Five Cows MOOOO

Baa Baa Sheeps and Welcome Cows! Miss my sheep but have to welcome these five cows to the neighborhood. I have to say it is so nice to have something in the fields again. I really missed my afternoon walks seeing the sheepies and now I get to check up on the cows. There are 2 taupe cows and 3 white, one of which is a baby or adolescent.

Here they are.....

                                                                       All Five

                                                                        Youngster

                                                                            Big Guy

                                                                       Pretty Cute

                                                  I don't think Jack knows what to think.

As you can see, we have been having some lovely weather. I hope it continues because we are off tomorrow for a much needed vacation. My hopes are lots of relaxation, good food, good books, lots of ocean swimming, walks on the beach and laughter everyday rain or shine. Who wouldn't drink to that.......oh right, some wine and bubbly!!!!


I have been making some special order crochet hooks lately, working, and just enjoying the summer. Kids have been visiting, cookouts have been happening and my favorite roasting marshmallows!!!


I hope you all have been enjoying the summer. I know all my friends in the UK have not had the best summer weather, I do hope it gets better for all of you. I am sending you some sunshine and warmth!!!


Well, my friends just wanted to say hi and pop in before I am missing for the next few weeks. I will take lots of pictures and share them when I return. Thank you for visiting, it makes me SmiLe    : )



                    xoRobin❤

Sunshine Award

Thank you Mia!

I love this Sunny Award

There were a few questions attached to this award and here are my answers:

1. Favorite animal: It would have to be a dog. I love them! And my favorite breed is a labrador retriever. I have had 4 in my life so far!
2. Favorite number: I think it would be 5 or 27. I use to just like even numbers and now it is odd numbers.
3. Favorite non alcoholic drink: I love coffee. Have to have it every morning before I can function.
4. Facebook or twitter: Facebook, don't know have to twitter and really don't want to .
5. My passion: Family and making things with yarn or fabric.
6. Getting or giving: Giving, love to see people happy!
7. Favorite pattern: Baby sweaters, no particular one.
8. Favorite day of the week: Friday night, because then you have the whole weekend ahead.
9. Favorite flower: Poppies and all old fashion flowers (cosmos, lily of the valley, nasturtiums) 
10. Favorite country: USA, because it's home.

You can give this award to 10 people, but I am just giving it to Debbie at http:/www.happylittlecottage.blogspot.com

She has a wonderful blog and I know you will all enjoy this Sunny Blog!!!! Check it out!

Thank you so much again Mia!

xoRobin❤

Busy June

Hi my Friends new and old,

So sorry to have been gone so long. Sometimes I don't know where the time goes.....and that is scary, I must say.
More traveling to visit my mom in Pennsylvania, I know I have been visiting her a lot you may say and it is true. She has gone from dementia to Alzheimer's, so I try to see her, as much as possible. She loves my visits, but now it seems she's not clear on remembering how long I've been there or that I was just there. So it is difficult. I know there are many of you also going through this and I sympathize with you and hope you can also get through these times.
So aside from traveling and working and normal everyday activities here we are with June almost over and July and vacations on there way. I say bring it ON!!!!

I have many projects in the works:
1. sock to finish
2. quilt to repair
3. quilt to finish
4. book to read (for enjoyment)





2nd SOCK is coming along

I made this quilt years ago. It is just a throw quilt for cosy times on the Vineyard. I normally use it in the evening while reading a summer book on vacation. It gets cool in the evenings, and/or I am chilly because I have gotten too much sun!
The quilt is made up of 9 batik squares of lighthouses. I hand sewed the whole quilt and tied it which is probably why it is in need of repair. Although, I do have to say its had lots of cuddle times and is about 12 years old.

                                       The borders represent ocean, grass, flowers and sky.

                                       Here are a few of the squares. Aren't they so pretty?

Can you see the tears and raw edges? Well, I have decided to make it a random ribbon repair and am so far having so much fun just letting it happen. I will continue to repair it as long as I can. Because I have sooooooo many different ribbons, may even throw in some buttons and patches too!



Next is a new quilt I am making, just because, no rhyme or reason, just because there are so many beautiful fabrics out there. I just need to get my hands busy with them! I'm sure you can all relate.

                                                      Don't you just love the colors?

                                                                        Lots more to do.

                                                                  Stacks and stacks



It will not be a large quilt, just crib size, but not for a baby. Probably another snuggly-cuddly quilt. Large quilts intimate me!



On the reading front, I just finished the 3rd and last of the series "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson. It was really good, but you have to read all three of them to follow the story. 1st-The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo   2nd-The Girl Who Played with Fire

Next, I'm thinking, "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett. If anyone has read it, what did you think?


Well, so good to be back and blogging. More to come soon. Thanks so much for stopping in, I love   your visits.

Be well and take care, xoRobin❤

The Culpit

The mystery has been solved!!! But only by chance. I was looking out the window and heard some wild chirping! Some robin birds were flying around and darting here and there. Then they zoomed down onto the wood pile and this is what I saw!!!!!!!!!

I was stunned and blown away......I have never seen anything like this. The birds at one point knock the squirrel off balance and he/she went into the woodpile for a second.

                                        I actually think the (red) squirrel lives in the woodpile

AND the REMAINS

OKAY, enough of that, I just had to share this with you all. Survival of the fittest, I guess.
Oh, one last thing, I'm 100% sure those were eggs from another nest, not the original, they have been looong gone.


OK, now, that's move on. I have half a Ta-Dahhhhh. No hurray,"Robin", at this rate I will have a pair of socks to wear by Christmas! BUT I am proud to model my first "finished sock" (singular sock)  to all of you.

                                     Yes, I can raise my leg all the way up to the tabletop!

                                         The heel right where it should be.....I'm so amazed

AND it fits all around. I'm so happy with the results. Just one more to go   : o   Hope I can do it!


So I started these July 2011 in a class, while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard. The course wasn't long enough because by the time I got to the hard gusset part the course was over, so yes, you guessed it, it sat and sat until I told myself if I don't finish these I can't go to the Vineyard on July 4th. So I have a dead line and I'm on a mission. Do you ever give yourself these cruel deadlines? So keep an eye on me to finish these socks!

Well, that's all for today, be back soon. Thanks so much for stopping in, I love your visits and comments.

xoRobin❤




                                                              And Jack too    xoxoxo

"Happy Celebration"

❤Let us all celebrate whenever possible. My mom did at 85 and enjoyed every moment!
Her smile said it all! She was definitely the "Queen" for the day! She also looked like a million bucks and then some! We ate at mom's favorite restaurant and had a birthday cake back at the house. It was a lovely day, so we extended the celebration for as long as we could. SO mom had two desserts, one at the restaurant, so everyone could sing H.B. to her and then, again, back home. You can never sing and eat cake to many times!!!

Take a look at the "Queen Bee" on her Birthday!

                                                Just love this little lady.......always smiling!

                                       The hat was a gift and just perfect for the occasion.

                                    Delicious Strawberry creme cake with almonds and glaze.








Now I am back home and in the garden. I brought some outdoors in with these flowers from the garden. How nice to be able to cut flowers and enjoy the sweet aromas! I love this time of year.
Don't you?

Thanks for all the birthday wishes for my mom, she was thrilled that she was thought of!
Happy day to everyone, I will be back with some sewing and knitting WiP in my next post  :  )

Anyone reading any good summer books? I just finished "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield, it was good, a little unusual, bit of a mystery with twists and turns.



xoRobin❤

Update and Weekend

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for all your comments on the bird nest dilemma. They were all so helpful and such wonderful ideas, unfortunately I did not get a chance to do any of them. I hate to report but an animal must have gotten the eggs during the night of my post because they were gone. Not a trace of cracked eggs or anything.....I think something ate them whole. The nest was so low, I guess they didn't have much of a chance.  :  (
I'm not going to post a picture of the empty nest.  (

On a happier note we are off to Pennsylvania to visit my mom. It is her 85th Birthday. So I will see you all right after we get back. In the mean time I hope everyone has a nice weekend.


                                                                     Jack in the Wild

You may wonder where Jack goes with all my visits. Well, he goes to doggy day care of course. He loves it, it is called "The Ranch"!


Thanks again my friends and I thank you for popping into my world.

xoRobin❤

"Not Again"!

Hello my friends thank you for stopping in, its great to see that you are visiting!

Do you remember this time last year when we had a guest visiting us and stayed for quite some time. Really was quite bold I must say. Well, it has happened again.....and in the most inconvenient residence.



Here take a look

                                     See this deck chair? Well, wait till you see the next picture.

Right on the chair seat! What are we going to do? We have waited so long to have nice weather to be outside and now this. I don't know how it could have happened so quickly.

                     First there were 2 eggs and then the next day 3. (didn't get photo of that)

                                          Today there were 4 eggs. What am I going to do??
                                                          What would you do? Help!!!!!!!

I was able to get a photo of the mommy bird seating on her nest from inside the house looking out.
Oh, forgot to mention, it is a Robin again.



Here are some home photos of some gardening and straighten up over the weekend. We had such beautiful weather. It could not have been any nicer.

                                         Flower basket with nasturtiums, lobelia, and daisies

                        Small herb container, more to come.     curly parsley, rosemary, basil

                                                                              Pansies

                                                          Cosy spot, great reading spot

                                                         Another cosy spot for rocking




But back to my dilemma, what to do, do I move the chair, anything else would make the mother never come back. I am sad because I think if we want to use our deck, the nest has to go. But I don't want to do that............suggestions please, what would you do?

Mr. Owl and I and Jack, of course, say good bye. Hope you have some comments for me and my predicament.


Thanks for stopping in, xoRobin❤

2 Trips to the Vineyard and Back

Oh my, it's been a whirly wind! Excellent, but fatiguing. Two trips to Martha's Vineyard, one on the weekend and one two days later. "Trouble in the Vineyard". First trip great until I discovered washing machine tank 2mm from overflowing. Believe me that would have been a disaster, if I hadn't gone to open up the house. It would have flooded until Memorial Day, our next time down!!!! BUT I found it, panicked a little, and then got to work solving the situation. Spin cycle every 4 hours for the rest of the weekend, purchasing a new stackable W/D and back down 2 days later for installation! Meanwhile plumber came and put in a valve to turn off water just for the washer! Hurray, problem taken care of, until the next.....hope there is not a next : )            (we all know that won't happen, there is always a next)



1st trip down pictures

The NEW huge Martha's Vineyard Ferry. It has a double decker car lift inside. I was on the second level for the first time ever. It was a little scary, but completely safe.

                                                        Jack didn't know what to think!

                         Arranged some fresh cut flowers from the yard, in my test tube vases

My heart stone collection, mantel with my bunting for the 4th, my sea glass collection, and my newest blocks

These are the only flowering plants at the moment, more to come as the weather continues to get warm and stay warm!





Second trip

I don't know why you would want to see my old and new washer and dryer, but for my record I've decided to document it.   Sorry to bore you.





And then for the scariest part.........look what I had to drive home in for some of the 4+ hour drive.


                                                           


                                                               "Such threatening sky's".

It was so dark and it was daylight!!!!! (soon to be dusk) 

There was thunder and lightening almost at the same time, which means I was in the heart of the storm. I called my husband to let him know.........in case anything happened. Yes, I was scared and timid to be driving. But I'm hear to tell the story.

Thanks for reading my story and mostly for visiting my blog. I love, the fact, that I have so many friends that have gathered here and continue to visit. I have such fun visiting all of you and seeing what you have been up to. Have a wonderful weekend and see you next week.

xoRobin❤

More fun Part 2

I'm back and excited to share Day #2 in the BIG APPLE. So a good night's sleep was had by all. Our weary feet got rested and now ready to go. I wanted to wear my ballet style shoes because we were going to be going to Lincoln Center, yes we did, for a play. I wanted to feel metropolitan with the rest and not a Vermont bumpkin.
Off to a fabulous Sunday Brunch at Prime Meats in Brooklyn. Yes, I know not the title of what you would except for a breakfast spot, but by night it is an upscale restaurant. I had french toast with such sweetness and crispiness and of course real maple syrup, probably from Vermont!!! Fresh squeezed OJ, fruit and coffee. Oh, how I love my morning coffee. Everyone loved their meals....bacon was on everyone plates too!

Then off to Manhattan by car. We parked somewhere and walked and took the "T" (subway) for the rest of the day.
Well, now I have to tell you I was like a little kid because we were headed to TIME SQUARE. It has been a dream of mind to stand in Time Square and look up and see the lights and billboards and people and just become one with the whole experience. That is just what I did!! I have to be honest with you as we approached TS and as I was walking up the last stretch of sidewalk, I felt my legs go weak! I know that sounds so lame, but I told you in advance, I was like a child on Christmas Morning!

Here we go some photos of all this and me with my favorite Morning Show, GOOD MORNING AMERICA!!!!! (of which I am obsessed with Robin Roberts, I love them all but she is my favorite next to Diane Sawyer who is now doing the 6 o'clock Evening News.

                                                               There I am in my Glory





Here are some shots of Time Square and the tall buildings, lights and bill boards

                              The 2012 is the picture of the ball in TS that drops at midnight!!





                                                                             Next up

Bubba Gump Restaurant famous from Forest Gump movie and Sprimp, Statue of Libery person/stature and to think I could have had my picture taken (I passed that up), Shows in town, Lion King, Old Memphis Theater, Hard Rock NYC, and the Phantom of the Opera (one of my favorites, I think I have seen it 4 times)

We also went to an Exhiblt in Time Square featuring The Terracotta Warriors, defenders of the China's First Emperor. These were life-size soldiers, 6 feet tall, 2,000 years old and the First Emperor's Legacy. It came direct from China with the terracotta warriors, other treasures and artifacts from ancient China.

We were able to squeeze this in before our real surprise!!!

                                                             Next our Special Treat

We travelled down to Lincoln Center where Juilliard School is and the Theater District. We saw "War Horse" the play. It was fabulous!!! The set was so well done and the horse(s) were full size and so realistic. Three actors worked the horse puppets each. They galloped, snorted, swished their tails and had personalities with their movement. If you don't know the story, it takes place with WW1, where the Royal horses had to go to war and the love of one particular horse named "Joey" who we all wanted to come home safely. Much more involved, but that is the main idea. We so enjoyed the story and the acting. Our seats were superb!

                                               Lovely shots from the Streets of Manhattan

Everything was so stunning and a real treat to see. I wanted to stay longer.....so much more to see and do. It just means we will have to visit again and more often. 

I wanted to leave you with a special picture of "The New Freedom" building being built to replace one of the Twin Towers on that horrible day 9/11. The first one is officially the tallest building in NYC now, but is not finished. There will then be another skyscraper built beside it also.

Can you believe I can't identify the photo and I don't want to put the wrong one up soooo, I will end with a skyline view of NYC.

Thanks so much for sticking with me on my journey. It was so much fun to share and relive it  again through my blog. 

Be back soon with a sewing project and book review!

Be well, stay positive and be kind

xoRobin❤