BLOGGER'S SWEET SURPRISES

Like many, I've slowed down on blogging this year but some of my blogging friends still remember me.
I usually pick up the mail on my way back from work because our mail delivery is so late in the afternoon some times.
This is what I found in my mailbox on Friday.  A  package with beautiful homemade gifts from my talented crafty blogger friend Cynthia of Kyrotime.

Cynthia is so adept with her sewing that she can turn pieces of fabric into the most beautiful creations time after time. She is just amazingly creative and crafty. This is our provincial flower the Violet appliqued on this fabric. Every little petals is cut separately and appliqued as well as the stems and leaves and stitched on so precisely.
I love that little applique worm cut out of fabric and the eye is actually part of the marking on the fabric.  My photo doesn't do it this little quilt justice.  Just beautiful...

As if this piece of art isn't enough, Cynthia also included this beautiful homemade apron. I just love it. Thank you so much Cynthia for your thoughtful gifts and the beautiful letter.

I always enjoy visiting her blog Kyrotine to see what she's up to. It's never boring at her place especially now as she is raising two little cute puppies.

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment to let me know you visited.
Hugs, Julia

IT'S BEEN COLD FUR SURE...

March started pretty cold and windy with storms after storms and a mixed of temperatures.
My thoughts have turned to Spring but in the meantime life goes on.

My girls, Jackie and Christine were in Glasgow Scotland for a week to finalize arrangements for Nicole's estate and I was worrying about all the menacing stormy weather predictions. They both made it to Ottawa on Sunday and missed the storm. Then Jackie flew home the next day and  then  the storm hit. Their flight over the ocean was a bit bumpy.

 My son Vaughan greeting his sister Jackie, welcome back home.

In Ottawa, my daughter Christine said  snow drift was half way up her front door and the car was half buried in the snow. It was cold so the snow was light and drifty. Here the wind blew and snow was so heavy as the temperature rose, making it difficult to walk to the barn in the early hours of the morning.

     Lightning McQueen, Daniel's favorite race car


My grandson Daniel celebrated his 4th birthday  with his favorite car cake that his mom  ( Christine) made from scratch. The cake disappeared quickly.  He had a birthday party in town but mom was so busy, I didn't get any pictures but we understand " busy ". He had lots of fun and presents.

            Did you ever had a  box of HAPPY  delivered to you?

Sometimes last week I received a request for my mailing address from Jilda, a Yoga teacher  blogger friend of mine  from the blog TRANSFORMATION  INFORMATION and we've been keeping in touch by email once in a while.  She said she wanted to send me a box of Happy.  I expected a small package  like a book, maybe.  It's not unusual as I have received some books from blogger friends in the past.

As you can see it was inspected by custom. Can you imagine my surprise at the size of the box? My jaw dropped as I received it from the UPS delivery man as I could plainly see Jilda's name on the  package.
 I opened the package and my jaw dropped down almost to the floor again when I saw what was inside.

A floor length faux fur coat and a card. Can you believe the custom inspector also opened the card. The coat fits me to a T.  Jilda has been complaining they didn't get winter in Alabama, just a sprinkle of snow so I guess she no longer needed a fur coat. Thank you so much Jilda for your thoughtfulness. I guess she got tired of me complaining about all the cold we got this winter...

This is the second fur coat I got within a week can you believe?

Last weekend I went to the Salvation Army Thrift store to look for a barn jacket because one of my heifers grabbed the front of my jacket in her mouth and yanked my zipper off and it was beyond repair so I had to pin my jacket shut with big safety pins looking like a complete idiot.  I'm still wearing that jacket and I still look like an idiot with my black tuque and pinned jacket....hehe.

I didn't found a suitable jacket but I found a new pair of tan colored jeans for $7.99 and figured that my trip to the thrift shop hadn't been in vain. As I rounded the corner I spotted a street length mink fur coat on a hanger for $19.99.  It had a rip in the sleeve but I  picked it up anyway.  I had a coupon for $10.00 off on a purchase of at least $25.00  from a clothing donation I had given earlier this winter.
So I got that real mink fur coat for $9.99.

I had been looking for one a few years ago to make fur teddy bears but one woman saw it at the same time as me and she ran to it before me. The only one fur coat I could get was black mutton and I made one fully jointed teddy bear and gave it to a little girl who was visiting from California. Life got busy and I put my teddy bear supplies away.
Hopefully Spring is on it's way soon but in the mean time stay warm and safe.
Thanks for leaving a comment to let me know you were here. I really appreciate your visit.
Hugs,
Julia

MY LITTLE TOWN

After my daughter Nicole passed away last fall, I felt out of sort. I still had to work at the farm but I needed something to keep my mind off my sorrow and my hands busy after work while the snow was flying.
I contacted Sunnie Andress who is a Folk Art Artist  who hooks beautiful folksy whimsical rugs.  I knew that rug hooking was therapeutic and asked her if she would start another rug challenge with our  Great Stash Deworming Marathon group on Rug Hooking Daily. She was busy settling in her new place but kindly agreed to start a new rug challenge for our group after Christmas.

She did and named it Inside, Outside, All Around the Town. This theme was free to be interpreted as per our creativity. It's amazing at how everyone interpret this theme.
I was anxious to start pulling worms so I quickly drew my design and started hooking that afternoon.
We were suppose to hook with as much left over worms as possible  and only cut wool if we absolutely needed to as some of us have been making a lot of rugs with left over worms and our stash is running low, especially mine.

Here is my challenge rug that still needs it's edges finished.  It measures 27  3/4'' x 18''.  I called it My Little Town. I only cut wool strips for the sky, clouds, 1/3 of the dark border and a bit of the glass for window and a bit of black for outline. The rest was entirely hooked with leftover.
I had named the buildings but it was impossible to hook the letters in such a small space so only the school got named. The challenge is over on March 31.  I'm anxious to see all the rugs members came up with. Some are already posted on our group forum.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Julia