I am starting on the second irrigation circle piece. It is a bit larger that the silk piece, which I am stitching by hand with hand-dyed thread in my spare moments. I am going to use my shibori fabrics for the circles on this piece.

I marked out the grid on a piece of felt. It is sturdier than batting and will not stretch out of shape.

The last few days have been full of various activities. I have done some cooking — a Key Lime Cheesecake for a dinner party last night. Tonight, I made White Chicken Chili and cornbread muffins for a family dinner.

This morning, I took Scooter for a walk in the Rhodie Garden. It is certainly beginning to look like spring.

Daffodils are on the way.

The first Rhododendron blooms .

And some cherry blossoms are beginning to burst out.

When we moved from upstate New York to California in 1976, one of the things I loved most was having spring come in January and February. This is a bit early for Portland, but I will enjoy it.