Maple Sugaring is On

We tapped the maple trees this weekend after a careful look at the weather. The key is to find days when the nights are freezing and the days are thawing.

About 20 maple trees later, I'm excited to report that the sap is flowing nicely. I'll be collecting all week and hopefully have a nice big batch to boil this weekend.

Isn't this a magical time of year? And I also spotted our first snow drop flowers! Hurrah!

Ten Things Tuesday {& Mail Call}

The weather has been totally amazing and I have to admit that the whole Happy family has been finding every excuse to get outside and soak it all in.

There's always a lot of work to be done outside, but my goodness the amount of wood we have to split and move and stack and organize!  This effort is the result of the big heavy oak trees that came down in our October snow storm.  It's getting done little by little.  I am mostly in charge of the moving and stacking part. 

Sammy, who is still learning her off leash manners, found a very comfortable napping spot among the logs.  Those big heavy pieces also provided a great tie off spot for her lead!

Katie has been no slouch taking in the sunshine.  In fact, I know that I could even learn a thing or two about how she has mastered living in the moment. 

Fully.  Completely.  Like no one's watching.  Or she doesn't have a care!

Doesn't she just have the best smile!

One of Sammy's favorite things is ice cubes.  With the recent warm weather I got to introduce her to the floating ice cube game.  Take one dog bowl filled with water.  Dump in a handful of ice cubes.  And then prepare to laugh your stomach into knots as the dogs go bobbing for ice. 

Katie still snorkels with her nose in the water with this game.  Cracks me up every time!

I also got a package all the way from Australia!!  And I couldn't feel luckier to be able to give a home to these lovely treats!!  This was all a part of a fun pincushion and surprise swap I did with Megan from Silver Threads of Happiness.  Megan, thank you so very much!

I will be hanging this awesome crocheted mushroom in my sewing area and I just love the colors she picked... and look at how adorable the grass is!!  I also got those cute little glass mushroom beads.  Can you tell I have a thing for mushrooms?  I can't wait to dream up the perfect project for them!

The little tin is so very adorable (it had the glass beads tucked away in there)... I think I will be re-using the tin to hold my sewing bobbins.  Seems like the perfect size!  And coffee!!  I start my day with a nice big cup and I can't wait to try this one!

And then there are the pincushions.  In fact, I think these are what started the whole swapping thing.  I think I left Megan a comment saying how darn cute they were... and she offered to make me one... and I was very excited and wanted to make her something.  Next thing you know... we're swapping!!

I hope you can see how fantastic that forest and mushroom fabric is.  And yes, I got two pincushions!!  Pinch me!  They both have the same fabric on the back... and then one is decorated with the ric-rack while the other has a beautiful lace on the front.  They are so pretty.. how am I ever going to stick them full of pins?  

I feel so lucky for the friends I am meeting through this little blog of mine.  Amazing to know that real connections are still very present and even more fun when I find someone who understands my love of all things forests and mushrooms!!  *hugs, Megan*

Well, and that about does it.  Is spring springing where you are?  Spring things that are waking up here, like the tree in our back yard.  Did you spot Katie in this one? 

You know, this tree has bloomed each spring for the two years we have been in our house... and I kept saying that I wanted to get a picture of it.  It goes quick.  And now I can finally say I have one! 

Aren't these blooms amazing?

Spring is Springing!

The weather is warm, the trees are budding and growing leaves, the grass in greening, and flowers are popping!  I'm enjoying slowly getting back to my gardens and watching the show unfold!

Spring Signs

I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I enjoyed mine.  It was nice to slow down a bit, take in the little bits of spring showing up and most importantly spend time with my loves!

And, I will be able to slow down a bit and show you one of my quilt finishes tomorrow.  Can't wait!!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Creative Tuesday: Scarf

Happy Tuesday Loves!  It's time for  Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's.  Still hands down my favorite pencil and paper creative time!

This time around the theme was Scarf.  And there was an extra requirement to make sure we put a scarf in our piece.  Easy enough, right?

It's interesting for me to admit that my original ideas and sketches were leaning toward a cute animal all bundled up against a snowy background.  But, I just could do it.  I had previously done animals in scarves (you can see that here). 

I needed something fresh; something to take me away from the fact that we got more snow and I'm getting a wee bit done with winter already (I know -- I can hear you saying, but it's only January and NY winters are supposed to be cold.  I know.  But my shovelling muscles are already bulging!)

So, my idea centers around where do all the scarves go once it's spring?  I know that my winter ones are rotated out, washed and packed away, but what if scarves were like say.. Santa ... and they went on vacation during the spring?  (yes, the snow may be making me a bit more loopy than usual ...go with me on this... after all this is me, the same one who dreamt up faerie apples!)

Here are the results!  Spring Spa Day for Scarves!  That ladybug must be prepping them for a facial and massage!


Cheers to the creative juices flowing in your favor today!  You can check out the other artists or join us here.

Faces of spring

It's funny to think that the snow drops have already come and gone!  Makes you begin to wonder where the time goes.  I have been very distracted this week again. 

When the weather is nice it's a great feeling to run outside after work and do some sort of project.  


Mr. Happy hung a clothesline for me!  I'm really excited to use it!  


We put up a new shed that I need to post pictures of!


I painted another closet!

I've also been very busy keeping a close eye on what is growing or blooming.  Seems to change daily!!  

The snow drops were a much needed promise of nicer weather on the way.  They have given way to the crocus.

This is one of my favorite snow drop snaps this year!

And then I noticed I have my first daffodil!!  It gorgeous to see how intense the color looks against all the brown and gray and rain.

Even the crocus have an innocence to them!  A delicate nature that you can see in the petals. 

This is my first year growing my own crocus and I never noticed that they are only open during the day.  After work, they are typically all closed up and ready for sleep.


But during the day, they are amazing!  I caught this one early in the morning as it was beginning to open up to greet the day!

This spring I am trying to remind myself to take it all in.  The smells (so fresh), the sounds of the birds, the colors of the flowers and buds on the trees! 

Hope you are enjoying spring where you are!  Don't forget to pause and soak it all in!

Pretty as a Peacock

When you wake up in the morning and get ready for the day feeling as pretty as a peacock = happiness!

Let's admit, that not every day is like this, but when it happens... you feel on top of the world! Your hair is just right, you have your favorite pumps on, and nothing can stand in the way you having a happy day!