Glorious Day

Aqua, lime and hot pink combined with white and gray make me think of blue skied summer days. For this beauty, I dipped into my scrap baskets and cut with the Glorious Nine Patch die from Blue Wren.

Sixteen blocks, bordered by 3½” strips make a 46” square quilt called Glorious Day. I quilted with light gray thread around the circles, across the centers, and over the block seams. The backing is a gray and white medium floral print.

Glorious Day

On a side note, even though some businesses in Tennessee are reopening, we are still taking precautions and isolating at home. The only exception was Saturday, when we picked up an order of fresh strawberries and bedding plants from a local farm.

The upside to staying home is taking time to enjoy being here, relaxing and just living. I did get a bit too close to nature on my walk the other day, though. I stepped on a big ole snake that was snoozing in a pile of leaves! Scared me to death, but it wasn't poisonous and didn't bite me. I'll stick to walking in the driveway for a while.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6562 Glorious 9 Patch

Accuquilt 55032 3 ½” strip

Wake up in the morning

with a positive mindset

and a joyful heart.

Be determined

that it will be

a glorious day. 

Berries And Blooms

It's May...berries and blooms are showing up everywhere! 

Strawberries are in a bit early, medium sized, and absolutely delicious. I believe Tennessee berries are the sweetest and best in the world. There are several pick your own farms within a few miles of us. Served over shortcake or biscuit, with ice cream, sprinkled with sugar, or plain fresh out of the basket--doesn't matter to me. I just wish the season was longer!

Most of my indoor plants have been moved to their seasonal home on our screened porch. I am loving my time in the yard; yes, even the weeding (for now). Have I ever mentioned how much I hate wild ginger vine and poison ivy?  

Spring flowers are so beautiful this year. I have purple, yellow, peach and white iris, pale pink peonies, lavender phlox, beautiful dark pink heirloom roses, and a few late red azaleas blooming right now. I've bought a few flats of red and purple petunias, yellow lantana, lime sweet potato vine, marigolds, salmon geranium, maroon and lime coleus, and orange violas to add splashes of color in pots. The hummingbirds are back and they love these blooms, too.  Now if I can keep the deer away from the hosta, I'll be doing all right. 

The earth laughs in flowers. – Emerson

Nature is cheaper than therapy.

Marvelous May!

Cinco de Mayo: Since I love Mexican food, you can bet I'll celebrate by enjoying chips, guacamole, a big plate of Pollo Loco and an icy cold bottle or two of Pacifico.

Mother's Day: Without my quirky and hard working mama, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. She always took good care of me, so now I'm returning the favor with love. I'm grateful that I can talk with her daily, and that she's still a feisty redhead. Thanks, Sam!

Flowers: My yard is full of spring flowers and I love them all! Pale and dark pink peonies, delicate white azaleas, violet tall phlox, purple, peach, white and yellow iris, hot pink carnations, sweet smelling lilacs and heavenly roses in yellow, orange and pink.

Strawberries: I don't grow them but Portland berries are the sweetest and best. They're beginning to come in, so I'm heading to Bradley's for a crate of these juicy delights.

“My mama taught me that I had the power to achieve my dreams, to find my own way, and to be responsible for myself.” ~ Katie Scarlett

Warm Wonderful Spring

What an unusually warm year we're having! Winter was mild and spring is at least six weeks earlier than normal here in Tennessee. Highs in the 70's in February and 80's in March have coaxed my flowers to show their faces much sooner. Everything has come up beautifully green, lush, and ahead of schedule.

Early iris that ordinarily bloom in April produced their gorgeous colors during March; later ones are showing their faces now. Our trellis is exploding with hundreds of New Dawn rosebuds. My great grandmother's old fashioned pink rosebushes are blossoming now instead of on their traditional Mother's Day. I had to cover them up last Wednesday night for the 35 degree light frost of blackberry winter. Yes, that's right, blackberries are blooming and will be ready to eat long before July.

My lilac bush is covered with pretty sweet-smelling blooms.  And, believe it or not, my mama and I picked two gallons of luscious sweet strawberries on April 6, a full five weeks before they regularly come in. We've already mowed our grass three times.  Our apple trees are sprouting tiny apples, which the deer are enjoying immensely.

I'm not sure what this early development means, but I am thankful for the wonderful weather and Mother Nature's show. April is one of my favorite times, probably because it's my birth month. Warm sunshine, a few rain showers, pretty flowers, and breezy days on the screened porch make me happy. I only hope that all these early warm days don't transition into a long hot dry summer.

Today is my birthday.
I will eat cake and have fun.
I will absolutely NOT act my age.

Five Fabulous Things About May in Tennessee

I love my home state of Tennessee. Each season has special qualities, and I try to enjoy all of them.  Here are five fabulous things about May, in no particular order.

Portland strawberries

Strawberries -- These sweet, succulent, bright red, juicy berries are my favorite fruit. I prefer them this way: shortcake, pie, cake, right out of the field, on ice cream, on cereal, on biscuits, coated in chocolate, with whipped cream, in a salad...you get the picture. Too bad they only produce for a few weeks. Fresh is best, but homemade jam or preserves run a close second. 

 

Festivals -- Tennessee has a wide spectrum of festivals and events during the month of May. We celebrate strawberries, barbeque, arts & crafts, colonial and renaissance fairs, music, main street and downtown, heritage, gardens and flowers.  Search online or go to www.tnvacation.com to find one close to you. 

Flowers –- Roses, peonies, and iris are blooming abundantly now. These romantic flowers are both delicate and hardy. Amazing arrays of color and exquisite fragrances delight my senses and sometimes cause a bit of sneezing! But their beauty is worth it.

Holidays -- Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day bring celebrations with family and friends. Mexican food, guacamole, and drink on the fifth, spending Sunday with mama in the middle, then a big finish grilling out or heading to the lake. Good times.

 

Yard Sales -- Warm weather around here sprouts more than flowers. Watch for bright signs with arrows that make diehard junkers slam on brakes and hang the corner on two wheels. Spring cleaning has produced lots of stuff from the depths of closets and basements. Ready to shop?

Useful Notion:  Be selective about the bargains you find at garage sales...think how you'll use, repurpose or incorporate it into your life before you bring it home. 

"Enjoy May's colorful blooms, green grass, songbirds and all of nature...soon it will be too hot to go outside at all!"  -- Anonymous

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