why . . .

 Have you ever asked yourself  why didn't I think of that?  I do it frequently.  Recently Maya had a blog post about yarn holders - see it for yourself - and my reaction was why didn't I think of that. I will be the first to admit that I love the yarn bowls that are available but cannot justify the price.    This is what I came up with -  it worked like a charm - to work on my most recent project (thanks Maya) . . . 

This summer has been a different one for me - it's extremely HOT and DRY, we haven't been spending a lot of time at the cabin and I'm not doing much handwork.  However, I did try my hand at Wild Rose Syrup and  Lemon Balm Mead - both are delicious  . . .

Some quotes that I like . . . 

knowledge is knowing that a tomato is  a fruit,

wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad

i have no particular talent, I'm just passionately curious (Einstein)

everything is possible - even the impossible (Mary Poppins)

 

bunnies . . .

 I made these bunnies to give to our immediate neighbours.  A lot of folks are struggling with all the restrictions.   In February I crocheted some wee flowers to leave each neighbour followed by  hearts for Valentine's Day and  four leaf clovers in March - the bunnies are for Easter.    These minis don't take long to make and I understand that it's been a nice surprise to find one - I leave them on the purse shelves anonymously.   ^^   If such a small thing can bring pleasure to someone's otherwise mundane day I consider it 'mission accomplished'!  

 

 

 

 

 

These tags are a x-stitch design from  here .  I stitched them on some scrap pieces of aida and finished them as tags.  The tags are  kraft stock but photographed pinkish and the background is the same green as above  - some things defy a logical explanation.  I took the photo on a Monday - I've always liked Mondays - this particular one  was a day that went from bad to worse - and most of it was out of my control. ^^  

go the extra mile - it's never crowded

 

Alba gu broth . . .

 

This month is flying by - actually the last 11 months have flown by.

This may be the first Elizabeth Lowell book that I've read - 

it won't be the last - it was an excellent read!!

The snowflakes are 5 minute snowflakes from here - they really

do work up that quickly!

Today is Robbie Burns day . . . Alba gu broth - Scotland forever!

we rise by lifting others

oh hoot . . .

 

These cute little owls were something I worked on over the holidays.  They are a pattern from Annemarie.  I made the beaks with 3 lazy daisy stitches,  added squiggly eyes just because I have lots, made them in different sizes and used neutral shades of yarn.  They make me smile.  

This is my second read of this year.  In 2020 I read a lot of books but didn't keep track of them.  This year looks like it could be another  reading marathon so I'm going to keep track of the books here so that I have a record to look back on.  I hadn't read this author for many years -  when I spotted it in our building library I decided to give it a whirl - I was not disappointed. 

without rain  nothing grows -

learn to embrace the storms in your life

tree farm ....

Looks like I've got a wee tree farm - pattern from Annemarie's Haakblog - I used a 3.5 mm hook with #3 yarn - the pattern is easy....

Made these package tie-ons from the same pattern - used #4 yarn and made them one layer with no stuffing - sounds a bit like a recipe, lol.  

This is Kola - she belongs to our 93 yo neighbour, J.  J brings Kola to visit us regularly - Kola knows where we keep the doggie treats and isn't shy about asking for one or two or .....  J is as sharp as a tack, totally independent - does her own shopping, cleaning, cooking, gardening, still drives, etc.  We consider ourselves blessed to have her for a friend - she tells the most interesting and entertaining stories - recently she told us about Christmas when she was a kid.  One of her stories was about how she sang loudly and knew all the words for the songs for the Christmas concert but couldn't hold a tune to save her life - how we three laughed - she went on to tell us that the teacher invited her to stand at the front and lead the choir but to mouth the words only.  

if a family has an old person in it, it possesses a jewel

hedgehog

 

Hedgehogs are so cute and seeing these I knew I had to make one.  I really like the neutral colours that the designer used and initially thought a wee basket of these would be adorable.  Common sense prevailed and since I really don't need a basket of  hedgehogs, no matter how cute they are, I decided to make one for a friend and that's why it's in purple .... it's her favourite colour.  This friend is also a neighbour and I know she's going through some difficulties with her husband who is unwell. The pattern is quite easy and requires no stuffing!

In the past week we've received rain - there's been a shortage of it this season.  Of course, the farmers are harvesting and weren't appreciative.  In town there was 3.5"  and at the cabin there was 1".  I was shocked when I looked at the rain gauges since they usually show just a tenth of an inch.

There are more Covid cases in our province now than there's been in the last 5 months and just as school is set to restart. 

accept the situation and move on

spa day ....

This spa basket and washcloths make me think of a spa day.  ^^  The basket is quite sturdy - used a #6 yarn - learned a new stitch. It's the perfect size for the accompanying washcloths that worked up quickly - used cotton yarn.  I like this designer - she makes good suggestions such as using a larger hook for the washcloth if you want it soft and flexible - I know ... I should have figured that out for myself.  Here is where you'll find the instructions for both...

The mild weather continues and we escaped the freezing rain - whew!  Today it is gently snowing.

be yourself -

people don't have to like you

and you don't have to care

new trick ...

Who says you can't teach a new trick to an old dog!  ^^  I learned how to crochet a chain less foundation - it's my new favourite trick.
Here is a video on how to do it.  This technique made my life easy when I needed a chain of 145 stitches for this hanger cover. 

Crochet Hanger Cover:
 1. Chain 145 loosely (needs to be long enough to the  fit length of the hanger)
2.  Sc in 3rd chain from hook, *chain 1, skip next chain,  SC in next chain; repeat from * across
3.  Chain 2, turn, SC in next chain 1 space, *chain 1, SC in next chain space; repeat from * across
 4.  Repeat row 2 until the cover is wide enough to fit loosely over hanger; sew or crochet the two long ends together around the hanger

I usually crochet a chain tie for a bow and to this one I added a x-stitch scented sachet.

follow your dreams - 

they know the way

cuties ...

This time I took a photo before showing these cuties to my friend - the one who has the red mouse.  When Alice saw the bigger one she called it by name - it was sweet - she is a retired school teacher who lived on a farm and they raised sheep among other things - it went to live with her.    I got the idea for these from Ann - they are made like the wreaths in a previous post with added faces and legs - thanks Ann for sharing the idea.  

if a family has an old person in it -

it possesses a jewel

(Chinese Proverb)

there's a ...

I saw these cuties on the blog tykva.toys.ru  - there are instructions.  Basically the body is a circle folded in half , the ears are smaller circles, and the tail is a chain - quite simple to crochet - sooo cute!  I made another one in red - shared these with a friend before taking the photo - the friend, who loves red, kept the red one.  ^^

And mail from away ....

 from Claire.  



it's not how much we give,
but how much love we put into giving

working on ....

I've been working on Christmas - the card for overseas was the first finish and I showed it in this post .  This one was stitched a while ago but only just received the final finish - finished like a pin keep - stitched with variegated red (DMC 115, a favourite of mine) .....

  I crocheted these wreaths because I could - I was curious how they'd look - they're kinda cute.  I used some round shower curtain hooks for the base - yes, I was desperate -  the pattern is simple with either HDC (half double crochet) or DC (double crochet) to cover the ring - make sure the number of stitches is divisible by three - the next round is some combination of SC (single crochet), HDC (half double crochet) and DC (double crochet)  in a stitch and skip a stitch - just make up your own design.  I worked DC on the wreath with the red baubles and HDC on the other one - only difference is the size of the wreath.

I was going to write about some of the strange things I experienced during the full moon last week but you likely have your own stories so I'll just say this ...

some people are like clouds -

when they disappear, 

it's a beautiful day

after all ...

I was sorting through my Christmas things deciding what I was going to use this year so that I could make sure the items were clean and pressed - that's when I discovered this cushion band.  I remember making it but didn't think I still had it.  Having put away the autumn cushion cover this band is just what's needed till it's time to dress for Christmas ...

By the way, the tartan throw in the background is the Maple Leaf Tartan 

which is Canada's official tartan.

This cutie was found at the 'thrift' store - would you believe it was only 25 cents  - including the candle - somehow or other it found it's way home with me ^^

I made a few of these paw prints for animal loving friends - hang them on a tree - use them for package tie-ons - you'll find the pattern here ...

there's no such thing in anyone's life

as an unimportant day

crochet

A crochet bookmark from here .  I tried this pattern with gift giving in mind - it's too bulky for my liking so I only made one.  

The table topper on which the book rests says "many have eaten here, few  have died" - it usually evokes some laughter - there have been some who have seen no humour in it.  ^^

Are you wondering where October went - I can hardly believe how quickly it flew by for me.  I've been fiddling with 'comments' on my blog - some readers don't like the robot even though they can bypass it and just click on submit, the embedded comment box blocks out some folks (I'm one of them) and the other method presents a challenge for me to reply (if you left a comment to which I did not reply this is the reason - regrets).  Feel free to read and not leave a comment.  ^^

everything comes to you at the right time ...

be patient

couldn't resist ....

I couldn't resist crocheting this cutie by Stitches n Scraps.   I don't  have a newel post for it so I used a jam jar - I used #3 yarn - it's really cute! 

These are the mini pumpkins I made last year ...

It did happen - the snow that is - went to bed on September 30 to big, wet, flakes of it and arose to about a half inch - quickly disappeared once the sun rose.  Hopefully, we can now expect Indian Summer to arrive.  

We went to the cabin yesterday - this little oak is the last to get it's leaves and the first to lose them  ...

I've been  on a downsizing/de-cluttering spree - did a lot of this at the cabin over the summer - am now tackling it at home - almost done (for 2019).  The downsizing will be a continuous thing I fear - it's getting easier to part with keepsakes, memories and good stuff - just can't do it all at one time.  ^^

it might not seem like much to us,

but to people who have little, 

a little more can seem a fortune

bunnies ...

We've been having some wonderful weather!!!!  15 -18 C with lots of sunshine - it's been worth waiting for.

These bunnies worked up really quickly which is a good thing since I needed 50 of them.  ^^  The pattern is from here. These are the colours I used ... 

 

.    

And I made myself a pair of  slippers from this pattern   ...

Have a nice Easter weekend!

kindness is free ...

sprinkle that stuff everywhere! 

some silliness ...

A few of us helped a wonderful lady celebrate her 82nd birthday -  if I should be half as sharp as she is when I'm that age I'll consider myself very lucky.  Along with birthday cake, ice cream, pink champagne and party favours we had lots of fun.  There were lollipop flowers for everyone and a corsage for the birthday girl.  

The lollipop flowers are called daisy dum dums - I think dum dums are a lollipop which isn't available in our neck of the woods - actually I couldn't find lollipops of any kind in the stores - I checked them all and expected to at least find tootsie pops - fortunately a neighbour had some of these lollipops on hand and donated them to the cause.  ^^  Repeat Crafter Me is the designer of the daisy dum dums and the corsage is a design by Teri Crewes .

shoot for the moon,

even if you miss, you'll land among the stars 

i'm in love ...

I'm in love with this wee mouse ...

 When I saw this sweetie I simply had to have one - the designer is Little Muggles.

it's not what you look at that matters - 

it's what you see

scrubbies

 I decided to try making some facial scrubbies - the idea behind these is to be green by not using cotton balls/pads that get thrown in the garbage - good idea and I like to be 'green'.  So I tried out a couple of patterns - one has some nubbies (that you can barely see in the photo) on one surface that are created by making a single crochet picot - the other has a lacey edge - I prefer the one with the lacey edge.  ^^  I like them and now need to make more.  I use them with baking soda.  I like a sugar scrub for my hands when I'm gardening or painting/staining but don't use it on my face.

 You will find instructions here and here .

a friendly look, a kindly smile,

one good act and life's worthwhile 

 

wee mousie ...

This wee mousie is what I've been working on this past week.  It was a toss up whether  it was a male and should have a toque and scarf or a female with a hooded cape - I wanted to make the cape  - it can have a toque another time.    ^^  As you can see I ran out of grey yarn so she has black feet shoes.  I'm not good at making amirigumi and especially don't do well with the facial features but it is what it is.  

There has been such mild weather this week that a large amount of our snow cover disappeared.   Can you believe we had a few days of  +4C!?!?

be like a sunflower so that even on the darkest days

you will stand tall and find the sunlight 

 

this and that ...

Since Thanksgiving (in Canada) and Remembrance Day have come and gone and with plenty of snow on the ground I finished this fella just in time.   He's a luminary and can be found here.   The Frankenstein I made for Halloween is from the same website.  

Yes, there is plenty of snow on the ground - winter came very early this year.  On the bright side it has put me in the seasonal mood and last evening I watched my first Hallmark Christmas movie of the season although I was disappointed there wasn't Christmas music in it.