A Fresh Start

After browsing through all my possible choices for a summer stitch countless times I finally made up my mind. Shakespeare's Peddler Weeds Make Haste was my final choice. I loved all the little motifs in this one, including the bee hive, birdhouse and the duck. Plus I had all the necessary supplies at hand. As it turned out,  I didn't go with the called for fabric of Tumbleweed Linen. I just thought it was too dark so I ended up choosing LSL Vintage Lentil which is closer to the colour on the chart's picture.  Here's the progress that I've made so far.

The colours are somewhat off in this picture. The camera's battery needed recharging and I just didn't have the proper light for a good picture. Hopefully my next update will be much better. The linen looks washed out and almost gray in this pic while it's actually more of a light sandy beige. I don't like the colour of the maiden's mouth so I'll be frogging that shortly. I don't know why they chose that particular colour. It makes her look somewhat sour and then it reminds me of the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? However this garden won't have pretty maids all in a row!
I'm hoping this stitch doesn't take me all that long because I would still like to stitch another of the charts in the summer bunch. 

I visited my framer last week with my friend Pam and together we brought in 5 pieces for framing. I took in my SP Magic Garden and LHN Autumn Hill. Together we received 40% off of our total cost. The framer has various discounts depending on how many pieces you bring in at once. I did so well that I wish now that I had brought in another finish. It will have to wait now until the end of the summer or fall when we go back with our Halloween and autumn finishes. By then I should have A Wicked Plant finished up. I'll post pictures as soon as the current finishes return from the framer.

I took a walk around my meager garden last night to see how things were coming along. Several things have yet to bloom on account of the late spring I suspect. My peonies face north and are always late bloomers as are my irises. From these pictures you can see that it will be any time now.

Look at this patch of irises. I think I counted just over 20 buds ready to bloom.

A new variety of columbine in my garden this year:

More columbine:

The clematis bowed over with growth but still no blooms:

My new garden sentry:

A return visitor to the yard, anxious for berries that are not quite ripe yet!

And finally, Clarisse, patiently watching me from the gazebo and swiping at the screen each time I would walk by. She loves sitting on top of the bar fridge, watching those cedar waxwings.

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. The weather is pleasant here - sunny but somewhat cool and a little breezy. I could live with this all summer!