A few of my favorite things...

Flowers, fresh fruit and honey from our hives.  Does it get any better?

My friend Breida (with a B), over here, turned me on to this fun link party organized by Laura of Ironstone Nest.  Since I am new to blogging and have four kids, I don't always get done (craft-wise) what I hope to in any given week (but in general, my children are fed, clean and clothed and often having fun, that's something)...but here is something I can do: a list of my favorite things. Here goes!

I love quilting.  That is the purpose of this blog...to talk about my love of quilting past, present and future and show some things I make.  I have wanted to make a red and white quilt ever since I went to this show last year. Lately, to get ready for my first Hudson Valley Modern Quilt Guild meeting, I have been working on some blocks led by Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock through Craftsy (DEFINITELY A FAVE!!).  Using up my red & white stash...

These are the first four.  I have six more to catch up!!

Another favorite thing of mine is when my wildflower garden does what it is supposed to.

My flowers are often home to my bees.  I love bees, beekeeping and their product. 

Yup.  That's me.

The honey pirates!

This basket from the Pennsylvania Basket Company I got at the Rhinebeck Craft Fair a couple of years ago is so amazing---the craftsmanship astounds me.  I love to look at it even when it's empty...

But I love it even more when it is full of produce from my garden!!!

And little people help.

In the soap wars, Breida, I come down on the side of Peppermint Dr. Bronners! Minty fresh!  And cannot get through the day without my wicked wax.

I cherish that my boys love for me to read to them and are always bringing me their books.

Finally, I love handmade, natural wooden toys.  I save up for special occasions, usually Christmas.  And then I head over to Nova Natural for some things I love as much as my kids! And, handmade gift bags!  Saves paper and make great collecting bags later on!

Thanks for reading!  What are your favorite things?  Stop on by the Ironstone Nest and leave your list!!

Signs of Spring

 This was the first warmish weekend day here in the Hudson Valley, and we were not the only ones spending the day outside taking stock of what the winter wrought and looking for the glorious signs of spring.  Joining us in the yard were the ladies of the hive.



After a long winter inside, the honeybees were out in force gathering pollen.  The yellow balls you can see on the back of their legs is the pollen these forager bees went out and collected.  As we observed the hive, we noticed two distinctly different colors of pollen; one was a muted greenish-yellow and the other was a bright, brilliant yellow.  As the forsythia on our road are not yet in bloom, I wondered where they were collecting from.  Then as we sat outside and ate out lunch my husband pointed his finger across the field and there it was staring us in the face----an enormous willow tree, bright with yellow buds---the same color as the pollen the bees were collecting!  

We were grateful to see some buds on the apple tree we planted several years ago, since it has taken some abuse from the deer (as you can see by the chewed off branch to the right of the bud).  Luckily, this year, the deer fence is in and, hopefully, all plants in the yard will fare better!

 Radish sprouts!!