Spring Challenge

[hana]

The Spring Equinox has come and gone, time to plant the garden and allergy season is in full bloom.

Any exciting plans for Spring?

Knit cardigan April's Finish it project
May's Finish it project TBD
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting
Coordinate summer plans with sisters

[iris lilies]

The Spring Equinox has come and gone, time to plant the garden and allergy season is in full bloom.

Any exciting plans for Spring?

Knit cardigan April's Finish it project
May's Finish it project TBD
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting
Coordinate summer plans with sisters

spring is always exciting!


I am anxiously waiting to see how many of the Virginia bluebells I transplanted will come up if any. We plowed up our front flower bed where they were living, and I transported them to a back flower bed, and so far I have not seen any sign of those transplanted. Fortunately, the front area where we plowed has little groups coming up.

all my life. I’ve wanted Virginia bluebells and have never been able to get them. When we bought this property it had them, so I called them my “$79,000 blue bells” because that’s how much we paid for this house, its what I had yo pay to get some.

[nswef]

Good luck with the bluebells. I have something labeled wood hyacinths. They spread well here in Maryland.

[hana]

Started the cardigan yesterday, I knitted the ribbing for the back panel. The pattern knits each part then sews them together.

Also freshening up the guest bedroom since we have friends staying there this weekend. First time since the pandemic, it's nice to have overnight guests again. The sheets are in the washer as this post. Opening the window between storms.

This weekend in DC a large science fiction called AwesomeCon, a protest downtown DC, The Cherry Blossom festival, School trip season, and tour group season. At least the Cherry blossoms are at peak bloom and the city population doubles from the cherry blossom festival alone. Probably stay home all weekend, it will be a bit crowded everywhere else.

[iris lilies]

One week after my last post about blue bells I’ve seen them come up all over. they’re in the front bed and they’re in the back bed where I transplanted them. Everything looks great. I also suspect that where we tilled the front, we broke up bluebell roots and spread them around and now there’s more clumps. so I am very happy!

unfortunately the rototill job it seemed to spread magic Lilies around and now I have those things coming up everywhere. They are a bear to dig out because they’re 18 inches down. They’re pretty flowers and all that but they’re in places where I don’t want them.

[nswef]

Yay for the bluebells!!

[hana]

Knit cardigan April's Finish it project 10% done
May's Finish it project TBD
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom done
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing not yet
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting in progress
Coordinate summer plans with sisters in progress
Work on a new house chore schedule in progress

new update

Overnight guests have come and gone, husband wants to keep the guest room guest ready. You never know when a friend's kid needs crash space due to in person interviews or gets stranded here while during weather emergencies. Sheets are currently in the washer.

I suspect if the economy goes kablooie, we might be taking someone in. Made it clear he cannot unilaterally invite someone to stay with us, the invitation must come from both of us.

Sisters are afraid that they or spouses will lose their jobs, and aren't sure if they will visit Mom and Dad. I let them know we will be out of the area for the Summer vacation since we paid for it a year ago. Much of this time will be in areas with little to no internet. If I was a bad sister I would lean on the niblings to say how much they miss Grandma and Grandpa.

Working on the cardigan for an hour a day. Not sure if I will finish before May 1, and I put aside the batting and backing fabric for the quilt.

Added new chore schedule since my husband's employer now he's back in the office full time and with a longer commute since his company relocated. Relocation was a pre pandemic plan and it delayed the move.

[rosarugosa]

My spring list:

Make all the ornaments for the December fair (studio prefers not to get inundated with ornaments to be fired late in the year)
Start seeds
Paint 1 interior room (would like to get the whole interior painted within the next year)
Wash windows, screens, curtains, shades
Clean closet & rotate seasonal clothing
Make cover for bedroom radiator
Clean out shed
Garden clean up (we've been "leaving the leaves" this year, so will hold off on this for as long as we can stand it)
Order and spread mulch
Regular seasonal stuff: connect hoses, hang hammock, set up fountain, plant containers, change out storm/screen doors
Stain gazebo (or more accurately, ahem, remind/encourage DH to stain gazebo)
Get a key lock box from fire department for Mom's house (apparently this will require multiple follow-up calls since person who handles this doesn't respond, so annoying)

[Justcrochet]

Spring list:

Finish a crochet top
Clean the all the floors with vinegar to prevent ants
Clean carpets of small items for new puppy
Clean out fridge
Get a new handle for my car door
Wear brighter colors
Get rid of some clutter
Pull out my summer furniture for the balcony
plant some flowers

[rosarugosa]

Hello, Justcrochet! I hope you will be sharing photos of the new puppy with us!

[happystuff]

Hello and welcome Justcrochet. Congrats on the new puppy! Just got a new one in our household as well. I also enjoy crocheting - what kind of top are you making?

[rosarugosa]

Hoses, hammock and storm doors are done, and DH cleaned the shed when I wasn't looking!

[nswef]

rosa, Isn't it great when that happens. It's like magic...you go in an area and it is cleared...and you didn't do it! My Husband did that to a very overgrown flower bed that I was dreading...he trimmed it all the way to the ground and within a week it is covered with lilies of the valley!!! I have been thrwarting them for years, but do love them! So we'll see what happens to that bed as the spring and summer move along.

[iris lilies]

rosa, Isn't it great when that happens. It's like magic...you go in an area and it is cleared...and you didn't do it! My Husband did that to a very overgrown flower bed that I was dreading...he trimmed it all the way to the ground and within a week it is covered with lilies of the valley!!! I have been thrwarting them for years, but do love them! So we'll see what happens to that bed as the spring and summer move along.

aw that’s nice! And I wish I had big bed of Lily of the Valley. I have little bitty struggling Starts that we’ve inherited on this property

I hired a house cleaner since our entire first floor construction is finished. This week DH finished the TV room so now it’s all done. Next year he’ll finish the two upstairs bedrooms.

Anyway, our house gets pretty dirty during spring summer and early fall from tramping garden dirt in and out, shedding pets, etc. So with her coming every two weeks, I know at least the floors and bathrooms are cleaned that often at minimum.

[Justcrochet]

Thank you I am so excited about the new puppy. I am making a netted shrug, what kind of things do you like to crochet?


Hello and welcome Justcrochet. Congrats on the new puppy! Just got a new one in our household as well. I also enjoy crocheting - what kind of top are you making?

[Justcrochet]

I will! She will be here friday

[Justcrochet]

Spring list:

Finish a crochet top
Clean the all the floors with vinegar to prevent ants
Clean carpets of small items for new puppy
Clean out fridge
Get a new handle for my car door
Wear brighter colors
Get rid of some clutter
Pull out my summer furniture for the balcony
plant some flowers



Update: I need a new vaccum
crochet top is done
wore light blue today but back in black today
Cleaned floors with vingear
Cleared some clutter but needing to do more
Got a succulent
Pulled out some of the summer stuff for balcony but some of it broke in storage

[happystuff]

Thank you I am so excited about the new puppy. I am making a netted shrug, what kind of things do you like to crochet?

I've been crocheting since I was 12, so I do just about anything. LOL. Last couple of items were actually baby outfits for shower gifts. Also like to stuff for around the house lately - coasters, cotton hanging towels, etc. With the new puppy, I'll probably do a sweater, but I have until the fall for that. LOL.

[hana]

Knit cardigan April's Finish it project done
May's Finish it project Cardigan
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom done
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing 80% done
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting in progress
Coordinate summer plans with sisters resolved
Work on a new house chore schedule in progress

Welcome, justcrochet, I would also like to see photos of the puppy and your crochet.

Things have been busy, won't be able to finish the cardigan in the next two days, so I'll make it the May Finish It! project. April's is a pair of slippers I finished during a company team building retreat.

Winter clothing is gone over, donated, repaired, and put away. Need husband's help to pack away the duvet so that will be on the weekend, he's too tired after getting home.

No progress on the spider quilt, I ordered the backing fabric online and ordered 5 yards and they sent 4 yards. The place I bought it from went under so can't do much about it now. Lesson here is always check when it arrives. Can use it for a different project, and will reorder more fabric soon.

Parents say they don't need babysitters and they will be fine when we go on vacation. Though they won't object to a grand kid visit. Compromise is that middle sister will be CC'd and emergency back up if I can't be reached.

Finalizing some new chore arrangements since husband has to go back to the new office and his commute is 45 minutes longer compared to his pre pandemic commute.

[hana]

April's Finish it project done
May's Finish it project Cardigan 50% done
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom done
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing done
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting in progress
Coordinate summer plans with sisters resolved
Work on a new house chore schedule done


All the winter clothing and blankets are put away, and I'm making progress on the cardigan. It might be June's Finish it project. It's a birthday gift for my mom so as long as it's finished before July 4,it's all good. Haven't reordered the fabric for the Spider quilt. Will do it before the end of the month.

Completed the new house chore schedule, now we implement and make changes as needed.

[rosarugosa]

DH stained the gazebo, and it looks really nice! He also stained the wooden bench and two tables. He got the shed partially done before the sprayer quit on him.

[hana]

April's Finish it project done
May's Finish it project done
June's Finish It Cardigan 80% done
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom done
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing done
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting in progress
Coordinate summer plans with sisters resolved
Work on a new house chore schedule done


Currently working on the second sleeve of the cardigan. Need to knit the button band, sew the cardigan pieces, sew the buttons, and wash and block. Won't finish it in the next 36 hours so it's now June's Finish It project, May's Finish It is a knitted pair of slippers I knitted and donated to a DV survivor in the mutual aid community. Fabric arrived for the Spider quilt backing arrived yesterday. I have family commitments this weekend so I'll baste it next weekend.

Working on the Summer to do list, and figuring out the July Finish It project since it needs to be small and airline friendly.

[nswef]

hana, You are amazing!

[rosarugosa]

I still have a lot left on my list, and I'm quite sure I won't get everything done by the solstice. I have made some progress though:
Make all the ornaments for the December fair (studio prefers not to get inundated with ornaments to be fired late in the year) - made quite a few, but not all
Start seeds - done and most are in the ground
Paint 1 interior room (would like to get the whole interior painted within the next year) - not done
Wash windows, screens, curtains, shades - completed as of yesterday
Clean closet & rotate seasonal clothing - done
Make cover for bedroom radiator -will probably defer until fall/winter
Clean out shed - done
Garden clean up (we've been "leaving the leaves" this year, so will hold off on this for as long as we can stand it) - mostly done
Order and spread mulch - might skip it this year, haven't decided
Regular seasonal stuff: connect hoses, hang hammock, set up fountain, plant containers, change out storm/screen doors
Stain gazebo (or more accurately, ahem, remind/encourage DH to stain gazebo) - done
Get a key lock box from fire department for Mom's house (apparently this will require multiple follow-up calls since person who handles this doesn't respond, so annoying) - not yet

[hana]

April's Finish it project done
May's Finish it project done
June's Finish It Cardigan 80% done
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom done
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing done
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting in progress
Coordinate summer plans with sisters resolved
Work on a new house chore schedule done


Cardigan is 95% done, the pieces knitted, washed, blocked, and working on the button band. Will finish it next week. Hope everyone finished everything on their list

[iris lilies]

April's Finish it project done
May's Finish it project done
June's Finish It Cardigan 80% done
Spring cleaning the guest bedroom done
Sort/repair/donate/put away Winter clothing done
Prepare the Spider quilt for quilting in progress
Coordinate summer plans with sisters resolved
Work on a new house chore schedule done


Cardigan is 95% done, the pieces knitted, washed, blocked, and working on the button band. Will finish it next week. Hope everyone finished everything on their list
Wow Hanna, you are kicking’ it!

[rosarugosa]

Great job, Hana!

I'm afraid I did not accomplish everything on my list.
Make all the ornaments for the December fair (studio prefers not to get inundated with ornaments to be fired late in the year) - almost done
Start seeds - done
Paint 1 interior room (would like to get the whole interior painted within the next year) - not done
Wash windows, screens, curtains, shades - done
Clean closet & rotate seasonal clothing - done
Make cover for bedroom radiator -will defer until fall/winter
Clean out shed - done
Garden clean up (we've been "leaving the leaves" this year, so will hold off on this for as long as we can stand it) - done
Order and spread mulch - did not get a truckload, decided to skip it and just bought 3 bags and spread in one critical area
Regular seasonal stuff: connect hoses, hang hammock, set up fountain, plant containers, change out storm/screen doors - done
Stain gazebo (or more accurately, ahem, remind/encourage DH to stain gazebo) - done
Get a key lock box from fire department for Mom's house (apparently this will require multiple follow-up calls since person who handles this doesn't respond, so annoying) - not yet