Apparently the plum trees are blooming in central Japan right now. I have followed a blog called Hokkaido Kudasai (https://hokkaidokudasai.blogspot.com/2026/02/atami-plum-festival-and-kinomiya-shrine.html) for several years. In her most recent post, she shows lots of lovely photos of the first plum blossoms of this year – she attended a Plum Blossom Festival in Uemiya. The plum tree is traditionally associated with late winter/early spring in Japan as they flower first of all the fruit bearing trees. So lovely.

Meanwhile, here in Maryland we are at least six weeks (most likely) before the plums will begin to pink up. Purple leaf plums are popular specimen trees here and their blossoms break bud to create a pink haze on the trees (usually) in late February or early March.

Still, today was a lovely day. Warmer than recent days at a high of 34 degrees (according to my car’s thermometer). I took my brother Kevin out for lunch today (to Bob Evans) and then grocery shopping. It was a light shopping day since we went last on Thursday past … but I have a (Zoom) patchwork class on Saturday and a (Zoom) meeting on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. I wanted to be sure he had food in case the weather gets ‘bad’ again soon. (In Maryland-speak, that means if any ice, sleet or snow fall and stick to the roads).

The sun was shining today very brightly and the light reflected off the snow/icy surfaces strongly enough to set off my photo-ray eyeglasses. It is unusual for us to retain snow this long (ten days or so now) – generally it melts off in a day or two after the fall. Has been really unpleasantly cold here (highs in the 20s) recently.

I managed to get some sewing done yesterday – I had cut all the pieces for my Valentine’s Day door banner last Friday during our Sewing Together session at Barbara’s house. Yesterday I spent three hours sewing all the heart units together. Now it is laying out on my table, ready to be joined into a completed top … and then onward to being quilted. I do love these small banners (about 16 x 20 inches) for being quick to create. The piece cutting is the most intense part of the making. 🙂

I’m looking forward to sewing tomorrow at Springwater Designs (my lqs) – it is First Friday, traditionally open studio in their classroom. Fun and pleasant visiting chatter with sewing.

🙂 Linda