It's a great time.....babies to cuddle and a 3-year-old too! [Big sister helps with all the cuddling, rocking, diaper changing etc.]

The week-old twins and their parents are off to the pediatrician for their first check-up. And weigh-in.

They have been doing well!

Now, I have a minute to blog! Ha! [I hope to have photos of the babies on here soon, this is not my computer nor do I have a camera along. I'll share the family photos when I can.]

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Meanwhile, I am enjoying this landscape by Pierre Bonnard.....with its wonderful blues and lime greens. Inspiration for a future art project, I'm sure.

I am also ordering a copy of this new book.....an elegant travelogue as the artists follows the history and culture of indigo throughout the ages.

On a lighter note, I have been reading Mary Kay Andrew's latest novel, "the Fixer-Uppper".

Set here in Georgia and lots of fun!

Lovely and peaceful!

These little beauties come home tomorrow!
NINA KATE and SOPHIE Jane.


So cuddly! And they are getting lots of loving kisses and pats from the Big Brother, age 3 1/2.
The big Sister, just shy of 12 years old is already a great little mother to them!


They were 4 weeks early but are just perfect...and it is very peaceful when they are sleeping like this!
(photo from their Mom's iPHONE this morning)

My daughter, Laura with her family as they await the approaching birth of twin girls!

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Another grandchild, a little boy is coming soon, to my son's family. He will sleep in a cradle like this one....

.... and have a handmade quilt for that cradle. A copy of a 19th century crib quilt....(made by his Grandma Lila, with good wishes and joy in every stitch!)



And to complete this moment of expectations....a lovely post by Ann Voscamp which involves a baby in a cradle.[As only she can write...breaking our hearts open!]

I am joining something.....joining the thousands of people who have bought and loved Ann Voskamp's book! It is Christian writing which does not insult my intelligence nor lead to nit picking theological disputes. It just celebrates and beauty and joy found all around us!

For more about this best-selling book, look here.

Off to get my copy now....it wasn't easy to find! I called and they are holding their last copy!

P.S. For some beautiful writing and photos, just Google Ann Voskamp blog. Enjoy!

Summer sewing and gardening.....

Using my vintage Laura Ashley pattern, with a few changes (zipper instead of buttons and several darts added to give more shape), from some shasta daisy cotton print, I sewed this retro romper...

It was perfect to wear this morning, out to water the garden and catch a few Ozark breezes!
(please excuse the toes in the photo...my current photo editing system hasn't yet shown me how to crop the image!)

Some shots from the garden this morning. A rainy spring has made things very lush.


... lamb's ear above, bee balm and lemon verbena below.



Day lilies are going crazy!

I especially love this soft gold one with the freckles!

Painting practice this morning.


The last page in my watercolor sketchbook. I used this moleskine when taking an on-line class with Jane LaFazio (through Joggles.com). Jane is a good teacher and I really enjoyed it!

Frankly pleased with my new "floaty" sundress.....it's in the 90's here! I'm still a gal who loves the Laura Ashley look! This is my own adaptation of her pattern (funny how my figure has changed in 20 some years!!!)...found ancient pearl buttons in my button jar too!

Now, this dress cost me quite a bit, as I had to buy a new sewing machine to make it!!! LOL!

I love the automatic buttonholes on the Janome! It took less than 15 minutes to make all 7, and I'm just learning the machine!

Mom had reminded me that I could do the buttonholes by hand,...and wouldn't that be charming????? Of course it probably would have taken me 4-5 hours rather than 15 minutes!

I love getting a consistent well-made, perfectly sized for the buttonhole result with the machine...and with 3 grandbabies coming this summer, I'm sure to use it!

Summer mornings, once again I'm out of the house to water everything...

It is still cool enough (barely) that the leaf lettuce is thriving! I love fresh salad from the garden!

It won't be long before the lettuce "bolts" and goes to seed as the cilantro is doing.
I'm putting in annuals for the duration of the summer back here. Zinnias are coming up among the coleus!

In a bed nearby, I have planted 4 tomatoes, 1 Black Crim, 1 Cherokee Purple and 2 Arkansas Travelers. I was surprised to see several coming volunteer from last year's tomatoes...what fun!

After the garden chores, it is time to be inside with air-conditioning. Mom and I are making a few charity quilts. I have lots of fabric to "work up"! Here Mom is taking a break from piecing 4 patches on the antique Singer Featherweight. I have the new Janome to "break in"!