A Ray of Sunshine - Award!

I've been noticing birds all day.  Robins hopping on my lawn, pigeons trying to land in the oddest places, a pair of ducks bathing in a very large puddle in the park, cardinals arguing, sparrows taking dust baths and raucous jays. 

When I opened my inbox this evening, I discovered that someone whose quilts I admire and whose blog I follow, nominated me for a Sunshine Award.  It is for  “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”.  Thank you!   I visited the Brooklyn Quilter, to see what the award was about and found more birds. Flitting from her chandelier!  Go see for yourself.

As an award nominee, I'm supposed to do  a few things.

Post the award picture and write about it 

Thank and link to the nominating blogger 

Answer ten questions ( which varied depending on where I looked ) - I mixed them up to suit me - and
Pass on the Sunshine Award  to a " variable " number of bloggers you admire, link and let them know.

1. Favorite Color - Green. When I was a teen, I was obsessed with frogs.  I had clothing with frog prints, frog jewelry and green platform shoes.  It was a fairy tale thing.
2. Favorite Animal - Birds. They make me smile. 
3. Favorite Number - Lucky Seven. Go to Heaven.
4. Favorite Movie -  Too difficult. But I would be least likely to watch slapstick. Think old Woody Allen and the Three Stooges.
5. Favorite Author - Refuse to choose.   Annie Dillard and Barbara Kingsolver are my front runners. 
6. Comfort Food - Spaghetti and meatballs with parmesan cheese. Every time.
7. Favorite Drink - Gimme Coffee with half and half, no shuggah. 
8. Dream Vacation - Whatever National Park my son is working in.
9. Favorite Day of the Week - Thursday.  It is when the weekend seems so full of promise.
10.  Favorite Flower - Magnolias, even though they can break my heart.  In Brooklyn, they bloom in early spring and can fall victim to the vicissitudes of the weather. 

A bit like a chain so I hope that flattery gets you everywhere!

Blogs I'm nominating:
May at Confessions of a Fabraholic because it is her Anniversary and I was her first follower and now she has more than ME!
Sheila at Kim McClean Down Under because you will absolutely be blown away by her appliqué and productivity.  ANd it is a group blog.  Do you think if I had contributors I would sew more? Guest posts anyone?
and Nicky at Mrs Sew and Sow because she is intrepid, and always has something new and beautiful happening. 

Almost a Quilt Show

Back in January I  joined Rhonda at  Quilter in the Gap's  FAL.  That's Finish- A- Long.  Given that my bird quilt has been in the works for such A - Long time it surely qualified.  It was Project # 1 on my short list for  Finishing Up in 2012.

 I've been a 

My guild show deadline was last Monday, so I've been working like mad to get done in time.  More quilting, less blogging.  Mishaps along the way.

Mysterious Stains

and Obvious Ones

Appliquéd Butterflies still need antennae

A border of quilted butterflies 

 then up and down the dog toothed triangles

little details 

I JUST WANTED TO FINISH THIS ONE

Magnolia

My mother grew up in Brooklyn. Every spring as we walked past her elementary school on the way to mine we noted the stately magnolias.

Twenty-four years ago, the local nursery delivered a balled and burlapped magnolia to the curb in front of my house. I wrestled the heavy sapling into my son's little red wagon and we pulled it down the driveway to the far corner of the backyard. It was to be the first garden project of many.

I'd read that you should dig a hole several times larger than the rootball in order to give the roots space to stretch and establish a firm foothold. Even though the rootball was no bigger than the bed of my son's little red wagon, I dug a hole five feet deep and four feet wide.  The bigger the better I thought. I unearthed a plastic ring from the 1960's, hand  wrought square nails, two medicine bottles and clay marbles. I also realized that the reason the soil was suddenly so rich was likely because I was digging in the spot where the outhouse had been situated. The magnolia thrived. It now towers over the yard and is almost as tall as my three story house. My son has grown and left the city for a career out west managing wild land fires.

   
This year the tree bloomed three weeks earlier than usual. One afternoon, I heard a chainsaw and discovered the neighbor on the other side of the garden wall pruning branches from our tree.

The following night, my son, who claims he never dreams, called to tell me that he'd dreamed someone had cut the tree down.  I sent him these photos so that he could be certain he was really dreaming.