Still in the grips of winter so it is great to hear about all of your outside work. Nice quilt! That will keep you busy for a while.

We are a small tight group this year and it does bring comfort in tough times. I am so sorry for your loss...it is hard losing people. I know the Alphabet has helped me through losses.

I have my 10 mo. old grandson this afternoon and he is a joy. He is walking around and curious about everything!

Paula, I too am grateful for your alphabet. It consistenly provides a moment of cheer each morning as I drink my coffee in the quiet waiting for my DH & doggie to wake up and join me. I have enjoyed your series for the past couple years and have also posted some pics in years past. Please accept my condolences for your loss of your good friend. No, you certainly have not recovered yet - it’s too soon. Give yourself the grace and time to roam through your good memories of your friend while quietly working on your beloved Hosta and your beautiful quilt.

I'm sorry about your friend..😢

here's a virtual hug 🤗..

I think keeping busy will help you cope..I believe that gardening is healing..

my niece makes quilts..she's addicted to fabric just as I'm addicted to plants..😉

we appreciate that you create the alphabet..it's fun, beautiful and educational..

I've been out the last few days doing some cleanup..my wooded lot accumulates quite a bit of debris during the winter..

it's colder today..there's always something that could be done inside the house 🙄..

I second all the warm wishes of everyone, Paula. I lurk more than I post, but I read yours everyday and truly look forward to it!

I am winter sowing today. Purple milkweed, orange milkweed, hyssop, and a few different rudbeckias. I have quite a few things going on under lights, too. I'm not working anymore due to my health, so have to have things to keep me busy and going insane (supposedly).

I’m sorry to hear you lost a friend recently. I know I could do without that part of the life cycle. It hurts too much. Hang in there and stick with the hosta forum. It’s a calm and pleasant place.

I had to jump through some hoops, but I finally got myself out of FB. I joined hoping to get closer to some relatives that live far from me. Unfortunately, it was the opposite. Sometimes it’s better not to know too much about people.

Your quilt is beautiful. I don’t think I would have the patience to do such intricate work.

We warmed up and have had some rain. All the snow has melted, and it’s very wet and soggy out there. February is a month where something is in the air that messes with my sinuses and makes me feel almost dizzy. I’m treating it like an allergy, but I’m not sure what causes this when we are thawing out. Doctor was no help.

Lucky you, Paula, to be able to start your spring garden activities! I’m debating if I should get my onion seeds and some perennials started. I have a lot of cleanup to do outside but that will have to wait a few more weeks. ….Meanwhile, I can smell my turkey meatloaf cooking.

Oh Paula, so sorry to hear about the loss of your good friend….as someone said, take time to relive your memories of times together while you quilt. I love the piece you are working on and the black lines enhance the colors. My mom loved to quilt. She made bed covers for all the kids (7) except me. She quilted a lovely Christmas tablecloth. She entered it in the county fair and won first prize. I cherish it.

I have been in a re-decorating mood since the beginning of the year. Something’s grabbed hold of me and I’m changing things up! Re-decorated the mantel, ordered and received an ottoman that opens up like a tray for laptop or snack and lots of storage. I ordered a new Moroccan rug for the living room, gonna get two new chairs, paint, yada yada yada……

I’m not doing so well with the Bonsai kit I got for Christmas….. several have sprouted and developed leaves but they don’t look like much. Soaked some more seeds overnight and potted them tonight so we will see how that goes.

I must join the crowd and say that I look forward to the alphabet and jokes after gardening season is over. It gives me something to look forward to every day. I love seeing everyone’s hostas!! That’s it for now! Let us know how you are doing….. we are a small kind warm group of people who can help cheer you up if needed!

debra

Wow! That quilt is going to be gorgeous - well, it already is. That's much too intricate for my quilting skills level. Do all the blocks have to be outlined in black?

I keep hoping we get some cold weather soon. It's a bear when we have the warm Februarys. My hosta start coming up and then we get a hard freeze. So far, nothing is peaking through, though.

Thanks for your efforts to keep this group going.

Sorry about the loss of your friend. I have a friend that is moving toward the end of his life. We've been friends for 40 years. It will leave a hole in my life.

bkay

Thank you for your kind comments. Life is better with friends like you.

indianagarden girl that is a lovely quilt. It looks so soft and warm. Your selection of fabric is outstanding. The colors blend well.

bkay Yes I am outlining the blocks in black. I am not a skilled quilter and the black is my fugh area so it will lay flat. lol There are 186 stripes with 372 cuts just adding the black. This is therapy for me even though I stress myself out with trying to make all corners match.

I am not allowed at quilt shows anymore as I buy too much fabric. If I do go I cannot buy any more green. You know hosta colors.

I thank everyone and keep coming back!

Working too much with this busy cold/flu season. I live in the between moments.

That’s right utog, you are in the health care system if I recall. This time of year is always busy isn’t it? Remember to take care of yourself too! 🙏🏽🫶🏼

debra

Paula, I look forward to the alphabet every winter. It's a ray of sunshine on bleak winter days. I love sharing and seeing everyone’s hostas. Your alphabet gives us a chance to share with great people something we mutually enjoy very much. That's important!!

And when you bring us to the end, Spring is near!

You're the best!!

Paula, I second Mbugs words, makes winter easier to deal with. Hope you are well on your way to healing. We have been busy here recently and also sleep deprived, here is the reason.

The little black puppy is Maggie, she is 9 weeks old. Second photo is her recently 1 year old brother Charlie……..got my hands full.

Sherry

Sherry you do have your hands full! Maggie is adorable and it looks like Charlie is enjoying the company. Two adorable puppies!

I will have my nearly 1 year old grandson this afternoon so we will both be chasing little ones around.

Big storm here with road closures likely. I just hope we do not lose power. More of the same over the weekend.

Laurie, we got some snow yesterday, really cold today. the forecast was 6”, we only got 2”. Like you, more this weekend.

Sherry

Glad you got less than expected. We got about 8-9".

We, here in PNW, are waking up to a snow white world at sea level & in the valleys! This is our first snow this year in the lowlands & it looks like a couple inches at least but too dark yet to tell. Yesterday was full of rain / snow / ice. Everything will be closed & shut down today. At least & finally our plants have protection of snow cover to get them through the below freezing & dry weather we’ve been having for weeks.