Monday, April 09, 2018

Hello, I'm New Here

We planted more daffodil bulbs last fall, and now we're enjoying the "consequences." From a mixed bag at the local home store, we've had some yellow-and-orange blooms, and, best of all, these gorgeous double-bloom beauties:





I've had a long-term love affair with daffodils, but the double-blooms make my heart skip a beat. Gardening had never really been a passion of mine, but the more I pursue it here in Virginia, the more I love it. There is wonder and delight in "possessing" such beauty! Now I just need my gardening skills to match my enthusiasm.





Fortunately, I don't have to grow everything -- the local nature trails are a year-round hub of growth. Like this little Mayapple, with its umbrella canopy still furled:




One day it will look like this, but not yet. I've seen wisteria here and there, so I suspect it's time to visit the trails again -- there's always a glorious display in the spring, and somehow I missed it last year!

Also new here, Opal apples. These gorgeous golden beauties from New Zealand were waiting for us at the grocery store. I don't usually fall prey to "fancy" (read: expensive) fruit, but these were under $1 per pound for some incomprehensible reason. They turned out to be some of the best apples we've ever had. I wish I'd bought all of them!




This is new, too -- a $2 find at the thrift store. It's a hideous skirt (in my humble opinion), but it's all leather! Four different colors of leather (and the "white" has a pearly, silvery finish), which will be perfect for baby shoes and what-not.




And last but not least, I had a "moment" and gave in to a long-term urge to buy wool from Wool and the Gang (50% sale + $15 off first purchase = Too much to resist). I think because of the name? I'm similarly tempted to buy wool made by Hedgehog Fibres, for no better reason than my love for their moniker! In my defense, I would never buy wool I didn't like just because of the name. Anyways, the perfect sale and the perfect sweater pattern converged, and now my "personal spending" budget is a little diminished. But no regrets here -- the wool (Sugar Baby Alpaca) is a sheer delight, and it came packaged in a branded paper bag sealed with a sticker. If only it were as easy to make a sweater as it is to purchase the materials...




That's what's new around here! The weather has been toying with us -- short sleeves and brilliant sunshine one day, cold drizzle the next -- but the birds and the flowers and the hints of green everywhere lend a hopeful aura, even on the chilliest days. Wishing some sunshine your way today!


2 comments:

  1. Those double-bloom daffodils are just beautiful! Virginia seems like it would be a wonderful place to do gardening....and just the thought of wisteria makes me go weak in the knees :) (and I'm pretty much not a gardener at all).

    You've scored wonderfully on the thrift store leather skirt!!! I remember you have done baby shoes before...would you mind sharing the pattern that you use again?

    Thanks so much, and enjoy your spring blooms!

    ~Krista

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    Replies
    1. Krista,

      Even our limited gardening successes last year have intoxicated me a bit, and I'm determined to do even better this year! My grandmother and father both had/have green thumbs, so surely I've inherited a bit of that?! Here's hoping... ;-)

      I've used several patterns over the years, but my go-to for the simple Robeez style shoes is Darling Diapers:

      http://darlingdiapers.com/SDminimocfinal2.PDF

      They have a wide range of sizes (may run a bit large if I remember correctly?). It's designed for fabric, so I usually modify it a bit when using leather because I don't have to worry about raw edges. But it could be used as-is for leather, too. The other pattern I love for girls is this one, from Etsy:

      https://www.etsy.com/listing/67761807/baby-shoe-pattern-ruffled-maryjane-shoes

      Thanks for your kind words, and for stopping by! :-)

      Cheers,
      Shannon

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