June Reflections: Renovations, Quilts, and Sweet Summer Moments

I can hardly believe the year is already half over—how did we get here so fast? June felt like it flew by, especially with all the house projects going on. The big news is that the kitchen re-framing is finally finished! We had help from one of our sons, and after four long, hot days (we’re talking upper 90s every day), we managed to get it roofed in.

We’re still tearing out one of the interior walls, which means lots of plaster-lathe dust and mess everywhere. But I keep telling myself—it’ll all be worth it in the end. We’re reminding ourselves that there’s no strict deadline; we’re taking it one day at a time to keep the stress down.

I actually look forward to our trips to the dump to get rid of the old materials. It gives me a good excuse to enjoy a peaceful drive through the countryside—windows down, warm breeze, and the gorgeous rolling hills and mountains in the distance. I love passing by blooming gardens, grazing calves and baby goats, lush cornfields, charming old barns and churches, and rolling over Dry River (which isn’t so dry right now!).

Another big change this month: we had a new gas furnace and central air installed! After 35 years of living with window units, we can’t believe we waited so long—what a game changer.

We also got to enjoy some family time earlier in the month when we visited one of our son’s families for an important milestone celebration for one of the grandkids. And last week, while the guys were busy with the kitchen construction, our 7-year-old granddaughter attended "Fiddle Camp" here in the Shenandoah Valley. She did such a wonderful job at the concert—so proud of her!

On the business side of things, I’ve been busy finishing up some embroidered baby quilts and designing a new patriotic quilt pattern using a stunning eagle panel I bought last year. The panel is called "American Spirit" by Dan Morris, in those rich reds, blues, creams, and golds—just beautiful.

I’ve also been working on refining some of my fabric collections to submit to a well-known fabric company for possible licensing. Fingers crossed!

With summer in full bloom, I’ve been snapping lots of photos to use for inspiration later in the year. I even managed to get a few good shots of the little bunny who visits outside my she shed every evening. There were also two baby skunks playing out there - adorable from afar, but I wasn’t quite brave enough to get up close for that photo!

I hope you’re soaking in all the joys of summer too—whether that means time in the garden, traveling, or just enjoying the little everyday moments.

Late Spring Reflections: Blooms, Bugs & Building Projects

Late spring always brings with it a bit of a gardening gamble—do we plant or wait? Around here, we nearly always get a surprise late frost, and as I mentioned in my last post, our poor peach trees usually pay the price.

Well, I walked out to the garage one morning and—poof—they were gone. My husband had cut them down without a word. I know they rarely produced fruit, but they were so beautiful in bloom that I genuinely cried. That soft blush of pink each spring brought me so much joy. Thankfully, in his gentle way, he’s since planted a new variety that’s supposed to be more cold-hardy. Here’s hoping we’ll see fruit and blossoms in seasons to come.

Business Buzz
I recently took a mini-class from Jenna Kutcher on improving your Pinterest strategy. It’s amazing how consistent pinning can act like free advertising! I’m still working on setting up a more regular schedule, but progress is progress, right?

I also jumped into the “Bugs In Bloom 2025” May art challenge. It’s been so fun to stretch my creativity and draw inspiration from the beauty of nature.

·       Week 1: Honeybees & lavender

·       Week 2: Ladybug & daisy

·       Week 3: Moth & honeysuckle

·       Week 4: Dragonfly & coneflower

Big thanks to the hosts:
@heathermeullerdesign, @jillian.nichole.illustration, @kim_ko_design, @palindromeart, @megpieprint, and @shellypenko.

Stitching & Sewing
Lately, I’ve been piecing together a Christmas quilt using the Winter in the Pines collection by Jackie Robinson for Benartex. It features elegant deer blocks framed with alternating log cabin blocks in deep reds, greens, golds, and warm black and cream backgrounds. It’s already feeling festive in the sewing shed—even if it’s May!

On the Home Front
Our long-awaited kitchen project is officially underway! Our kitchen, tacked onto the back of our 115-year-old home decades ago, was in dire need of an overhaul. Once we pulled up the flooring, we found that some of the joists were nearly rotted through. Now it’s torn down to the foundation—and what a foundation it is! The original lumber was massive. We’re salvaging as much wood as we can for future projects. (My husband and sons are excellent with wood—one of those “handed-down” family skills.) I can’t wait to see it all rebuilt, stronger and more beautiful than ever.

Thanks for following along with this season of change and creativity—both in the garden and at home. There’s something truly hopeful about building new things, isn’t there?