Spring in the step

There is absolutely no doubt that with the spring sunshine my mojo has begun to return.  Not that I am physically able to do all of the things my brain keeps suggesting.  But I can at least do a few little things each day and the motivation to keep doing it each day is back.  YIPPEE !!

As my bulbs are slowly starting to open with the warmth of the suns rays on their petals, I too can feel myself slowly coming out of hibernation

I managed a stroll around my garden in the past few days and was pleased to see my Sweet William that I planted a few months back is beginning to flower.

My tulips are opening up a little more each day with still quite a lot left to burst open.

It's the first day of school holidays here in Tasmania and I have a little boarder for a few days, Maddie.  We went on a little op shopping trip this morning and stopped by one of the shops and bought a few plants for the veggie patches.  Even though our house is for sale I know that if we sell or decide to take it off the market I will regret not having planted tomatoes so I bought 2 different varieties and popped them into the veggie gardens.

I usually plant my tomatoes a few weeks apart so that they do not all crop at the same time.  I will buy a few more in a couple of weeks.  I also purchased some fancy lettuce seedlings.

I like these as you can just pick what you need for a meal and leave the rest in the garden for next time.  

And I bought a lovely variety pack of Parsley.  My stock of frozen parsley has been depleted so once these mature I can restock again.

Hubby and I weeded and mulched all of the raised beds a few weeks ago and they just needed a little tidy up today.  The mulch being so thick has stopped the excessive spring weed growth.  Let's hope that continues.  This bed has self sewn silver beet as well as my Heritage Rhubarb.

The parsley pack had a few different varieties including Italian which I love.

And another of my garden beds had baby lettuce plants that must have self seeded from last year so I have left them to grow where the seeds have fallen.  I think we will be ok for lettuce for quite some time if all of this lot grow !!

Usually at this time of year I start off some succelent gardens which I gift at Christmas.  I will have to find some lovely vintage style containers in the next few weeks so that I can plant them out.

Christmas will be here before we know it !

It is probably time that I sat down and wrote up a list of gifts to make before time gets away from me.

As you know my craft room is packed away in many boxes except for a few things I kept out to work on including my Butterfly Garden blocks.  I have 5 blocks completed with just 4 to go.

I love the scrappy look of this quilt and have made very good use of my scrap boxes when putting it together.

Last week I put together Block 6 and have just completed the applique.  I have the stitching on this block prepped and ready to go for sewing each night this week.  Hopefully I can begin work on Block 7 towards the end of the week.

I have also finished one of my projects for our annual Lets Get Stitched Retreat.  Next year we will be in Melbourne and we have a great 3 days planned.  

Earlier in the year I signed up for the annual Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Designer Block of the Month.  

I am working through UFO's this year only but made an exception for this project as it is pieced which is not usually my first choice.  Just about all of my UFO's are stitchery or applique so it has made a nice change.  

I promised myself that I would keep up with the blocks each month and told myself that if I didn't I wasn't allowed to buy another project !  I have to be stern with ME these days.  I get very side tracked at times.  

Well I am pleased to say that I have received 4 blocks so far and have completed each one within a week of them arriving.  Once it is close to being complete I will let myself chose another similar project and try to stay on track again.  I think it is good training for me.  HA HA HA 

Anyway I have promised Maddie some craft time so I had best be off.  Until next time.

Hugs,

Fee xx