"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Sunday, March 6, 2022

It is March

 


The last part of February I awoke in the wee morning hours  to the sound of pelting sleet against the window and bright flashes of lightning.  I have heard it said that when it sleets along with lightning in February, to be ready for snow in April........we shall see if this happens. Do you believe in "old wives tales"  or "folklore" ?



On that very frigid day, a covey of quail came running across the yard to eat the feed I had placed in the tray.  Such small birds, but on this day they were all puffed out and looked like a group of gray dust bunnies that had been blown out of someone's house and left to blow across the yard. They were such a whimsical sight.  
March did not arrive like the proverbial roaring lion , but in warm, gentle, breezy days.  I have been opening the doors and windows in the early morning to let in the fresh air.  I have also been placing the house plants on the porch for the day to soak up some early morning sun, and then move them back indoors as the nights are still very chilly.  The greenhouse door is also opened on such warm days to let the moist hot air out and fresh air in.  Such lovely springlike days, however, as soon as I trust the heat and think spring is just around the corner, it turns misty and cold, as it is here today.  
Thank you all for your words of comfort in the loss of our Sophie..........can it already be a month since she has been gone??  I still catch myself, looking over to where she used to like to sleep and I look back when I walk in the woods to make sure she is following me.  I miss her so.
We had run into town the other day on errands and no matter what day we choose to buy groceries, there is always an old acquaintance who happens to be shopping at the same time.  We park our carts side by side, in the middle of the aisle to catch up.......blocking the way(without meaning to) of the other shoppers who are not so chatty and in a rush to get their shopping done.  And sometimes, it is not only someone I know, but a total stranger that I can stop for a few moments and chat with.  Such as was this day when there was a young woman who was looking at the planting containers in the same aisle I was in.  We started talking about planting containers, soil, the harsh Texas environment.......and before we knew it, 30 minutes had passed.  We never exchanged names, but enjoyed chatting and then went our own separate way.  Do you enjoy catching up with acquaintances in the grocery store.........or do you get agitated at people who block the aisles in mindless chatter?  
I have piddled out in my garden spaces and everything is ready to either spout up on their own or is waiting for me to toss in some seeds.  I just read a wonderful post about a herbarium in western Carolina.  It was so interesting to read about the large collections of plants they have.  Do you have a herbarium near you?  I have long gathered different plants.........mostly flowers and attractive leaves and have pressed them in between pages of an old newspaper..........
This one was pressed in 2014. 
However, I have not been good at recording the scientific specimen name and such.......but it gave me inspiration to start gathering the many different leaves and plants that grow here, so wild and natural, and to keep a book with the information on them.  It is a good time to begin this kind of project as the grounds have not yet awoken from their winter sleep.  If you are interested in reading this wonderful post........here is the link.  A DAY AT THE HERBARIUM

My hands have been busy when the days are chilly and I finally finished the "Red Garden Sampler" that I had posted about in an earlier post on my embroidery blog.  I used different designs from a book by a French needlework designer , Marjorie Massey, combined with some of my favorite quotes and created my own sampler.  I wanted the butterfly to look as if it was leaving the border of the cross stitch as the quote states and thankfully, my count was not off and the border still worked well with the "butterfly interruption.  The quotes have tiny initials under them......for the person who authored the quote.  The butterfly quote is by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  The garden quote is by Francis Hogdson Burnett.  
One thing I would like to point out.  On the cross stitched lady, my book had an error.  When I had first finished the cross stitched lady, something did not look right on her,
I went back and forth with the stitched piece and the book........and then realized, the book did not finish the pattern for the flowers in her basket.  As you can see from the photo.  

I had to actually use a magnifying glass on the photo of the stitched piece in the book to complete it the right way.  Not sure if every book has this error.  So now it is finished and I need to find a frame for it.


I hope this finds you having lovely weather, whether it is filled with sun and birds singing, or a blanket of white with gentle snowflakes falling.   

 











19 comments:

The Tea Lady's Journal said...

Your Red Garden Sampler turned out beautiful.

Julia said...

Oh my, your red sampler cross stitch is a work of art. So beautifully done even though there was an error in the pattern.

It's snowing this morning here in New Brunswick Canada but I don't think it will amount to much. March came in like a Lion but nature has a mind of its own. Spring will come when ready. I've bought my seeds and I'm anxious to start some of the seeds that need a longer time to grow to give them an early start because our growing seasons are rather short here in the North.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you will be growing in your gardens. Gardening is one of my passions also.

Julia

Nancy J said...

Your stitching, totally beautiful, a treasure to be seen every day. And as your garden awakes, ours is starting to get ready for winter, The Grape Hyacinth have so many green spikes, I gave away a huge bucketful to a friend, and still have clumps galore. your view with sleet or some snow is so lovely. The plants will soon be able to be outdoors all day, but leaving out and bringing in is a great way to get them adjusted to the lengthening and warmer days you now have.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I have a couple of dogs that I will miss just about every day of my life. It snowed yesterday on this mountain. Clear down to 2000' elevation. I expect it to warm up soon. I'll leave whatever planting will be done to my granddaughter in law. I have no desire to garden or can. We are going to travel pretty soon. I don't know where, but somewhere near central California. And Terry wants to see San Francisco but I don't know why. Your stitching is lovely.
xx, Carol

Rose said...

We have had changeable weather the past 35 days or so. One day I think the temperature range was some 30 degrees. We had snow the last three Thursdays of February. And during the between times had some shirtsleeve weather.

You have sure been busy. That counted cross-stitch piece is wonderful.

happyone said...

There's a bit of truth in the old wive's tales. :)
Your sampler is beautiful.
I do intend to talk to people when I'm out but I must admit I do get annoyed when people block the aisle. :)
Our weather has been roller coaster going up and down daily from one day to the next.

Prims By The Water said...

I am a chatting one at our store for sure. I talk to each and every customer who comes in who will talk back to me. My BIL lives in NE Texas near Oklahoma and gets all kinds of crazy weather. Love your rework sampler. Truly a beauty! Janice

Marie Smith said...

I speak to people in the stores but not as much since the pandemic started. We are far apart now and it is less conducive to chatting.

I don’t think I would have caught the unfinished flower in the cross stitch pattern. You did a great job fixing it.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Your stitchery is gorgeous! What a talented needlewoman you are! My embroidery has never been great and with my vision I don't even want to try now.
I love to talk to people when we're out and about. Not everyone is friendly now, but a surprising number appreciate the human connection. Somehow I just know who I can talk to and who to leave alone!

Granny Marigold said...

The red sampler looks great and it's nice that you could correct the pattern error and finish those flowers.
My Dad was a great believer in folk lore and had all kinds of little sayings about the weather (none of which I can recall).
We here in BC seem to be on a two day cycle of sunshine and rain. Yesterday and today I was able to get quite a bit of weeding done but I know that 2 days of showers will bring out a lot more weeds again.
I hope you have a good week. GM

Henny Penny said...

First of all, I am so sorry to read about your sweet Sophie. You write such a beautiful post. I love what you said about, no matter how many times or how ofter we walk through the door our dog is so happy to see us. That is so true. It's that way here. They get all excited, you'd think we had been away for a few days.

Your sampler is just beautiful. Oh, you do such beautiful work. Yes, I'm one of those who enjoys seeing and talking to folks in the grocery store. I'm pretty patient with others, however my husband is not.

You have the best posts and are one of my favorite bloggers.

Lady Locust said...

Lovely Stitchery. You gave me a chuckle~ Just yesterday, I met a gal and spoke with her for some time - no idea what her name was :-) Not a grocery store, but a nice chat just the same.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

We have always talked to people n stores and no matter whether or not we knew them or not and so it continues. Nice that you were able to have such a long aisle chat with someone you just met, Kathleen, and perhaps you will meet up in the future. Your stitchery is beautiful and such a talent to have. Of course, it's expected that whenever you are outside on a walk you will remember the ones that Sophie was there to share. Perhaps, one day in the future, when you heart has healed a bit, you will get another companion. We haven't had any snow in well over a week and hoping it stays that way with hopes for rain to wash away what remains.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Your post has found me with brilliant sunshine illuminating the blankets of snow here in Ontario. Having now lost a number of aged dogs, I understand the feelings well. Still missing the last two though our new laddie just had his first birthday.
Love your redwork cross stitch. Very nice!

SIRVIENDO AL SEÑOR said...

QUE HERMOSO BORDADO¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ SIGUES SIENDO UNA INSPIRACION PARA MI, AUNQUE HONESTAMENTE, TENGO QUE DECIR QUE NO SOY AMANTE DEL PUNTO CRUZ, NO ES ALGO QUE ME HA GUSTADO APRENDER, PERO SI ME ENCANTA EL BORDADO A MANO, MEZCLAR COLORES, DARLE VIDA A UN DIBUJO IMPRESO EN LA TELA, QUE HERMOSO CUANDO ESTA TERMINADO Y VES TU OBRA ACABADA, SIENTO PLACER AL VERLA, SIEMPRE LEO TUS PUBLICACIONES DE AÑOS ATRAS, SON HERMOSAS TUS CREACIONES. CUANDO TENGAS TIEMPO, PASA POR MI BLOG, PUBLIQUE SOBRE EL BABY SHOWER DE MI HIJA. BENDICIONES DESDE LA DISTANCIA.

handmade by amalia said...

Love your needlework sampler! It is freezing cold here today, the perfect weather to stay in and craft.
Amalia
xo

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Your Red Garden Sampler is awesome! So glad you had a good conversation with the lady at the grocery store. Hope your weather improves and it gets warm.

Mary, Windy Meadows Farm said...

The weather here has been up & down as well...70 on day, sleet/snow the next, then rain in the future. What a whirlwind of a month. Isn't it fun when we meet someone who's a kindred spirit out of the blue? I've chatted with folks in garden stores or even grocery stores sharing tips & hints that work for them...always seems as if it was meant to be. Mary

Barwitzki said...

Your Red garden sampler is just great. I'm excited. You embroidered that beautifully. I wish you luck in finding a frame.
I also enjoy approaching and chatting with people, one of life's joys is finding a soul mate :-))
We have had the most wonderful spring weather for days with blue skies and lots of sun. And I accept it gratefully.
Many greetings to you. Viola