Chives ahoy, stitching and rescue reminder

May 8, 1945. VE day. I was six, lived in a street like this, in a town like this,  and we had teaparties in the street like this. With tea! English kids, tea drinkers from an early age. Note the moms in their pinnies, one with her copper tea kettle, ready to do tea warm ups.

Normally women wouldn't be seen in the street in their work aprons, but when you're serving a streetful  of kids, large families then, with cake and sandwiches and tea, you need your pinny.

My mom kept reminding me it wasn't over. There was still Japan. She wasn't up for celebrating, one son lost in combat, one recovering in hospital in North Africa, one about to be in the middle East at the founding of Israel. But kids had a great time. 

Back to the present.

The chives have flowered, despite beating rain and wind

And the stitching continues. You'll see a couple of the original threads are gone. As I progressed, I decided they were out of character for what I was trying to do. They'd served their purpose to delineate sections, and I removed them, lightening up the whole thing.

Still a long way to go. I'm stitching all over at once, moving from section to section to keep the design and stitches and colors balanced. 

Now and then I look at images just to remember shapes and colors, not to copy, just look at. Here's one I've been studying today for ideas and colors

It's a lovely sight even if you don't need it as reference.

And if you need study references, here are some murine mycologists

Happy day everyone, off to walk in the warm again sun.

And remember May is the month of kittens, many born around now, shelters packed. Good time if you were thinking of adopting a kitten. Adopt don't shop!