69th Spring Still Holds Surprises

 You'd think my 69th March would hold no surprises for me. But the suddenly melting snow, emerging sidewalks, sun feeling so hot on my back I had to unzip my coat and remove my woolen toque, all took me by surprise. This happened in just the last three days but so wonderful. Temperatures above zero and even into double digits one day like what spring is meant to be. Now if only the snow can stay away and a hex on freezing rain too. 

And the birds started chirping just like that. I've heard the male cardinals now singing their glorious songs and suddenly there are three or more around the feeder. Several were dancing a jig along this branch but they would not oblige for a photo together. Drat.

The Indiana Barred Owl cam is back on line and she has already laid one egg. I just love to check in each day to see what's happening in her nest box. It's the highlight of March every year now for the last three. It's so nice to know nature is continuing on all in its usual order and time.

Red squirrels took me up on my offering of apples for the birds. Both apples disappeared in a matter of minutes!

The one below sat in the comfort of the feeder to munch. Hubby said I'd better keep an eye on them or they will set up house in it. 😊 He is definitely using his paws to hold his food here.

Guess what this is???

Yes, the back of my hexagon piece and looking at this reminds me that's a lot of hand stitches there. There is a certain card quality I like to use...not too thick but also not too flimsy. Some of the real estate advertisements are just right.  I think I'll add a few more hexagons to even up that one end on the right and say this one is big enough.  Love hexagons!

I've also been making good progress on Quilting Bee just in time for spring it seems. Someone asked...usually on smaller projects, I work from the top left over and down. I prefer working on the left side first and stitching left to right. If the project is a large one, I also run a threads through the center vertical and horizontal to keep me on track. Then I will probably work the whole left  bottom quadrant first.  I note a lot of folks work from the bottom up or the right side over to left. Some prefer to work the border all the way around first. Why we get these preferences is interesting. I think sometimes it is due to concern about having enough fabric for the design. 

The ladies, Deb and Liz, who have a flosstube channel called the Country Stitchers recommended this piece of headgear and I ordered it from Amazon.  It's magnifying glasses, comes with 5 different interchangeable strengths, and LED lights. I really like how the glass part is situated so you can watch tv by just looking straight ahead without having to move your head. It's also surprisingly comfortable to wear and I was telling Hubby, I can feel my eyes relax when I stitch with them, the same feeling I get when I put on my good sunglasses. Here is the Amazon link if you'd like to check it out yourself.

And, btw, I have no affiliation with Amazon or any other company that I link with here on the blog...just sharing what I like myself and enjoy. 

Deb and Liz are one of my favourite duos to watch while stitching. They are in Pennsylvania and actually stitch while they chat about things. This is Liz here on the left and Deb on the right.  

I've added this online word game to my list of games to play to try to keep the aged brain synapses firing- Word Nut.  You have to make as many words as you can with the letters they give you and fit them into a crossword. Each puzzle completed adds percentages of points to what they call your IQ; I am at 112 now and I wonder when I will wash out.  

I miss going to movies with older 16 year old grandson, sigh. He has his G1 permit and is doing his Driver's Ed. At this rate, he'll be able to drive me to the movies by the time this is all done here in Ontario, Canada. 

I have floors that need mopping and a mix put in the bread machine...making whole wheat today. Then it will be some stitching time. Hope your day is equally as stress free and enjoyable.

Also enjoyable to link with Not Afraid of Color, Quilt Fabrication, Viewing Nature With Eileen, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting Applique Patchwork, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Wendy's Quilts and More, Sugarlane Designs and Paying Ready Attention.