The Flower Blanket...Made with Love!

Mark and I are in Georgia which sometimes can feel like a lifetime away from the Bayou.  We have come to visit my son and daughter-in-law and to meet the newest member of the family, Mary Ruth.  I normally hate travel but this time I could hardly wait to make the trip!  Mary Ruth is our first grandchild and what a beauty she is!  On the way to Georgia, I crocheted.  I had started an afghan for our little princess back a week or so ago and needed to finish it quite soon!  Mark drove and I crocheted.  This worked out well since even though I could have driven, I doubt he would have done much to help with the crocheting!  Once we arrived in Georgia,  the little princess, Mary Ruth stole our hearts.  She is perfectly wonderful!

This morning, Joanna took Mary Ruth for an outing and I was able to tag along for the ride.  Sweet Joanna buckled the babe into the car seat then draped the afghan over her.  The afghan suddenly became much lovelier!!  When it was wrapped about the wee child, the blanket looked beautiful!  I know that it was only that my imagination but for some reason, that afghan seemed mighty important!  It was providing a warm, snuggly place for Mary Ruth.

I enjoyed crocheting for our granddaughter and perhaps will be able to make many more items for her.  I do know that the trip home is going to be much longer (or seem to be).  Leaving my family will be one of the hardest things ever to do.  Leaving the Little Princess, even just for a few weeks until they come to the Bayou, will be a sad event.  Hopefully, the soft afghan will cuddle her and make her feel somewhat welcome to the world.  Mark and Joanna..thank you for letting us share in this special time!  I love you!

New Beginnings

March 1st..a day that brought a new beginning into the family. A tiny baby boy was born to my niece..welcome to the world, Jadiel. I hope your life is filled with all the wonderful things that you deserve..and I pray that you receive nothing but kindness, love and happiness for all the days of your life! This little bundle of joy just did allow me to finish his crocheted afghan! I have been working on it here and there as I found time over the past month. I thought since his arrival was not due until mid-March, I would surely have plenty of time! Oh...never go by due dates...babies have a way of coming when they want and not when they are expected! This little fellow decided not to wait another minute! He weighed in at five pounds and thirteen ounces and was only eighteen inches long. Just a little peanut! I did finish his baby blanket in time though and have it all neatly wrapped and ready.

Another new beginning was discovered in the garden this morning. If you remember I had talked about taking cuttings of the Confederate Rose to root for new plants. I was excited to see some tiny new leaves popping out on the cut branches and when I checked the cut ends..sure enough there were roots! It appears that most of the cuttings are rooting although several were quite fully rooted and needing to be set into the ground. It looks like I will be digging holes tomorrow! Baby plants need to be tucked into a bed of nice warm soil to be able to grow!

Also..in the hotbed, the tomatoes are all showing their little green leaves! I am excited but then almost a tad bit trepidatious! I knew that I had planted a lot of seeds but last year hardly any of the seeds sprouted. Well, this year it seems that every seed that hit the ground is on its way to becoming a healthy tomato plant! So....I guess instead of thirty plants, this year I might be planting closer to two hundred plants! Perhaps someone in the neighborhood could use a few plants..I hope........

One other bit of news of life beginnings..the bluebirds were checking out the neighborhood for nesting sites today. A pair stopped by the vacant home that hangs in the Black Gum Tree by my front door. It seems awfully early in the year for them to be home shopping but who am I to question their business??? My son just recently cleaned out the old nest and examined the durability of the house. He assured me that it should be good for at least one more nesting, but just to make mom feel better, he pounded in a few more nails! Now at least I know the old nursery rhyme about the cradle tumbling out of the tree won't happen with my bluebirds!