Garden Talk, Norma's Appliqued Baskets, Animals-Wild and Companions Too

Do you know what this is?

Just in bloom or is blooming the right word for them I wonder. I was admiring this welcome spring sight while another sign of spring filled my ears...the peepers and frogs are making such a racket these mornings down by the pond. 

One morning, I crept about because a Canada Goose was taking a nap on the far side. Like the little squirrel in the last post, I feared there was something amiss seeing it flat out in the grass like this. 

But no, it aroused and flew off seemingly right as rain. That prompted me to look up how geese sleep and it seems it was unusual to see it in such a position. And I also learned they have one of those special brains where half can sleep while the other half is awake so they can sleep even when flying!!! What we couldn't accomplish with a brain like that!

 I had Ned's family here for a long weekend- his mother, Abby, and brother, Petey. The three had a good time but I noticed Abby really showing her age. She is 8 now and did not run for the ball like she used to. Petey is still the most athletic of the three and still a very enthusiastic ball player. They are such loving dogs. Instead of one constant companion, I have three when they are here.

I noticed Abby and Petey alerted more to the critters around the yard. I guess Ned is so used to them he hardly notices now. This fox hung around the front bird feeders one day and the dogs went mad. If he heard them, it didn't bother him as he was busy eating seeds.  He looked in great condition and I love how thick and round the tail is. Their noses really are pointy. I often think that feature gets exaggerated in art. But what a beauty!

I didn't stitch as much on the weekend. But I've been appliquing since and thought I'd better take stock of this project. This is how many basket bottoms I've finished now for Norma's Basket Love. I'm finding men's shirt fabric...a lot of it, can lend itself well to repro looking projects.  

Time to start thinking about the handles.

I've also laid a few more stitches on my England Quakers. I've abandoned sheepie and worked on this tower motif. I don't know what it represents and the resident Englishman also could not identify it so a little disappointing. England has a lot of towers. If you know please tell me. 

I've been fooling around with my indoor plants. Repotted a couple and divided two of them. I filed my fingernails really short because I just can't seem to keep gloves on while I'm at the dirt. This is the time of year I need to look at the garden plants too with an eye to separating some as well. The Yucca, for one, has been overgrown for a couple of summers and needs pruning attention. It has just emerged from the snow and ice. Looking battered but still strangely green.

I'll have to read up again on how to tend to it. It's really old and I wonder how long they live. Still cool here this morning...I just checked and the wind chill is -4 so brisk when Ned and I head out in a few minutes.

Outside temp is the top one...wish it displayed wind chill.

It is spring finally now, as you see in the fox photo, it doesn't take long for the grass to start turning green. These new signs of blooming, the bird calls, the smells in the forest are all magical to me. I love them all. 

At Not Afraid of Color, folks are sharing their memories of Easter baskets. I always got one of those flimsy coloured ones with fake straw and one big chocolate egg with some of those small colourful candied eggs. This was not a big deal to me as I didn't have a sweet tooth. I think I passed most of it along to my sister and brother but would have kept the basket to store things. What about you? Did baskets feature in your Easter?

Hope there is something magical in your day that delights you and pleases you!

Also delightful to share this post with linky parties at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Alycia Quilts Creations Quilts Art, Quilting Patchwork Applique and  The Inquiring Quilter.