Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Spring Is Here!

April Fool!  (You must have known that was my feeble attempt at an April Fool's joke, right?)

Yesterday March did a good imitation of going out like a lion in these here parts.  We had winds measuring 40 mph, and it was actually hard at times to stand upright outside.  It was a very gray day with predicted freezing rain.  That didn't happen until overnight though.

This morning there is a slick coating of ice everywhere (oh, joy), and about two hours ago the temp took a 15° plunge and it started snowing.  The wind can't decide from which direction to blow, and we already have a small 6" drift up against our front door.  This is a great day to be home with the wood stoves corking away.  I'm so grateful and appreciative that we both have the choice to do just that.


This is the rug I made to match my new spring shower curtain.  (Same new spring shower curtain which may never be hung since Mother Nature keeps throwing more and more winter-like weather at us.)


I'm also this far along on making a matching rug to the first one made to use in our bedroom.

I still have a ways to go on the hand quilting of the spring wall hanging I'm working on.  I got a little cut on the left hand finger I use to feel the needle on the backside of a quilt when hand quilting and, of course, no matter how hard I try to use another finger, it's the finger and the cut that I keep sticking the needle into.  So I've decided to give it as many days rest as necessary to heal up.

I just commented to my better half that this would be a perfect day to have something yummy baking in the oven.  But, alas and alack, we've both been doing a good job of staying away from sugar for about the last month, so for the present time baking is a no-no.  My mind says, "Gimme a blueberry pie made with the last of the blueberries in the freezer, and no one will get hurt."  My body says, "But I am losing a bit off those bulges that have sneakily been growing like inflated balloons when I wasn't looking . . . so stick to it, girl!"

Spring may not be here yet, but it will arrive one day even up here near the tundra, and I really do want to be able to bend over in the garden without the buttons on my shorts popping.  Although I can hardly imagine wearing shorts (temp is now down to 16° and still falling) as I look at our near white-out conditions caused by the swirling snow, but it will happen and won't be an April Fool's joke.

20 comments:

Carolyn said...

When you said that Spring Was Here, I figured tou went on vacation someplace south, but then realized that you were probably snowed in.
Love the throw rugs. One can never have too many of those. I really need to get crocheting a few more. I've only made one (and ended giving it to my sister) but liked how the double-yarn, single crochet just zoomed by. Not nearly as colorful or pretty as yours though.

Michelle said...

I love the rug. I just leaned how to make a oval crochet rug. I am now making one for a friend,I am hooked on this craft.

Susan said...

Isn't that true about those sneaky bulges? And why is it that all my senses get dulled by the frigid temps EXCEPT my tastebuds? I've been eyeing the last two gallon bags of blueberries in my freezer, too. LOVE the colors in your matching throw rugs. That will make things very cheery~ C'mon spring!

Sue said...

And now you sent it to me. Thank you.
On a bright note--The snow is now down another 6" on the pump handle. Yee ha! I'll be hanging laundry out in just a few short weeks. Happy Dance!!!!!!!!!!!
: )

Endah Murniyati said...

Lovely rug. I should make it myself.

Kelly said...

Love your rugs!!!!!
I hope Spring finds the tundra soon. We have snippets of nice weather and then the wind blows cold for a few days but I have worn shorts several times. Not rubbing it in or nothin' ;)

Mama Pea said...

Carolyn - Yes, the crocheted rugs with the double strands of yarn do go lickety-split fast. Right now, I'm addicted to doing them. Hopefully this will wear off so I can get something else done!

Mama Pea said...

Michelle - I made the oval one after the first rectangular one because I wanted a little bit of a challenge. (You know, making it without ruffles on the edges, but not in a cupped bowl shape!) Got that out of my system and now I'm happy back to the easy-peasey rectangular shape.

Mama Pea said...

Susan - Cheery-ness is what we need around here right now. I don't know which is worse . . . seeing the big heaps of old, gray deteriorating snow or MORE clean snow to spruce things up. Ugh.

Mama Pea said...

Sue - Happy dance, indeed! Just seeing that pump handle seeming to grow and grow out of the snow must be inspiring. And fill you full of hope!

Our newbie gardening neighbors asked today when they should start their veggie seeds inside. Oh, round about July . . . the snow may be gone by then.

Mama Pea said...

endah murniyati - Thank you very much!

Mama Pea said...

Kelly - Just don't tell me your legs are a lovely, golden brown color already. Mine are as white as a fish's belly. Yuck.

tpals said...

Yesterday was so strange. We hit 70 with a strong south wind then it started turning and dropped 20 degrees in 10 minutes. The snow didn't hit us until after we were safely home.

I wish I had your willpower now. :(

Leah said...

We are west of you almost to the other side of the state - we got lucky this time around and only had rain, thunder, sleet, about 3" of snow and then mega wind (we didn't get the piles and piles of snow that some others got. Spring will come some day (I hope) :) I really like the rugs you making ~ when I run out of projects that may be a new one :)

Sue said...

LOL!
I hope you didn't scare them too much.
When I first learned our planting date was June 4, I thought I'd NEVER get a garden, but with our super long days, my garden is done in 3 months no problem ( well, except for corn , melons, and my beloved Brandywines!). Hope your new friends see all the advantages of a northern life. I try not to tell too many people just how great it really is......we'd be SWARMED!! LOL!

Tami said...

You are made of tougher stuff than I am MP. I couldn't take your winters and I'm a big fan of elastic waistband right now. Time to cut back for me too.

Mama Pea said...

tpals - 70° and then snow??! That's just not right. How can our bodies (either physically or mentally) adjust to that??

Mama Pea said...
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Mama Pea said...

Leah - We have almost spring time weather here today . . . at least above freezing and the sun is shining. But snow is forecast for Friday. Sigh.

Mama Pea said...

Tami - Aw, don't you worry your pretty little head about "cutting back." You're so active out in your yard/garden and walking your dogs 40 miles each day that any extra pounds you think you may have will melt off as soon as the outdoors season gets into full swing.

(Me? I'm like a big ol' hibernating bear who has been lazing away the time during this cold, cold, long winter of ours!)