A Busy Day All Around

I don't think I've had a chance to sit and "be" all day until this moment.  Productive for sure, but tiring all the same.  The best part of the day was getting to meet up with Cindy of Yankee Valley Stitcher.  We visited at Starbucks and had a chance to catch up.  Then she presented me with something extra special...

WOW!  I absolutely love it!  Cindy made the same courthouse steps pattern by Jo Morton that I have been working on, and she ended up with a few extra blocks...  Now how exactly that happens, I'm not sure, but I didn't question!  She pieced four of them together and then hand quilted it.  The strips are cut at 1" making this little darling about 11" square.  Love it!  Thank you so much Cindy!

Next on the list, the gardens...  Finally!!!  I have been itching to get out and get my hands dirty.  So, I ripped out all the dead plants from last year and the new weeds that had taken over during our weeks of rain (pile in the foreground).  Then I went through all the yardwork that needs to be done and started assembling some ideas to make them all work out.  There will be a stone pathway from this side of this garden through to the pathways between the raised boxes (veggie gardens) behind (on the right outside the pic).  This way I can keep the weeds in check and wander through the loveliness all season.  Plus, I have a stash of perennials to plant and I need to go and collect some annuals to fill in the spaces and I need to finish the stone edging too.

Another great completion is our patio.  It is finally ready for family, friends, fire, and fun!  The giant black house-thing is our fire-pit.  We love it!  It even has a grill inside in case you wanted to cook anything the old-fashioned way.

And look who has been helping me as I wander around the yard tossing weeds about...  Isn't she sweet.  Chloe is a very good dog, but she doesn't like to be in the pen when someone is outside the pen.  She says, "Let me out Mom!!"

I'm so glad the weather is nice enough to get a little dirt under my nails!
Heather