~ A Pressing Matter ~

So I bought a new ironing board cover.

Why?
Because the old one was way too gross for words ... or pictures.
Let's just say I use a LOT of fusibles and sprays.

This one is Laura Ashley and I bought her at Home Goods for a song.
And some money.

The hard part ... the really, really hard part ... was stretching it to fit snug-gly over the top of the board.
I seriously incurred some knuckle injuries in the process.

Was it just me?

Oh who cares ... I'm just loving the way everything is coming up roses.

~ Spring has definitely Sprung ~

I interrupt my regular Sea Quilts broadcast to showcase some land-lubbing beauty.

I spent last week in the great state of Oregon, surrounded by a great deal of color.

One of the activities on the agenda was a trip to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, OR.

The tulips were magnificent.

Even more beautiful were some of the tulip admirers ...

Like the sweet 19-month old pictured above who may or may not be related to me.




She really loved those tulips.

Her sisters enjoyed the views as well.

And just because I want to offer you even more in this post than just exquisite color and precious faces ... here is a piece of advice that should not go unwarranted:

Do not ... I repeat, do not ... fly on an airplane with a sinus infection, because your ears will punish you beyond measure.

And that's my PSA for today.

Your welcome.

~ Breathe ~

On Saturday I attended a lovely baby shower and was given the simple job of purchasing some Baby's Breath to arrange in some Mason jars as part of the center pieces.

I had forgotten how much I love this simplest of flowers.

I took a little home with me after the shower and put it in my bathroom.

I am really enjoying this very green and white stage.  Once it hits the dried out stage, I may replace it ... but for now I am thrilled with it's simple, yet imperfect, beauty.

As I was downloading these pictures, they reminded me of this picture I took last summer at the beach.  I love it so much I printed it out to look at everyday here in my office.

It's kind of the Baby's Breath of the Beach.

~ The Color (Day): Purple ~

I didn't even realize I had anything from my home to post in this color range until I realized that I just keep seeing it ... outside ... and that it warms my heart every single time.

The lovely blossom above is  from a walk very near my home.

As I perused my beach pictures, I realized there was an abundance of purple:
  

 I love how it is heightened by all the blue.

Yum.

More deliciousness ... surrounded by white ... surrounded by green.

Always wanting to bring a bit of the beach into my home, I picked these lavender lovelies when I repotted some things on my porch a couple of weeks ago.

And then this weekend as I was starting yet another sea quilt ... and yet wanting it to have a hint of autumn ... I found myself in my stack of purples. 

I'm very excited.

Now, if we could just have some autumn temperatures around here, I could really be happy!

~ Random Joy ~

Some random things that made me happy today:

{1} A friend gave me daffodils.  Beautiful yellow daffodils.  She split the bouquet up between several friends and we each received a small handful.

When I came home I (pulled out a ladder) and got a trio of vases down from the cupboard.

Suddenly, my little bouquet looked huge!
Even bigger when those blossoms opened up and smiled.

My vases came from IKEA.  This is the moment I purchased them for.

  {2} Then ... the mailman brought me a double magazine surprise!

I may or may not have mentioned in the past that I am a "magazineaholic".
And proud of it. 

{3} Then ... I found this (rather large) box on my porch.  I was actually expecting it.

You see ... after almost 35 years of a daily walk (or run, in the early days) ... I have been forced to find an alternate method of exercise. Apparently my hips and knees had no problem with the totally flat walk I took for the last 30 years on the totally flat streets of Arizona, but are miffed at the steepness of my walk here.  I'll let you know how it's going.  Now if I can just get that box up the first half flight of stairs, I'll be good to go.

{4} To top it all off ... I was featured (along with my lemon creme pie) on Country Momma Cooks!  I do believe this is the first time that I have been singled out for my cooking.  Take that, Mrs. Smiley! (My less than encouraging 11th grade Home-Ec teacher.)

What brought YOU joy today?

Linking to:
Freckled Laundry
Inspiration Friday
Common Ground
Country Momma Cooks

~ A Basket Case ~

This little quilt ... I named the pattern "hangin' in there" ... is screaming "Spring."

This is actually the second quilt I made using this same pattern, because I couldn't really be satisfied until I spruced her up with these fun colors.

Each basket switches around the fabrics ...

... and yet those polk-dot green leaves stay the same.

My favorite fabric was a little fat quarter I picked up who-knows-where that I used in the corner squares ...

 ... and then fussy-cut, for petals here ...

... there ...

... and everywhere.

There may be a little rain in my future this weekend, but I have officially declared spring ... sprung.

Any bright colors in your neck of the woods?

Linking to:
Making it with Allie
Pearls & Lace Thursdays
Feathered Nest Friday
Inspiration Friday
Common Ground

~ A Glorious Easter Weekend ~

I woke up this morning to the most beautiful sun coming through my windows.

If you think that there is only one season in Southern California, you are wrong.

Today ... I inhaled some Spring! 

I felt giddy.

I put out these guys this morning, even though Easter is just two days away.  I won't bother you with the excuses, except to say that I really didn't feel the need until this morning.

I will have young ones here for Easter Dinner and they will want to play with these toys.

And I won't care.

I hope you  feel Spring-y and can smell egg-dye in the air.

I wish you all a glorious celebration of a glorious day!

Linking to:
Common Ground
The Charm of Home