How Lucky Am I ?

You can probably tell I'm in my "January hibernation mode".. I haven't been posting as often lately- some days I just can't think of anything to talk about... hard to believe, I know! We have had some very cold days, and I often don't go out unless I really have to. Some days I don't make it any further than the mailbox (which is two steps from the front door  haha!) Our weather has been odd though, for January in Canada. We have very little snow, and yesterday and today it is above freezing - today is sunny and quite lovely actually. (Hubby is detailing a truck right now in the garage, with the door wide open...)
 So, you ask - what have I been doing? Well, I've been busy with my favourite January activities: reading, stitching and some quilting. I've finished Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, and am almost through Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (loving it). Next on the list is The Postmistress written by Sarah Blake. Hubby and I don't go to movies that often, but we seem to have been on a bit of a streak lately, seeing 4 movies since Christmas! Hugo, 
War Horse, We Bought A Zoo and Joyful Noise. Enjoyed them all! There are two more currently playing which I hope to see as well- The Descendants (who could resist the chance to see George Clooney AND beautiful Hawaiian scenery on the same screen?) and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, a 9-11 story (I've been told to take a lot of Kleenex). Of course I'm busy stitching away with Sharon's weekly stitching challenge (this week's stitch is the Cretan) and I have another cross-stitch on the go- Heart in Hand's Christmas Medley which was back-ordered for two months - of course it would arrive after Christmas, but I'll certainly have it ready for Laura for next Christmas.
I do have to show you what a dear friend did for me recently. My friend Donna (who is a wonderful knitter) took this Silk Rumple yarn which I had purchased at least 5 years ago, and knit it up into this lovely scarf/shawl. Isn't it scrumptious? This is the second knitting project Donna has done for me recently. How lucky am I? Thanks Donna, you are a sweetheart! I am sooo lucky to have such wonderful friends...


Peace,
Linda

Good friends are like stars... you don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Waiting for Earl....

We are all ready for Hurricane Earl, but hoping he weakens somewhat before hitting the Maritimes. We are far enough inland from the Bay of Fundy (70 miles or so) that we're hoping we will be lucky and only get some much needed rain. We can do without the winds. But just in case, we have brought all hanging pots, planters and such into the garage. I cut down my Chinese Lanterns, tried to secure the tomato plants as best I could, and hubby has cleaned out the eavestrough so the rain will not flood over the edges. Not much else we can do but wait and see, and hope we don't blow away.
Laura finished her Sontag today and is quite pleased with it. It is sort of a shawl/vest combination. It is knit all in one piece, except for the band around the edge. The fronts cross and wrap around to button onto buttons at the bottom back edge, so it is "held in place". In the 1800's, this item was also known as a "bosom friend" or "bosom buddy". The ladies at Kings Landing wear these in the fall for warmth when the days are cooler, or in the mornings before they get their fires going. If you visit KL this autumn, watch for someone wearing this one...

Piece,
Linda

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

If It Feels Good...Do It!

If it feels good, do it! How long since you've heard that expression? Well I hafta tell ya- I've been doin' it today... and it feels good!! Yes I've been sewing!! (What did you think I was doin'?) It's been waaay too long since I sat at my beloved machine, and today I finally got "back in the saddle " as they say.. I've done a few mending jobs, got a set of "curtains" made for Laura's apartment, and am now working on a needle case/roll for her knitting needles. I found this fabric while at the Maine quilt show - look at those little sheepy faces- isn't it just THE perfect choice? I'll show you a pic shortly, once it's finished...
Laura has just finished knitting her first pair of socks. She has mastered the four needles - knitting in the round, or whatever you want to call it... She is proud of her accomplishment and I am proud of her too! I promised her once this pair was done, I'd buy her some nice multi-colored yarn for her next pair - you know the computer dyed stuff that makes a pattern as you knit with it... I'm not sure of it's "proper" name... She's also finishing off a sontag that she's been knitting at work (Kings Landing). She's done a beautiful job on it - some KL lady will be wearing it this fall to keep warm. Stay tuned for a pic of it too, as soon as it's done.
Man, can you believe this heat wave we're having!! It's been in the high 30's the last few days in Freddy Beach. God bless our heat pump is all I can say! When we switch it to the "Cool" function it cools our house down in minutes. Can you believe I had the oven on all afternoon to cook a Pork Loin Center Roast? It was yummy with it's maple syrup and Dijon mustard sauce. Tonight I'm doing up a batch of Ratatouille, and continuing work on the knitting needle roll. Laura is working on her basket for the Basket Social at the Kings Landing Agricultural Fair this weekend. I taught her how to make ribbon roses a few nights ago, so now she's going to town - it'll be the most bee-ootiful basket in the auction!!! Yep, we've kicked into high gear this week as we check things off the list...busy busy..
And by the way, I plan to be "doin' it" a whole lot more in the very near future... sewing, of course...

Piece
Linda

May your pathways be full of sunshine as you travel life's journey.