Trying to Spring it up

I love my old Pie Safe and love putting Spring items on top even more! I enjoyed looking at this as I lay sick on the front room sofa this week. Why yes, that is a tea chest in the middle!

I have seen birds flying in with twigs and bits and lots of chatter coming from way up there. That says Spring to me...even though my trees are still bare.

It was a warm day in the low 50's here, I just had to get outside. Since I've been so sick, I've been cooped up in doors for days on end. Doesn't this cardinal look cold ? We truly had a frigged winter...bless his little heart...I'm sure he loves our warmer weather!

My front porch does NOT look like this today, but I hear some of this is on the way...after all it is still March up north. However, our neighborhood lake is no longer frozen! That alone says Spring to me, even if my Tulips are only 2 inches out of the soil. My sweet Hubby got me lots of pink and yellow cut Tulips to cheer me...it worked!

We've been sick

Many of my friends have had sick little ones all winter. We have been blessed and missed those bugs. Last Tuesday night little man did not feel well and had a high fever. (he snuggled with me that morning too, it was so precious.) So, this past week, we were both sick. It's all part of being a mama. It's a normal virus, except, it also got into the muscles. He could not walk for 2 days. My legs hurt as well...not achy, like the flu, but painful. I always end up with sinus yuck whenever I get sick. He is still dragging today.

Sissy came home from school today fussing about her stomach hurting...guess what, mine's been bothering me all day as well! Here we go again. I have not been around to all y'alls wonderful blogs this week and I doubt I'll be able to this week. Prayers for the return of health are welcomed. I count my blessings, that this too shall pass.

Covered bridges of Kentucky

I just love old covered bridges; they are so nostalgic. Do you see the lines on the side of the bridge? Those are flood water lines from yrs past. They were covered to protect the wood of the actual bridge from the weather. Some Bloggers have asked if I'm from Kentucky...no, I'm not. It is the closest "South" to where I live now. I truly miss the South and this little trip helped this southern girl more than you'll know. Kentucky was a nice place to visit...even on such a rainy summers day as this.

Wordless Wednesday

My Fav Celtic Band

Here we are with Ian, the lead fella for The Elders, my favorite Celtic Band. Ian grew up in County Wicklow Ireland. They are a progressive, rootsy rock yet rooted in tradition kinda band. They also put on a fun show for the entire family. My kids love them and have grown up listening to them.
FYI my kids matching shirts say: Made in America with Irish parts

That is Sissy, a couple of yrs ago, on stage with The Elders doing an Irish jig!

Ok Lassies, it's St. Pat's day...go on and give it a go...visit their website and check them out...The Elders

An Irish Blessing

Wishing you walls for the wind and a roof for the rain...

and tea beside the fire

Laughter to cheer you and those you love near you...

Now off I go to make sure I have what I need to make Irish Soda Bread...my very own recipe! Yes, a cup of hot tea is wonderful with it!

Quilt tour - Kentucky barns

Here are some painted barn quilts we saw as we drove around the area going to old Covered Bridges! Does anyone know why these barns are dark in color??? If you do, please leave me a note...cause I don't. I'm thinkin' tobacco stain? See, IDK. My next post will be...The Bridges of Northern Kentucky.

A look inside the B&B

BI wasn't blogging when we took this trip last August, so I really do not have any "bloggy" kinda photos of the inside. Later, I will post more barns with the quilts. This B&B had a white barn, which was unusual for northern Kentucky. Most are...

Sissy stands on the landing...barefoot, after all, it is August in Kentucky! (I can say that, cause I'm a Southern girl) Sissy goes barefoot even in Michigan...she doesn't like shoes.

A Kentucky B & B

Do you see the "quilt" on the barn? Many barns in the area have quilts painted on them. You can take a driving tour to see them. I love quilts, so this was fun to see.

Here, Sissy is taking her last trip inside the home...she loved this place and the owners as well. They truly made us feel as if we were visiting family.

Spring up north?

Spring up north is really hard for a Southern girl like me. I talked to my mama today and she told me that even the Saucer Magnolias were blooming. Sigh...it felt like Spring today in MI. We had extremely unseasonable temps today in the low 60's! My huge snow piles are melting and I am itching for spring time after this frigid winter. Then reality hits...and hits hard...the photos below are from April of 08. It's only early March. BUT...funny that I posted pictures of the ducks the other day...Sissy tells me today that they were in our yard this morning! I truly think we will have an early Spring! Aw, go ahead and call it Southern girl wishful thinkin' after all, it is MI and will be in the 30's next week...a Southern girl can dream, right?
Do you see Maggie under the Yew? I said...smile Maggie and she did her best to grin.

Notice the tulips behind the ducks...not even thinking about starting to bloom!

They are only out of the ground by 3 or 4 inches...in April. The For Get Me Nots...well, are kinda forgotten at this time of year up north.

See the dot in the street...that's Robin crossing to the neighbors, his concrete pond of choice....their pool!

However...I do have these beautiful Forsythia bushes to look forward to in April.

When they bloom, Spring is truly here...up north.

Wordless Wednesday

March: in like a lion

March came in like a lion in most of America (0 degrees here last night)...even the south. My kids smile above because we can see the light at the end of a very long tunnel! It has been an extremely cold winter up here this yr. I pray that...IN like a lion truly means OUT like a lamb!

If so, we might just see our spring time friends you see here...Maggie & Robin. They visit my backyard every spring! Maybe, just maybe, we will have an early spring.

Going to a tea room?

Remember my friend that I sat with literally for hours in a tea room? Well, we have plans to visit a different tea room tomorrow, but Old Man Winter might have other plans! My area is under a winter storm warning. UGH! Didn't Old Man Winter see my planner and know he is not welcome during afternoon tea?!

Off to Amish Country

These pictures were taken last spring in northern IN Amish country. It won't be so green on our trip there tomorrow!

Hoping she's ok

My friend and neighbor is in the hospital. Here she is last spring after a play date with me...I mean the kids were having a play date! Her oldest daughter is rolling down the hill. Ya gotta love that. My little man is too...he's on the left in this photo. Her youngest is below, in my yard, dirty head to toe! Anyway...she is 22 weeks along with twin boys and not doing well. My heart is breaking for her; please pray for her and her family. Thanks y'all.

Bus stop chat

Y'all know it's cold in my neck of the woods. Therefore, my little man needs mittens. I have bought him 3 pair of Lands End mittens...in case one gets "misplaced"...he is a 6 yr old boy. It's recess day and mittens are a must. I checked his back pack...no mittens...his basket in the mud room...still, no mittens, hmm...3 pair and no mittens. My blood starts to boil and I make a bee line for little man.

We chat, really, I did not yell, frustrated strong voice, but no yelling...he has no idea where they are. Could be in my locker...he says sheepishly. Ok then...no mittens, no recess. (ouch, that hurt me, his mama, cause they only have recess once a week and it's sunny today) He walks away chin to the ground. Sigh...I hate this, but there needs to be consequences to his loosing 3 pair of mittens. (see, we've talked about where to put them when he gets home from school...he has a cute basket for his mittens in the mud room)

Moments later standing at the bus stop, it hits me...end on a positive note. Little man is sliding up and down the snow packed street waiting for the bus. I explain to him that I am frustrated about the lost mittens BUT Iove him to the moon and back again. A precious smile covers his face and he tells me...I love you 12 times around the world...bigger grin...naw...a Zillion times around the world. My heart melted as he gave me the sweetest hug ever. I love being a mama.

Ya might as well have fun

If the snow's not going anywhere, then ya might as well have fun with it! This snowman sat on our front porch for weeks! Here is little man and his buddy at the bus stop tossing snow balls...oh to be 6 again. Yes, it's true, the "Yuck" (see earlier post) is not going anywhere either, but "yuck" can't keep a good girl down...as they say. I refuse to let the "yuck" and cold temps hold me back from fun. (It's -6 as I am writing this...in my nice, warm and cozy study!) Up north, even in FEB. ya gotta say...let it snow...cause it will !

Questions for me

My first kiss and how I met the love of my life:

Don't ya know a southern belle doesn't kiss and tell ?! I met my hubby on Easter Sunday night at church, you know, during that welcome handshake time...17 yrs ago this April.

A favorite memory from raising my children and one from my childhood:

Well, my kids are 13 and 6, so I'm in the midst of raising them. I love it when we laugh together and we laugh as often as we can. Ok...I'll name something...standing together in awe at Niagara Falls, Canada. From my childhood...all those homemade suppers, much from our garden. Oh, catching fireflies on a summers night!

Where do I see myself in 10 and 20 yrs:

Still raising my son...being a mama. Praying Sissy is finished with college.

20 yrs, oh my...On a southern porch with a cup of tea and a good book...I hear grankids asking me for another piece of my homemade pie!

How did I come to follow Christ and a little about my walk with the Lord:

I was raised in a Christian home, coffee table Bible to boot. I love learning and growing in my relationship with Christ. He is my hope and strength for today and tomorrow.

What is my favorite season and why:

I love Autumn with cool days and beautiful color! and Spring flowers...oh my, hot summer days too...and winter can be fun! Yikes...life is an adventure, no matter what season!

This interview was given by Lynette. You can find her at A work in progress. Hop on over if you want her to interview you. She's on the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Look who's here

Caught him chewing on the bird seed the Blue Jays knocked out of the feeder.

Isn't he beautiful? I think this is "Lefty's" son.