Snow Day!

So we got a heap of snow in a couple of days... so much so that my van is going to remain parked for the time being.  At our old place (did I mention we've moved??), I would have inched my way down the driveway, and parked at the bottom if I couldn't make it up again.  Can't do that at the new place!  The road coming into our property is at a fairly decent incline, and apparently not high on the snowplow list!  So, the kids and I have been a bit stranded for the past several days.

Thank goodness Santa had the fore-sight to include "Monopoly Deal" in the boy's stocking!  We've been playing it almost non-stop since Christmas.  I am not only enjoying the game itself, but it is so heart-warming to watch the kids at it.  Even though there is a clear-cut winner and a lot of swapping and stealing of things, everyone has taken it all in stride, and sometimes even with laughter on the part of the "victem"!  I guess it shows that the kids are (sigh, teary-eyed) growing up, and becoming more mature.  Oh my goodness. :)

And also, as with my last post, oh so many months ago, it IS all about the snacks!  For me?  Lots of chocolate, and this tea.

... which we tend to call "fake chai" because, as good as it is, there is not a tea bag in sight.  Now, all I need is a roaring fire, and we would be quite set.

Happy New Year to all, and the best of 2016 to us all!

Oregon Coast Cowl

So we travelled down the Oregon coast this past December, when the temperature hit record lows... We were in our RV and F R E E Z I N G ... which thus inspired me to whip up this little dream of a cowl.


Super easy pattern.  I wanted something reversible; repeatable but not totally boring.  Something I could wear with just about anything (also inspired by my limited travelling wardrobe). And soft as all get-out.  So I opted for a Royal Alpaca in grey.

**I used less than 1 skein for this project.  You can customize however you like.  Choose your yarn.  Choose your needles according to the yarn.  Knit for as long as you like it.  I kept going till it would wrap around my neck 3 times, not loose, but not too tight either.**

Cast on 32 sts.  (or any multiple of 8, depending on how wide you want it).
Row 1-4: Knit 4, Purl 4, repeat to end.
Row 5-8: Purl 4, Knit 4, repeat to end.
Rows 9 on:  Repeat rows 1-8.

When you are done, join ends in a simple stitch.  I twisted mine once before I joined the ends to have a flip in the cowl.  Also, make sure you end on a row 8 so when you join the end, the pattern flows.

Embracing 2014

Well... it's been a while.

I had every intention of writing for the last... well, since the last post really... I have lots to say (wink)... it just didn't happen.  (Obviously.)

We were away on a little jaunt to Southern California for a sunshine break  and I couldn't seem to log on to post anything.  And now, I want to write stuff, but my camera's on the fritz.  So finally, I figured I'd just jot down a few things... a "to-write" list, if you will:
- a photo of my finished shalom sweater (which I LOVE, btw)
- an easy-peasy pattern for a simple cowl that I knit on the road (when I was FREEZING on the Oregon coast), in a light grey, Royal Alpaca.  Dreamy.
- a soap-box version of what I think of this latest backyard chicken craze
- chicken update (all those babies from last year?  All grown up and Gorgeous!) & plans for 2014 babies!
- sheep update (Yep, I think they are all preggers -- due anytime after March 16)
- a mild rant on my frustrations and successes with home-schooling
- book reviews on 3 (!) novels I read while away.

.. and a few other things.

Suffice it to say, that I'm REALLY glad 2014 is here because 2013 was not my favourite year.  Putting a positive spin on it, I did A LOT of learning (read: made a ton of mistakes) and I'm looking forward to putting my learning into practise this year.  (Lesson #1: NO PIGS).

That is all.

For now (another wink).

And Now We Wait

I can't help it.  I love spring, and now, with Christmas, New Years and my dear daughter's birthday over and done, I'm now waiting for spring.

Truly, when the grey cloud of blah sits comfortably over our valley for days and weeks on end, and all we see of the sun is a brief gasp before he pulls his head back above the clouds, it's all we can do to cope.  We're not much for skiing and skating.  I think maybe we've spent too many winters in Mexico sunshine and we're now wimpy Canadians.

So, we wait.

And plan and dream of chicks and ducklings and goslings and baby turkeys and lambs!  If all went well with Mr. Man's visit, first possible lamb is due to show it's adorable face anytime after March 9.

And so, I wait.

And.

Wait.

How many more days?

Sigh.

It's Not Over Yet!

Most of you will be gladly resting, in that after-Christmas euphoria that sets in as soon as you realize You're Done.  No more presents to make or buy or wrap.  All Done.

Not I!

We were blessed with a January baby.  She was due to arrive Christmas Day, 10 years ago, but she decided to bide her time and wait... for 9 days.  This next birthday marks a mile stone - her first decade - and I want to acknowledge this with something extra-special.

So I am embarking on a journey to parts unknown, somewhere I've never gone before but have imagined for a while.

My - and her - first quilt.

It's an easy go, strips of fabric sewn together, some new some old (parts of old pajamas that weren't completely worn out, bits and pieces from other things I've made her), but still.  I've never done this before. And it seems fitting to do it for her.  My first baby, my first quilt.  And I don't have a lot of time...

Looking for Inspiration

I don't know about you all, but I have issues with the holiday season.

All the shopping and spending and stress just does not resonate with me.  Not. At. All.

I do my best to make the gifts for my immediate family and hope that friends and extended family will be happy with warm wishes and a big hug.  I have no desire to step into the hustle and bustle and traffic.  But I do like to decorate, a little bit.  Subtle bits, here and there, to add a a little festive to our home.  Make it that much cozier, seeing as we are spending so much time indoors these days.  Which is trying for a family who is outside all the time in the warmer months.

So, where to go for inspiration??  Well, Soule Mama, of course.

We took a little walk in the backyard (with an entourage of curious turkeys), and collected a few little treasures.

Then we did a little crafting.

(We did a wreath too, but haven't got a shot of that yet.)

Thank you, Amanda Blake Soule, for being such a gentle inspiration when one needs a little help.

Countdown to Christmas

I'm starting to feel the crunch.  Not the 'hurry up and find a gift for so-and-so' so much as 'when am I going to find the time to knit stuff for everyone I want to knit stuff for??' crunch.  Cuz my fingers can only go so fast, and I can only do so much knitting in a day before I cause myself injury.  I know.  I've done that before.    I have 2 projects on the go: knee warmers for my crazy work-odd-hours man, and a cowl for my girl to match the mitts I just finished for her.  I also want to do a hat for my boy, with guitars on it, from this pattern aptly called "Harrison" (as in George, I'm assuming), with,  hmmm... 16 days to go.  Better get on it.

And then there's the sewing.

For the past several years (I've lost count), I've made new pj's for the kids to open on Christmas Eve.  They now expect it.  I even made summer jams when we spent the holidays in Mexico.  There's really no getting around it.  Thankfully, it's a really easy pattern, from Weekend Sewing, and I picked up the flannel for both today.  I've made them before and also used the pattern to re-purpose a T-shirt more than once.  I'm glad they look forward to a tradition that is home-made.  Amid all the hustle and bustle, and holiday commercialism, it makes my heart smile.