on the road again ....

Since we're moving into our new place in July we've been quite busy packing up our mini-apt. - I can't believe we squeezed so much junque into this small space - blame it on the ample cabinets.  Basically we've been living at the cabin and coming back every ten days or so to do more packing, pick up mail, do laundry, pick up supplies, etc.  It's no hardship living at the cabin - we love the peace and quiet there.

We've not had tv in the apt. and surprised ourselves by not missing it at all so it was a good exercise for us .  We've been able to entertain ourselves quite well with what is available online.  So we move into our new place knowing that we want neither cable/satellite for tv nor a landline phone that we also don't have in the apt.  We don't have tv or phone at the cabin - there is no cell phone service available.  Interestingly, the phone company cannot give us a working (land) line and yet our next door neighbour has his phone disconnected but it's still a working line even though he isn't paying for it .... go figure.

I've done a wee bit of sewing - some refashioning and mending - made a new summer top that is waiting to be hemmed - and crocheted these market bags to keep my fingers nimble.  I used my cotton yarn odds 'n ends and like the blue one the best - the other one I call my citrus bag.  The pattern can be found here .  I also made a batch of dandelion jelly and a batch of apple peel jelly - I'd like to try some white clover jelly but the clover has been slow to blossom.

We've been kept quite busy at the cabin as well so time never drags by.  The other day we were  enjoying Happy Hour when a black bear yearling appeared - it was so cute, like a bear cub with very long legs - thanks to the weather we were on the verandah and not down by the water although it wasn't interested in us. Sadly, June has been a wet and cool month.  We had 4" of rain in 12 days and if tomatoes like rain they must be very happy.  We were surprised with some marble/mothball size hail the other evening - seriously, it came right out of the blue!!  Fortunately, there was no damage to plants or vehicle. 

 

you can't have courage

unless you're afraid 

Bingo - they fit!!

Do you remember these from this post ?  Are you curious that there are only 3 .... the black on the coasters is paint and on the fourth one it has peeled so I couldn't use it - I need to come up with a plan for redemption - these were going to be a gift but not anymore - the good news is  that these designs actually fit. 

sometimes the best light is from a burning bridge ......

 

surprise!

It was such a lovely surprise to come home from the cabin to an 'un-birthday' gift from Claire .   The DMC thread is 'colour variations' and this is the first time I've been able to see this thread in person - the shade changes are ever so gentle - I'm anxious to get stitching.  Doesn't that monster pouch just make you smile!  I'm fond of Robbie Burns - must be my Scottish background - I was delighted to have this lovely card. 
Thank you Claire for your kindness and friendship. 

leave footprints of love and kindness

wherever you go 

this and that ....

Hum (a ruby throated hummingbird) arrived on schedule - May 15th!! And at 10:15 a.m. - we were just heading out to the car to come home to the apt. when he showed up - so pleased that he let us know he'd arrived safe and sound - these little creatures are amazing!

Not much going on in the handwork department these days but this is a rug I started last fall and I usually work on it each evening - it's my current cabin project - I'd forgotten about this over the winter so it was a pleasant surprise.  The large ball of  rag yarn is black although it looks purple in the photo.

 

This past week I kept busy at the cabin with the annual spring cleaning -  it's amazing how much dust accumulates over the winter - and I discovered that I didn't clean the oven last fall. My time outdoors was spent getting the gardens ready for planting. 

This is Nigel the squirrel's offspring being mischievous - it's the first time we've seen a squirrel in this feeder - soon he'll be too big to squeeze in - the red wing blackbird is patiently awaiting his turn.

  This was dinner one evening when we had a visitor - you'll find the recipe here - the steam is still rising from it - the fellas loved it!

  I love this gnarly looking bread - it's so good toasted!

always help someone - you might be the only one who does

loving the quiet .....

 We opened the cabin this past week and it was wonderful - the weather even cooperated for a few days - we're loving the quiet.  I was so sure I'd packed all the essentials but somehow I forgot dish detergent and peanut butter - I have dishpan hands from using laundry detergent - the birds and I have coped without peanut butter.   I wasn't able to make bread in our wee apt. all winter so fresh bread was the first thing I made at the cabin.  We've been feeding the birds - seven feeders at last count - and they've been keeping us entertained. 

This is a card for my aunt for her 85th birthday  ...

you're never too old to  learn to do something stupid

experimenting ....

I like the natural/rustic look - burlap, jute, etc. - I tried crocheting with jute twine - here's what I came up with - I like these .....

Did you know that jute has different dye lots - I didn't expect that - the upper pot took an entire ball of jute - it was supposed to be bigger - the second ball of jute was a very poor match and not a good contrast.  The bottom pot has the possibility of being turned into a hanging planter - I haven't decided if that's what I want to do with it - meanwhile I like it as it is.  The coaster started out as a placemat. 
The poinsettia is looking quite ratty but I've been nursing it along so that it can be planted at the cabin.  The geranium is one of five that wintered as stems only - once they were planted in soil and given some water they burst forth in leaf - they are awesome plants.

We've been going to the cabin a couple of times a week - this photo was taken a couple of days ago ...

 see how clear the water is  - it's always clear .....

she believed she could -

so she did

can't think of a good title ....

This is the Easter card that I made for our sweet neighbour, K - she really liked it - denim blue is her favourite colour - I did remove the marks at the bottom before giving it to her - wasn't bright enough to do so before taking the photo.

We were at the cabin again this week and this shows you how much ice has disappeared - we were able to drive right in ....

The first butterfly of the season posed for the camera .....

It was a balmy 15C (59F)!  On the drive home a blue heron came up out of the ditch and flew alongside us for a short distance - it was quite exciting to see it flying so close.

I also played at 'Suzy Homemaker' this week .....

look at the size of these frog legs - it would be a hoot to show these to kiddies - they look like bare bottoms - and this is how they looked when they were cooked - they are delicious btw ....

 

and I made some 'Boursin' and tortilla chips/crackers - both are delicious
 

 

be kind whenever possible -

it's always possible