Dog Days

Well long time no blog! You know, life happens and time slips by. It's been a long wet winter so far, but the Crocus and Daffodils are popping up to give a bit of cheer.

While I was away from this space, someone new joined our clan. Meet Banjo, the newest member of the family!

He is a sweet 3 year old Australian Shepherd mix. He is a rescue dog that came all the way from Texas. Now he's in his forever home and we love him quite a lot. There is one member of the family who is not impressed, The Buddha Cat is being a bit cranky about the whole business. Which is understandable since he has had the run of the household for a good many years. Progress is being made on the cat vs dog front, but there is still some way to go.

Pony Girl is over the moon! Nothing like a girl and her dog.

I have also taken a little break from the sewing studio lately. I've been faffing about with other things and making in different ways. I do think though, that I'm ready to get back to stitching. What shall I make?

What have you been up to my friends?

Snowflakes

I've been addicted to making these sweet little snowflakes.
See what happens when I get out the hook?
No really, just while I'm waiting for the clothes to dry, I promise.

After you get the hang of it, each one only takes about 15 minutes to make. 

You can find the pattern HERE

Also, in case you have been told otherwise, I'm here to tell you that you CAN block acrylic yarn!

Have a great weekend!

The Circle Game

It must be winter...
The yarn has come out and I have taken up the hook for the first time in an age. As I always do, I start a little practice bit, just to get the hands working, to remind my brain how to do this, and to get the rhythm right.

My go-to trick is a roundy thing. I do like to go 'round more than I like to go squareish when it comes to crochet. Fairly soon the Engineer will begin to worry over my going in circles, it has concerned him before. Still, round and round I go.

I had no plan, I just started to get started, and though it has a little bit of wonk, it isn't turning out half bad. There could very well be a granny cushion for my Granny's love seat in the near future.

What is your favorite winter craft?

This also happens to be an excellent way to avoid cleaning up my studio which is in such a state that when I went in with purpose - I ended closing the door and taking up the hook again.

November In the Garden

"Walked for half an hour in the garden.  A fine rain was falling, and the landscape was that of autumn.  The sky was hung with various shades of gray, and mists hovered about the distant mountains - a melancholy nature.  The leaves were falling on all sides like the last illusions of youth under the tears of irremediable grief.  A brood of chattering birds were chasing each other through the shrubberies, and playing games among the branches, like a knot of hiding schoolboys.  Every landscape is, as it were, a state of the soul, and whoever penetrates into both is astonished to find how much likeness there is in each detail."-   Henri Frederic Amiel

The wind has come up, the days are colder and winter is clearly well on it's way. We have had our first fire in the fireplace and the rhythm and scents of baking have begun in earnest. This morning I took a good long look around the garden. There is a riot of color on the ground and amazing textures to be found once the leaves have dropped and revealed what is underneath the canopies. A quiet has settled in the neighborhood while people tuck themselves away inside in cozy warmth. It is a good time to shore up for winter, to take stock and plan for the coming year.  Are you cozy, are you planning for the next season?

Sweet Tooth

For a good portion of the month of November I was dreadful sick. Everything went by the wayside and now I don't know if I'll ever catch up, but I'm trying.

I am now aghast that we are already into the meat of December. The weather cold and wet, the skies dark and brooding. Seems like the perfect environment to get a little crafty. Yet, I find myself in a crafty slump. It looks as though I am over compensating for this slump by cooking up a storm and baking treats.

Even my girl and the Engineer are getting in on the action in the kitchen.

Dig her chef's hat!

How about you? Have you crossed everything off of your holiday making list? What do you do in a slump?

Blow the man down

Yesterday a wild and blustering wind blew through town. It was one of those crisp and bright winter days, a brilliant sun matched with bitterest cold - oh lordy! The neighbors are putting a new roof on and I kept thinking that one of the boys were going to be blown clean off.

The chickens took to the safety of the coop, feathers ruffled and complaining. The Buddha Cat stared out the window all the live-long day with a vaguely pensive look and the occasional twitchy whisker, but never once ventured outside.

I on the other hand, decided to attempt a walk to clear my head and try to budge a significant writers block that was getting in the way of getting down to business. One of those blocks that have you staring at the blank page (or computer screen as the case may be) for what seems like hours until a panic begins to rise up in ones belly, turning it sour.

So scarf on, winter wool coat and hat atop my noggin, and out I went. Two blocks later I was lamenting the loss of my good winter gloves, yet still I pressed on.
To the park, which was quiet and empty and still, but for the wind of course ... and ever so cold. However, the light was glittering, prismatic, and stunning.

Thanks to a friend, I've discovered camera apps for my phone. I had thought my phone was incapable of capturing a decent photo, oh but now, it's thrilling to know that I can get a fairly nice shot without lugging my big camera around. So, I may not have done much for my writers block (the wind was making much too loud a roar in my ears and my nose nearly froze) but the walk was invigorating and the pictures aren't too shabby.



Phone App: Pixlr-o-matic for Android

Winter Wish

Dear friends,
Thank you for another wonderful year. Thank you for coming to visit my shiny place and sharing with me. I am a lucky Lola!

I wish you a lovely holiday filled with joy and and happiness.

Be well

see you soon!

Lola

xo

Winter Morning

If I were to type my letter to Santa, what would I ask for? I would ask for my family to be safe, healthy, and happy. For myself, I might ask for time.

Time to sit and watch the beautiful morning light come through the front window. Time to meditate on how fortunate I truly am. Time to sip my coffee slowly at the table instead of running room to room gulping swallows of it as I stand in the kitchen for a second. Time to faff about the living room, arranging clusters of joyful here and there.

We are all so busy, there is always much to-doing; this being the most to-doingest season of all. What might happen if we took just a few minutes and sat still? What could happen if we watched the beautiful morning light, fog, rain, etc. for a moment and thought of how blessed we are? Do you think we might spin into chaos, throw off the balance of our to-do lists? Or, might we fill up our hearts and minds with a tiny bit of peace and joy making our days just a little bit better?

I don't know for certain, but I intend to give it a try.

Have a lovely day.

Her head has no room

It is a dark and stormy day, it's raining hammers, it's raining nails, we might soon get washed away. I was sitting at my table printing red twigs on a beautiful sand beach of linen, thinking of holidays.

It has been a busy time, my head is so full of things to do. Are you busy too? Tomorrow the folks are on their way to visit for Thanksgiving Holiday. I have pumpkins to roast for pie, cranberry sauce to simmer with orange and ginger, rolls to bake and something else I can't remember just now. Family time will be good and we will eat lots of food. I don't know why I am rhyming.

For those of you in the States, I wish you a beautiful, happy, and safe holiday. For those of you abroad, I still wish you beautiful, happy and safe.

I'll be taking this week off from my shiny place here and I will see you next week. Take care my friends!

Winter Wren

Winter has arrived. It is cold and wet, blustery winds are stripping the trees of their gold and flame colored leaves. Rain boots and warm coats, hats and gloves have come out of hiding. I am eyeing that new tin of cocoa brought to us from Switzerland. Did we stack enough firewood? Next week preparing for a family visit, time spent together talking, laughing, cooking and playing. Time for yarn and hook and bed time books and a feather duvet on the bed.

Winter is not my favorite, but there are things about this season that I love.

This is the last day to enter my giveaway HERE! Winners will be announced tomorrow after I come up with a clever way of choosing!

Have a lovely day.

Fall Fling

So, I have a new infatuation. I am teaching myself to embroider. I needed something new for winter, something that would keep me occupied while also having the added advantage of being portable. I've only been at it for a couple of days now and I'm not very good at it yet. I need many more practice hours to feel proficient. This picture is of my first attempts, just to get a few stitches down. The photo itself is a bit blurry, my camera has been acting out, or maybe the photographer is a little blurry instead. Perhaps when this is finished I will make it into something else; I can always use a new potholder. I am finding the act of embroidering rather calming and meditative, with only the occasional mutterings of frustration under my breath. I wonder how long this fling will last. The whole crochet affair of 2006 only lasted a season. We shall see.