Asbery's Echoes

Five

My baby is five – and he is loving it! He was so excited to spend his birthday evening at Grandpa and Grandma’s for a weiner roast this year. The weather cooperated for once and we had a great time. First we walked down to the timber to see if the bluebells were blooming. I always know spring is here when the bluebell have turned the timber into a beautiful sea of blue! Then hotdogs over the fire. The only way I will eat a hotdog – there is just something about cooking on an open fire and being outside that can make almost anything taste good! Of course lots of ketchup and mustard helps too!

Eric, Joe and Dad relaxing and conversing around the fire.

And then present time – and Drew’s favorite present – a vacuum cleaner! He has always been obsessed with vacuum cleaners. He can spot a vacuum cleaner anywhere – and he loves that he now has his own. I think he has the cleanest bedroom carpet of anyone, anywhere, right now!

Funny what little ones take an interest in. His other love is dinosaurs! It was a nice, relaxing evening. Today we are going to Des Moines to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate on a little bigger scale – with lots more family to help celebrate being five!

The first fire of the season – puts me in the mood for camping!

It’s Coffee Time!

Pierre Piddlepants enjoying the fresh air!

I love the smell of coffee in the morning. I just wish I liked the taste! I have tried throughout the years but to no avail. I can drink it with creamer – lots and lots of creamer – but then I can’t really call it coffee! So – no coffee drinking for me. But, I do have a fun use for coffee. It works great to prim up a cross stitch piece, or a homemade primitive doll, or a tea towel that is just too white. When it comes to my cross stitch, for some reason a piece just doesn’t look finished to me until I’ve darkened it up with coffee. And maybe some vanilla and cinnamon thrown in the mix!

Here is one of my most recent projects – before the coffee bath. (I have really enjoyed this series by Tammy Black. Sheep and the alphabet – two of my favorite things to stitch!)

In the middle of getting stained. Sorry – my photography skills are definitely lacking.

And the final product – so much better with a little bit of stain.

Pure in Heart Scattered Seed Samplers - Tammy Black Sheepish Needle Samplar Series — Pure in Heart
Scattered Seed Samplers – Tammy Black
Sheepish Needle Samplar Series

It is a beautiful spring day here in southeast Iowa. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and there is no wind! It is so nice having the windows open today. Getting fresh air into the house. Definitely a day to just enjoy!

Today is my little one’s birthday. He is five – and loving it! He’s such a sweet boy but can be such a handful. He is all boy – that is for sure. I thought after having raised two boys that one more would be a breeze. He has proved me wrong from the get go! He didn’t have preschool today and it’s my day off so we get to spend the day together – nothing special, just hanging around the house. Tonight we will go to my Dad and Mom’s house for cupcakes and ice cream. This weekend we will get together with his siblings, brother-in-law and his nephew! I cherish the times when the kids are together. It’s not always easy to get them all together when they are spread so apart in age.

Well – off to hang some clothes on the line. I love seeing clothes hanging out. I love not having to run the dryer but more importantly just the act of hanging out the clothes is so calming for me. A time to slow down and enjoy being outdoors. It reminds me of a simpler time!

Hello!

Welcome to my blog! Please be patient – this is all new to me! I have no idea what I am doing. I am not computer literate in any sense of the word – but I’m willing to learn! At one time I was an avid scrapbook keeper. My daughter (and oldest child) was always willing to pose for a picture and I loved keeping scrapbooks of her school years. My sons, the two oldest anyway, were not so eager to indulge me! So the scrapbooking took a backstage to my first and foremost love – cross stitch. But I still feel a need now and then to document the important (and sometimes not so important) goings on in our lives. My two oldest children have flown the nest. I have two at home – a 17-year old son and a soon to be five year old son (a very blessed surprise)! I also have a beautiful two year old grandson courtesy of my daughter and son-in-law. They all, along with my wonderful husband, keep my life busy and fulfilled and there is always something going on around here!