A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Another Ho-Hum

What a difference five days, warmer temps, and rain make. 

I left you in winter and today can prove that spring arrived in the interim. I can prove it like a Northern Gal does. No forsythia, no daffodils, no tulips nor such things. What I can show are dwindling snowbanks, robins, and thermometers.
 ~above 70°F~
I can also show that the town has been abuzz with activity. The sound of chainsaws and leaf blowers are in the land. Alas, this means that another well loved tree has been felled in the neighborhood. We will lose at least two more before the end of summer. It seems that the chickens have come home to roost and that the Ice Storm of '98 is having the final say nearly two decades later.


The side lawn has been loaded with rain-dancing robins. They do love to fake out the worms and have themselves a meal. This robin was closest to my window and, for a while, he seemed to enjoy posing, until he didn't.
~getting testy~

I have been happily puttering in the sewing room trying anything new that might teach me a better way of accomplishing something. These are some of my latest efforts.


A little who knows what on my wall made from gifted scraps and an embroidered dresser scarf that my mother made years and years ago. It's an odd and highly eclectic mess. I wish that I had had enough of the darker green fabric because it has an "oriental" vibe with butterflies, dragonflies and waterlilies. I learned two things: 1) fabrics need to be more cohesive 2) one can not use the best binding method with very small projects.

~wonky~

Then I saw a unique pattern on You Tube that I wanted to try. (Link to pattern at Missouri Quilt Company) Anyway, when I went to the scrap material, I found that my mother had already sewn four strips together. I love things like that. These are the colors she chose, the fabrics she selected, except for the border material.



Here it is on the table with forsythia branches being forced. They're stubborn! Oh, by the way, if you have forsythia, I found *the neatest article* on pruning it. Mine did not bloom last year so this means that I pruned the bushes incorrectly.

John and I are off for the morning. We don't get out much these days so I am looking forward to this errand-running time.

A fine spring (or fall) day to you! 




53 comments:

  1. I am happy to see you try new things. I like how your projects are turning out. You have a nice wall decor, as well as a table topper. Soon the flowers will arrive. For now just to be happy the snow is going away. Wishing you more signs of Spring to arrive soon. Take care.

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  2. Isn't it great to see the snow going so fast now! Raining here today which will help too. I really like both of the fabric things you made. The square on your table is really nice since your mother started it and you finished it. Enjoy the day.

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  3. We have already had spring down here. It came and went faster than a speeding bullet. It colored the world pretty magnificently for a week or two and then headed to places in more northern climes. In its place, we already have summer. I'll be singing, "I Got Steam Heat" for the next six months.

    Grumble.

    But I celebrate your signs of spring with you (all but the fallen tree(s) ). I love forsythia. I don't have a bush, but I wish that I did, and I absolutely love it when it is brought inside.

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  4. Spring snows disappear quickly and we know the ground is warmer and we will see some green. Maybe that's the reason I like chives. They are always the first to appear. Robins are back here, too, and it's wonderful to hear them welcoming us early in the morning. Your indoor projects show seem to show your anticipation of warmer days, too. Happy Spring!

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  5. It's promising Vee. The speed of the transformation always shocks me. Daffodils are in bloom, the sweet cherry blossoms have all fallen off and I put out my hummingbird feeders yesterday. I never get tired of watching the robins. They seem to watch me a great deal too, expecially if I head off to dig somewhere. They're pretty smart. Please send me that little statue of the girls with the geese. :D

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  6. I have a forsythia that just refuses to grow. I have no idea why..every spring I get 6-8 yellow blooms, usually on one branch..then it goes green and just sits there. I think it doesn't like me very much and is just being stubborn. LOL!

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  7. Good morning! Love the table topper you made out of your mom's starts. Don't ya just love Missouri Star? I always want to make everything she gives tutorials on...she makes it look soo easy. YAY! On spring arriving in your neck of the woods finally. We have been having such gorgeous weather I can hardly stand it and I have been soaking up every warm day, cool breeze, budding flower, and singing bird I can as I know the sizzling days of summer are around the corner, lol. Enjoy your day out Vee!

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  8. From one northern girl to another, I understand the lack of Spring prettiness to blog about. It's been a bit of a dry spell for me over on the blog for that very reason. I love the table square made from your mother's blocks, pretty and a sweet reminder of your mom. I like the idea of framing vintage embroidery in a block too. I have tons of it picked up for practically nothing at sales, it's a great use for some of it! Enjoy your errand day :)

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  9. It's most distressing to see a tree down. We are still seeing the trees meeting their end from the drought of 2011... new trees being planted, but will take a lifetime to see the parks and neighborhoods as they once were. You may think your project is wonky, but I love it. So nice to be using your Mother's embroidery and I love the quilted square. She had a good eye ... you too! I had the ACs serviced ... already seeing high humidity and temps. UGH!

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  10. Yeah for melting snow and robins! The table square turned out lovely.

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  11. It sounds like Spring is finally going to show up for you, Vee. Too bad about the felled trees, though.
    Wasn't that a nice surprise to find your Mom's strips that were sewn together? What a pretty topper you've made for your table and a sweet reminder of your Mom.

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  12. I love what you made from the strips your mom had put together! Very pretty.

    Spring has arrived for you! Finally! It is sad when trees are damaged and must be taken down.

    Enjoy your day out with John.

    Deanna

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  13. In the space of one week we had sweltering heat followed by a bitterly cold storm and now a cool and sunny day. In a word - Spring. Love the little cross-stitch sampler, Vee!
    Amalia
    xo

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  14. It's always sad to lose a tree. I know you are enjoying those robins hopping around. I take a lot for granted with forsythia here in the deep south. It grows/blooms like crazy. We can even break off a piece and stick it in the dirt and it grows/blooms the next year. I have several blog friends from diff. parts of the country that have difficulty with it. I hope you and John enjoy your day of running around. We don't get out much either, but just a walk thru the thrift store lifts our spirits some days. How wonderful to have these little treasures from your mom. I love the piece for your table. God bless your day.

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  15. Our landscape is just beginning to show signs of true spring. The daffodils are all up and there are now buds on the smaller bushes. The forest is coming alive! Wow, that is kind of spooky when written like that. ;)

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  16. Oh dear, I'm afraid to click on how to prune a forsythia because I already hacked away at ours but as soon as I'm done commenting I'll check it out. Love your little projects and you've given me some encouragement to do something with my one and only beginning of a quilt square that I did back in the 70's! Now I hope I can find that square...
    Glad to see something besides snow out your windows, Vee! Have a good week.

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  17. Oh the joy of melting snow and robins appearing. Love the idea of you puttering away in your sewing room, stitching this and that and finding the pieces from your mother's stash. A lovely reminder on your table.

    There's a prescribed way to prune forsythia? We whack ours whenever it becomes unruly, which is often. Blooming has never been an issue, but I'll be checking out the link.

    Enjoy your day out - or, I should say, I hope you've enjoyed your day out, because I don't think you are checking blog comments while out.

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  18. I love the pretty things around us that make a house a home. Your quilted mat is beautiful! Enjoy your day...both of you! Sweet hugs, Diane

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  19. Buy pansies, Vee! I totally cheered myself up yesterday by driving to the Agway and buying some pansies and yellow primroses, coming home, tearing the pine boughs out of the sidewalk urns and plunking those cheerful pansies in place! It rained last evening and gave them their first watering of Spring! The primroses are going into the ground by the walkway to the postbox this morning! Tra-la! Sending you cheer!

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  20. I'm so glad to hear that spring weather has arrived. About time (hands on hips)! Love the pretty little table mat. Neat pattern. Enjoy the changing season, sweetie.

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  21. Yay! The snow is finally melting...good for you! Isn't it amazing how quickly things can change? Your little sewing projects are so cute and the one your mother started makes a great little centerpiece mat...such pretty colors and patterns. We had forsythia years ago when we lived in KY and I don't ever remember pruning it. It seemed to have bloomed every year by being neglected...which I am so good at doing!

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  22. Vee, I'm so happy for you that your spring is finally there! Sorry to hear about your neighborhood trees. The landscape changes so much when a tree is felled. You are so fortunate to have your mother's stash of fabric to make such lovely pieces. I love the one on your table with the forsythia. Beautiful colors! ♥

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  23. I so glad you are finally experiencing some spring weather! Thanks for sharing the video link and I love your new table mat!

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  24. Yippee -- I'm so glad spring has arrived for your area, Vee!! Those long winters are just too depressing. I'm sorry you've lost another tree in your neighborhood. Coincidentally, we had a tornado hit our community in the fall of 1998 (it came right through our backyard) and we lost all the hardwoods in our backyard. They were poplars, which I'm not overly fond of, so I don't miss them. We have a wooded lot at the back of our property and a wooded strip between our driveway and the neighbor's. Anyway, my point is that a lot of the trees that didn't get taken out by that tornado were weakened and damaged, and we worry they will fall in another storm. They're too close to our house for comfort. It costs a fortune to have even one tree professionally removed, so every time we have strong winds, I get really nervous.

    I think your piece of needlework is interesting and love the embroidered section your mom made. The quilt table square is lovely!! I must thank you for giving me a laugh first thing; when I saw that "testy robin" picture, I laughed out loud. :-D Too funny, Vee.

    Enjoy your day out, my friend, and have a lovely week!

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  25. LOVE your patchwork table mat! And how special that it was begun by your mother! Springtime has brought out the creative juices for you!

    You're saying that the trees were damaged by an ice storm twenty years ago, or did I misunderstand? I am sure that you'll miss them, but safety comes first. We have a tree on the west side of our house that has some kind of damage. We're not sure what is causing it, but huge sections of bark have peeled off. As it is so close to the house, we are going to have to take it down. Sad, because it offers shade and habitat for the birds and peeks of seasonal beauty from Bekah's bedroom window, but it's not a risk we're willing to take.

    Enjoy your springtime days!! So exciting!!

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  26. I'm so glad that winter is leaving your area. I know you're sick of it this year. I think we have a Baltimore Oriole nesting in our yard this year! I found their nest, if so. They don't usually stay in our area that long.
    You sure are a fantastic crafter (or is it "craftee" but not crafty ... ha ha). Makes me want to get back to sewing again. ~:)

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  27. Hi Vee!

    I just love seeing pictures of your neighborhood! It's amazing to me how different it looks from the west - it reminds me of our forests! I'm so glad that Spring has finally decided to make it's way to you, it's about time! Here in Idaho, we will have warm days and cold days for about another 3 or 4 weeks, before Mother Nature decides what to do. The farmers are all starting to put water on the potatoes, grain and hay, and that's a sign that it's time for me to start getting the garden ready to plant.

    Robin's look very grouchy don't they? I love seeing them in my yard though, they mean that there's hope!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  28. Oh Vee - your sewing projects are so pretty. I love your table centre piece! Thank goodness that Spring is coming your way - it's finally arrived here too! Now I'm pushing to try to get some of my "inside" work done before the outside work begins. It's so nice to be able to hang things out on the wash line - one of life's pleasures for me. I can't believe how many Robins are on our lawn these days!

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  29. Not ho hum at all....The arrival of spring, however she shows herself, is always a joy....Of course it is sad big trees must be cut down. It just is. But life is all about change.(So easy to write that!) I do like your quilting...I've always liked pinks and greens together and the dark colors are a nice contrast. I hope you have a fun day out with John....I've had a day, so far, with the plumber here and feel much poorer than before! But the problems are solved and it needed to be done.

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  30. I am glad that things are warming up for you!!! It is important with forsythia to prune after flowering and then leave it to grow new shoots as those are the ones that will flower next year. If you prune in the autumn it will not have flowers as the new shoots are not there. I have made that mistake in the past! xx

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  31. I am always happy to see these fun posts-a mish-mash of this and that. Love those quilt projects-especially the one that your mom did those blocks for....and the little table quilted piece. I don't have any forsythia here but I do love it.
    Hope you and John had a fun outing today- xo Diana

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  32. Oh that is a pretty parting shot. The forsythia branches look perfect on your quilt square. A breath of spring along with the robin sighting. Hope you and John enjoyed your day out.

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  33. I don't think it's wonky at all, I think it's adorable. A friend brought me forsythia branches last night and they are already beginning to bloom. Yours will look pretty on the quilted square. I really like the material, esp the green toile. Glad you're getting a little spring there finally.

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  34. Vee, I love your sewing projects! They look very nice! I know how you feel about the winter--it was a long one indeed. We still have some snow in the backyard but I bet it will be gone in a day or two. Now it is time to pick up the trees and very large branches that fell because of the wet, heavy snow. Our newspaper box also did not make it through the winter. a plow took it down and buried it in a huge pile of snow. It looks very sad! Wishing you a happy spring Vee! I haven't even seen a robin yet!!! Keep sewing! I like your wall hanging and table topper!
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog

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  35. Ooooo I like having flowering branches on a table in Spring. It's fun to walk past and see the blossoms unfurling.

    Things are slowly greening up around here -- the air is still sharpish and the wind cold. Green things are happening in the garden. Crocuses have come and gone. Now to wait for daffodils and tulips.

    Wishing you a lovely day, Vee!
    Brenda
    xox

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  36. So glad to hear that spring is finally coming to you.
    I have quite a few forsythia in the back yard and didn't know the correct way to prune them. Thanks to the article now I do. Thanks.

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  37. The wall hanging you made with your mother's embroidery is very pretty, Vee, as is the mat under your branches.
    I wonder if I could grow forsythia here? They were all over Brooklyn. I will have to research if deer and rabbits will find them edible. My neighbor has a giant lilac bush that is almost a tree and I'm beginning to get it's scent from the appearing buds. I planted two dwarf lilac bushes last year on the opposite side of my yard and I'm happy to see them turning green.
    Hope you had a nice outing!

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  38. O, so glad spring is reaching it's long fingers out to you and melting snow and bring warmer.
    What a long, ole cold and wet winter for ya'll.
    I love forsythia...have never grown it...usually just go to Pier 1 and get some gorgeous fauxs and love 'em.
    I am just not a gardener by heart...
    xo

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  39. So glad you are enjoying spring, Vee, robins always remind me of how close spring is. The wall hanging that your mother embroidered is so pretty, I know it has special meaning, I have many little treasures made, used and wrote by my grandmothers, and mother, some I use while cooking ,each time I am reminded of their love for home, and me.
    Hope you enjoyed your outing, I will be out today.
    xxoo

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  40. Ah, spring has sprung, finally! Love the shots of that plump robin, adorable!

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  41. Aww spring is certainly in the air! We saw our first robin the other day, such a delight. The wild Turkeys, all 19 of them, that come all winter for their hen scratch must be nesting right now because only the three males are coming for breakfast. I love those Turkeys!
    I loved your center piece that you made for your table, lovely.
    Have a great day, Debbie

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  42. Finally! I am so happy for you!
    I always enjoy finding projects around the house - some I meant to do and never got back to!
    May your rest of the week be just as wonderful as your post today!

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  43. Sorry you are losing trees in your neighbourhood! Enjoy the singing birds...and the rain washing the snow away. Soon you will see green grass and flowers in abundance...and 'the winter that stayed too long' will be a distant memory!

    Good job on the table centerpiece!

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  44. Hello Vee, I am dropping by because I missed you and a lot of my blogging buddies. Sickness etc. come along and chance so many things. Thought about you during all the snow. We had 10 or 12 inches in ole Ky. which is way more than usual. Finally have my new computer up and running. Hope I can remember everything.

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    1. Hi Peggy! Good to see you! I'll look forward to an April or May post now that you have your new computer up and at'em.

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  45. From, "Will it Never End" to a thermometer that reads 70F, I'd say a few days have made a huge difference!
    Like your wall what nots, and I especially like the green toile fabric that your mother used in her quilt top square. Your table with fresh blooms is the perfect place to display this treasure.

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  46. I'm so glad you are experiencing just a touch of spring. While it's not been as cold here, we have still been teased mercilessly. It was 85 on Monday and didn't even rise out the the low 50's today. The sounds of spring always bring hope though. =) I love that fabric for the quilt. Sooo pretty!

    Hope all of your errand running went well.

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  47. So glad spring is showing her head in your neck of the woods. We had sun today, and oh, does that make a difference. Love your sewing project. Enjoy the signs of spring.

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  48. I like the quilted table topper Vee, it adds some colour to the table while showing off your handiwork.
    It pays to read up on pruning techniques for the shrubs you have because you need to know if they bloom on old or new wood. During gardening classes one of the most common questions I'm asked is why their lilacs didn't bloom and it turns out they pruned them in spring, cutting off all the flower buds.
    Like me, you can savour a slow emergence of spring.

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  49. I didn't find this post ho-hum at all! Love the bits and pieces of everyday life!

    Your needlework projects are so pretty. I have finished up a number of them that others have started and it's always a good feeling. This week I must start, I really must, on a handmade gift for my soon-to-be-seven year old grandson. I've made loads of felt food for him (and most of the other grands) in the past -- this time I am trying my hand at a felt campfire and marshmallows ...

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  50. Hi, Vee! So much wonderfulness in this post! Glad to hear spring is coming your way. So many people have had a long wait this year! You being one of them. I LOVE creme horns! They are evil good! Your idea to split them and top them with cherries is magnificent. How easy and how pretty!

    Your mama's quilting...how sweet! And now you get to enjoy it on your table all finished. Lovely! And I see you like to cross stitch. Me, too! I do more hand embroidery now than cross stitch, but both are very satisfying.

    A lovely post, Vee. It's nice getting to know you! Take care and enjoy your springtime weather. (I hope you still have it! It's been so elusive this year.)

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