Cruelty and Beauty

Sometimes nature can be so cruel, on Easter Sunday a dove took up residence in my balcony flower box and laid two tiny eggs. She and her mate took turns sitting on them, I wasn't sure if there were actually two until I saw them change shifts one day. They took turns sitting on those eggs for two week, through this crazy northern Virginia weather. We went from 80 degree days to 30s at night.  I didn't think the poor things would hatch, but they did. On Friday it was warm in the 70s with lots of sunshine I got to see both babies, then when the parents usually change shifts the one sitting with them just flew away leaving the babies all alone. My husband and I both kept checking to see if one of the adult would come back but they never did. It was only in the 40s last night and the babies didn't survive, then this morning both birds showed up. One bird (I'm guessing the mom) sat on them most of the day before flying away. We cleaned out the flower box and will put in some flowers tomorrow.
Now that I've shared the cruelty part it's time for some beauty. Well at least they are beauties to me.
I was sitting looking through the some cross stitch magazines one day and saw a couple of smalls that would be perfect little cards for a couple of friends. The first one is from a larger piece but my friends loves snails so that's the part I stitched.

My card finishing had a small mishap but she liked it anyway and that's all that counts. The next beauty was for another friend who loves turtles, now she can sit this one on her desk at work.

He's a little sea turtle with beads for bubbles.

I did a little more stitching and have a couple more finishes to share, the first one is from The Primitive Hare.

The next finish is one from my wips bag, it's "Let's Love Our Family" by Ursula Michael

The fabric is 28ct Jobelan called Autumn from Under the Sea Fabrics.  I also finished

"M" is for Minnie (Mother) from The Victorian Sampler. 

Sorry I just had to share my little nature tragedy but I hope I have help to brighten your day with a few finishes. Now it's time to get back to what I love the most, making those little xxs.