Contentment looks like this and a spring swap to boot

Have I mentioned that I love my new porch and so does Clarice?  She pretty much comes out here around  10:00 and stays until I lock up in the evenings.  She does a little cat grass nibbling, bird watching, sunning and lots of sleeping.  I love to join her to just listen to the birds and the woodpeckers while reading or stitching.  It's a little piece of heaven on earth or at least my version of it especially when I have my Bon Jovi radio playing.    I'd sleep out there if I wasn't so scared the bears would join me.  Speaking of bears, I hosted neighborhood book club on Monday at my house and there were all kind of new bear stories from the gals.  We have a new momma with a couple of little ones that have been spotted by several people and 3 or 4 houses up had one destroy their grill because they forgot to clean it after a cookout last week.  Oops!  I want to see the bears but the ladies told me that I would be seeing them soon as my yard is a cut thru to the Blue Ridge Mt Parkway.  I'd just rather see them from my porch or out my windows as opposed to them being on my porch or eating my grill.  Speaking of wildlife, I have a huge groundhog living under the downstairs deck and I do mean that he's HUGE!  I'd say he's about the size of a medium size dog and when he's chewing on things I can hear him with the doors and windows closed.  I've never seen one up close but this guy walks up and looks right in the doors at us.  I told Mark that we may need to relocate him soon because he's munching away on all the plants.  And when I told some people about him I said he's a badger, beaver, ground hog or gopher of some sort and they informed me he's a ground hog aka whistle pig....what the hell is a whistle pig?  I have never heard that term before but he reminds me of the gopher from Winnie the Pooh and every time I see him I have to say "   Sssssuffering Ssssssuccotash! "

Now for the fun of Spring Swap goodies.  Amy at Bumble Bee Lane hosts a few swaps a year for a group of us prim loving junkies and I always get the best partners!  I just love swapping with these ladies and I hope they like when they get my package as much as I like getting theirs.  I enjoy forming these friendships with ladies from here and even in Canada (waving at Francine) that I can take with me no matter where I live.  And no I'm not moving again....just saying.....next time he'll have to bring a forklift to get me out of here.  Sorry I got sidetracked but what else is new. My swap partner was Allison of Sew Many Girls and as usual I was blown away by the talent and care these gals put into the swaps.  I squealed like a little girl when I opened each little package that Allison sent.  Some things got put in permanent homes as soon as I opened them like the sweet little pinkeep she stitched.  It looks so great on the table behind the living room sofa with a couple of my putz sheep and of course, new pictures of my sweet 5 month old Zeva

I have been wanting a riser for quite some time now and it's just the perfect size for the breakfast bar flowers and where we eat all our meals. 

Look at those carrots and radish aren't they just a great addition of my cabinet display of jars of veggies. 

And that's not all folks here's the rest of the goodies that she sent.  I love the bunny driving the carrot car and can't wait to display him next Easter.  Oh and look at that Easter Egg made from an old quilt....sweet!  I really enjoyed the swap and it goes without saying loved all my goodies.  Now "hop over" to Allison's blog to see what I sent her because as usual I forgot to take pictures. 

Notice that wonderful 2 cup measuring cup on the board?  It's a $5.00 new find from World Market that I picked up Sunday when I took Mark to the airport.  Isn't it divine with the tulips in it? 

Do something that makes you happy!