Year End 2013

The days between my birthday and Christmas slipped by quickly and fairly quietly. I do hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.  I was thrilled that my Middle J was able to come home for the big day and I spent the last week or so enjoying all three of my J's home for the holidays and I could not have been happier.

Here is a little look back over my year.  Not my greatest photos, but those that make me smile, remind me of the happiness of this year and try to forget the bad bits.

 

::January - Love that Snow!::

 ::February - Love that Old Quilt::

::March - Daffodils from my garden make me smile::

::April - Blue skies and blossoms, the start of a brand new season::

::May - Colourful squares of my crochet blanket, always smiling with crochet::

::June - Enjoying new knitting techniques and a lovely old basket::

::July - The garden flourishing, making me smile::

::August - A little handmade from Little J makes me happy::

::September - The last of the summer flowers, picked by my boys when I broke my ankle::

::October - Hexagons made me smile, when my ankle made me sad::

::November - Getting back in action and outside with my boys::

 ::December - Snow on my favorite tree, always smiling with snow::

 

I'm not sure if I'll be back here tomorrow, so I will wish you all a very Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!  Thank you for stopping by to visit during the year and I do hope you'll join me again in 2014!

 

Toodles....L x ♥

12::12

After exactly 46 years on this planet (or maybe it is actually 46 years and 1 day since technically it's tomorrow already where I was born?)...anyway, I'm hoping that those 46 years (and 1 day) give me the wisdom, patience and most importantly perseverance to finish one more mitten for my boss/best friend for Christmas.

 

 

Fairly certain she'd appreciate two, since she has two hands to keep warm and it's freeeeezzzzinng cold here.

 

Toodles...L x ♥

 

 

 

P.S. The pattern is from issue 33 of Mollie Makes. I used Cascade 220 to make them, it's a delight to knit with and orange is her favorite colour and they are quite soft.  I've never made mittens before like this, so do you think they look ok????  The ribbing seems a bit wonky and I'm worried they look chunky, since I didn't use the suggest yarn (like I EVER do that :oS) I always get anxious about giving handmade gifts for Christmas....bit like last year...but honestly, what do you think????

 

P.P.S.  Thanks for stopping by! So much appreciate your visits to my little space....just in case I haven't told you before.  ☺

Swans

During our trip to Virginia over the Thanksgiving holiday I spent most of my days inside the old summer house by the warm fire.  It was freeezzzing cold outside and the ground is soft and wobbly, something my bum ankle isn't ready for. 

 I was able to enjoy a lovely view out the window and happily on our first morning, other than being surprised to see the old creek had frozen, I was thrilled to see the swans we had enjoyed on so many other visits, were now a little family!

They spent most of their first day on the other side of the creek, hence the fuzzy photo. I say it's a creek, well because it's called 'Maddox Creek', but its super wide.   If someone was standing on the other side of the creek, you could barely see them without a zoom lens or binoculars.

Late Friday night, long after I should have been snuggled up in bed and long after I'd removed my ankle brace I switched on the outside light and there they were!

I sent the Mister and Little J out with the camera, but in my excitement I ran out there anyway.

A bit of a stupid risk looking back on it, since the ground is soft, wobbly and full of ankle breaking holes!!!

But at the time, it was worth every minute!

It wasn't till after I looked at the photos, I realized they are still babies,with some downy feathers on them.  

We didn't see them again, I can't wait to go down again in the spring to see them.  Hopefully my bum ankle won't be bum then!

Toodles...L x ♥

Snow Day!

Our first proper snowfall of the season....

Little J enjoyed a school free day and I enjoyed an extra 30 minutes in bed!

 He spent the day whizzing up and down the street on his sled.

I really wanted to venture out and take more photos of our first snowfall, but unfortunately my bum ankle doesn't always co-operate on flat surfaces with good traction, so I wasn't about to risk the slippery sidewalk!

They are calling for more snow over night.

I have my fingers crossed it arrives along with another school free day....I love those extra 30 minutes in bed.

Toodles...L x ♥

Left Over Blanket

Just a super fast post today, as I'm supposed to be packing to spend a couple of days away. 

Nothing glamorous or exciting, just two days in Virginia putting the in-laws ramshackle rundown summer house to bed for the winter.  We only went down there twice this year thanks to a certain someone breaking something......

Anyway, onward.  The little crochet I was working on the other day is finished.  Worked up super duper fast and all from left overs.  I snapped these photos early Sunday morning while I had the chance encounter with sunshine in my bedroom. 

 Nothing super special, but I do love the way it looks against my granny stripe,

 Not particularly large, enough to cover your lap and then some, but it came together oh so fast.  Maybe three weeks?  I didn't work on it everyday, just a few minutes here or there,but those trebles seem to fly off my hook.

Bit of a wibbly wobbly photo, doesn't really do it justice.  I was going to donate this yarn, because until you wash it, it's a wee bit squeaky.  I am glad I didn't as I really enjoyed working on this little blanket.

Thank you for stopping by! I do hope all is well with you and the weather is treating you kindly. I see flurries out my window....

Must run.....

Toodles  L x ♥

P.S.  To all those folks celebrating tomorrow.....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

♥ Sunshine & Snow ♥

Today a little sunshine....

Tonight a little snow!

It's been a chilly, but beautiful sunny day here today. 

I have banished the grey cloud, made friends with the black dog and had the most productive day sewing curtains and cleaning my bedroom from top to bottom with a little furniture shuffle.

It feels good.

I feel good.

The snow this evening was like icing on the cake.

Hope you've had a wonderful Saturday too.

Thank you for stopping by!

Toodles...L x ♥

Magic Loop - Mastered?

At last!  
I've mastered the Magic Loop.  
It truly is a brilliant way to knit in the round.  I am in love with the magic loop.....

....but unfortunately I have not mastered gauge.  

Not even close to getting it right.

Phooey on you gauge, I just want to knit Big J a hat in his favorite colours - Maroon & Orange for the mighty Hokies and Virginia Tech!

I will however persevere.  I think it will be easier for me to master the art of getting gauge just right, rather than mastering the art of shrinking Big J's head.

Any tips on getting gauge right would be most welcome!

Toodles...L x ♥

A Little Floral Satchel

Hello!  Happy Monday...it was a beautiful sunny day, but as with most Mondays I'm so glad the day is over.

Over the weekend, in a bid to keep my fingers busy and because I have a never ending love of bags, I decided to do a little bag stitching.  It's not perfect, but as I used nothing but what I had on hand, I'm quite happy with it.

I love this floral fabric I found on eBay for a song.  You may recognize it as my blog background - I love it so much I plopped it on my scanner to make an image for my background - yep, confirmed nutter :o).
The navy blue strap didn't quite match the rest of the bag, so I sewed some green bias binding on to tie it all together.  Sorry the photos don't show well, I had some serious Big J/Little J interference when taking photos. It was one of those 'take the photos now moments' or it was never going to get done.

 I always love red gingham - table cloth or bag lining, the colours make me smile.  I remember my Mum always having red gingham curtains in her laundry room and I have loved this pattern ever since.

 A little red ric rac is always just the thing - on the inside pocket and across the back.

 I still need to figure out a proper attachment to close the flap, those elk teeth buttons are really just decoration.

 It's not perfect, it's not the CK bag of my dreams, but it provided me with a few hours of smiling while I stitched and I'll be happy to sling this over my shoulder when I leave the house.

Toodles....L x ♥

:: November ::

Hello! So sorry to have been gone so long.....

November arrived for me with a huge grey cloud hanging over head and that was closely joined by the dreaded black dog.  The cloud is still here, perhaps a paler shade of grey and I've shooed away the black dog. I am praying for blue skies like we enjoyed today for the rest of the month.  It has not been a good month so far, but with 13 days left I'm determined it will get better.

Today while the sun shone, the boys cooked the most delicious sausages on Big J's dinky fold up stove.

Whilst the boys cooked sausages I made an enormous mess sewing on the dining room table.  Oh how I wish I had my on little crafting space.  Tidying up after each session has a tendency to darken the grey cloud and stop me from wanting to sew. Perhaps if I had tidier tendencies, it wouldn't be such a problem!

It was actually a lovely sewing session, making what I enjoy making most - another bag!!!  Hopefully not to be slung to the back of the cupboard when I am done.

I decided enough was enough, hoarding found treasures is no fun when they are tucked away in drawers, so I embellished my bag with the tiny doily I found with the Singer 24 sewing machine I rescued last year. Whilst rummaging for the tiny doily, I rediscovered some rather sweet, but slight odd buttons I bought at the Fort Frederick Market fair in the spring.  They are very sweet to look at, but considering they are made from real elks teeth, I find them a wee bit odd. 

For a change I've left my mess on the table and we ate our sausages in front of the telly, such a treat for us.

On a completely different note, last weekend, in a last ditch attempt to extract the men folk from their video games and to get me outside in the sunshine they had a real treat, while I hid in the car with hearing protection.

 Yes, that's Little J loading his gun at the shooting range.  It's only a 22, but when I say that, he and I both know it is very deadly, but not very noisy compared to the other guns at the range.  As you can see, he happily wears both hearing and eye protection.  He is very sensible when it comes to his gun and this is a REAL treat for him, only the second time he has fired it.  Most kids his age (boys and girls) in our area frequently go hunting with their family members.

 Big J doesn't have a gun, but he was happy to take turns with Little J's and the Misters.  Love how Little J is always so serious - a good thing in my books.  

 So whilst the boys blasted their ears and practiced their aim, I hid in the car and did a little hooking in the sunshine.

A lovely morning was had by all!

Sorry of this post started rather glum and then got off on an odd topic, I do find it rather therapeutic to say how I really am feeling and I thank you all for listening/reading.  I do hope weren't too shocked to see what my boys get up to, but I do like to document these moments, a bit like writing in a little diary.

Wishing all is well with you!

Thank you SO much for stopping by after my little absence.

Toodles...L x ♥

::Twelve::

Happy Halloween.....and....

Happy 12th Birthday my beautiful Halloween Boy!

Love my little Jack O' Lantern!

 

Toodles...L x ♥

 

 

Not In My House!

Hello!  Happy Tuesday.

I do hope you are well and the weather is treating you kindly.  If you are across the pond I do hope that nasty weather either skipped you by or blew through without too much bother.

We didn't get any snow last week, much to my disappointment. It seems the weather man was wrong again.  The weather has been windy and chilly and the leaves are quickly disappearing, but we've had beautiful blue skies. 

 We had a hard frost the other night and it's basically killed off everything in the garden except a few violets and violas.

  Luckily, the day before it hit I scurried (or hobbled) out into the garden to rescue a few last blooms.  I love this marigold close up, slightly out of focus it almost looks painted.

I rescued the last of the zinnias to adorn the coffee table and I managed to put a few finishing stitches on a little table runner I started an absolute age ago.

So nothing exciting going on here and it's been a quiet few days, although the critters here at the Gephart have kept us entertained.

Mrs.Spudinski has become besotted with a certain gentleman who's hanging out temporarily in this box while is accommodation is undergoing it's weekly Sunday clean.

I don't think I've mentioned Woody before on my blog.  He's been residing at the Gephart for about a year now.  A total character and very much loved by all who meet him, especially Spud.  They've been buddies since she took up residence, but lately she's been spending a lot more time hanging out with him.

The second you open his cage she's in, there's no stopping her and she has one mission in mind, to get into Woody's little hidey hole....of course Woody says other wise....

Not in my house!!!!

 Yes, he's one whopper of a guinea pig, but of course Spud isn't full grown.  They really do love each other.  Spud hangs out on the top of Woody's cage and he talks to her and they sniff each other. She's been known to give him the odd lick, well I hope it's a lick and not a taste!  It's really very sweet. Of course, we watch her VERY closely when she jumps in his cage. Right now he's big enough to push her around and tell her no, she can't go in his house and when she does get in he goes in after her and chases her out. So far, so good, but I think once she is bigger than him the game will have to stop.  

They really are best buddies and provide us with endless entertainment.

As anyone ever heard of a cat and guinea pig being friends before? I do wonder how long it will last.

Toodles...L x ♥