It Was A Perfect Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Red, White & Blue In The Garden

The hollyhocks began to open yesterday, and I realized that we had red, white and blue in the garden for Independence Day. Mom's daisies, the delphiniums and more hollyhocks will continue to open in the coming days, but it was nice to see some of them on the 4th.

Brynwood Needleworks - Lakeside Park Bandstand

Handsome played with part of the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band last night. They can't fit the entire band into the historic bandstand at the park, so only part of the musicians play this gig. The bandstand was built in 1900, and it was hard not to imagine another band, 119 years ago, performing their own Independence Day music.

I got to the park at 6:30 for a 7:15 performance, and as I was setting up my lawn chair, others were also beginning to move into position. I drove through just a sprinkling of rain, but thankfully, the rains held off until the concert was well over and we were back home.

Brynwood Needleworks - There's Handsome

There he is! Handsome is right in the middle (in the back), already set up and ready to play. It's nice that he always looks for me, so he knows where to smile when he stands up. (Be still my heart.) The concert began on time, and was a beautiful assortment of patriotic and fun music.

Brynwood Needleworks - Late Day Lake Winnebago

The bandstand is situated quite close to the shore of the lake, so we had nice breezes blowing in on a comfortably warm evening. By the time we left, it was dark, the fireflies were blinking in the grass, and the shoreline was filled with people  who moved from the concert area - or who came specifically for the fireworks.

As we drove home, fireworks could be seen all around the lake! Every city along the shores of Winnebago began their display, and everyone ooh'ed and aahh'd the light show. Fireworks could be seen from cities an hour away!

Once we were back at the farm, it rained a light, cooling rain. Perfect timing, and the perfect end to a perfect day.

Sweet Surprises Right Outside Our Door...

Brynwood Needleworks - Our Hickory Hill Farm Kitchen Garden

Every time we step out the "friends and family" back door, we're greeted by new surprises in my little kitchen garden. The mint got a head start this year, and they may have choked out the morning glories this year. Time will tell.

The chives were next on the scene, and I've let them bloom. The blossoms are lovely in their purple/pink dresses. The hostas love this spot, and they're shading the creeping phlox in front of them. The dianthus is already showing red blossoms, too. The lavender is taking a little longer this year. I left their stems to shelter the little bugs that may have hidden under them for the winter, but the sweet fragrance of their leaves is starting to fill the air, too. As I weed, I can smell lavender everywhere.

Brynwood Needleworks - The Hollyhocks Are In Bud

My big surprise this year are my hollyhocks! Where I had to support the plants last year, their stems are large and strong this year. Even though I picked many of their dried seed pods to be able to sow new plants this year, it definitely won't be necessary here! Just look at the size of my stems, and the number of blooms at the top of the plant. Those clusters of blossoms cascade down every plant, so they won't just flower at the tops!

Brynwood Needleworks - HUGE Hollyhocks

 

Look at how big the plants are...and how many of them there are! If you scroll back up to look again at the first image, you'll get a true sense of their size. Boy, are the bees (including the bumblebees) going to love me this year! Last year these were all bright pink. I'm looking forward to seeing just how colorful they get. I'll be sure to show you, too. It won't be long before they begin to open up!

By the time I took these photos yesterday, shade had already fallen over the corners of my little garden. The shasta daisies I planted for Mom Grace are nearly as tall as the bird bath behind them. Mom would love how they'll look once they start to flower. I will have to move them, temporarily, right before the porch project begins so I can protect them. I'm going to get a beautiful big planter to hold them until it's safe to replant them. I'll use the planter on the new porch, with new plants (hmmm. Maybe geraniums?) once it's done. I'm sure I'll get pictures of the daisies before I pot them up, so you'll those, too.

Only a few short weeks before the masons show up to start their work. Bella is taking her sweet time coming into heat. She seems to have thrown us a false alarm last Friday, so she's seeing the vet every few days to be checked. For now, we're staying put at the farm. Once she starts, I'll count off eleven days, and plan to be in SE Florida by the eleventh day for breeding. If she doesn't start soon, I may have to take her to San Antonio (TX), as her boyfriend will have gone back home. Cross your fingers for me, please. I'd really rather drive to Florida than Texas alone this summer, so I'm praying Bella gets going here very soon. In the meantime, I'm going to sit back and smell the flowers.

 

Daisies and Hollyhocks...

Brynwood Needleworks - Bradley English Daisy Detail

When I owned Stitches (in Wisconsin), I traveled to trade shows and met Elizabeth Bradley. I was then exposed to her lovely Victorian woolwork cross stitch kits. I fell in love with them, and purchased them to carry in my shop.

Of course, I would need to own a few of the kits myself. I chose four or five of the floral kits, and I still haven't worked the majority of them.

Brynwood Needleworks - Bradley English Daisy Canvas

From what I can see, I last told my blog readers about these in 2013, so on the off chance you're not familiar with them, here are two of her designs. You can read that post HERE.

I worked the English Daisy (16" square) canvas in 2001. It took me six weeks to stitch. We were committed to moving to Florida, Handsome was already here and I was in Wisconsin, packing our belongings. In the evenings, I stitched.

The result was maintaining my sanity and this gorgeous completed canvas. I decided then, that I wouldn't frame it or make it into a cushion (or anything else) until I completed the rest of the kits I own.

Brynwood Needleworks - Bradley Hollyhocks Kit

 

I have the Lily, Magnolia, Sunflower and this one...Hollyhocks. (I may still need to get the Geranium kit, too.) 

 

All were chosen for their special meaning to me. I've decided that when I'm ready, Hollyhocks will be next. Perhaps on our next trip in the Flying Cloud would be a good time. I think I'll put it on the scroll rods soon, so I'm prepared. You never know when I'll get the "itch to stitch".