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March 31, 2011

Taniwa



Daffodils from my yard today!

I know several of you already follow the blog, Taniwa, but I wanted to share this information with  those of you who don't.  This blog is written by the sweetest lady who lives in Japan.  She is an avid quilter and cat lover.  Every day she writes about the conditions there and even when the situation sounds so bleak, she always has a positive attitude and a quick wit.

I read her posts everyday and always think about how blessed my life is.  When you have time, pay Taniwa a visit.

March 30, 2011

Trek to the Final Four


My granddaughters are on the front row:  the one in the teal jacket and the white jacket beside her.


I went with my daughters and granddaughters to the pep rally for the VCU Rams today before they left Richmond for Houston.  We had so much fun! All of this is so unexpected by this team and they are truly the underdog.  The players had  big grins on their faces and their parents were beaming with pride.  I can't wait until Saturday to see what happens!

And what do you think of this?  My youngest daughter had a pedicure today.  You can't tell we're excited, can you?

March 28, 2011

Monday

Yesterday was a fun day!  My daughter invited me to go to the VCU bookstore in Richmond with her to pick up some  shirts for her family to wear this weekend when the basketball team plays again.  The bookstore was packed and everyone was excited and happy about the team's success to this point.

Richmond is such a beautiful city in the spring!  The dogwoods are just starting to bloom.  However, they'll probably be set back by the freezing nights we're having this week.  When the weather is warmer, I plan to go downtown and take lots of pictures to share with you.

Later I brushed the corgi girls out on the deck.  In the spring I always think their fur would make great fillers for bird's nest.  I'm hoping one day to come across an abandoned nest that's woven with corgi hair.

Another Great Win for our VCU Rams Sunday!

March 27, 2011

The Lincoln Lawyer

I saw The  Lincoln Lawyer yesterday and it was a great movie.  It is based on the best selling novel by Michael Connelly.  Matthew McConaughey was his usual handsome self and Marisa Tomei did a great job as his co-star.

I hope the spring weather comes back this week.  I really have some yard work that needs to be done.  Have a great week!

Easter Egg Door Decoration

I saw this idea on Two Succulent Sisters blog and thought it was adorable.  Using things I already had, I made this one last night.  My egg shape is not perfect but I thought it turned out really cute for my first one.  If you visit their blog, they give step-by-step instructions to make one.
This forsythia is in full bloom right across from my house and directly in front of my sewing window.  I have enjoyed it so much, but we may get snow this weekend and that will destroy the blooms.

March 26, 2011

Somebunny's Birthday

Happy birthday tomorrow to Shell May at The Raspberry Rabbits .   Be sure and check out her lovely blog!

We're Proud of the VCU Rams

Lucky, my granddog, was all decked out last night to cheer for the Rams.  Lucky's mom (my daughter)  is a Virginia Commonwealth University  alumnus.  They played a great basketball game and beat Florida State!

Enjoy your weekend!

March 25, 2011

Maud Lewis

Since I love black cats, this is my favorite print!
I was looking through  my desk yesterday and came across a box of cards with the art of Maud Lewis on them. Maud Lewis was a Canadian artist who was born in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia and lived from 1903 to 1970. She is described as Canada's Grandma Moses. Several year ago I was in Halifax, Nova Scotia and visited the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The  little house that Maud lived in had been dismantled and reconstructed in the museum.  Please take time to visit the gallery website and see her art, her  house and read her story.  She was an amazing little lady!

March 21, 2011

Miniature Garden Room

Yesterday I decided it was time to put away the snow shop and take down the garden room.   This little scene sits on the table in my family room during the summer.  This was such a fun project!


Chocolate cookies and iced tea with lemon are  ready to be served.  The little corgi is trying to decide whether or not she should herd the cat.


The purple wisteria is in full bloom up the side and over the top.  I've had wisteria growing in my real yard for years and it has never bloomed.


 

March 20, 2011

Spring at the Botanical Gardens

A few days ago, my daughter and I spent the morning at the botanical gardens near where we live.  She took these beautiful pictures and I want to share them with you.  They are having an orchid show right now and the orchids were beautiful!

March 18, 2011

My Finished Corgi Topiary

I had a great time yesterday working on my topiary.  My friend, Angela, from West Virginia Treasures, sent me a box of hens and chickens to use for a collar and I picked up some sedum from Home Depot.  I'm sure all of you have heard the legend that corgis once served as the trusted steeds of fairies in the woodland of Wales.  I already had this little fairy that is just the right size to ride on the back of my "green corgi".
It's going to take a few weeks for the plants to start growing, but I think it will fill out.

Alpacas

I spent a wonderful afternoon yesterday with my friend who lives in the country.  We had a cardmaking workshop with one other friend and then we visited her neighbor who raises alpacas.  They are the most fascinating animals!

(I have linked up with Amy at Verde Farm blog for Farm Friend Friday. Click on the Verde Farm button in the top right corner to see other great farm posts.)



This little white girl is Elizabeth.  She was very friendly and gave her owner the sweetest kisses.




The picture below is one of two Great Pyrenees dogs at this farm.   She was  napping in the sunshine in the middle of the alpaca pen! 

I thought this was so cute!


I believe this goat's name was Ethel.  There was a Lucy also.



The other Great Pyrenees was hanging out with the chickens.

The beautiful day ended with dinner of corned beef and cabbage at my daughter's for St. Patrick's Day.  So much fun!

March 17, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day


The History of St. Patrick's Day

It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God's-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)


Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. (Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick's life became exaggerated over the centuries-spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life.

March 16, 2011

Brynwood Needleworks Giveaway

Donna, at Brynwood Needleworks is having the most beautiful giveway.  The winner will be announced on April 1st.  Take time to check it out.  I love her work!  You may click on her link under my Blog List on the bottom right of this page.

March 14, 2011

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding: published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding: published by Andrews McMeel Publishing



A friend sent me this link for a pattern book to knit the Royal Family.   I thought the corgis were so cute.   I crochet but never learned to knit.  I imagine knitting these little guys would be quite tedious.

March 13, 2011

Water for Elephants


I have to say that I was disappointed in this book.  To me it was very dark with too many bizarre and cruel things happening to the animals and people. I expected some of this  because of the circus setting, but it was depressing after a while. 
Has anyone read a good book lately that you can recommend? 

March 12, 2011

Baby Nigeria Dwarfs Playing 0001



With permission from Michaele of  Sprout 'N' Wings Farm blog, I am posting her baby goats  video for your entertainment.  I'm trying to work out a deal to trade her a corgi for the little white one!


March 11, 2011

Antique Candlesticks

Friday's "junkin" trip turned out to be very interesting.    I found a set of candlesticks in a very small thrift shop.  The little girl and boy fishing caught my eye and since they were only $10, I decided to buy them.  Later in the day we were in an antique shop and I saw a set for $400.  I asked the shop owner to look at the ones I had purchased earlier and he was so helpful!  They are Girandole candlesticks made during the mid 1800's out of cast bronze with a marble base.  He said  the characters depicted on them were sometimes  from a classic novel and mine were probably from David Copperfield.  The prisms are not original so that reduces the value but he believed they would still  be worth between $200 to $300.  The whole experience was like being on the Antique Roadshow.

I found a set in an Etsy shop with the original prisms for $420.  If you'd like to see them, search Girandole candlesticks under all sellers in Etsy.

Needless to say, I'm going to sell them if I have an opportunity!


March 10, 2011

Water for Elephants

Tonight I'm going to start reading Water for Elephants.  I always get excited when I start a  book, it's like going on a new adventure.  Sara Gruen, the author is originally from Canada and now lives in NC with her husband, two dogs, four cats, two horses and a goat.  Anyone who has that many animals has to be wonderful, don't you think?

Friday I'll be "junkin" all day with my friend.  Maybe I'll have some things to show you on Saturday.

Have a great weekend!

March 9, 2011

And the winner is...

The winner of my 100 followers giveaway is Donna at Brynwood Needleworks.  I will be mailing her assortment of cards in the next few days.  Her blog is beautiful, so check it out if you haven't.  She is a very talented lady!

I never imagined I would make such wonderful friends through blogging.  I look forward to reading every night the beautiful blogs that I follow.

March 8, 2011

Corgi Topiary


This past weekend I went to a Home and Garden Show with a friend and found this corgi topiary.  It was expensive, but I decided I couldn't live without it.   I plan to  leave it out in the rain  to get soaked later this week  and then plant some small plants on it.  I am going to use hens and chickens for a collar and very small sedum for the britches.  I'll post pictures of the finished corgi next week.

My friend bought this cocker spaniel.  It is so adorable and already had everything  planted on it.   She looks very friendly greeting visitors on her front porch.