Birthday Wishes

One may live without bread, not without roses.  ~Jean Richepin

My thoughtful daughter sent me a miniature rose bush in a wooden basket for my birthday. They are yellow roses and my favorite color is yellow. I have been enjoying them as one by one the buds begin to open.  Each blossom seems like another birthday wish from her.  

A Birthday Wish for A Special Boy

Because today's your 1st Birthday
And you're so special too,
Everything that's happy,
Is being wished for you.

I can't be with you today on your very first birthday, but I am keeping you close in my heart as always and hoping it is an extra specially nice day for you.  I miss you very much, but your mommy sent me these lovely pictures of you opening presents and taking a ride in your new wagon to help me share in all your joy today. 

 

Spring in My Heart

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

After the record cold we experienced the week before last, I reveled in the warm weather, sunshine, and blue skies that came our way most of this week.  My husband saw a lizard on the wall in the back garden and some of our perennials began to show some green leaves. The false spring was short, however.  Yesterday and today have been windy and cool, with intermittent sunshine and clouds.  They forecast rain, which we actually could have used, as this has been a dry winter, but we only received a few drops.  I looked out to the back garden yesterday and saw two little birds shivering in the bare mesquite tree and clouds rolling by in the background.

I needed something cheery and springlike to brighten at least my indoor environment, so I bought these two lovely primroses at the local Walmart.  They make me smile every time I glance their way.

Being housebound by the ugly weather, I decided to start another project to lift my spirits.  I had wonderful news the other day of the expected arrival of a new little one in our family come October.  More about that later.  But in the meantime, here is the beginning of a sweet baby afghan.  The crochet block is called Friend Family Square and the free pattern can be found here.  I really like the stitch definition and the pattern is well-written.  I am grateful to the designer Christal Friend. 

It is too soon to know if the baby will be a girl or a boy,but I think the colors should work for either.  I made a big granny square afghan for my grandson that had the variegated yarn in it and fell in love with the colors then.  It is Red Heart's Monet.  The other colors are Soft White, Lavender, and Aruba Sea.  

Thanks to my primroses and this afghan in progress, I have springtime inside even when it is wintry outside. And now, I have spring in my heart.

A Crafty Day

One craft project, like one cookie, is never enough! ~Unknown

What a wonderful, crafty day I've had!  I made good use of some of the materials I bought yesterday and made this for my front door.  It will welcome my book club members to my home next week and follows the heart theme I have going in my decorating at the moment.  The pattern for this project can be found here. Neen, a lovely lady from Galway, Ireland, has generously shared this pattern for free.

After I finished the wreath project, I was on a roll, so made this little pin for my sister's birthday.  It was last week, but we are celebrating it tomorrow with a spa visit and lunch at a tearoom. The photo is a bit blurry.  My photographic skills definitely need some improvement.  I purchased the clever silver pin and the charm (amethyst for February) from CR's Crafts, a great online resource for many crafty products.  Used some beads I just happen to have in my craft closet. I love the pin because the head unscrews and I just slid the charm and beads on and screwed the head back on.

 

A Valentine for My Husband

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows.

Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

And the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

Which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide.

And this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart.

I carry your heart.

I carry it in my heart.

e.e.cummings

A Christmas Heart

May we keep Christmas in our hearts
Through every day of all the year. 
~Gertrude B. Holman

Okay, I know tomorrow is Valentine's Day, so why am I making a Christmas Heart?  I am part of a group on Ravelry which is making a different Christmas ornament each month.  I haven't finished my ornament for January yet and the suggested ornament for February is an adorable little snowman.  However, when I saw this pattern for this Decorative Heart, I just had to make it.  Used the same yarn as for my Valentine's Scarf--Cascade 220 Heathers in the Carmine colorway.  I am really trying to use yarn from my stash. I'm going to make several more for additional gifts, but this one is for my grandson. 

 

And Even More Hearts

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I bought a little artificial tree years ago for Christmas and really enjoyed placing small ornaments on it that I had made or bought over the years.  It always made me a bit sad to take those ornaments off and pack them and the tree up when Christmas time was over.  Then one day, a lovely idea came to me.  Why pack the tree away when it could be decorated throughout the year for the different seasons or holidays?  Here it is in its role as my Valentine's Tree:  

I made this heart garland for my mother-in-law to hang in her living area.  We won't see her for Valentine's Day, but I wanted her to know she was in our thoughts. I made it so she would have a visible proof of our love.  I used Peaches & Creme yarn in the Peppermint colorway.  The pattern Crochet Heart Garland can be found here.  Thanks, Suzetta of Suzies Stuff. It was a lot of fun to make and I love the way the variegated yarn made each heart unique. 

 

More Hearts

Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also those who need it so much.~Daphne Rose Kingma

I promised more hearts this month and here are some from last year that I didn't post about.

Sweet Heart Sachet

I crocheted this heart last year to hang on my guest bedroom door knob.  I don't remember now what yarn I used or what hook size, but the pattern can be found here.  It is a PDF download.  Very quick and easy.  I filled it with potpourri which has lost its fragrance, but it is a cheery welcome to all who come to stay with me a while.

Heart Pin Front

Heart Pin Back

This little Heart Pin is one of five I made last February for my sister, her daughter, my daughter, my cousin, and myself.  We all rented a beautiful home in Phoenix for a week to celebrate our birthdays.  It was so much warmer than this year, but at least I have the memories to keep me warm.  I used a variety of scrap yarns for the pins and put a different button on each one.  I hot glued a pin on the back of each.  It gave me pleasure to show them how much I love them with a gift of a heart.  The pattern for the heart pin can be found here.

Those are all the hearts I have to show you today, but I have more in the works.  Need to get busy now.