Misfits and cherry blossom

Today Gary's weeping cherry burst out and cheered up a cold grey day.

And Misfits arrived, Robert in charge 

Missing from the picture because I didn't notice it in the bottom of the box is a package of shredded mozzarella. Also missing because they didn't send it is another can of pureed pumpkin, for which I got a refund.

I splurged on Better than Bouillon because I'd heard good things, and I'll be parboiling all the potatoes ready to roast, some for whenever Handsome Son is free for Easter. I have other vegetables ready, green beans, corn, mushrooms for our dinner and he'll provide some meat and dessert. Probably ham, it seems to be the time.

Back at the counter, cashews to make a cream sauce with penne, sauce from Young Man Cooking. I'm planning to bake this, too, and add in to the Easter fare, a first. 

Cans for the food pantry as usual. The bag's getting heavy, so I'll get it in next week.

Lovely Envy apples, they're a favorite if I can't get gala or Rockits. Blueberries to go with yogurt, or anything really. 

If you look at the picture of the pink truck arriving you'll see shrubs across the street which my neighbor conferred with me about, pruning out the winterkill, since the landscapers don't get pruning. I thanked her for her service. 

The socks are coming along and I'm vowing not to do this pattern ever again, ever.  

It's been a learning experience and I'm going back to my regular patterns after this, less stress and sturm and drang.

Happy day everyone, and send good thoughts to blogger Mitch, whose two old cats, Dudo and Moose,  have crossed over, after a long and wonderful life with Mitch and partner. Hard day for them all.

Textiles and Tea, cardboard carving, Billy and cherries

Yesterday's Textiles and Tea featured -- macrame! Not the plant hangers we all made way back, nor the bracelets we taught little kids to make. Take a look.

 He's a retired law professor, and though he says he sees the accuracy required here as similar to the accuracy and thoroughness of writing a brief, he also works freeform 

He doesn't plan his designs anywhere except in his mind, then lets the twine lead him -- I'm quoting.  These are about 18" - 30" across, depending on which board he sets them up on .  

Interestingly, he's been invited into a regional tapestry guild, because they see the similarities. It uses some of the knots and turns used in tapestry work. He's in weaving guilds too.

Meanwhile, cherry blossom just starting on the three patio bushes, so maybe this year I'll get fruit. Some years I get as many as a saucerful.

 Last year no blossom, so this is looking better.

And a beeping puppy play bowing next door, emitting sounds like a guinea pig -- meep, meep.

Meanwhile after a day off from carving on account of an encounter yesterday with the lavender bush, which got me in the eye while I was tipping the pot upright, I'm back. The eye was tearing and gritty feeling but no damage done, and today it's much better, emergency resolved 

So I was able to get back on this work and get a bit of progress. I need to wait till tomorrow for the next stage, because this really makes a person tired.

It needs a raking light to see it best, so here's a few attempts.

Seen here with her friends. Well, a handy thumbtack to use.

This often happens with my work, either black on black or white on white or all about texture needing a better camera. It's what the art wants. I'm just a helpless prawn here. Quite a pleased prawn though. 

This is a new skill. I had to learn to plunge the blade in to lift just the right amount of layers to expose the corrugations without going in too far and removing them. They're quite delicate. And they varied in adhesion in  different parts of the cardboard for some reason. 

Anyway I may be applying some of the tiny curly scraps I removed,  to form foliage on those trees in the mid ground. I'll try it tomorrow after the auto dealership trip.

And now Gary's installed the hallway light for me, and taken his puppy off to his granddaughter's dance class by special invitation. I got to play with Billy, the functional equivalent of cuddling a bundle of eels. Warm Puppy!

Happy day everyone, hope your lights are on in both senses.

You up for a puzzle?

Clara Parkes from The daily respite

Just Google on her, sign up for her daily email for a bit of good cheer. Sometimes a lovely pic, sometimes a bit of video, it's good.

 Today it's brilliant tap dancers I'd never heard of : the Nicholas brothers, and Dormeshia. Great start to the day.

And my own contribution, my cherry bushes bustin' out all over. I may get fruit. If we don't have a late frost. Or I get ahead of the birds and squirrels. I'll show you my harvest if there is one. It usually fits on a small saucer.

Suddenly, all Spring, all the time 6WS

Never fails to stun, the way one day it's a few green blades, and the next it's all cherry blossom and daffodils.  

These are a few of the Handsome Partner memorial daffodils, and there are others blooming again, their fourth season, on more than one continent, and several countries, thank you all who did that in his honor.

And our own local cherry blossom festival, my cherry bushes on the patio, moved from the front yard

The Russian sage returns, its first spring here, making a natural bouquet with the daffodils and the veronica, which is officially a weed, but I love it and won't pull it out

My neighbor's brand new cherry tree,  its first blossom since planted last Fall.