Several Canadian Geese couples are swimming outside in our backyard while the sun glistens on the swiftly moving Mississippi River. Yup! Flood season has arrived and we are gaining more waterfront  access than normal. The sandbags are in place at the lower doors, all benches and the woodpile are moved to higher ground and there’s not much to do but watch the water rise and sew.  Of course, did you think that my sewing machine would cool down this time of the year? It’s been pretty busy in the art studio as a Chinese baby quilt, a Floating Tile Quilt, several miscellaneous pieces, a slipcover for a couch and the Chocolate quilt shown here were under creation. I wanted to design a “count down” quilt from Ash Wednesday to Easter using chocolate in the 40 pockets  but it kept saying “Valentine’s Day” with the colors and how it evolved. Used a lovely chocolate candy base fabric underneath with a dark red tulle for the pockets. The idea was to “Be Kind and Love one another every day of this time. Funny thing . . .I realized that from Epiphany (The last day of the 12 days of Christmas, January 5/6, there are actually 40 days until Valentines Day too!) Guess I can use this for two time frames, can’t I? Notice the wrapped Easter Eggs in the last row . . . The grandkids keep wanting to eat them but I remind each that those are for Easter Week and they can only have one piece of Hersheys if they promise to doing something kind. I smile when I look at this artquilt because I think of the kids but also remember that I put some of the lace from when I made our oldest daughter’s wedding dress in it as well as the youngest daughters. Along with some antique lace from my stash, an extra pocket to hold more chocolate for kind deeds, and its a fun piece for my house these days.