Have a Nice Memorial Day!

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae  (More about the author here.)  Listen to our choir sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

Crazy May! It's Almost Memorial Day!

Wow, here it is past mid-May already and my last post was just before Easter week.  As it turned out neither of us did any singing then because we were down with colds for the first time in ages. Since then it's been busy here with lots of gardening when the sun's been shining, and lots of choir rehearsals.  Our church choir director is retiring very soon and so, after last Sunday, we have only two more times to sing under his direction. Last Sunday was a Choir Festival with all of the choirs participating in a wonderful song called "Hope for Resolution."  Have a listen, we were singing in Zulu!  Our last Worship through Music in on June 9th when we will sing "Jubilate Deo" by Dan Forrest and will be streamed live.

I finally finished a quilt!  Our younger daughter had this painting "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt hanging on her living room wall, so when I saw the reproduction on fabric at Center Diamond Quilt Shop, I knew what I needed to do. (Now if I could just get inspired to put the bindings on the ones that are waiting in line for me to finish them!)

I fell in love with the back fabric, and you can also see polka dot binding.

Just yesterday I finished this pair of socks. It took 3 tries for me to decide they just needed to be plain vanilla ones.

On a non-choir Sunday recently we did manage a get away with our friend Dianne to our favorite spot at Cannon Beach, Oregon.  We walked to Haystack Rock at low tide 

and also saw lots of birds, including this plover.

In between rainy spells we've been working in the yard. This is actually an azalea "tree" that our son gave me several years ago. It does itself proud every spring.

This camellia  has been in our yard for many years, but it wasn't until this spring that a friend pointed out that its petals are offset. Isn't that interesting?

The Bleeding Heart is one of my favorite spring flowers, and this year our little plant has outdone itself.  Now DH tells me it's time to take a walk so I will sign off with a wish for all of you: Have a wonderful Memorial Day!