Warning: I brake for turtles! Honestly, I do. I stop to save box turtles and other critters from the road. The thought of one of those little creatures getting hit by a car leaves a pit in my stomach, Yes, I am a softy, but I draw the line at snapping turtles. They are not […]
Shade gardens are so soothing. The variety of greens and textures of the leaves are so interesting. Hostas have such large and lush leaves with white, yellow and green. Heuchera are intriguing with their red and green leaves with foamy flowers. Hellebore are the first flowers for the season blooming between Christmas and Lent. Chelone […]
Stories about fairies have been around for centuries. They range from mythology to fairy tales to more recent stories like Peter Pan and the Spiderwick Chronicles. Fairies have special powers to help or hinder characters in the stories. They are rarely the lead character, but definitely influence the outcome of the story. I have always […]
No matter when you live, ice cream stands have a special place in our memories. Growing up in the Adirondacks, it was never particularly warm in the summer, but we still enjoyed the local ice cream stand in summer. Anyone who lives in the country knows that local can me several miles away. And yes, […]
With snow on the ground here in Virginia, it is difficult to think about Earth Day and spring being right around the corner. But it is. Yesterday, I saw a seemingly misguided robin. They usually arrive as the harbinger of spring. This poor guy may have had a compass malfunction or maybe he had it […]
When I think of picnics, I envision a quilt amidst a field of wildflowers, a wicker basket full of food, a bottle of wine, friends, and laughter. Maybe I have watched too many BBC period pieces like Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility. My last experience with a picnic was not quite so bucolic. […]
Large prints are so beautiful, but how do you use them in quilt other than as a panel? That was the challenge when I saw the gorgeous Luminosity collection from Northcott. I wanted to highlight the magnificent large print and design something a little different. I needed something with large pieces, like a large wheel, […]
My parents instilled patriotism and humility in me, not through their words, but through their actions. My father served in the US Army Reserve for 33 years, spanning from Vietnam to Desert Storm. My mother served on a variety of local boards, including her local library board. They paid their taxes, followed the speed limit, […]
When fall comes around, I want to pull out my turtleneck sweaters and plaid jackets. I know it sound a little old fashioned, but I love my plaid in the fall. Maybe it is a bit of my heritage shining through. Or maybe I just like the look of beautiful colors woven together to make […]
I have always marveled at raptors. Hawks, eagles and falcons have such majesty about them. They are sentinels perching on trees, lamp posts and fence posts, waiting for some unwitting prey to cross their path. We are so fortunate to have a pair of nesting eagles near our neighborhood. Watching them soar overhead is quite […]