Signs of spring here

This is our buck eating his hay. 

(Notice the snow in the background of this photo.) 

We are expecting new goat kids in a month or so - from two of our does.

Just the other day we saw a Robin and a Chipmunk. 

Today is a warmer sunshiny day. I think we will start to see more and more signs of  spring each day.

  

Something is coming up near the garage. I think it is Tulips. They were fun to find yesterday.

 

This photo is of our windmill turning in the warm spring wind. 

The sky was so blue and clear of clouds when I took this photo. 

Do winter flowers bring May showers?

Outside my window today the snow is very slowly disappearing.  For Minnesota the weather is almost balmy and tomorrow it may be as warm as 45 degrees F.

I am thankful for flowers that bloom indoors when it is cold  and snow covered outdoors.  These African Violets have been so bright and cherry lately; always so pretty. 
Many years ago my Grandmother raised and sold them from her home for some income. I remember seeing all of the 'starts' in her window and watched as they were transplanted and moved to another window. Eventually someone would come and purchase one or two and this little cycle kept repeating itself in her house.  My mom enjoyed them too, as they adorned the little shelves near the kitchen sink. I appreciate them so much more now than I did back then. 

Why? 

• Possibly because they are a reminder of days gone by; days when 'time was taken' to fuss with plants like these. 
• This little plant reminds me also, that additional blooms outside will be coming as winter changes into spring.

Do these perky little purple posies bring May showers? No, they hold no control over the showers and warmer weather ahead; God  has those things in His plan for each year.

I look forward to the variety of  pleasures He has for us with each approaching season.

Winter flowers remind me that spring is....on its way.

Last year's Amaryllis flower buds...

This year our Amaryllis bulb did not shoot up a flowering stalk. 

Just some green leaves. 

These blooms are so looked forward to 

each February or March.  

I was happy to have photos to choose from 

for a picture from a previous year.  

What I've been making.....pincushions!

Natural Black felted wool  pincushion ~ for sale on Etsy.

A rustic heart embellished felted wool pincushion ~ for sale on Etsy.

Another similar pincushion ~ for sale on Etsy

A mohair pincushion ~ A Christmas gift for Amy 2010.

While visiting with a friend yesterday she shared this quote:
"Don't let what you can not do interfere with what you can do."
~ by  John Wooden

These pincushions have been fun to make and embellish and seem like such a little thing.

Having put them on Etsy to sell recently, they have helped bring some income in and some of it will be used today for gas money so we can visit with friends.

These are among the things I 'can' do here and now.

I am thankful that I can and am glad for the loving reminder to keep on with these do-able projects.

Another part of our home..

This is a pleasant spot, especially when the sun shines in
from the large window to the right or from the two 
narrow windows to the left. 
The piano and other musical instruments are used a lot. 
Nice soothing music drifts through the house when these 
keys and instruments are played. 
I don't play, but I am so thankful that the girls can and do.

A quote that encouraged me....

Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; 

but do not let them master you.

Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight. 

When we do the best we can,

we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, 

or in the life of another.

~Helen Keller~

Friday and friends....

We spent a lovely time today with friends who invited us for tea and to share projects.

The hostesses, above, showed us shawls that they purchased in Russia. These shawls were each different and yet equally beautiful, soft, and warm.

Some of the items they had made.

They are very talented and inspiring ladies.

Then in the pictures below: the tea  ~
We felt as though we had been taken to
a fancy tea room somewhere.

In reality we had been taken to just that.

But it was just a few steps down the hallway, complete with soft music playing in the background.

The lovely table.

A beautiful tea cup and saucer.....

.....with Jasmine flowers wrapped with tea leaves. They said these were from Vietnam.

This was such a pretty picture of the tea steeping.

An example of our plated food.

The apple slices and orange slices were served alternately together on a platter. The reason: the apples and the oranges can be sliced and left in the original shape ahead of time and left on the counter and when arranged on the platter alternately so as to help the apples not turn brown prematurely.

The walls of snow that we drove through shortly after leaving their driveway.

This was a joy-filled, inspiring and full day!