Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Simple Pleasures

Hello my lovelies!

Thank you all for your comments on my last post.  I appreciate every one! These days have been busy full of work and finding pleasure in the simple things of life.  Regardless of how life may sometimes be difficult for us all, it's important to stop and enjoy what's around us: our family, friends, pets, crafts or little day trips around the city. 

Some things I enjoyed this past week and a half:

Crocheting and reading The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton on a hot sunny Sunday.


Day trip to Queen Elizabeth Park with my husband, where we smelled flowers, sat by a fountain, and walked under cherry trees.





 Cycling with my hubby and discovering a new trail.





 Picking flowers along the railroad tracks.




Cycling again. This time to Fort Langley and taking our time looking at everything in the Antique Mall.








Restarting my granny strip blanket without a curl!


Stitching JCS and finally get to the motifs.


My Nana's magnolia tree.



Last but definitely not least, I had two lovely surprises from the mailman/lady this week.  One was unsuspecting, the other an exchange.

From Jo, a little pouch stitched 1 over 1 of Kokopelli, a fertility deity, filled with jelly babies.  A wonderful surprise that I so treasure!!! Thank you Jo!! You are amazing! Hugs!!


The other surprise is from Meari that I just received today.  We did another Easter/Spring mailart exchange since we loved doing the Christmas one so much.  She sent me the most darling mailart.  She hand dyed the linen and added the neatest little details.  Thank you so much Meari! I love it and it's now displayed by my biscornus!!!



I hope you enjoyed the simple pleasures post.  Pascha is this weekend so I will be back on Bright Monday with pictures to show you all.  I also hope to catch up on my blog reading.  I've been trying to read a few in the morning but my comments may be a bit wonky since I'm just waking up so forgive me!!

Hugs to you all!!

Anne

39 comments:

Mouse said...

gorgeous photos and adorable gifts too .... enjoy your celebrations and look forward to seeing more of the stitching and crocheting :) love mouse xxxxxx

cucki said...

Aww very pretty photos and sweet gifts
Enjoy my dear
Big hugs and love x

Julie said...

A lovely post, the simple things are sometimes the nicest.
Enjoy your celebrations.

Chris said...

You are so right about enjoying the little things. It looks like you have had some lovely days.
Lovely stitching and crocheting.
Great surprises in the mail too.
Happy Easter!

Jacqueline Morris said...

Your photos are lovely ... beautiful flowers, I can almost smell them.
Love the color you are now using for your new granny blanket.
Your stitching is beautiful too.
WOW! what a lovely gift you received from Jo...mmm jelly babies! And ooooh! A hand stitched envelope!! Never seen this before its marvelous! Filled with goodies too :)
Have a lovely Easter :)
Smiles to you :)

Vickie said...

A happy post. Good for you restarting the Granny Stripe. Enjoy time with your family this Pascha weekend.

Meari said...

The park is just so beautiful!!

Temps in the 80's... ahhh, can't wait for those.

Glad you liked the mailart :)

The best days are the simplest ones.

Kaisievic said...

Great post, Anne. Loved all of the pics and your gifts are so sweet! I love the idea of mailart!

Pull the other thread said...

What beautiful pictures. Looks like you had lots of lovely things to make you smile. Lovely work on all your projects.

Annie said...

Just a delightful Spring post. A lesson in learning to enjoy life!

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

A delightful post,very enjoyable to read.Enjoy your weekend celebrations:)

Rhona said...

What a wonderful post....loved all your pictures!

Dani - tkdchick said...

That peacock in your stitching looks great! What a wonderful exchange you did!

butterfly said...

Lovely post every thing is just wonderful , such sweet gifts , can you let me know Anne how many chain stitches you have started with.
Happy Easter.

Sarah in Stitches said...

Lovely post! :D Your stitching is beautiful, as is your crochet. I've been thinking of learning how to crochet and wanted to ask: is there a certain tutorial you used that you thought was particularly helpful?

Melissa said...

Lovely photos, Anne, of your simple pleasures! We did have some lovely weather when the trees were blooming, didn't we?

The mail art is wonderful as is the little pouch. You've been keeping busy with your crafts too! Love that crochet in progress!

Carol said...

I, too, treasure the simple things in life, Anne, and I really enjoyed this post. Lovely flowers, stitching, crocheting, and gifts from friends--they are all more meaningful than the most expensive jewels or most exotic trips, aren't they?

Wishing you and your family a blessed Easter, my friend!

Ele said...

Beautiful pictures and lovely gifts
Looks like you really had a pleasant day trip, thank you for sharing
Enjoy the book, I also like Edith Wharton :)

Unknown said...

Hi Anne!

Gosh it feels like I haven't been reading blogs in FOREVER! I hope it changes soon because I've really missed checking in on everyones blogs.

Gotta say it, I'm very jealous of your BC warm weather. Here on the east coast it's been a roller coaster of temps and weather for the past number of weeks and I can honestly say one could hardly call what we've been having a "spring". Still lots of dirty snow on the ground and more snow on the way *sigh* on Saturday. Would it be ok if I stole some of your weather just for a week or so. I'd love to see some flowers or even GREEN grass for that matter.

I broke open a fortune cookie yesterday and it said "Don't forget to stop and smell the roses". Seems like I'm seeing this kind of theme around lately. Perhaps the universe is trying to tell me something :)

Have a great Easter!

Melissa

Melissa said...

Ack! I just posted a comment from my other google account by accident! That was me above :)

Valma said...

I love your post :)
I really stopped a while and enjoyed
wonderful pictures as always ;)
and such lovely surprises in the mail box, really beautiful
have a great Easter weekend my sweet friend
big big hugs
xxx

Margaret said...

Oh my! I'm just happy looking at your post! You are wonderful!

Barb said...

So many lovely things on this post!! thanks for sharing.

Shirlee said...

What a lovely post my friend! I so enjoyed seeing all the photos & reading about your simple pleasures : ) Such a wonderful gift from Jo ... she is always so thoughtful! A very Happy Pascha to you!!!

Southpaw Stitcher said...

What gorgeous photos! Love the flowers, gifts, crocheting and stitching. Have a wonderful Pascha!

geeky Heather said...

Well, that was just a post filed with loveliness andso what iI needed on the very gray day we are having here! Have a blessed weekend.

KimM said...

What a lovely post! Beautiful flowers, loved the visit to the antique shop, love your stitching - and what lovely gifts. Have a happy weekend.

Ann at Beadlework. said...

The blossom is just beautiful, nature gives pleasure so freely Anne.

Annette said...

I really love your post!!!!
Beautifull. You had a awesome day. Love the op your dh on fb too.
She flowers pics awesome. The magnolia so Darn beautifull. I bought one 2 weeks ago a little one. I really hope to have some flowers next year!!
Your spoiled with beauty,s
Good luck with your granny stripe!!
You go girl!!

Angela said...

The simple things are the best things :) Lovely pictures!

Tricia T said...

What a gorgeous breath of spring this post is!! BTW, you won one of the charts on my blog, could you email me your address?? Thanks!! : )

Tricia

The Stamper's Stitches

Maggee said...

How great that you shared your walk to the park with us! Love that fountain! I cannot wait for allergy season to subside, so that I can stitch outside on my porch, with my fountain bubbling away. It is such a relaxing thing... Of course, everything else was great too, but the fountain just stood out! Hugs!

ricketyjo said...

Lovely colourful photos! I love all the blossom trees, but man, they make me sneeze like crazy! Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend.

Karoline said...

Gorgeous photos, you are making great progress on your projects.

Kathy Ellen said...

What a wonderful post, Anne, full of so many delightful things that you have been doing.

What beautiful sights you captured on your cycling jaunt...such gorgeous flowers....their fragrance must have been overpowering.

JCS is really adorable, and a lovely new start on your Granny strip with that yummy pink yarn. What sweet gifts from Jo and Meari.

Blessings for you!

Stitching Noni said...

Simple pleasures are often the best!
Hope you had a great Easter :o)
Hugs xx

stitchersanon said...

The simple things are always the best..a lovely post xx

Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful photos! They really cheered my day up as it's been raining here.

♥ Nia said...

So many pictures and fun moments to enjoy :D Happy post!! :D