Garden Happenings- The Good , The Bad and The Ugly

 Look what's going on in the wild and woolly garden today . Hee! Hee! 

Expansion. 😲🤪🌷🌷🌷

 "Does Mr. Pinker know?" some of you ask. 

Hee! Hee!  No. Not yet, but he will soon.  😀😁 Actually, his motto is "Happy wife . Happy life!" Sounds good to me. 

So I decided to expand the garden by about a foot on one side . Okay maybe 2. I just simply  moved the creek rocks, began scratching in the ground and adding some soil. If I do not like it, I can always move them back.  

What's my plans? Well, I have lots and lots to seed to plant, plus I am trying to grow more Annabelle hydrangeas . 

I am dreaming of marigolds smiling in the sunshine, zinnias and cosmos dancing with the breeze and perhaps , just perhaps some small surprises from seeds that I am planting like Black eyed Susans, Chinese lanterns and much more. 

So what about the English Ivy garden? Hmmm well, it is looking a little woolly too. I have yet to start cleaning it up.

 A few  lingering daffodils are still in bloom. This garden has been evolving for decades. Not much takes hold here. The English Ivy garden used to bigger and more lush. We did have a huge beautiful boxwood  that was part of the original part of the garden.  ( It was here  along with the ivy when we moved into the holler ). But alas it had to be cut down and much of the ivy removed when we had to have the septic tank pumped a decade ago.

The English Ivy has been growing here for decades. 

  I am slowly seeing what will grow here. Last year I moved some mondo grass into a small section. It seems quite happy so more will be transplanted into this garden this year. 

I think I have told you before that we have poor soil . In fact our soil is chert which means it is mostly rock. 

Mondo grass in the ivy garden

I haven't talked about one of the rusty crusty gardens . Have I? Some of you know that I adore rusty crusty farm treasures. Well the small rusty crusty garden is needing a good cleaning too. I am sure there are old rakes, birdhouses, and shovel heads to unearth under all of the leaves and debris. 

For all of the garden lovers, I will keep you posted as the gardens evolve and grow. Mr. Pinker and I are working our fingers to the bone. 

I will leave you with a few more photos of the early Spring in the holler. 

Boo koos of marigolds are coming up. All are volunteers. 

Yah! a volunteer redbud tree. I will transplant it in the near future. 

Volunteer cosmos are coming  up. 

This is my 3 year old Annabelle Hydrangea . I am trying to root 3 more. 

The tansy and bee balm is growing. Lirope, mondo grass, lilies , mint and burning bushes are in the background. They need to be tackled and tamed. 

                                                

Thank you for the sweet afternoon visit and  for taking a gander at  "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. "  But I have to remember the gardens are just waking up.  

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

May all your weeds be beautiful flowers! 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. Love and miss you, Amo. 

Friday Musings

This time of the year gets me in the mood for Spring cleaning.

Welcome, y'all and Happy Friday!  

 The other day I put on my apron, gathered up my duster and broom  and went straight to work. The task at hand- was to clean one of my daughter's closets. She is grown and gone, but she still has her own room for when she comes for a visit. Thankfully, it was not too daunting of a job because she is pretty organized. But I spent the morning folding and refolding sports uniforms and stacks of tablecloths that I pushed into the back corner for safe keeping. In a couple of hours, one closet was spic and span with room for more  items to be stored away.  Shhhh! Don't tell her though?  Hee ! Hee! Where I am a maximalist ; she is a minimalist.  Oh, well 🤷. The collecting bug did not rub off on her. LOL. 

I may work on her 2nd closet today. 

Has the warmer weather got you in the mood for cleaning? 

Later in the evening,  I went outside and sat on the porch and worked on With Thy Needle and Thread's "Boo To You".  In the evenings around 6:30 , I have been hearing wild turkeys yelp, cluck and purr before they head up into the trees to roost. Earlier during the day I spotted a rafter of them near the river, but have  yet to   spot their roosting trees. 

Yesterday, I spotted the first snake of the season. YIKESTERS!. It was warming itself in the middle of the road just off from the driveway. It had slithered its way down our hill. 

Hmmm . What else? Well...I changed out my quilt on the "shelf quilt  rack" above my Great Grandma Annie's buffet. I bought this quilt in Alabama 2 years ago. It is hand quilted. The Spring colors brighten up the living room. 

Bunnies , milk glass , and stitched pieces were sprinkled on the buffet for a Spring vignette.  To be honest, I did not put much effort into decorating this Easter. Oh well, it will get me through the next few weeks unless I get a wild hair and decide to change it. 

Did I show you Halloween Potion Jar , a sweet freebie from my friend , Dianet at  Parchesdeamor blogspot? 

Well I finished the stitching awhile back and finally  was able to sit down and FFO this precious jar.

 

I made it into the most darling Halloween pin pillow and added some wool yarn trim which I twisted and tacked along the seams. What do you think? I say this little jar is one cutie patootie if I do say so myself. Thank you, Dianet for sharing this darling little jar.  The sweet little face makes me smile. 

I guess I best get off here.  I have a grocery pickup here soon. Then perhaps, I can sit back , put up my feet and enjoy some slow stitching time.  Here , Here for the weekend!   Enjoy your day, Sweetness! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

y'all

Melisa 

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything. "- Irish proverb 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes 2026- Early 2026 parade of home freebies.

🌞2026 Love Parade- A Parade of Previous Valentine Freebies- Valentine themed stitches up to Feb. 4, 2026.  

🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 

🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025- Early 2025 berry Freebies. 

🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.

🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025

🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.

🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 

🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 

🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.

🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 

🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 

🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025

Beehives and Matchsticks- Making Progress

 Just a quick Howdy Do! Welcome, sweet friends and a very lovely sunny day to you. I just wanted to drop in to say hello and share my plans for the day. Mr. Pinker and I just returned from a quick trip to the great state of Louisiana so I am trying to get back into my daily swing of things. 

The kitchen tiered tray by the corner sink is decorated with stacks of condiment bowls , eggs and chickens. 

Anywhooo... Summer Stamp stitching is going on. I will finish this little stamp today, and then I have 2 more to stitch before I will be ready for the big stamp sampler. 

"In the Apiary" Summer Stamp is in the works. 

Also a small quilt that I am calling Matchsticks is in the hoop. It was made using leftover 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" strips. 

Well that's it for me! Hee! Hee! I told you this was short and sweet. 

Of course, I had to add a little  vintage piggie to the tiered tray. 

May your day be filled with sunshine, beautiful blooms  and remember to stay as busy as a bee! Love ya'! 

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Create your own sunshine!   " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Lots of cabbages on the 2025 Easter shelf display. 

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. Love and miss you, Amo. 

I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needle workers to meet.

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday

Kate at Life in Pieces for  Stitching Stuff ( Sunday) 

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap - Sunday 

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Sew & Tell- Sunday

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday

Signs of Spring- A House Freebie

 Welcome, Sweet friends. Do join my on the porch. We can listen to the sweet melody of the chirping birds, watch  the butterflies flutter and admire the flowers in bloom. Aaah Spring time is a a wonderful time of the year.  In celebration  of this season, I stitched a new house in soft greens, and it even has a porch . 

 As I worked on this piece, I would reminisce back to the good ole' days when I was a child and would visit my grandparents  in the evenings. 

Most often you would find my Papa and Nanny on the porch of their old farmhouse. Papa would watch the cows in the field as Nanny chatted away telling about the "goings on" of the day. 

Spring Farmhouse   which is modeled after my Nanny's home and Spring on the Farm

 Come springtime, Nanny would plant petunias in the concrete planters  which lined the long front porch and front steps. Us youngins' would jump off the porch which stood tall and  would scamper to the mountain stone sidewalk to pick daffodils which lined the sidewalk. We would soon take our bouquets to Nanny . She would lovingly place them in a  water filled mason jar and sit them on the farmhouse table. Such sweet memories. 

The  Signs of Spring  house does not have a pasture with cows nearby , but there are sweet ewes grazing in the front yard. I hope they do not get into the flower gardens. 

"Signs of Spring" was stitched  on 14 coffee/tea dyed Aida using 13  DMC floss colors which included:  356, 436, 610, 730, 829, 840, 918, 924, 926,  3013,  3021, 3363, Blanc

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If you are interested in stitching this piece,  just grab , the images. For printing tips, refer to the post Tips for Printing which has loads of tips from my sweet friends. 

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The "Sister " house to "Signs of Spring is the  The Ewe House . They are similar in color and of course there are those sheep. 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me on this lovely day as I strolled down memory lane. Perhaps fond memories of "days gone by" came back to you as well. Have a blessed day  and...

 As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Sometimes you do not realize how good the good old days were until they are gone.    " - Unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy.  Love and miss you, Amo. 

A Parade of Past Spring & Easter Freebies 2025

 Hip Hip Hooray! It's parade day! 

Good afternoon, Sweeties . It is a beautiful day - a perfect day for a parade!  So grab your needle , fabric and floss and let's go marching!

 If you see any of the stitches or doodles that you are interested in, just click on the colored text and you will be taken back to the post with the chart and information. I hope you enjoy! ( This is a photo heavy post.) 

Miss Flopsy's Spring Harvest

Daisy Basket Trifle

 Spring Banner

 Clover Basket Pinkeep

Aunt Fannie's Letters and Keys House

Spring Flutter 

 

In My Heart She Blooms- Amy's 2024 Berry

A Bouquet For Amy

 Strawberries and Cream Stamp

Berries Stamp

 Strawberry Shortcake Stamp.

Bunny House Saltbox

Block 3 A Country Spring Day

Block 4 Early Birds

 Mary's Basket  Strawberry Pinkeep

May Berry Basket 

Spring Stamp Sampler 

The Hopper House. 

The Pink House

Sweet Berry Pickers Quilt

Farm Luv Doodles

Mini Bunny Sampler

Spring Checklist 

Spring 

 

Mini Tulip Sampler

Miss Flopsy  and Bunny Jar 

Miss Flopsy and Bunny Jar 

Spring Green Saltbox 

The Tulip House

 Katie Anne's Saltbox 

Strawberry Saltbox

The Ewe House 

Bunny & Tulip Trifle

 

Love Trifle ,   St. Patty's Day Trifle ,   Sheep Trifle ,   Bunny Trifle ,     Strawberry  Picker  , May Basket ,  Love Bird Trifle ,       ,Bunny Trifle , Carrot Trifle ,  

Bee Skep Trifle ,  

Nesting Bluebird

Buford Bunny Trifle

A Basket of Spring

Pictured here are A Basket of Spring, 1869 Bunny Hop, Bunny Trifle, Sheep Jar and of course Bunny Jar . 

Beatrice Bunny 

Beatrice Bunny's Carrot Haul Stamp

Spring Stamp

Love Jar from the Mason Jar Series

Love Basket and Doodle

   Strawberry Jam Jar 

Amy Lou the Berry Picker 

 Farm Sweet Farm

Spring Pasture

Spring Farmhouse   which is modeled after my Nanny's home and Spring on the Farm

Life is Better on the Farm

Life is Better on a Farm and Little House Needleworks "Hen Party"

 1869 Spring Chick Crock.

 Bunnies, Baskets and Chickens 

This piece finished on foam board with 2 layers of batting. 

Pat-a -Cake Quilt

I want to thank y'all for being so kind , supportive, and encouraging . You bring me so much joy and to think that you come to my humble little home in blogland - well that means the world to me!❤🤗

In the near future, I will be posting  a Bee Parade, a Patriotic Parade and Strawberry Parade .   In the meantime, if you want to see last year's parades, I will leave a list of them below. Have a great evening and..

As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Spring is a time of plans and projects- Leo Tolstoy

Warm Spring Wishes and Bunny kisses! 

Hugs and Stitches!!!

Dedicated to my sweet Baby sister, Amy . I love you, Amo.  ❤

Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.

🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 

🌞Buzz Buzz Busy Bee Parade-  An early 2024 bee freebie parade. 

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric.