April Showers With Snow

 April is unpredictable across Canada, what we do know is that May brings flowers! 

The bulbs are beginning to poke their heads through!

Tulips in the Anniversary Garden, located between the two lilac trees. I'm hoping the squirrels don't find them!

Lovely yellow & purple irises are beginning to show life!

Show-stopping pink ground cover under the lilac tree.

The Anniversary Garden is going to have pink roses growing up on the outer sides of the trellis. 

The tall single trellis has been overrun with the rose offshoots so Bill is moving some out to the arbour trellis & one batch over to the potting shed.

We've had some sunny days that you can sit on the front porch & take in the sounds of the birds in the woods. 

Or watch Bridget & Baxter take a tongue lashing from the squirrels that are in the tree. Yes, we still have snow here!

Bridget will stand on her hind legs to get a better look at the squirrel.

It is a daily entertainment for them!

How nice to see moving water with the tide in tide out!

Bill helping me with the photoshoot of the 169 squares all crocheted together!

Thank you, Bill! Just the outer border to crochet around it now but I do need more black yarn!

Our first flower of the spring!

The backyard grass is even greening up! 

The snowdrift on the east side yard is still dense, Bill has a bet with the sons that it will still be there on April 29th, it could be!

This was a pleasant surprise, the last wind storm brought in a sandy beach!

We've had it before but not for a few years!

The digging out of the rose bush begins!

I'm so looking forward to seeing it climb this arbour trellis!

And to see the pink/green colour next to the potting shed. This time last year the potting shed was not even in that location! 

Bridget so wants this job done so Bill can throw the ball!

I saw this idea on Pinterest & asked Bill if he could make me one, so he did!

It has the lavender from our garden last year & recycled bottles from juice, familiar Bev? lol

The sunflower is now the home & Mr & Mrs. Squirrel & their new babies inside!

I was surprised to watch her last week being so large that it took several tries to get through the opening!

With the babies inside, she flies through that hole! I've tried that that when I knock on the front door that means get out of the way because I'm unleashing the Boston terriers. 

They often just sit on top of their home & chatter at the dogs.

With the spring thaw a very large truck going down our laneway (we have the hydro poles/telephone/internet lines) on several occasions, cracked the cement pipe from its weight. We replaced it with a PVC one that hopefully will do the trip with future ground thaws. We also picked up all the Bell Aliant clips from their cuttings during their line replacements. Their equipment is on private property & I wish they were more respectful with their cleaning with access to our laneway for their lines.

This hole was noticeable from the road & my girlfriend saw it walking by, I placed a stick in the hole so no one would drive over the weakened area.

A bright-coloured dusting cloth tied with orange string would do the trick to warn others of the danger below!

Here are the 169 granny squares before they were crocheted together. With the scraps, I made a cat mat!

The cat mat was made with a scrap of burlap that I had.

I love making something from nothing! Well, not nothing but stuff people would see no value to & through it out.

Rexton knows that it is hers & sits on it on the end of the couch ottoman.

She's viewing Bridget... stay away!

Bridget cannot resist giving her a very kiss with her very long tongue. These two have a love-hate relationship. In Rexton's eyes - Cats rule - dogs drool. lol

Thank you for stopping in for a visit. I hope you keep safe, healthy, & happy through this most trying time in history with COVID-19. 

It's been a year since Mr. Boots our beloved cat passed away & our friend John, over the pond, gave me these words of comfort for those that have passed. These words are one of comfort, so lovely to feel.

'Those we love don't go away.

They walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard, but always near.

Still loved, still missed, and very dear.'

Author Unknown

Enjoy the spring days ahead!

Cynthia

April Feels Like Spring!

It is really starting to feel like spring with all the melting this week!

This is the last of the snow in the backyard.

The water is not the beautiful blue water yet & the puddles are huge in the backyard but it will help bring the water tables up for any drought that these large evergreens will be experiencing this summer.

The water in the Miramichi Bay is now wide open!

Bill's birthday present arrived today & he loves it! A tractor with a heated/airconditioned cab! Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! 

Bill is out in the tractor moving the gardening boxes around for the grass to grow in that area.

He's enjoying having the forklifts on the front of the tractor to lift & move the heavy boxes to their new site.

We have been picking pussy willows on laneway walks, I love bringing the outdoors in!

The signs of spring are in large vases that I have filled.

The Grandfather clock was the perfect place for these branches!

We had such a hard time finding marigolds last spring at the garden centers that we seeded & started some ourselves. The sweet pea & pansies are slower, I hope they take root...

The last of the snow on the east side of the house.

Bill is hoping it stays until April 28th, he has a bet with the three sons on when all the snow will be gone! I've seen it last until June 5th one year!

I found this piece of Laura Ashley poppy fabric from a bed skirt/curtains that I had modified then gifted to a girlfriend years ago. I always loved this pattern & thought that Luna Lapin would love a new fancy dress.

I made Ralph Reynard the red fox this week, he is one of Luna's many friends.

Ralph's velvet green breeches sparked the idea for Luna's dress bodice, they do make a handsome couple.

Ralphs coat was made from Bill's old blazer from 1990, I washed & dried it to felt it for my wool projects & it was perfect for this wee blazer!

I lined the jacket with the William Morris fabric that his cravat is made from. He is so handsome in his green outfit!

I love how Sara Peel the creator of these woodland creatures, has made all their outfits interchangeable, I would love to see this outfit on Billy the Badger!

Oh, what to do on those rainy days...

Bill dumped their tug for them to see what was at the bottom of their toy tug!

Oh my, the old friends they found!

And the noise that came with the hunt for that perfect chew toy as Baxter dug through!

Spring is putting an extra smile on everyone that gets excited about the earth wanting to erupt with the goodness of spring buds & bulbs. I'll have my camera ready to share with you those joys here on the northeast coastline.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit! I'll show you the colourful granny square afghan that is nearly ready for the 169 blocks to be auditioned & the rug hooked scrappy cat mat is coming along nicely too!

Stay safe & wear your mask!

Cynthia

Does this not make you smile?!

PS Baby Joey the Boston Terrier is doing very well & is enjoying being outside in the fresh air. Check out his Instagram @lifewithjoeytheboston. Joey is so precious!

 What a difference a week makes! We had snow on Easter Sunday & now lots of April showers with warm sunny days making those days feel so spring-like.