Loving Spring and Sunday Morning Coffee

I am loving spring, even with my ongoing battle with squirrels in the garden, and I am finally winning thanks to my new crop covers. And Happy Easter everyone!

After last year’s tomato disaster, it feels so good to see my plants protected and growing again. I am also loving spring as we update our family room with new recessed lighting and say goodbye to our ladder chandelier, which the boys will not miss. And I would love your input … should I share the ABCs of machine embroidery based on everything I have learned this past month?

Season 6 Volume 1

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

About Me

Last year was supposed to be my tomato year. I planted over twenty tomato plants in my raised beds, dreamed of baskets overflowing with fruit, and imagined all the recipes I would make.

And then the squirrels arrived. Not just a few. An army. They didn’t nibble. They devoured. By the end of the season, I harvested five ripe tomatoes. Five. The squirrels ate hundreds. Or more. It honestly felt personal.

So this year, I decided things would be different.

I refreshed every raised bed with rich organic soil and started by planting fifteen tomato plants. It felt like a fresh start. A smarter plan. I ordered crop covers and was counting the days until they arrived, convinced this would finally solve my squirrel problem.

Of course, they arrived one day late.

And in that one day, the squirrels went right back to work. They dug up some of my newly planted tomatoes, like it was their job. I walked outside and just stood there, thinking, “Are you kidding me?”

That was the moment it officially became a battle.

When the covers finally arrived, I did not wait. Even though it was raining, I went outside and spent two hours assembling them and securing them tightly to each raised bed. Every edge, every opening, every possible entry point. I was determined. Wet, slightly muddy, and completely committed.

And finally, I have good news.

They are working.

For the first time in a long time, I can walk out to my garden and feel excited instead of defeated. The plants are safe. The beds look beautiful. And I finally feel like I might actually get to harvest my tomatoes this year.

It turns out the solution was not planting more. It was protecting what I planted.

And for now, at least, I am winning.

My Latest Project

It only took me a year to schedule this, but we are finally adding recessed lighting to our family room.

I have never been able to fully explain why this room feels so dark. It has windows. It gets natural light. And yet by late afternoon, it feels like I am working in a shadow. Maybe it is the lighting. Maybe it is my aging eyesight. Either way, reading, writing blog posts, and even doing a simple lap craft have become frustrating.

So I finally decided it was time to fix it.

We are adding seven recessed lights to the ceiling, and I am so excited to see the difference. I wanted something clean, evenly spaced, and bright enough to make the room actually functional. This is one of those changes that feels small but will completely transform how we use the space.

And then came the biggest change of all.

We took down the hanging ladder chandelier across from the back windows.

I know. It has been such a statement piece in our home, and I truly loved it. But the reality is that our boys are 6’7″, 6’5″, and 6’4″, and they were constantly hitting their heads when they stood up. I kept joking that this is just what happens when you are that tall, but I get it. It was not practical anymore.

It was actually kind of sad to take it down. That chandelier has been part of our home for years, and it has added so much character to the room.

I am really hoping it finds a new home where it can be appreciated just as much. And yes, it is for sale if you are local and interested.

While we are making changes, we are also fixing something that has quietly bothered me for a long time.

A few years ago, I moved the furniture in the family room, and ever since then, the chandelier over the dining table has been about a foot too far to the right. It is one of those small details that most people would never notice, but I see it every single day. So we are moving it and replacing it as part of this update.

And finally, I get to use something I have been saving.

I bought a pair of lamps on clearance at the Serena and Lily outlet a few years ago, and I absolutely love them. I just never had the right lighting setup to use them properly. Now I do, and I cannot wait to bring them into the room.

It feels like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Better lighting, a more functional space, and a few thoughtful updates that will make this room work so much better for how we actually live.

I may use affiliate links on this blog, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

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What Worked This Week

I know you aren’t surprised, but my best project this week was all of the machine embroidery I made for my grandkids.

I am totally addicted to machine embroidery, and I have a question for you.

Would you like me to share the ABC’s of machine embroidery?

Over the past month, I have learned so much, and I mean so much. What started as curiosity quickly turned into a deep dive into everything from choosing the right machine to understanding thread, stabilizers, hoops, and even where to find the best patterns.

There is a lot to it, and at times it felt overwhelming, but also incredibly rewarding.

I realized very quickly that machine embroidery is one of those skills that looks complicated from the outside, but once you understand the basics, everything starts to make sense.

The challenge is knowing where to start.

That is exactly why I am asking.

Would it be helpful if I shared what I have learned in a simple, approachable way? Not overly technical. Not intimidating. Just the essentials. The real-life things that actually make a difference when you are starting out or trying to improve.

I am thinking of something like the ABC’s of machine embroidery. Choosing a machine, understanding stabilizers, selecting thread, using hoops correctly, finding and organizing designs, and all of the little tips that save time and frustration.

Because if I am being honest, I wish I had something like that when I started.

So tell me. Is this something you would want to see?

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• Finish a Cricut project for my friend’s wedding
• Plant the remainder of my raised vegetable garden
• Finalize repairs and painting for family room after recessed light installation

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And what a week it was!

• 
  Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry Galette Recipe
  Mother’s Day is just over a month away, and what better way to celebrate the moms in our lives than with a homemade Strawberry, Raspberry, and Blueberry Galette? Not only does this delectable Berry Galette look fantastic, but it is also…
• 
  Loving Spring and Sunday Morning Coffee
  I am loving spring, even with my ongoing battle with squirrels in the garden, and I am finally winning thanks to my new crop covers. And Happy Easter everyone! After last year’s tomato disaster, it feels so good to see my…
• 
  Seven Ideas for a Kitchen Island
  Kitchen Islands are not only practical but also increase the value of your home. Today, I am sharing my white kitchen islands and seven ideas for yours. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the many choices available for kitchen islands….
• 
  Torn Paper Art – A Handmade Spring
  Paper art can capture the beauty in a simple, unexpected way. The ocean views at our Ventura beach house inspired layered, textured designs made with torn watercolor paper. What I love most about paper art is how it allows you to…
• 
  Hand Painted Plastic Easter Eggs DIY
  I am so in love with these hand-painted plastic Easter eggs. All I did was paint them with a Sharpie pen! They make the best Easter decor. I was at the Beach House when I made these eggs, so the copper-and-white…
• 
  April Window Wreaths
  April Window Wreaths mark the fourth release in my year-long window-wreath series, a collection of monthly templates designed to bring handmade creativity into your home. With nine brand-new April Window Wreaths to trace and place on your glass, this collection continues…

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• Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry Galette Recipe
• The Cutest Centerpiece and Bridal Shower Gifts
• Oyster Shell Craft
• How to Make My Wood Table Tops
• A Coastal Craft – A Handmade Spring
• Spring Paper Craft Ideas

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• Spring Cleaning – S6/V12
• The Inspired Home Show – S6/V11
• A Day in My Life – S6/V10
• A Joyous Spring – S6/V9
• A Baby Sprinkle – S6/V8
• A View From Above – S6/V7
• Heart Filled Girls Night – S6/V6
• It’s February – S6/V5
• Valentine’s Day – S6/V4
• A Dreamy Craft Room – S6/V3
• The New Craft Room – S6/V2
• An Exciting New Year at My 100 Year Old Home – S6/V1

You Might Also Need…

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This Week’s Top Sellers

We shared many of our favorite home items this week, and here are the top sellers!

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