  Even though I am busy making things for our dolls, I finally had to put it together.  It is the last (material) gift she gave me.  Thank you, Mom!

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I hope you all are having a great start to this new week.  I know some of you had snow over the weekend, sorry about that.  I hope it melts in a flash, so spring can come back… and stay!

Bye for now!

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Both yesterday and today we’ve had the most perfect springlike weather here in northern Illinois.  It was so glorious today that our happy little crocuses woke up from their long winter’s nap.

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As I was sewing yesterday (Millie is getting a new dress) I kept glancing up at Gracie.  Hmmm, wonder what she’d look like in another wig… I decided to try Talyssa’s “messy braids” wig on her.  I have no idea the name or maker of this wig.  The braids stay braided very nicely though— I like it a lot.

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Does anyone know who makes this type of wig?  The fibers aren’t as silky as those on a Monique wig.

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I am getting tired of the few mohair colors of yarn that I have, and wanted to see if a finished sweater would dye up nicely.  Because the fibers are so long and fuzzy, I don’t even want to try dyeing the yarn; I fear a tangled mess.  I wanted very light colors, so mixed up super light dye.  The sweaters came out darker than I expected and a slightly different shade than what the dye bath looked to be.  The sweater ended up being very pretty pastel shades though.  I dyed the real thing today and took photos of the process to show you soon.

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My husband bought me a bunch of yellow tulips this weekend.  Sugar took one look at the bouquet and had to check them out.  She said that they were so pretty and they matched her dress perfectly.  Whoa, hang on tight, Sugar!

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She made it!  What a little monkey!

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Thanks for stopping by!  Bye for now!

This Past Week’s Odds & Ends

Mother’s Day came and went so fast.  Weather-wise, we had a doozy of a day:  cold, damp, dark, and foggy—the entire day.  No one wanted to do anything.  I didn’t even feel like creating for my dolls, and that hardly ever happens.  I guess that’s what those kind of days can do to you.

My husband and daughter secretly bought flowers and planted a large planter and two hanging baskets for me.  They are so sweet.  They remembered my absolute favorite flower for planters as well, lobelias.  I love these tiny trailing flowers so much.  Lobelias are the white and dark purple tiny blossoms.  They also planted trailing tiny petunias, moss roses, and snapdragons in a rainbow of colors.

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flower planter 350The feral cat that hangs around was patiently waiting for breakfast while I took pictures this morning.

kitty 357We cannot touch this kitty; if we put our hand out she will bat (and scratch) us, but she will get fairly close to us.  When we moved into this house 7 years ago, she wouldn’t let us even look at her.  She comes around most days and has someplace to go when the weather is bad.  We know this because the fur on her back gets trimmed by something she climbs under.  It must be a tight fit.  Since she has a corner of her ear clipped off, she probably was trapped and taken in for spaying years ago.  There is a feral cat colony that a couple of ladies take care of down the block.  We think that this kitty may not have gotten along with them and went out on her own.

crabapple tree 372Our crab apple tree is in its glory right now.  Isn’t it beautiful?  Our magnolia that I showed you (here) now is all leaves and the tiny honeysuckle to the right of it only has a few blossoms left.  We still have a set of lilac bushes yet to bloom and another bush that blooms with light pink flowers.  I don’t know what it is.  I will share a photo of it and maybe someone can help me identify it.  🙂

magnolia 378Earlier in the week I went to reorder my bamboo thread and discovered that it is being discontinued.  What???!!!  There is nothing else out there to substitute for it, and it is the perfect weight and fiber for summery sweaters and dresses.

Well, I searched for what I needed (and lots more to make sure that I would never ever run out), and placed a couple of orders.  This is what arrived!  My husband asked me if I was opening a store.  LOL!

Does this make me a hoarder?

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wip 5-14-15 349What I’ve been working on this week… yesterday’s photo.

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And today, I embroidered the cardigan.  Any guesses as to who this is for?  (The piece of lace knitting doesn’t go with the dress, hat, or cardigan set.)

I didn’t have the right color of ribbon or fabric for this ensemble, so I dyed rayon ribbon and some Lycra knit tonight.  I hope to get this outfit finished up this weekend, I hope…

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You all have a fabulous weekend!