Pond cleaning/Susan Fosnot class

Wow it has been a while since I posted. It is always a busy time in the spring getting the flower beds and the pond cleaned.The 18th we cleaned out the pond it is quite a job. Water from the winter is pumped out then we get down into the pond to fish out all the leaves and debris that ends up there over winter.We also do this process in the fall when we move the fish into the green house tank.The flowers are blooming and things are so fresh and beautiful.









Rosie stopped by this morning when I was in the garden.Of course she would not smile when she saw the camera.







The doll class I took last weekend was fantastic.Just to spend time with others who like to do the same thing I do is great.But to learn more about mixing oil paints to get colors for shading was even better. The pattern was so easy to make up before the class.
I am always frustrated with myself when I take classes.My expectations for myself are really unrealistic. I did have a wonderful time and hope to go again next year when Mr.T. can drive us out in the rv and we can stay and look around the wonderful town of Woodstock.You can see in the 2 pictures the town square.Our class is in the old court house art center.




http://www.susanfosnotdolls.com/

Sami is the doll we were trying to create. You can see Susan's boy dressed in the short pants and cap.You can also see the artists and their creations. none look alike they are truly unique to their makers.They were wonderful to see in person and to watch them develop over the 2 day class was so much fun.









The gals came from Florida,Wisconsin,Illinois,Iowa.I am forgetting one more state I think.
Have a great rest of the week and weekend. We will be spending time with our daughter and her family.It will be good we have not seen them since Christmas.j

cutting down the apple tree

Sunday we finally cut down the apple tree.It was on the honey do list for a long time.We cut one down last year and you can see the 3rd one in the back ground. It is over the pond so will take more to cut that one down.



I got to drive Mr. T.'s truck to pull over the tree.Timber!!! Our good friends Mikki and Larry helped us with the tree and it was cleaned up in no time at all. Good to have such friends!

The last picture is of the garden last year.Stay tuned for pictures in June.That is when the garden will look great.Now it is just barren.

I have a long to do list. The weather has turned hot so I only work in the morning and late in the afternoon.I may work in the rain tomorrow it will be cooler.
I had much more written but lost it when I pushed the publish post.

I have an appointment to sign up for SS at 1 pm.
All on the phone. I will let you know if it is painless.
Hope you week has been good and stays that way.
j

fun with friends/spring green

We had a very enjoyable Easter dinner with our good friends Larry and Mikki.Larry is holding up the wall waiting for the meat to finish cooking.Nothing better than Mikki's potato salad.


Croquet and another game were our entertainment. Here are Mikki and Joelle. It had been years since I played croquet.good memories.






I took the plastic off the greenhouse door today and discovered one of last years geranium's blooming.





The forsythia is in bloom. I raked a couple of beds today before getting rained back inside.










The tulips and thyme are looking good.











The rhubarb is up. In just a couple of weeks until we will have the first rhubarb crunch of the year. I will share the recipe. It is the very best.
Have a great week.j

Calvary

During this Easter weekend remember because of our redeemer Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:33

Thank you Jesus.
j

doll progress/Easter

I got to the next step in the doll's process.The wet looking face is really tacky glue.
The 2nd not so good picture is before the eyes were cut out. The last is after the fabric is trimmed and the eye fabric is cut out. She is drying again.
I am thinking she will need Helen Pringles messy mix.The messy mix is 1/2 Liquitex Modeling Paste and Liquitex Acrylic Gel Medium. Several layers. Then Oil painted.
I have several ideas for her hair.


For many years i have cut the branches of trees in the spring for and Easter tree. Some years there were eggs on the branches. This year it was late when I cut them. Tuesday of this week in fact.The furry catkins of the pussy willow bush are beautiful. The other twigs are from our forsythia bush. I am so looking forward to a long spring. The best time of the year.
Happy Easter to you all. May you be blessed.
j