Can it be Spring?

We've enjoyed a wee warm up for the last few days and I am actually believing that spring may finally be just around the corner for us.

As well as warmer weather, the Peeps are in the stores.  I don't know what happened to the rest of them.  lol

Spring, as usual, means the grandkid's school auction.  That means it was time to make a new 18" doll uniform.  This year I did the skort version instead of the jumper.  Most of the girls now wear the skorts.

We had four little ones while their parents were out of town so there was lots of creative time going on around here.  This little guy was fascinated with counted cross stitch.  He made a lovely tree ornament which I forgot to photograph before he took it home. 

There was make believe time too.  The sweet face of a princess....

I was hoping to get two flowers done this week for the Bloom SAL, but that did not happen.  One will have to do.  Five down and fifteen to go by September.  You can see more at Cheryll's blog HERE.

These fun bee blocks for our Gridster Bee are flying off to Marsha  (IG quilterinmotion).  I'm looking forward to seeing these come together in a quilt. 

These hanging kitchen towels are off to Arizona for Sara as a part of our Sewing with Friends group.  We are doing the hanging towels for each other this year. 

 I had to capture this picture of Rudy on this cushion as it reminded me of Toby doing the same thing when he was just a pup. 

Stitching and Stitching

For the granddaughter's 16th birthdays they have requested a new quilt - an upgrade from their baby quilts.  We have a granddaughter turning 16 next month so I needed to get this finished.  I decided to go with the Disappearing Hourglass pattern and the fabric line Amelia.  The blocks are done and now I need to put them together before the big day.




As I do each year, I made an 18" doll uniform for the grandchildren's school auction coming up this weekend.  This item has gone for a lot of money over the past years.  I'm glad it all goes to a great cause - their school.



February caught me off guard and I did not get my monthly AYOS mini quilt done, but I did win this fabulous layer cake of Honey Honey by Kate Spain from an earlier AYOS project.  I hope to get this month's mini completed.  It looks like a great sampler project.  You can join the fun as well.  The information can be found on Sinta's or Sherri's blogs.



We had a wild and wicked storm roll through over the weekend with hail, lightening, thunder and a real downpour.  The lights flickered several times, but we did not loose our power.  It was nice to get the rain as it will keep things green a bit longer here.  The surrounding mountains are covered with snow so it remains a pretty sight.  This was taken as the storm rolled in here.  Would you believe that I actually picked my first rose of the year on February 27th?  They are so early this year.
 

A Hint of Spring

 

Although our temperatures have been unseasonably cool with some freezing nights, I can start to see that spring is coming to the yard. 

Busy bees!!!

Peach tree in bloom

Pear trees in full bloom too

The kids were all over this weekend helping to reduce the abundant supply of citrus that is currently ripe in the orchard.  Thank heavens for the help!  At the moment we are loaded with tangerines, Meyer lemons, naval and Blood oranges as well as grapefruit. 

Tangerines



Blood oranges

Lemons

I even put up some preserved lemons this year.  I recently attended a cooking class and they used the preserved lemons in a salmon dish.  It was heavenly!  They will be ready to use in a month.

Those of you who follow my blog know that spring is also the time when I make a doll's uniform for the grandchildren's school auction.  That was my project for the weekend. 

I also finished up the last of the stars for my Starburst QAL.  Now to assemble it!

Saturday I received a wonderful box of fabrics in the mail from Jacquelynne Steves of The Noble Wife.  She is a new sponsor to my blog and her fabrics are beautiful and fun.  I am really looking forward to playing with them over the next few weeks.  Oh....the ideas I have for this line are numerous!!  The line is called "Happy Town" and it certainly lives up to it's name.  As I said in my last post, the royalties from the fabric sales are donated to Quilts for Kids - such a great cause.  Be sure to check out my sidebar for a link to the contest using the fabrics. 

We enjoyed celebrating another birthday in the family over the weekend.  Why do they grow up so quickly?  The years are just flying these days.

Cousin love

I had to waste time this morning canceling my credit card.  Someone decided to use my numbers to book tickets on Exped*ia and Or*bitz.  Grrrrr.  Need I say more?