A Beautiful Easter!

No April Fools!  

I think Spring has finally arrived!

Those in northern climes, it’s coming soon – I promise!

Though a friend had posted a photo of 4’’ of new snow on the last day of March – (how rude to wake up to that!) there is an abundance of spring and green in the south.

I had hoped that these trees would still be blooming when I returned from Iowa, afraid that I would miss them.

They were still there blooming away as I made my quick dash to the post office in hopes of getting everything out before they closed at noon so I could make a beeline for the state line.

Blue sky --- and the smell of newly mown lawns.  Windows down to catch it all.  YES!

Beautiful sky and GREEN!

As I leave the Piedmont of North Carolina, heading west on highway 421. the land goes from fairly flat to gently rolling hills – and the farther west you go, you see the landscape change just a bit more around every curve.  But that GREEN!  Do you feel it?

Gentle mountain rises through small farming communities.

The road is winding from Elkin to Sparta.  I love seeing the fields and farm lands come to life.  Getting closer now, looking for familiar landmarks.

And there it is – the old farm house.

Just look at that tree, blooming pink!

And the mountains as a backdrop?  Magnificent.

I don’t know who lives here.  I don’t know the story of this is place.  But I imagine rocking chairs and cold ice tea on that veranda in the heat of summer – decades past.  When I see this house from the highway, I know I am close – the Virginia state line is not far now.

And I’m here.

Looking at the back side of those same ridges from my bedroom window.

The green valley below – blue mountains in the distance.

The world is coming back to life after a very long winter.

This photo was taken from the side of my yard, looking out through the woods towards the west.  Soon, the trees will have their leaves and I won’t be seeing anything through these tress until fall.  But while I can – I love looking out over the land I see in the distance.  It’s like being in a tree house up here.

Some evening sewing happened!

My second binding application in 2 days.  There is a LOT of hand stitching of bindings on my horizon, and I love having that to look forward to in my evenings.

You can see that I’ve marked the side of the walking foot with which machine it goes to.  And though I can’t show you this quilt yet, you’ll be seeing it soon!

I got evening time with this one!

I tend to start half way down a long side when I bind, so when I finally turn that last corner, I’ve got only half of a long side left to finish.  Mind games! But it works!

Half a long side, one corner and half a short side behind me, there is still quite a ways to go – but I plan on this tonight, too!

I’m up at the cabin alone for today.

It’s just Sadie and me as the Hubster is back in Santa Barbara for some important meetings that happened Friday and he needs to be there Monday due to month end/quarter end and it was too much coast to coast travel to come home in between.

Both sons worked yesterday, and work tomorrow and it is too much of a drive for them to come up for one day.

As I awoke this morning I realized that this is the FIRST Easter of my entire life (56 Easters!) that I ever remember being alone.  It’s different.  Not bad.  Just different.  We can move family holiday dinners to any time that works for everyone else, but with kids grown  - this is just a different stage. 

No Easter baskets, No drying of dyed eggs on newspaper on the kitchen table, no Easter morning breakfast to hurry up and prepare – just me, Sadie, a beautiful view and a bowl of oatmeal.  

As I type this I’m watching the birds flitter to and away from the bird feeder, likely so happy that someone was here to fill it as it was completely empty when I arrived yesterday afternoon.

I won't be alone for Easter dinner though, Sadie and I will be heading to Boomer, NC later this afternoon to spend time with Rick, Mona, Beanie and Max! A sleep over!

Mona and I are heading out towards Asheville tomorrow to pick up a machine Suzy has for her. (And one for me?!)  Road trip! This will be fun!  Antique malls await!

Sadie will be staying with Beanie and Max while we 2 girls hit the road, Lucy & Ethel style!

I’ll be taking the quilt to bind for this evening should we have chatting and stitching time.

What are your plans for today?

However you spend it – I am wishing you a wonderful Easter/Passover weekend surrounded by those you love, making memories to cherish!

And just for kicks and giggles:

Things to do with peeps! LOL!

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!