The azalea and dogwood are in bloom, along with lots of other spring blossoms. Even the rose bushes have buds. It is so breezy today that it was hard to take a photo.
A pair of bluebirds has produced a bumper crop of eggs in their nesting box. I don't know that we have ever had five eggs in the same brood.
Our bluebird box has a hinged door that you can open to view the nest. Today, Mama and Papa Bluebird were very unhappy when I opened the door. I was being dive-bombed as I tried to take the picture. Usually they just fly off to a nearby tree and watch. They are probably my second-favorite songbirds.
When we were working in the yard last weekend, I decided to hang my hummingbird feeder just to see how long it would take to spot the first hummer. Charlie spotted a male on the feeder about an hour later. I guess they were waiting for me! I saw the female the next day. And when I got home from school yesterday, there was a cherry red house finch sipping from the sugary water in the feeder.
On the way home, I saw a pair of Canada Geese walking down the street with one little gosling tootling along behind. They were pretty far from any of the ponds on the street. Maybe just out enjoying the weather!
I hope it is a beautiful day where you live.
Just slightly less than 6" x 6", this one is a shiny and sparkly interpretation of the surf lapping the white sands of the beach. The blues and greens of the waves are made from silk and wool fibers, yarns, and Angelina. 
Both waves and sands are accented with tiny beads. 
I made the background with my Babylock Embellisher, and machine-quilted on my Bernina. This little quilt is finished with zigzag stitching, and features a backing made of an ocean water theme fabric.
It is 4" x 6", and can be sent right through the mail for a fabulous greeting to a friend. Or, like the other pieces, it can be framed like a small piece of art, or set on an easel. Again, the piece was made on my Babylock Embellisher with various yarns, fibers, and tulle. It is machine-quilted with shiny thread to a stiff piece of interfacing called Timtex, and then fused to a painted piece of watercolor paper. Zigzag stitching finishes the edges.
Tropical Waters, 2009, 6" x 6"
After needle-felting the top together, I took it to my Bernina and quilted swirly waves. I added some tiny seed beads to the waves, surf, and sand for additional shine. The border is zigzagged with a silver thread that also has a little silk roving tucked in.
