:: happy May Day!

From my childhood, (just a fews years ago… *cough-cough*!!)… I remember at school learning to do the dance around the Maypole. . . I think my very favorite part was all the pretty ribbons & how they would weave themselves into a beautiful design as the dance progressed. I remember looking up (because I wanted to watch the ribbons) & bumping into my friend over & over, & we got a case of the giggles that refused to leave!

 . . . Sweet memories.

. . . I wonder if kids are still taught that dance. . . I haven't seen a Maypole in years. . .

I love May. It's that sweet spot between summer & spring (here in the northern hemisphere) where it isn't too hot yet & for us - it means windows open in the mornings & evenings - & the fresh air allows the house to 'breathe' again. The back yard is exploding with color. . . & although we only have two small bougainvillea plants now (we had to cut back the 'wall' of them that we used to have as they can be very aggressive & its a challenge to be sure they don't take over everything.) - I took a photo of the blooms on one. . . & it was so bright I had to tone down the color before posting it!

I've had my nose into my laptop for days (& nights!) to finish-up a project that I'll tell you about in a couple of days. . . & as I went to bed last evening, all I could think of is that I wanted needed to sew! So today, I'm spending some quality time with a bundle of 30's repro fabrics, & plant myself into my stitching chair. I can hardly wait! but, before I shut down the laptop for the day, I wanted to let you know that loaded a bunch of those wonderful little Moda mini-charm packs onto the website. . . I just love them & I've put them on a fun little promo - with 'buy-three-get-the-fourth-free'! You can mix & match the mini charm packs & just let us know which collection you would like as your free one!

I also added this sweet quilt - that I made for display of the first Durham Anew line that I designed - to the 'sample quilts for sale' page. There is no pattern for it - but it would be ideal in a little girls room or as an accent in any 'shabby-chic' space!

Happy May Day!

♥ Bren

… treasuring new life

 I must be honest. . . 

it's been really hard to stay indoors for the past few days. . .

(in fact, I'm sitting out on the back porch posting this!)

Spring has definitely arrived here. . . & it's lovely.

I think having what felt like a colder winter than we usually do, 

(& a couple days with these pretty white fluffies!). . . is making me

appreciate the warmth & the flowers budding (all over the place!).

The birdies are back in the yard - filling the air with their chirping,

 & taking drinks & baths in the water fountains.

I feel like I could sit here & watch them all day.

I got the finch feeder out - but I'm almost out of the seeds for it, 

so I'll be running out later to get some for them. I don't always have it filled - but I like to especially as winter has just past 

& they seem really hungry.

My brother & sister-in-law have been here visiting from Minnesota, 

& Jodi (my s-i-l) kept commenting on all the color & the budding plants!

It's been so wonderful to have them here. They left for the airport this morning, & I will miss them so!

I'll get to have another 'missing-my-family-hole-in-my-heart' fix in a few days though, as I will get to meet the little cutie-pie in the middle photos. He is Samuel, my newest little grand-nephew. Isn't he a cutie? Dad & I will be taking a day trip - flying out to San Diego to meet him next week. It's a quick trip - but it's so worth it! I can hardly wait!

So. . . as you can imagine, I've been working on another of my owl quilts for little Sam.

(If you don't know the history of this design, you can read it here.)

This is the fifth 'Remember Whoo Loves You' quilt that I have made. . .

. . . & I never tire of it. ♡

I also plan to watch the finale of  'The Bible' on Sunday evening. Have you been watching them? I have. . . & I'm so impressed with how they were created & I must admit that in my heart, I'm encouraged at how they've been accepted & how many people have been drawn to them & to looking deeper into the Bible. For me. . . I don't know how I would deal with life without it(!) . . . & so, as we enter & think upon the events of this incredible weekend, I feel so thankful for the love & for the sacrifice & the demonstration of what unconditional love is. It humbles me so to know that I am loved that much, by my Lord & Savior.

 I wish you a wonderful weekend, filled with the wonder & hope of such Love.

♥ Bren

… catching up

After subbing for an entire week last month, 

I've been feeling like I've been trying to catch up ever since.

I've been thinking about you. . .

. . . & 'thinking' about all sorts of things to post. . .

. . . but (obviously), the 'posting' part never quite happened.

I even took some photos!. . . meaning to post them.

One (still on my camera. . . what can I say, I'm claiming 'lame blogger'), 

is a cute photo of Bailey. . . just outside on the back patio.

I took the photo because he had just been thoroughly brushed 

just about an hour beforehand. . .

. . . but he had just been 'helping' Dad in the backyard.

He (Bailey) was covered head to tail in little leaves, blossoms, grass

. . . & who knows what.

What I did discover - later that evening (& all that night. . . & for the next few nights) is that little Mr. Bailey must have  found some little dead critter & made it a little snack & probably had rolled around in the ground all around where he 'found' it.

(. . . why do they do that?)

Anyway, he got some major tummy-bumbles & although he never threw any of it up - it did wreak some havoc on his. . . um. . . other end. . . (& on any plans for a good nights sleep for the next few nights.)

Bless his heart. I almost wished for him that he could throw-up some of whatever-it-was, just so he (& me too) could get some good rest. Thankfully, I'm a pretty light sleeper - because the only hint I had - was that he would walk & walk around - more & more quickly around on the wood floors (. . . think little clinkity-clink noises from his little nails). Then it was me jumping out of bed & getting to the back door as fast I could get there. . . & little Bailey shooting out the back door to get to the grass as fast as possible. 

Poor little guy!

The vet told me to be sure that he got plenty of water. . . as it can dehydrate them pretty fast. So it was lots of water & very plain kibble for several days.

Finally, after 3 nights - we got to sleep all the way through the evening.

Ah. . . . bliss.

But, it did do a number on my getting back into my 'regular' daily schedule.

I am in the midst of going through all of the closets & cupboards in the house - especially the ones in my studio & office. (There's a big hint there. . . get ready for a 'tag sale' announcement soon!)

I did get some wooden crates & boxes, & I got them painted one afternoon. They will be for when I re-do the closet in the guest room.

. . . things are definitely a-changing around here.

It's going to take a bit of work. . .

. . . but I'm really excited to keep checking things off my list.

. . . until then, I'm keeping a much closer eye on my 'fluffy-bump' when he goes outside. . .

(. . . & honestly, I don't think he will be wanting to nibble on anything he finds out in the yard for quite a while. . .)

♥ Bren

… the summer sun. . .

. . . is providing the warmth & coaxing all the flowering plants in the garden to put on such a pretty show for us. . .

This is one of my favorites - one of the Crepe Myrtle's (this one a tree) that we have in the backyard. I love how delicate & yet sturdy this plant is. . . it hangs in there - even when the sun is beating down on it & the temps are in the 3-digits for days-on-end. It just takes it all, thrives, & looks beautiful. . .

Right behind this Crepe Myrtle, is the tall wall where the Cat's Claw vines are putting on their summer show. . . the yellow is so pretty behind the pink of the Crepe Myrtle blooms. (It's called Cat's Claw because these vines seem to grab (& hold!)onto anything! These are planted at the base of these 12 ft. walls. . . & they had grown to the top & flourished within the second year they were planted.)

. . . & while we've had plenty of summer sun. . . we got a little taste of a bit of rain early the other morning. I remember waking up - ever so slightly - & hearing it hitting the window (. . . before I fell back asleep almost immediately!) . . . It sounded so good, as we (& all of Arizona) need to get our summer rains so very badly. We have been in triple digits temperature-wise for well over a week & it's been so very dry for such a long time, but it's looking very promising that we might get rain on Sunday & Monday. (yea!) I'm thinking that we won't even mind if we don't have fireworks on the Fourth - if it is because we are getting rain!

Here at home, (. . . inside. . . with the air conditioning running!), Dad is doing pretty well after his surgery. (Thank you to those of you who checked up on him!) At the hospital, when the surgeon came out to talk with me after the surgery - he told me it was a little more involved than he first thought. . . but that Dad did well. They then had a bit of a complication with him in recovery - managing his pain, but in the long run I think it worked out for the best, because he's not trying to over-do here at home. I'm thinking he doesn't want to go back to the pain level he had. Bailey has been 'on watch' with him. . . where he is always laying nearby him. . . just so he can keep watch.

Design wise, I've got two quilts at the quilter & my days have been spent at the design table writing up the directions & making hexagons. . . (lot's & lots of hexies!. . . I love them & they are soooo addicting!). . . & new stitcheries. Can't beat that for a way to spend the day!

Hope you have a wonderful & safe celebration of the Fourth of July!

♥  Bren

… a wee bit chilly

(Okay. . . actually. . . in my heart I want to say how incredibly cold it's been. . . but in respect for all the folks who live in the midwest & east that have had such overwhelming amounts of snow & cold. . . I wont. . .  (quite).)

But. . . oh my! For a town in southwest Arizona, we have had quite the chilly temps! For several days, we broke the records (some back to the 1800's, & some for all time) for overnight lows & daily temps. I have lived here for 20 years & every winter we have a few nights of a hard frost warnings when we have to cover over the small plants, but we actually had a few days where the highs didn't even get out of the 20's (F)! It was down into the teens overnight & with wind-chill, we actually hit 0°! If we would have had any precipitation - we would have had quite a bit of snow. ❅  . . . But we didn't. . . just cold. (. . . um, I mean *chilly temps*.)  If it weren't so serious - it was kind of amusing to hear the evening newscasters trying to warn & teach folks about how easy it would be to get frostbite & hypothermia.


Here. . . in Southern Arizona. . . Incredible.

The photos are from a couple of the fountains that we have in the backyard that became frozen. (Too bad there weren't any birdies there. . . they could have had some great ice-skating parties!) (click on the photos to see all the frosty goodness!)


Okay. . . (again). . . I actually was quite excited about all this! It is great fun to have such a difference in weather here. . . & to get yo wear my wool coat!  (Although I did feel bad for the folks who travelled here to get away from the winter weather back home.)


And. . . to end this little post in a fairy tale sort-of way. . . we should be back into the 70's by Monday! 
☺
Hope you have a great weekend! (. . . keep warm!)


♥  Bren

… little visitors

We had a really wonderful spring. Wonderful temperatures. . . days filled with leaving the windows wide open. . . & fresh air & sunny days & lots of flowers. And now, it seems as if summer is doing it's thing right on schedule . . . with summer rains in the afternoon to cool things off. . . (at least they're trying!)


. . . Oh sure - our days are sometimes downright hot  - & the windows are only open in the early morning, but I'm really not minding as there are ways that summer seems to provide for some relief. . . like this little one that is a regular in the backyard has found . . . he digs a little hole to get to some cool soil - just under the surface. Ahhh!

 This spring, we had two little bunnies as regulars in the side yards. . . & making their way to the grass in the back this summer. Sometimes they are quite brave . . . especially with people. . . they hardly move unless they really 'have' to. With Bailey  - on the other hand - they would run as soon as they saw him. But. . . I''ve been working hard on "Leave it" with Bailey & now he's really good about not bustin' out the back door when he sees them. Now he waits for permission to go out (usually after I've gone & scooted the bunnies along to another part of the yard). He tries. . . he really tries.

Otherwise - with us keeping the doors closed because we want to keep the house as cool as possible. . .  our little bunnies pretty much have the run of the backyard. . . doing their best to keep the lawn under control. . . 

. . . always though, with their ears listening for the big, curly, fluffy, exuberant 'critter that for some reason considers the yard "his". Little do they know that Bailey is thinking what a big sacrifice he's making to let those little critters with the funny big ears & little white puffy tails stay in "his" yard at all!

. . . But he's learning. . . & he's doing a really good job as 'sharing' "his" yard. (. . . actually, he really knows how good a boy he is when he does a good job at 'Leave it' . . . & has the treats to prove it!) Here's where he spends part of the day - just inside the sliding glass door to the backyard. What's funny is I still can tell when he sees the bunnies - as, although he doesn't bark at them anymore. . . he does let out a small, little, rumbly-sort-of-growl that he thinks only he can hear. . . Oh how he's trying!!

Good boy, Bailey! ♥

p.s. I have received a few emails about when the new patterns will be out. . . (& a couple of email addresses that were incorrect & I couldn't reply!). . . so I wanted to let you know that the patterns are at the printer & I will hopefully have them back & ready to ship by the beginning of next week. (Finally!!) Thanks to everyone for your patience & your enthusiasm too!  ♥ Bren

… of bit of color

While the temps are are making their way up the thermometer around these parts. . . the blooms in both the front & back yards are taking advantage of the sunshine & putting on quite a pretty show. . .!

The backyard is surrounded by a cinderblock wall. . . & for part of the back wall - it reaches about 15 feet, & one of the first things that Dad did was to plant, bougainvilleas, pyracanthas, & what was then - small little cat's claw plants. When the plants began to grow up the walls, Dad ran wire along the wall at different levels for the stems & tendrils to have something to take hold to. . . & boy did they! Now, 10 years later - here is the top of part of the 15 foot wall - with the cat's claw 'water-falling' down from the top. I just love the backdrop it provides for the backyard. You can also see - (in the lower right corner) a bit of the red berries from one of the pyracantha bushes that have also grown quite tall!

Just in time for the Fourth-of-July. . . the pot of blue petunias are putting on a wonderful show!

Just this past week, one of my very favorites - the crepe myrtle tree's blooms are opening. I mentioned a few years ago - how much I liked the blooms of one of the smaller crepe myrtle plants that we had. . . & over the years, Dad has continued to add them to the variety of blooms in the yards. (Isn't he sweet!) At last count, there were 3 in the backyard (1 tree, & 2 bushes) & there is a wonderful large crepe myrtle bush in the front yard. Love them!

. . . & even though they bloomed earlier this spring. . . we are seeing a few of the gladiolas sending up some new blooms!

These sweet little blue flowers are on what was a little bush not too long ago - (in the side yard - outside one of my Dad's bedroom windows) - & now the bush is taller than I am! It's full of these sweet little flowers. . . & is a testament to Dad's green thumb.

These tiny little blue blooms popped up on our rosemary topiary that sits at the corner of the driveway & the walkway to the front door. . . (see them on the top right?)

The rosemary topiary has been there for years. . . starting in a much smaller pot . But not until this past year have a ever seen it's little blue blooms! One of the things that I love about the rosemary is how - when folks come over - they love to brush the palms of their hands over the rosemary & then take a big sniff of their palms & everyone smiles & lets out a big "sigh!" !  :o)

Even the two nandena bushes that sit in their pots at each side of the front door are getting onto the act & are showing their pretty colors!

As for me. . . I'll be spending most of the day indoors. . . I like the sunshine. . . but when the temps are getting into the 100's + . . . I think my time in the yard will be able to be counted in 'moments', & I'll spend the weekend finishing up some pattern writing &, inspired by these pretties from the front & back yard, start on some new 'pretties' of my own!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

♥ Bren

… summer storms

Last evening (a little after 7 pm), Dad, Bailey, & I went out to the back porch to watch the sunset. We are in what is called the 'monsoon' season. . . which means that when the sun heats up our morning & midday temperatures (it got up to 103 yesterday) it provides a vacuum like effect & pulls the clouds & rain up from the Gulf of California (& sometimes the Gulf of Mexico) & we get afternoon & evening rains. . . (& thunderstorms!) When I first moved here. . . I really didn't like the humidity that came with it. But, with age comes wisdom (I think!) - because now I love the monsoons!. . . In fact I get a little disappointed when one fizzles out! The plants love them, & my skin really loves them !

Last evening, the clouds had rolled in . . . but the sunset was peeking through - throwing a wonderful golden glow to everthing amidst the grey cloudy skies.

Then. . . finally. . . the clouds gifted us with their rain. . . The hot temperatures immediately drop by 10 - 15 degrees & everything breathes a sigh of relief.

The sun hung on as long as it could. . . & with the raindrops it also gifted us with this . . .

. . . & then, just before the sun set (& the thunderstorm really broke loose!) . . . we got the hint of the second rainbow. . . (I hope you can see it!)

I love the reminder of 'promise' that a rainbow brings. They also seem to take my breath away - each & every time.

xo, Bren

… we have . . .

. . . little baby grapes!

I had mentioned in my last post that our backyard was not covered in the 'rock' covering that houses have as the landscaping for the front yards here in Southern Arizona. (It's all about the water conservation . . . ) But in our backyard , where you are allowed to do whatever you want - you'd never know that you were in Arizona. Here the ground cover is grass - not rocks. & my Dad . . . being a secret Mr. Green Jeans - has himself a lot of fun, & I'm learning more & more about how to keep a landscape alive & well.

This is about the 4th or fifth year that we have had our little grape vine. The first thing I learned about the grapevine was patience. For the first couple of years there were no grapes. . . just leaves & pretty little tendrils. (But I love those little tendrils - curling around anything & everything!) Then two years ago we got our first taste of our own grapes.

Oh. My. Goodness.(!)

They were, hands down, the best grapes I had ever had. Like little candies. Little, green, sweet, candies. Just thinking about them is making my mouth water a bit!

Last year, we had grapes - but the birds got to them first. Just before they were ready to be picked. Little stinkers. (but honestly. . . I can't blame them!)

So this year we are watching them. . . very carefully, & now, as the grapes are finishing, we have the vine fully covered in mesh.

Sorry birdies.

Our turn.

Today is going to be spent in the studio. Lost of sorting to do. Piles to file. Clearing all surfaces so that new projects can have their space. I actually started the process last weekend - but only got as far as making quite a mess (you know, things will look worse before they look better. . . ) & got as far as making the mess & then I ended up spending most of the week at the hospital where my uncle was taken last Sunday. It was a wonderful time to get to visit with him & get bit of handwork done. He's doing better & is back at "home" (the wonderful care facility where he lives), but then for the last few days, I've spent fighting (or trying to fight) some 'naggy'bug. You know the kind . . . lot's of napping & then you can't get to sleep at night. Sigh. I'm sure that there will be a nap happening today (because of not getting to sleep until after 2 am!). But there will definitely also be some cleaning done! (I have too many ideas floating around in my head & sketchbook & I want to get started!)

And then there will be the daily tour around the backyard - checking water levels. . ., checking what needs to be tended . . . , & then definitely checking how soon we will be enjoying some grapes!