We're seeing spring in fits and spurts. Super warm, then blustery cold. But it is of course, very exciting and beautiful to see everything greening up.
This is an inspired time of year. I know why folks clean house in spring. So many cobwebs. Open the windows, let the breezes blow them aside. (Or at least into the corner again.)
I've spent the winter playing with paint, but mostly making a big dent in the couch, stitching. Lately, it's stitching up these little cottages for my Etsy shop and doing some commissions. Fun matching my materials and vision to real houses.
Working with the children at school in the art room stirs my creative spirit too. So inspired by the beauty of these big paper puffy birds the 4 year olds made. Loved watching them come together and now floating in the gallery space. (When I took out the box of feathers, poms poms and bottles of glue, the ta-da's took flight!)
They were easy to make. I cut out two bird shapes at once from newsprint. Stapled the edges all around and like a pillow, left an opening at the top or bottom. I stuffed them ever so lightly with crumpled paper. Doesn't take much to give it a form. Then I stapled it shut. The children painted them with tempera paints, careful not to oversoak the paper and let it break down. When they were dry, wing cut-outs (again from from folded newsprint) were painted and stapled to the top of the body. Tail feathers were literally torn strips of construction paper, bundled and stapled too. Decorate with feathers, pom poms or whatever you have handy. Suspend with clear thread.
So, to the title of this post.
Last night there was a quick storm and then this amazing double rainbow appeared out the front door (first ever). Outside my window today, there is a pair of bluebirds making a home and nest in the birch tree. For a girl who never sees anything on that list of special things, seeing the bluebirds (first ever) and the rainbow is a big deal.
The redbud.
My mom and I loved redbuds, loved the early flowering trees deep in the Missouri woods in the spring. The girls love them too because we planted one in our backyard in Chicago when they were little. They grew up together. After Mom passed, Maggie and James were gifted a tree of their choice to plant in the yard as a memorial to Mom. They chose a redbud. Redbuds are fussy. They like the forest and less so suburban yards, but this one is thriving. It burst into bloom a week or so ago. Maggie sent a photo with the caption, Grammy's here!
It will be a year tomorrow. We miss her. So very much.
Yeah, Mom! Ta-da!
What a beautiful life you have created for yourself. I also love redbuds. I saw them blooming with dogwoods in North Carolina and new I had to have one. Our's has been growing for 15 or so years. It struggles in our desert climate, but it seems to be happy sheltered by a birch and walnut. Sending hugs. (My Gram's birthday would have been tomorrow. I always do something special that we used to do together - antiquing, garden shops, or stitching. I will carry your Mom's memory as I celebrate both beautiful women.)
Posted by: Jeannie | May 03, 2017 at 08:51 PM
Love Redbuds as well! That missing never goes away. My Grammy is with me every single day and it is such a comfort thinking of her and her hands and all she has taught me. Hugs Charlotte! Looking forward to seeing you.
Posted by: Leslie | May 04, 2017 at 11:30 AM
Thanks, Leslie! Looking forward to June too!
xo
Posted by: charlotte | May 04, 2017 at 11:40 AM
thanks so much, Jeannie. Hope your day out is sweet and full of happy memories. xoC
Posted by: charlotte | May 04, 2017 at 11:41 AM
What a beautiful post...beautiful in so many ways. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Emily | May 04, 2017 at 12:34 PM
thank you, Emily!
Posted by: charlotte | May 04, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Great stitched birds amd birds made by the kiddos...
Posted by: Julia Kelly | May 07, 2017 at 01:43 AM
Thanks, Julia!
Posted by: charlotte | May 07, 2017 at 08:25 AM
Mom magic - arranging for the bluebirds to nest right outside -
Posted by: Robin | May 07, 2017 at 09:10 AM
Love redbuds, too. We have them in Santa Fe...though not to the extent they explode in Austin. My mom, too, has always loved them and they are specially wonderful in full bloom with blue bonnets covering the ground beneath.
Your posts bring quite a big sigh from this reader...looking forward to being with you soon....xoxoxo
Posted by: Jone hallmark | May 09, 2017 at 10:26 AM
So sorry for your loss. We too lost my husbands mother last May... soon to be a year also. And then, because he didn't feel he needed to stick around, his dad passed in January. We miss them a lot.
Love that you are doing art with the 4 year olds. How wonderful for them and for you. Keep us young don't they!
Take care.... just catching up on my blog reading. Seems like forever since I have visited your blog. Too many other distractions I suppose. Life...
Posted by: Jean Cogdill | May 10, 2017 at 08:19 AM
thank you, Jean. sorry for your losses. yes, the children keep everyone young! its been spotty posting here, so I really appreciate your stopping by!
Posted by: charlotte | May 10, 2017 at 08:33 AM
thank you!
On Sun, May 7, 2017 at 8:25 AM, Charlotte Lyons [email protected] wrote:
Thanks, Julia!
Posted by: charlotte | May 10, 2017 at 08:34 AM
thank you so much, dear Jone! cannot wait for a catch-up with you!!! xo
Posted by: charlotte | May 10, 2017 at 08:35 AM