Spring Has Arrived

 March is an amazing time, especially in Mississippi. Maybe everyone thinks that about where they live. I say it every year. Following a whole year of Covid-19 involving quarantining, cancelling, sadness, avoiding, anxiety, depression, I was even more eager for a better outlook, not only in my own attitude, but in our country and world! So Spring is time to celebrate several things. First, that we have vaccines to help fight the pandemic that has claimed more than half a million people in America. Flowers and trees have put on amazing colors; temperatures are inviting us outdoors; we are beginning to feel safer about being around people. And I agree with those famous Barbra Streisand words, "people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.

Here's what springtime looks like in my yard. The camellia is called Pink Perfection, and every bloom looks perfect. These are Coral Bell azaleas, a small variety that is my favorite--always a dependable bloomer that holds up well. Along with the beauty, we have to endure the pollen. It lasts many days and from many varieties of trees, causing unsightly yellow dust or wet yellow mud. We watch the pollen count and depend on antihistamines and allergy pills.

Hydrangeas are to the left, with leaves coming fast

This is my across the street neighbor's Bradford Pear tree
at the end of my driveway--a beautiful scene I enjoy

Pine pollen after the rain. There is lots more pollen to fall

Two friends came from out of town to take me to lunch one day this week, making me feel really special with tulips from one of their yards. I think of tulips as rather magical and difficult to grow, so I treasured the thought that she would cut them for me! 

This happy event was marred by a very traumatic, frightening, and frustrating other event. When we returned from lunch in her car I could not find my keys (my house, my car, Linda's house). (Luckily I had a backup to get in the house.) So for two miserable days I searched for my set of keys that I KNEW were in my house. Imagine my joy when my friend found my keys in her car seat two days later. Apparently I had taken them from my purse as we left my house but put them in my pocket when we went in her car. This was totally exhausting and entirely too much drama.

It's March Already

Time flies and the days run together. I'm particularly aware of several good things: I have had both my Pfizer vaccines. My pipes didn't freeze and my power did not go off during the snow/ice event that hit Texas-Louisiana-Mississippi so hard. Beautiful spring weather is here (30s-40s mornings and 70s-80s afternoons).  I am enjoying some sewing-quilting time.

I worked one of those zentangle wooden puzzles (by unidragon.com) that are the craze now. There are lots of knock-off ones advertised, but this one (loaned by a friend) is made in Limerick, Ireland, with this description: "each piece of the unidragon wooden jigsaw puzzle is laser-cut, uniquely and artfully crafted differently.... Our unique jigsaw puzzles are made of quality plywood, in varieties of unique shapes and vivid colors."

The finished owl. He is by unidragon.com

Before tackling this Owl, a 500-piece boat scene was a good prelude.

Finally, it was time to enjoy a cleaned-off table for a while. Linda made the colorful table runner for me.

Leaves and pine straw have nearly all fallen, and my yard and roof have been totally covered. I have some helpers taking huge piles of leaves, pine straw, and sticks to the street to be picked up. There's a remnant of grass, and with a little sunshine the yard might be green again. I'm eager to plant some veggies and coleus and other colorful bedding plants. New geraniums and coleus and crotons will replace the ones that look pitiful. 

I have finished several 8" x 10" pieces for my Southern Fiber Artist group (we call it Shared Fiber Art for SFA.)  The pieces shown below are for Judi Sharpe, Maryann McClain, and Cathy Reininger.

Leaves with Angelina overlaid with tulle (for Judi Sharpe)

Still playing with leaves, I sent this piece to Maryann McClain because we both love leaves and have enjoyed doing several techniques with them. I did background grid quilting on pink linen fabric, added three fall leaves (treated with matte medium) and overlaid a patterned organza with machine quilting. 

Cathy's is a woven fabric with a patterned organza layer with machine stitches and embroidered French knots. Some colored pencils were involved.