May Days

Wow, three posts in one week.   Trust me, it is not going to be the norm going forward.   I just had a lot to share this month.  May has treated us to a lot of beautiful weather making breakfast, lunch and dinner outside a daily occurrence.  All the flower beds are in order, except of course, for my long term Back 40 project.   I planted some summer blooming bulbs and now will wait until they grow and pop with color.  I am to the point I only need to do about a twice weekly walk-around to keep the beds tidy.   Let’s hope I don’t slip up.  

Even though we had a warm spring, I waited until Mother’s Day to get in my seasonal potted plants, put out my hanging baskets and get my veggies in.   I’ve done geraniums for years but changed it up to Gerber Daises this year.   I am doing fewer pots than usual.  Not to worry, I have other ‘outside’ things to take the place of the weeding and potted plants.  I still haven’t pulled out the power washer for the deck and patio furniture, heck, I haven’t even pulled out the furniture yet.   Maybe this weekend…..it will be a quiet one for me as everyone will be busy with their barbecues.  

With the decision not to replace our above ground pool we have been going back and forth on enlarging the existing deck.   I don’t have the energy to argue with what Mr. W. wants so I will just let him roll with his idea.   To my mind it will be the size of a helicopter pad…….well at least I can comfort myself with buying furniture and ‘stuff’ for the humongous deck.  Estimates in and it is a go.  I might have to pull out some more pots to plant for the heli-pad.  

May WIPGO was another great success.    You know the WIPGO rules - Your Board/Your Rules.   It happened that two different samplers were called in one month.   One with the assignment to complete a page of the pattern and the other to stitch for 15 days on it.   I made an executive decision to rearrange the board and make both numbers called to be the same sampler.     I completed two partial pattern pages and I am very close to completing a third pattern pages.  

 

I just need to stitch to the pin to have completed 3 pattern pages.   I got this!

I am very pleased with how much I got done so far with WIPGO.  I do however need to take a hard look at my board for the remainder of the year.  Although thrilled with my progress, I am not decreasing the PHD’s - Projects Half Done.   

Upcoming are personalizing this perpetual calendar and starting Rosewood Manor’s Barnwood Buttons.   No offense to Thomas Kincaid but I plan to personalize the plaques with my last name and initial.

  I’ve got some ideas  for this once it is finished! 

Barnwood Buttons have been a favorite since it first came out.   I am changing up the linen color to this coffee stained blue and I am using DMC floche instead in B5200.  As we all hate stitching with white I have been wanting to try this alternative to regular DMC or even WDW Whitewash of Grits.   And you can see I have my buttons all lined up and ready to go!

 

I did manage a finish on this Plum Street Design.   It is called “Goodbye Fall”.  I think I will be finishing it as a pillow.   It called for snowflakes and the wording - “Goodbye Fall” but I wanted a more fall than a going into into winter vibe.

So that sums up my May.   As always, thanks for stopping by and……..keep on stitching.  

Beantown - Part Two

 After a fun filled 28 hours, we were off to a little town in Maine southwest of Augusta.  We arrived at Dana and Micah’s  1850’s farmhouse which was awesome.  

With a stream edging the property and skies you can see forever, it is such a lovely setting.

Look what greeted us when we walked in.   Fully functioning.

I know I could put this neat piece of furniture to use storing patterns and projects.

The before pot  and after the pot view of our delicious lobster dinner.   There were fresh scallops as well.

 

On Friday, we were off to visit Belfast and Camden.  Both small towns located on Penobscot Bay.  We were treated to beautiful skies after two rainy days in Boston.

Cool sea glass and stone garden (?) stakes.  

Always a view of the water is essential.

Opera House and now town hall

Erected in 1899, a tribute to the soldiers from Camden who fought in the Civil War.

Leaving Camden, we were off to Belfast.

View from our stop for margarita’s.

   It was Cinco de Mayo after all.

In Boston, I had my first hard cider and followed that up with a flight in Maine.  I’m hooked now!

Now to Dana and Micah’s home.   Wow is all I can say.   

Pardon my clutter on the dresser in my room.   Such a sweet little guest room, with it’s only alarm clock - the roosters outside!

Look at this beautiful crocheted blanket Dana made.  If only it could have fit in my luggage I might have needed to spirit it away.

Did I say roosters….where there are roosters, there are chickens too.

Talk about fresh eggs!

There is a baby chick peeping along in from of the Mother Hen.   Born that very morning.

Chickens not enough, the house came with beehives.   They struck up a relationship with the gentleman who placed them there and for the mere pittance of a jar or two of honey each year, his hives were welcomed to stay just where they are.

Beautiful, large dining table and dining room.  

Needlework displayed everywhere!

And Longaberger Baskets galore!

And there’s more…..where do all the bits and pieces needed to create these beautiful needlework pieces live…..

…in this giant, awesome craft room.  This is just one small corner.   Times this by 4 and put it in a 18 by 20 foot space.   It comes complete with back stairway and a trap door in the floor that opens to the kitchen.

The Bourbon Room.   I was schooled in how to drink bourbon.  

Can you tell we had a very nice time.   Dana and Micah were the consummate hosts.  

Thanks for taking a tour with me and…….keep on stitching.