Monday, 7 April 2025

Spring-ish Signs and Critters, To Frog or Not to Frog, Downsizing Thoughts

 Tony called me to take a look at this little guy on the back yard railing. He'd been watching him for some time and he hadn't moved.

Sorry the reflection of the front door glass is weirdly caught in this photo.
He thought he might have died as he was so still. We kept watching and breathed a sigh of relief to see it lift its head and glance about but stay where it was. Then we wondered if it was sick or something. But it eventually stood up, stretched out each of its tiny back legs and took off running. It was sunbathing! It too recognized how rare these warming beams have been. A relief!

The front yard is looking springish but the roof snow is hanging on. Out my kitchen window.

The pond is overflowing its bank, a regular spring occurrence. These geese are in an area that is normally grassland. Taken from a great distance so as not to disturb them. 

Inside my stitching hasn't exactly been smooth sailing.  I worked on the England in Quakers project...I began another little motif but the result was this. I didn't like it so frogging had to happen.

And then I tried the little sheep design. I had to use this grey thread as the called for white was too white for my fabric. But I'm noticing a difference in weight between the colours...very slight of course, but enough to make the stitches look too crowded on this thread count fabric like this grey is looking. I'm debating more frogging...actually the more I look at this the more I'm sure I'll be removing these too. I'll use a couple of French knots for the eyes and he will be cute eventually.

I've stitched three EPP stars/hexagons in reds, this month's RSC colour -my only photo cut off part of one which I didn't notice till now.  Luckily I have lots of red fabrics on hand. 

We finished this series... I cried at the ending. Any of you watch it?

The spring sunshine is illuminating in more ways than one. Like making visible this very intriguing spiderweb that just seemed to materialize in a back bedroom, a room I'm seldom in. It had a rounded funnel shape which made me wonder if its maker was a more unusual spider. I left it there which I know would drive some people crazy but you all know how I love all the critters. I'm going to check back and see if I can get a glimpse of the spinner.
What kind of housekeeper am I!
We recognize we need to downsize. This won't be easy as Tony has a thing about needing land mostly as space from neighbours. It's hard to find the combination of smaller house and big property. Since I have lived in so many places and in many types of housing, I really don't care what it needs to be except less chores on the land and in the house. I would be very happy in a condo, for instance, but that would be Tony's nightmare, LOL. When I was very young I used to worry about the eventual having to leave a house you'd lived in for decades...I was thinking about my older grandmother, the fisherman's wife, who had to do just that or maybe a farmer's wife who would find it so unbearable and poignant to leave their home after a lifetime living in the very same spot. Well, that turned out to be another of those totally senseless worries that occupied space in this strange head of mine.

In my middle of the night mind ramblings recently I was thinking of losses and out of the blue this line came to me...You have to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little...Recognize it?

Happily joining these linky parties...Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.


17 comments :

Jennifer said...

....that's the story of, that's the glory of, love!

Anonymous said...

That’s the story of
That’s the glory of love

Thank you for that lovely earworm!

You are living with a very creative spider!
Your red stars are a great addition to your collection.
Frogging cross stitch is not fun.
I love seeing the critters in our yard. We woke up to snow on the ground this morning. I would be quite happy to see the end of it for this year! I am ready for spring.
Downsizing is a challenge but better to be in control of where and when rather than being forced into it.
Gail at the cozy quilter

Linda said...

Like you, I secretly let the cobwebs stay in place in odd corners. I used to tear them down in fear of a spider crawling across my legs in the middle of the night (that has never happened), but now I want to save all critters. Hubs is horrified that I feel that way and wants to spray the dickens out of everything, but I put my foot down. I have a special container with a stiff piece of junk mail that I coax bugs into to take outside.
We want to move out of this little town that has terrible roads and a horrible water system and a series of bad mayors. I want to move to a place with a little bit of land, but that is not smart with my husband's heart condition. We really need a place where we would have little upkeep.
I understand how Tony feels, and I understand how you feel (the curse of being a Gemini), or as they say "I feel ya". Good luck in finding just the right place.
The Glory of Love is one of my faves!

Julierose said...

[Hahaha--now that song is running through my head:))) ] Yes, we've thought a lot about downsizing, too...but with what is going on in our world here, we will be staying put for as long as we can.
Love your EPP stars--I had decided last week to venture into making some as a carry-along hand project for upcoming deck sitting days...it's usually too hot out there to be quilting any big pieces...and i have a whole lot of solids that i need to use up--so maybe, print/solid every other look--we shall see how it goes...
Good luck on your house hunting...hugs, Julierose

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

downsizing is something so many people need to do if they want to stay in their home as they age and not have to go to a home. I watched that show I thought it dragged out horribly the second season and I didn't like the ending.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Our previous house was a bungalow on a large town lot which we purchased in order to have a 'granny suite' in the basement for my Dad. We never dreamed he would make it for 12 years living with us. The house had a large garage which would have held 4 cars (only two doors though) and the men turned the back corner into their workshop. My Dad took over the large veggie garden at the back and DH made numerous flower gardens around the property. It was lovely...until Dad passed away and we realized that the property was just too much for DH to care for ( I couldn't help him because at the time I suffered terribly from allergies to all things green). Then the decision had to be made...do we sell and move into a smaller house/property or do we move into an apartment. The apartment won and for the most part we haven't regretted it. We do miss having a garage though.
I've seen squirrels napping like that. They used to nap on our birdfeeder.

Jeanna said...

Your star hexagons look great in red. Frogging is never fun. I've found that not all fabric is created the same. For instance, a Picture This Plus linen in a certain count is tighter than some other dyers fabric in the same count. I guess it depends on their process. I haven't watched 1923 but heard it was very good.

Susie H said...

I am a spider rescuer also and any other little critters scooching along in the house. Love your stars and feel your pain over ripping out tiny cross stitches. However, we need to like our projects so it is usually well worth it! Every so often we also have squirrels sun-bathing on our deck rails. They looks so snuggly warm, don't they? So cute!

Nancy J said...

We downsized hugely, from 3 acres, and a large home, to just over 800 m square, and an older home that is still ample. I would think carefully, and maybe see if some help outside and inside would be an option.Someone to mow the lawn, clean the windows outside specially, empty the gutters or spouting, vacuum, wash the car?Do any ladder work or really hard stuff !!! Get your groceries ordered online, and just pick up? Do they have that where you live, being in a familiar township for us was a huge bonus, tradespeople we knew, ditto hairdresser, pharmacy and garage/workshop for car maintenance.But I will admit it look me a long time to adjust to close neighbours and street traffic noise. We now have help in the garden and in or home, and although I wish I could do it all, having that is truly wonderful.

grammajudyb said...

The red squirrel was soaking up the sun. Our squirrels are the gray variety. Ours are a bit skittish. Oh the finale of 1923 was a tear jerker! There were tears here also. I’m getting rid of stuff, but we will stay in our small cozy house. It’s not too much for us yet. We have to hire some jobs out, but able to do that…so we will stay here til that changes.

Jackie said...

I watched that series awhile ago. Did you know they are going to do a 1944 one next. I am looking forward to that one. Living in a condo would be Harvey's nightmare as well. The one good thing is that if we moved to the city where my specialist is we could at least share our youngest sons garden space and plant or look after his yard. Me, well I would need a space for my craft supplies and condo apartments that have 3 bedrooms are few and far between.

God bless.

God bless.

PaintedThread said...

One snoozy rodent! More little stars. We just finished 1923, too. I'm bummed out they killed off who they did. That's quite the web! Good luck with the downsizing.

Astrid said...

Spring is in the air, and that little guy appreciates the warm from the sun. Spiders are useful inside; they eat other insects like flies, mosquitos etc. We have huntsman spiders that comes inside sometimes, I usually leave them alone (which the cat does not do!). Sorry about the frogging, it happens... Love your EPP stars, so pretty. Downsizing, I do understand you both, especially Tony. Wishing you good luck on house hunting and hope you'll find the perfect place for both of you.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

We've seen the squirrels doing the same thing in our yard when they want to cool off, all stretched out! Frogging cross-stitch projects is the most challenging of all unstitching I think - never fun. We haven't watched 1923, but may have to try it based on your recommendation. We did like the previous one - 18something? We have never moved, still live in the same house we bought as newlyweds, although we have added on some rooms and done lots of work on it over the years. But there is still the need for downsizing in terms of all the stuff that has accumulated. I sure understand the feeling of not wanting to move, but knowing there needs to be a change!

Daisy Debs said...

Oh ! I love that sweetest little cross stitch sheep ! 🐑🩷

Jenny said...

It must be quite difficult to rip out your cross stitching, I imagine. Dont think I'd fancy a big spider lurking about. Mind you, I've noticed a couple of spider web strands in a corner of the ceiling, I'll have to find a broom or something to get them down.

Michele McLaughlin said...

So glad you are starting to get some warmth and spring! I hope you can find the perfect compromise that will suit you and Tony! Have a great day!