awol

We're just back from spending a couple of weeks at the cottage.  Whilst there we did the spring cleaning inside and out and planted most of the garden.  The weather was a mixed bag of hot, cold, very windy, breezy, sunny, and overcast - something for everyone.  Interestingly, there were no leaves on the trees when we arrived but everything was as green as could be by the time we headed home.

These are the coasters that I made for the cottage using cotton yarn from a pattern found  here. 

 The Man of the House made this gazeebo birdfeeder and Nigel the squirrel modified it.  The birds will go inside to dine and are quite entertaining - these are goldfinches.  Luckily for us the birds were migrating whilst we were at the cottage so we were well entertained by many varieties. 

This was a favourite spot for Little Dog .... under a spruce tree on a bed of leaves. There are a few birdfeeders above her but she and the birds get along quite well.

First rainbow of the year!

The sunset last evening!

spring snowstorm .....

Mother Nature sent a spring snowstorm on April 30th.  This is what it looks like in cottage country May 2, 2013. 

barefoot sandals ....

The weather has finally turned so I wasn't being overly optimistic when I recently made myself a pair of barefoot sandals.  They're very comfy to wear.

These are the supplies you'll need to make them  (I used a

metallic elastic cord),  and here are the instructions:

BAREFOOT SANDALS

Row 1:  Thread 12 beads onto stretchy crochet thread

Row 2:  Chain 30 and join with slip stitch to form a ring.

Row 3:  In ring, 5 double crochet, chain 1 and turn

Row 4:  2 double crochet, slide bead up to hook, 3 double crochet, chain 1, turn

Row 5:  Repeat until you've used 5 beads.

Row 6:  5 double crochet, chain 3, bring bead up to hook, chain 8, bring bead up to hook, and repeat till all beads are used; chain 3, and join to other side.

Supplies:  1.25 mm crochet hook, stretchy crochet thread, and 12 (8mm) beads 

Have fun! 



Yesterday we spent the day at the cottage - what a difference a week makes .... look at all the open water!



'busy as a bee'

Even though spring weather hasn't quite arrived I've been doing some spring cleaning so I've been as 'busy as a bee' ......

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see." (Mark Twain) - this was on a lovely card we recently received from "K", a young friend.   

it's official

It's official that this is the latest spring in 141 years - no wonder I don't remember another year like this!

Yesterday we took a trip to the cottage and it was delightful.  The snow is still knee deep in places and since the snowbanks wouldn't hold our weight (even Little Dog was sinking) we shovelled our way in - good thing we took a snow shovel with us.  The sun was shining and there was no wind so we were quite comfy in just our sweaters .... what a treat to take the winter jackets off.  Some chickadees, Canada geese, and magpies were there to greet us.

This is an ice shelf (on the left) on the Mossey River, which 

is on the way to the cottage. 

 

 This is looking up the river - there's a bit of water

on the middle left.

 

 



 

This is looking north on the cottage road. 

 

 

 



 

a hug will do

I know exactly what I'm going to do with this one ..... 

just have to wait for that special occasion!

This was a Lizzie Kate design.

 

The bunny doll is one that I made many years ago.

looking forward to ....

We're looking forward

to seeing this  ......

yes, we're anxious to return to the cottage cabin.

I recently made this Plain Jane

coffee press cozy to take with us.

This is my finished wrap/shawl .... I made it shorter and use a shawl pin to keep it  around my  shoulders.  I know I'll made good use of it at the cabin on a cool evening.  The 'on the go' mini clutch wallet  (I'd posted about these earlier) is the one that I made for myself; it's made from a remnant that was left over from some outdoor cushions.