Catching Up

We spent Easter week and a little bit longer at our mountain cabin.  It was very restful, and I think it helped Charlie a lot to be off work for awhile and be in his "happy place."  We enjoyed walks and rides over the mountains, and also seeing all the nieces and nephews who came up for the opening day of trout season.

Most of the trout that were caught in the creek were transported to our fishing pond, so the kids can catch them again and again.

Here is my sister's granddaughter Holly enjoying the tire swing.

The trees up there still did not have any leaves.  They are a few weeks behind Raleigh.

But back home, it is dogwood and azalea time!  We have huge mounds of azaleas surrounding our Raleigh home.

Yesterday I went on an excursion with friends Marcia and Laurie.  We went to Pittsboro, North Carolina, to visit the French Connections shop.  Marcia wanted to select some fabric for her quilt featuring fabrics from Provence.

It is a most eclectic and charming shop in downtown Pittsboro!  In addition to fabrics from France, they carry fabrics and many other items from West Africa and lots of metal sculpture from Mexico.

If you look closely, you can see Yours Truly standing next to the giant metal rooster!

She ended up purchasing a yellow fabric with lavender sprigs for the backing, and a navy and yellow print for the binding.

After we finally finished buying fabric, we walked to the Pittsboro Roadhouse  for delicious chili and sandwiches.  Then we browsed our way back through some great little galleries and shops.

I found this chenille baby throw, which I intend to make into a quilt. It was less than twenty dollars at Reclamation Home Furnishings and Company.

Today I have been doing a little painting in my art journal and Bible.  I'll post that work another time. Tomorrow I am off to the North Carolina Museum of Art with my art quilt bee.  It's time again for Art in Bloom, a pairing of art work and floral masterpieces.  We really enjoyed it last year, and can't wait to see the new creations!

Here are some pictures from last year's event.

The exhibit is only Thursday through Sunday, so better reserve your tickets and make your plans if you want to go!

Spring in Bloom in Raleigh

 It's my favorite time of year here in the South...dogwood and azalea time, that is!  We have massive hedges of azaleas around our driveway in front of the house, backing up to the woods.

And there's nothing more elegant or graceful than the dogwood, our state flower, in lovely drifts along the branches of the trees that are native to our woods.

And look at this pretty little bloom in my garden!

I am almost finished with the 21-Day Art Journal Challenge on Facebook.

Day 19:  I've Got to Hand it to You

Day 20:  Mandalas.  I loved drawing and painting this cheerful sun face, inspired by the sunshine artwork on the CBS Sunday Morning show.  I have been sketching several more mandalas in my journals.

I have just one more to complete, and I started it today. I am totally having fun with this one!  Just in time for the next challenge to begin!  I will post details when the rules come out.

Dogwood and Azalea Time

It's still March, but our Southern Spring is in full bloom.  There is just nothing prettier than the combination of dogwood and azalea...especially when combined with graceful architecture such as in historic Wake Forest, North Carolina.  What a difference a day makes...beautiful sunshine and blue skies.

The campus of Southeastern Baptist Seminary is looking lovely.

It used to be Wake Forest College, back in the day when Arnold Palmer played golf for the Demon Deacons.

If you are not into pastel shades, azaleas also come in brilliant reds.

This lush green lawn with the dogwood trees and azaleas makes me think of the landscaping at The Masters golf tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina.  That is coming up on April 5.

My own personal back yard is looking inviting.  But, I've got things to do!

Carolina Springtime

Sorry about not posting much recently. I have been out of town three weekends in a row, and we are leaving again tonight for a three-day weekend in the mountains. No, I am not playing hooky from the elementary school where I teach...tomorrow is a teacher workday, and we are allowed to take vacation days if no meetings are assigned.

I have obviously not done much sewing, with the wedding last weekend and all our traveling, but I have a new project that I am very excited about. I will write about that next week.

It has turned very green here, with lots and lots of rain to make up for a two-year drought. Everything is blooming and makes me LOVE living in the south at this time of year. Unfortunately, both of my native dogwood trees next to my azaleas were severely damaged by the drought, and only a few branches put out any blooms this year. I think some pruning will help.

Here are some pictures of my back yard, taken before school one morning recently.