Spring Happenings

Lots of pretty things going on outside here in the Land of Muddle. I am so happy to see the things that survived Winter this year. Ours was a very mild one, and that is why there are hibiscus blooming!

As you can see here, Mr Muddling is doing the work of planting tomato plants in our little garden. He did a great job!

This little daily calendar page is how he says he feels some days - he is behind pushing me and ahead pulling at the same time! Bless his heart. I do not know what I would do without him!

I am amused, amazed and slightly annoyed at my friends who tell me what a breeze knee surgery is. I've had both knees replaced in three months. It has not been overwhelmingly bad, but neither has it been any fun at all. LOL! But, I am recovering and doing very well! My physical therapist told me that most people have amnesia after they recover from these surgeries. They quickly forget, which is probably a very good thing!

One thing I have learned is that you should NOT attempt to alter a quilt pattern when you are chemically altered! I saw this pattern on a Donna Jordan video. I liked it so much I ordered the pattern and the layer cake to make it. Of course I did not take into account that I cannot touch fabrics until they've been washed. Allergies. So. My ten inch squares ended up being 9 1/2 X 10 inches. It took several attempts, but I think I have now managed to get it right. I will just have smaller blocks. 

The chickens always entertaining. I wonder what they're thinking.

Buddy is not worried about anything! I think he's got the right idea!

I hope you are well and happy and having fun in your world! I am thankful for all the good things in mine.

Hugs and kisses,

Home Sweet Home

Yes, I am home after my knee replacement surgery on Wednesday. All went well and I am on the road to recovery. Glory to God!

And just how cute is this flower arrangement?!!! My sister Sue and her sweet husband had it delivered to me yesterday. Love that Mustang!

And just as that delivery was getting here, our son Larry showed up with more flowers for me. I do love my family. And I am well aware how very blessed I am.

I hope all is going well in your corner of the world and that someone is spoiling you at least a little bit!

Hugs and kisses,

Right Now in Muddle Land

Just everything is full of the glory of Spring. Only trouble is - Winter decided it's not through yet. We have freeze warnings for tonight. Bummer.

I took all the blocks down off my design wall and pinned them together in groups of ten. I have all the blocks for the center of the quilt on the American Patchwork and Quilting quiltalong completed, but they will have to wait a while to get sewn together.

This cracks me up - chickens marching into Ruthie's Garden as soon as I open the gate!

And this is where they are seconds later - the whole bunch of them munching away on everything! They had a wonderful time. Only trouble is, I have to keep a really close eye on them or the garden will quickly become a wasteland. They are destructive little critters, but so cute! I just love them. And their eggs!

Buddy and Ariel have the right idea in weather like this - nap! Mr. Muddling and I have been doing some of that, too! And we are so thankful for the luxury of being able to take a nap just about whenever we want!

My  knee replacement for the other knee is Wednesday. I know, how did it get here so quickly? But, I will be glad when it is over and I get back to much better mobility!

I hope it's not too cold (or hot) where you are and that you are finding at least some fun! There are so many wonderful things in this world of ours, and I am thankful to be here to enjoy them!

Hugs and kisses,

Staying Busy

Here is the completed quilt happily doing its job on our bed! I do love it. 

I again used Bonnie Hunter's pattern, Narragansett Blues. I used mostly reds, and between each vertical row I added a one inch strip of red. Gives it a totally different look!

I used this sweet fleece as the backing and the batting is Hobbs Tuscany cotton/wool blend My aim was a warm quilt without all the weight. We tried a couple of my other quilts after my knee replacement surgery and I could not stand the weight of either. This one is so much better, and since I have the other knee scheduled for replacement early next month, I'm glad to have it finished!

American Patchwork and Quilting magazine has a quilt in their latest issue (April, 2019) that I like, so I had already decided to give it a shot. Then I noticed there is a quilt along starting today.  The strips are all one and a half inches wide, but fortunately I have the Go! Cutter strip die in that size. Yay! Makes it go so much faster.

Here are the first three blocks. It's going to be a time consuming project, but that's what I need right now. Quilting really does help me to stay sane, and not to think about things I cannot control.

Lots of pretties out in the front and the back yards! The chickens are having a marvelous time whenever they get to roam. Chloe, of course, is not impressed. 

I'm really enjoying our little patio. We've had some nasty, cold and rainy weather, but when the pretty days come along, those are all forgotten. It is joy to have the back door open and enjoy the birds and the chicken songs. Mr. Muddling is sure it's not singing, but I know better!

Isn't it good to have fun? I believe in it! And I hope you're having a lot of fun where you are!

Hugs and Kisses,

Lots of Good Things

This was Monday's page from my Mary Engelbreit daily calendar. I have to say, I am enjoying these pictures and sayings every day. This one really made me laugh.  But. I think a lot of the time, we are the ones who stop ourselves. Something to think about.

This is not a very good picture, but I wanted to share with you how strange our weather has been.  It is not usual for a hibiscus to be still alive outside in February. They are a tropical plant, and for one to still be blooming is really unusual. Add to that the narcissus blooming right under it!

                                                            The angel trumpet is still blooming

and in the front yard this little yellow rose is in full bloom. 

Seems to be a little difficult to see what season it is out there!

The most exciting thing to me is that I'm quilting!!! It's taking me much longer, but I am doing it and I'm happy and thankful!

I'm also thankful for a husband who after almost thirty-eight years still brings me flowers!

Life is good, even with its challenges. God is so good to me.

I hope you're having lots of things to rejoice about, too. You may have to look a little harder for them, but they are there!

Hugs and kisses,

February?

Almost unbelievably to me, this has become a quilt top!!! Hopefully it will actually become a quilt sometime in the near future. One lives in hope!

Isn't it funny what you'll find out in the yard? I do love our very own fresh flowers.

Buddy feels absolutely entitled to spread out where ever he chooses. I do love that dog!

And just for grins, a friend shared this with me and I thought you might like it, too! I did laugh, I'll admit.

I don't know about you, but I enjoy finding things that make me laugh. You know, the Bible says that a merry heart does good like a medicine. And doctors say that patients who have a positive attitude do better overall and recover more quickly than those who don't. Plus, it's fun! And we do like to have fun, don't we?

I hope you've found some fun for yourself. Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs and kisses,

Winter Is Finally Arriving

We had a cold front blow in early this morning. Temperatures have been steadily dropping all day. The weatherman says it will freeze tonight, and we've got strong winds as well. I guess we've escaped it for long enough for one year, but I cannot say I'm looking forward to waking up in the morning and seeing all the pretty things out there today looking not nearly so pretty tomorrow! But such is life. Nothing is forever!

Do you see my beautiful Buddy? I do love that dog. What a gift he has been to me.  And speaking of gifts, look what Mr. Muddling did. He laid a little extension to our patio of bricks. That will help a lot with the mud usually there from our darling chickens wreaking havoc! We have a bird feeder right outside that door and enjoy seeing the birds there every day. Of course when the chickens come out they have to "clean up" any seed left behind by the birds.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and lots of fun!

Hugs and kisses,