What Have They Done with Spring?

Will spring never get here? I know I say this every year. But this year . . .  it's all been a little too much to take at times. Maybe Mother Nature is waiting to see just how much we can take and how long we can go on complaining about the weather. We've had so much rain and cold weather here in Chicago lately. At least the trees are becoming a little green and the brown is drifting away. 

But still no flowers. Unless you count the ones I buy or receive . . . .

My husband remembered the 32nd anniversary (!) of the day we met. Well, sort of. I gave him a big hint and a little nudge. One morning last week, I woke him up and said "Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!" He looked puzzled and I could see the dusty wheels turning and imagine the sleepy thoughts churning -  "Let's see, we were married in September but it's not September yet. Oh, it must be the day we met . . . .Yeah, that's got to be it." So, for my effort, I got flowers that evening. He said he bought them because they had heart-shaped leaves and that made him think of me. I made him steak for dinner, a rarity at our house. (Last night, for instance, we had cabbage bean soup and broiled zucchini sticks sprinkled with Parmesan cheese on the side, LOL. We're getting healthier [and hungrier] by the minute. Also, older.)

If you're like me and live in an area that has seen way too much bleakness and cold this year, getting impatient for a true springtime to arrive, here's a free pattern for a cute little flower quilt that may uplift your spirits and keep you busy. I designed it for the May Quilt of the Month for my Yahoo group. I'm hoping that as soon as I finish writing this blog post the sun will miraculously come out and we'll be there already.

This little project is so cute and it's very easy to put together. I played around and made a sample block yesterday.  Just make Snowball blocks and use a different color for one square for the flower center when you put 4 blocks together. Download the pattern and you'll see directions for making the blocks in two sizes.

Sew diagonal lines onto the corner squares on the larger square. Add one corner in a different color.

Flip and press the corners.

Trim the seams.

Make four of these and sew together as seen below.

Such a cute little flower. 

Add a button. Or a stem and leaves by adding them onto a plain block. Then fill your house and thoughts with flower blocks and quilts and maybe spring will arrive here for me in Chicago. I'll keep wishing and hoping . . . .