They are here!

This is the year of the 17 year cicadas in our area. We have been hearing them for about ten days now, but they just came into our yard this week. They really do cover everything, although I think other areas have more than we do here.

Time is flying...

Well, since we went to the Sprick sibling reunion time has been moving very quickly. I do not have to make any plans to keep busy! There were 14 of us Spricks at Meramec State Park in Missouri for four days. We had cold, then hot, then rainy weather, but it did not slow us down. Talking, playing bocce ball, Farkle, talking, Catch Phrase, visiting Meramec Caverns and talking kept everyone busy. We also had a night of "home movies" where we watched a slide presentation of photos from the past. Everyone enjoyed seeing their personal "back to the future".

My May quilting UFO has taken a back seat this month - it is a small wall hanging that just needs to be quilted, but I have not started it yet. We did not get home from our travels until May 7, went to a 4-H/FFA livestock show and sale on May 8, and then got to take care of three of our favorite kids while their parents were in New Orleans for 4 days! By then it was May 13 and I still had not begun work on the May project. Fast forward a week and we were able to have other family friends live with us for a week while they were between homes - their house sold a week before they were able to get into the new house!

Maybe I can get some quilting done after Memorial Day!

My April UFO

This month my UFO was actually started from scratch. I have always tried to keep several baby quilts on hand for surprise gifts, but my cupboard has been bare lately! The April challenge gave me the incentive to make another "quilt as you go" baby quilt, this time for our newest great-nephew. We will be seeing him for the first time in April and now I have his gift ready to share.

His parents LOVE baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals, so this is his carry around blanket for many years to come, I hope.

The only trouble I have now, is my baby quilt cupboard is still bare!

Catching up time

I have been very busy preparing for Easter and its celebration.  Plus I finished another photo quilt, began the hand quilting on my April UFO for the monthly challenge and read three books! We have had 4 great days with our grandchildren who gave me many opportunities for taking photographs!

We went to the farm - finally- where our friends keep their 4-H projects. Emma had a blast there.

 Wayne is thrilled now - he got his firepit set up and functioning. Hotdogs were the entree for supper tonight!

Now we are focusing on our trip to Missouri for the Sprick sibling reunion, a 50th high school reunion, and time with both of our families. It has been a year since I saw my parents so I am really looking forward to visiting in person instead of our weekly phone chats. When we get home, I hope to put in a straw bale garden - hopefully the book will come before we leave for Missouri!

Snow Day?

Yes, we had an unexpected snow day today - schools were cancelled after starting with a 2 hour delay. Although we only had about 2 inches, it was slick during the rush hour for buses, so....

I may not go to school everyday anymore, but I still get excited about snow days. I was able to go out and get some pictures of our daffodils in snow, and some trees have already started to bud.

This week I was able to work on some paper projects, since my March quilt is done. I have made Easter houses for my grandchildren and the other four special kids in our lives. I am so glad I decided to get my Cricut machine, even if I did not plan to do scrapbooks! I have been making cards and now have found some wonderful 3D items, such as the houses here.

Photography is for another day in my week. I still try to take a picture every day, but do not always succeed. These are some recent ones that were just for fun.

I had to leave this banner up until we really got some snow!

This was a bouquet J and K had at Eli's birthday party.