Is it Spring at Last???

I realize that a lot of my bloggy friends have flowers blooming by now, but here in Wisconsin spring tends to come just a bit later. Especially in the northern areas. I'm not true northern, more like northeastern, but it's still been very slow coming this year.
For a lot of Wisconsinites, the first sign of spring is a Robin.
We spotted Robins about 6 or 8 weeks ago, and then there was a massive snow storm, so that doesn't seem quite right does it?




For some of my other Wisconsin friends, it's spotting the Red Wing Blackbird.
I always thought that was more of a southern tradition, but anyway, they showed up about the same time the Robins did.







For me, since moving from northwest Wisconsin to northeast changed my idea of the first sign of spring.
Peepers! Peepers are these little frogs that live all over our area. I haven't actually seen that many of them, but I have HEARD them! They start in around dark and they are LOUD!!! You would swear they are birds or something they peep by the hundreds, and in swampy areas by the thousands. Millions would not surprise me. I heard the first Peepers, Friday night, so it's official... Spring is here!
So, what is the first sign of spring for YOU?

Sorry Sorry Sorry!!!

I have been soooooooooooooooo remiss in posting. My excuse, and granted it's a decent one, is that it's so darn time consuming to do everything with my left hand. If I can get at the correct angle on my laptop I can type with both hands, but the big old sling does tend to get in the way.
Meantime, I have been doing my physical therapy, reading, taking care of as much of the house stuff as I can- and I can even wash dishes with ONE hand!! - and bake banana bread! Looks pretty good for left handed banana bread huh? I've gone through a couple of recipes now and this one is my favorite so far. It's from my grandmas recipe file.

Before I had the surgery I was able to get my 365 journal quilt all together~!!! I wanted to get the rows sewn so I could take it down off my design wall while I was recuperating since I'm not allowed to sew or use my rotary cutter. I pictured myself coming up with tons of great ideas on my design wall with all my orphan and un-finished blocks.
I did a bit of that and I'll post about those in the next few days.


Meanwhile here is the 365 baby.

I think I'm going to have to just ditch it for the quilting so that I don't lose any of the writing.
It was kind of fun, and I learned something interesting when I was reading it! 2 summers ago I mentioned that my shoulders were hurting after going kayaking! hmmm, guess this has been coming on for a while huh?

THE WINNER!!!

before I announce the winner, I'd like to introduce all of you to my good friend Trudy. Trudy is an award winning quilter who works out of her home in lovely Wisconsin. I wish I had some pictures of her awesome quilting to show you, but take my word for it, she is great! Trudy, who is currently a non blogger agreed to be my impartial judge since she doesn't know any of my bloggy friends. soooooooooooooooooooo (drumroll please) Trudy says..............

"I choose the quilt shop one (erzebat). Reason is, even though I admire your selfless efforts to save a child under the Hummer, and the story of your 'day at home' is fun, the fabric store one is pretty funny and sums us all up"

So, there you have it! Erzebat, email me your snail addy and the totebag will be on it's way!

honestly I had to have someone who doesn't know all of you judge because there is NO WAY I could pick! they were all GREAT! Pole dancing, snicker. The dog and the snow removal certainy could have been true!! The Hummer one really made me feel good though! So brave, so selfless. And Kims! HA!!! In my dreams I am that flexible! And getting all my Christmas quilting done, that is yet another DREAM!! Ahhh lovely dreams huh? Well i'ts been fun, now back to my armchair and my quilting magazines. I think I need about 81 more though!

I'm Alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really am back among the living! Well, sort of anyway. And to be honest my hair doesn't look as good as the bride of Frankenstein here. My left handed prowess leaves a LOT to be desired.
however................
Yes the winner will be announced very soon!!!
My impartial judge is attempting to get a photo of herself to me so I can introduce her to all of you. So technically you still have a chance to leave a story about how I tore my rotator cuff if you want the totebag.
It was a rough haul for a bit there! yikes and egads, not a fun time.
I may even post a picture of me with my eye patch on!
Yup, you read that right. Eye Patch. I know, I know, it was shoulder surgery. Jim was working up a good story about how they go in through your left eye to work on your right shoulder, but the stupid truth is, somehow my cornea got scratched when they taped my eyes shut for the surgery. Didn't know they tape your eyes shut? Me either! Anyway we went pretty much from the recovery room to the optometrist where I got all kinds of cool stuff put in my eye, and the abraded cornea diagnosis, and then I was sent home with an eye patch. It was also dilated for 3 days so it made it a bit tough to focus, but things are looking a teeny bit better every day. I'm saying that right now at 6:30 in the morning BEFORE I start my physical therapy this afternoon because that could influence my attitude later.