~ Midweek Musings ~

Hello Friends & Folk ~

Happy Wednesday to you all!

did any of you get a small glimpse of sunshine today?

{at least that's what I think it is, a big ball of light in the sky?}

yep, actual sunshine right now. as I type.

*aaaahhhh*

 oh wait...yep, it's gone again.

How do you like my 'welcome' flag?

{hahaha}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

here is progress on a new design I'm stitching...

I have named it, ~ but I won't tell you what it is until I'm finished ~

 

don't you love the thread colors?

they are all Weeks Dye Works threads, as well the linen.

linen is 32ct Tin Roof ~

threads used thusfar are Kohl, Bullfrog, Havana &  Pelican Gray.

(2 strands of floss over 2 threads of linen}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OH! see the look on Pepper's face?

she has been naughty, but she learned a valuable lesson

...chasing a mother deer will get your furry-butt in a heap of trouble!

Peter watched as Pepper ran up the driveway after a doe, 

which then spun around on her sharp hooves and went after Pepper!!!

yeah. never underestimate a mother protecting her child.

duh.

'I wuz skeered mom...she almost got my hiney'.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the gardens are lush, due to the rains, 

but also everything is rotted after blooming.

that is so sad. 

Well enjoy your day,

whatever your weather!

make your own sunshine...then share it with others.

 

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Three Weeks Old Today ~

Good Morning

~ Friends & Folk ~

what a beautiful sunshine-y day here at the farm....

our roses this year are drop dead gorgeous 

and I will have to take more pics of them for you soon!

All is well at our homeplace.

the barnyard has quieted down to a murmur

~ now that the puppies have arrived

and everything is peaceful.

 

while I was at the PSS Retreat & Merchant Mall this past weekend, 

Peter and Chris cared for our gardens... 

and we will be heading out to the local nursery 

~ for our vegetable, flower and herb plants today!

 

and,

Speaking of 'nursery'...

you asked for puppy photos ~ 

:)

here is the sweet momma ~ "Pepper" 

as skinny and full of milk as she could be!

we have adjusted her caloric intake so she can gain her much-needed weight,

 ... as well as nourish those fat babies of hers.

and here they are...

all 6 piglets out in the sun for the first time!

 

their eyes have begun to open, 

so we don't want to damage their vision with the bright sun for too long, 

... just long enough to clean their bed and freshen their bedding ~

 

can you smell them?

lol

 

4 little boys, 2 little girls ~

one brown is a boy, one brown is a girl!

 

Pepper is a doting mother,

and Peter is a doting...well ~

he's just a mess.

I really can't tell who loves the puppies more.

just look at those tiny-hineys!

 

and Miss Roxy is thee best 'auntie' there is...

always letting us know if the babies are crying too much.

 

and it's feeding time at the farm!

 {like every two hours!}

poor Pepper...

"MA! I'm HUNGRY!!!!"

 today marks their 3 week birthday!

happy birthday little ones...

we love you lots.

❤♥❤

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Creative Weekend ~

 Well Hello

Friends & Folk....

~ this has been a busy weekend!

I managed to get quite a few things accomplished, 

... and even began some things I didn't know I would begin!

I thought I was done punching new designs 

before heading out to the PSS Retreat in Columbus OH on the 5th & 6th of May 

but I just had to start working on this one that has been rattling around in my brain ~

it was inspired by an early PA German fraktur circa 1800's...

I have adapted it for punch needle and chose beautiful Valdani size #8 pearl cotton to work it with.

 

my main motifs are finished, 

and now I'll move on the the background...

I actually love filling in the backgrounds of my punch needle works ~

they can be as simple as outlining the motifs and filling in,

 or as complex as using directional punching techniques.

we'll see what this design dictates to me once I begin...

I am also working with my watercolors

creating new small paintings that will soon be offered as prints and notecards!

here is my latest in-progress

{and I love it so far} 

pretty colors...no?

 

h e l l o!

 I have more detail to add yet...

 

Oh!

I recently received a few finished models back 

from my fabulous model stitcher ~ Heather

{{ Thank You Heather!!}}

I'll show them all soon, but for now here is the new design for our

April/May/June 

Little Stitches Handwork Club 

~ otherwise known as 'LSHC'

and it is it's called

"Melancholy"

the verse reads:

"Industry is the best cure for Melancholy"

... for those who don't know what 'melancholy' may be, it's described thusly:

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

and I agree...a little 'industry' {in my book that means needlework!}

surely can cure the blues...

here is the fabric that will be included in the kit 

along with the chart, linen and threads....it's a Civil War era repro in shades of mustard & red ~

... I think it matches the threads nicely, don't you?

 each kit contains a little brass thimble

to attach to your 'scissors' on the pillow...like a little scissors fob

:)

 

I've had this old little square-shaped basket forever, 

... and although I didn't design this to fit in it,

it sure looks sweet in there!

 To read about how to become a member of our LSHC,

please click

 H E R E

to join our exclusive cross stitch club or re-new your membership ~ 

***MEMBERS KITS HAVE BEGUN SHIPPING TODAY***

{thanks again for your patience}

~ AND ~

I've saved the BEST new for last!

... at approx. 4:00 am today,

our little visitor-hound delivered the first of MANY puppies!!!!!

{{{ I think I counted ten little butts, BUT they are so squirmy I cannot tell for sure. }}}

At the moment, 

she is being a bit aggressive, as all new mothers can be.

~ so we are giving her space to bond and nurture with them...

since she came to us many weeks ago, she has warmed up quite a bit to Peter & I ~

...well, more to Peter than I, but that's ok.

at least she knows that we won't hurt her ~ and that she is safe here.

Peter made a huge nesting box for her in the barn and that's where she is...

nuzzling & licking her squealing little butterball babies!

Stay tuned for photos, don't want to scare her by flashing lights in her eyes...

whew!

guess that's all in a nutshell for now ~ 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Where the Wild Things are..... ~

Sometimes it feels like we are in our own little world here ~

the days go by slowly & quietly, for the most-part...

we watch the changing seasons from inside wavy-glass windows,

and walk wooded paths that have been trodden by many feet before us.

There is a still-feeling here, at this very humble old place that we call 

H O M E

Springtime is a magical time of year for us here at the farm.

the gardens are asleep one moment, then seem to suddenly wake without warning,

welcoming the warmth and sunshine.

We let our gardens grow out of control this time of year,  and with with wild-abandon ~

just letting our herbs strengthen and coexist alongside the plentiful weeds...

{the weeds act as shelter for our tender herbs before they become a life-stealing nuisance to them.}

 

The first blooms of my beautiful wisteria have opened

bringing with them sweet-scented air ~ and sleepy woodworker bees

nestled in amongst the blossoms...

my iris are beginning to show their colors too...

this one surprised me this morning, in full regalia ~

next to the privy and old tea rose bush.

a bramble of blackberry vine entwines with the old rose ~

creating a perfect bower for our beloved feathered friends.

 

Our later-blooming narcissus have arrived,

both in our deep woods and ones I have transported to the farmyard ~

bringing with them waving leaves and delicate petals...

and, if you look closely at my blurry photo below ~

you'll see one of my most-favorite visitors to my flower beds:

a hummingbird moth!

I had never seen one until we moved from CT to VA 

and when I finally saw one I was amazed at how beautiful these tiny pollinators are,

~ and how fittingly they got their name.

A transplanted lilac bush 

{that we moved from the side of the old log cookhouse behind our farmhouse}

has finally matured enough to bloom ~

one sweet, small bloom 

...that I can smell on the spring breeze.

Our azalea bushes are laden with flowers this year as well....

And 

while snapping photos I caught this:

~ pure love ~ 

 the Prim Stitchers Society Retreat and Merchant Mall are only 2 weeks away ~

it is being held at the 

Embassy Suites Hotel/Airport in Columbus, OH

May 5th & 6th

I have so enjoyed being a part of this Facebook group ~ 

it's members are always sharing, lifting each other up and are always happy to help one another.

~ we have met so many wonderful friends that kindly support our business and what we love to do.

we are grateful & blessed!

If you get a chance to attend, you will not be disappointed...

My talented model stitcher Heather is finishing up a few models for me for new designs that I will release at the PSS retreat/merchant mall {see above}

 

I'll have one new punch needle design, called "Birds and Bees"

and three new cross stitch designs ~

"So Inclined",  "Steal Not" & "Stitching & Mending"

 

I'm working on this one...'Stitching and Mending' in progress below ~

the finish will be a project bag to carry/store your threads, linens and charts.

I'm working it with beautiful Gentle Art Sampler Threads, 

but I will include a DMC conversion in the pattern ~

stitching this on my 28ct Old Farmhouse© hand dyed linen 

using two strands over two threads...

so far, so good!

Update on the shipping of our 

Little Stitches Handwork Club kits:

we apologize for the delay....been a busy time here lately!

~ kits will begin shipping end of the week to current members :)

the LSHC club design is called "Melancholy" 

and I will share the completed finish with you soon ~

 

Well I am off to do farmhouse chores ~

the pollen has been building on everything, including these old windows.

...going to grab my vinegar and old newspapers to wash them with...

Hoping you all have a *sparkling* spring day my sweet friends!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori