Stitching Progress and A Spring Photo Too

It's early spring which I think in some ways is the saddest and ugliest time of the year here. There is not a single hint yet of all the glorious green to come and I've been out there looking. But more about that at the bottom of this post.

Sewing progress first... I worked on my appliqued Quarter Dresdens and finished the March reds. It will be nice to move on to pinks, the RSC  April colour.

I've also spent lots of quiet time cross stitching on my current piece, What Remains is Love. An alphabet was included with the pattern so you could personlize your piece which I've begun there. The pattern has a couple of quirky things about it like that rather fanciful bird on the left. 

Tony and the dogs are keeping me very busy. The appointments and meetings continue. And there's a long list of spring chores to do too. Outside, the spring season is baby stepping in. A flock of noisy Canada Geese went overhead today and early mornings I'm hearing birds twittering. 

 I've been chipping ice off the front steps using an axe and was proud of the little path I'd maintained all winter. Other years we would climb over it.

But then one day, Tony lost his balance when almost at the veranda and fell completely sideways. It was a miracle he didn't hit his head on the boulders that stick out from under the veranda or the ice on the other side. 

His face was right next to that vee shaped rock.

He was somehow inserted lying down between the two, unhurt except for a few scratches on his scalp...his hat and glasses flew off. It was scary but we marvelled and were thankful for the good luck too that it was only his pride that got hurt. 

Then it rained heavily for hours and hours, got about 2 inches worth- couldn't make up its mind about freezing or plain old rain. That was thanks to a Colorado low passing through...how in the world can such reach this far north! The ground is a mess but this too won't last. I'm wearing rain boots with cleats on them. 

Above there on the pond one day with the snow just starting to soften.
And 48 hours later after those warm temperatures blew through. What a difference a couple of days make!! The dogs tested it out and could walk all around on the ice which seemed to tickle their fancy. They spent ages leaping back and forth.

It's Easter Sunday and I'm having the family here for dinner today. LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt is about dishes for the dinner. I always cook a turkey and have the usual vegetables with it. I would cook salt meat to flavour them but I can't find good salt meat here. I've done my prep for the company and have all the "good" dishes out and the table set. I did my big shop for the dinner two days ago. My turkey is thawed and stuffing made. Beth is bringing one of her cakes so it's just the turkey dinner for me to prepare. 

I have lots more to share with you including new stitching projects and a new to me face moisturizer that I'm loving. Next time then! Take Care all.