A Bit of Stitching

I did a little bit of embroidery today, it is part of a bigger project I am currently working on. I have not done this in a long time and I am not sure if I am totally happy with it.

Crafty Goals for 2010

Well, let's see, what have I planned for this brand new year?

• Make quilts for my two nephews and my niece
• Learn/try something new (I am thinking about braiding rugs)
• The good old standby - finish some UFOs
• Do some embroidery
• Knit more hats and scarves for the homeless shelter
• Make all my gifts and cards
• A mantel quilt for spring

I think that is it but I am sure there will be projects coming my way that I just can't resist. :)

Knitting, Cooking, Sewing

It is still cold here but at least it is bright and sunny, which I like a lot better than the dark and dreary days we used to have in Austria.

Here are a few of the things I have been up to recently.

The new place mats are finished.


I am trying to add more soy to my diet so I made pan fried tofu with ginger-garlic sauce, brown rice and spinach. Yumm!

And I finally got the quilt for my niece drafted and the fabrics picked out, now all that is left is to actually make it. ;)

I have a bunch of other projects going on both in the kitchen and in the crafts department, more to come once they can be shown.

Keeping Warm

We woke up to 15 degrees this morning and it never got higher than 29 during the day. Miss Kitty found a sunny spot and a soft bed and was quite warm and happy.

Brrr!

It is now lunchtime and it has warmed up a whole three degrees from this morning to a whooping 25. Yuck! The sun still has some power but there is a cold wind blowing and the wind chill is supposed to get us down to 3 degrees tonight. Time to round up the neighborhood cats and lock them in for the night. The ones that get along with each other well are already inside anyway. They stay in the basement, complete with cat box, food and water. The lay on the heating ducts and stay nice and warm.
We are taking the Christmas tree down today. Since I had decorated so little I did not feel as much of an urgency towards getting the house back in order like I did last year. Most of what is out now will actually stay for Winter decoration anyway, only the tree, the garland, my little angel and the nativity get put away.

Happy New Year!

I started the new year with a bit of knitting, a slice of pie and a big mug of coffee. How did you start yours?

Shoo-Fly Pie

This and That at Year's End

Making vanilla essence.

My first apple pie ever.

Reading (a Christmas gift).

Knitting new place mats.

My desk all clean and ready for 2010.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and very creative NEW YEAR!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yumm!

Bread pudding with fresh cranberries and apples.

More Snow Pictures

These were taken the morning after the big snowfall, cat carefully checking it out (before coming back in where it is warm and dry).

Snow Day and Houseguests

We have a lot of snow and since it changed to icy rain during the night it is frozen solid, so hard, that the cat who actually ventured out into it, did not even sink in.


We currently have 5 house guests, they spent the night in the basement and are still there. It is the best I can do for them but much better than having to be outside in this weather. I am glad they got along and there was not fighting at all. The fifth one was hiding when I took the photos, she is the one that has been with us the longest (since we moved into the house) and does not really approve of having to share "her" basement with other cats.

Del came home early yesterday because of the weather and picked up the groceries we needed on the way, so we are all set for a cozy weekend at home or longer if they conditions don't improve. I don't even have shoes fit for this kind of weather and because people down here are not really used to it it can become dangerous, especially on the roads. I mean, why slow down, just because it is slippery? So we will not be going out if we don't absolutely have to.

Finally!

It took me a long time to find buttons I liked and then it took a while until I felt like sewing them on, but it is finally finished. My version of the Garter Yoke Cardigan. Made with a rather thick yarn and more of a jacket than a cardigan. I will probably make another one in a thinner yarn some day.

And Miss K. really likes the granny rectangle blanket I started a while ago, even though it is by no means finished. I actually found her sleeping on my shawl the other day which I had hung over the chair while I was washing dishes and since I need my shawl I gave her the blanket instead and she is happy.

Christmas Cards

A bit late this year but my Christmas Mojo ran off with the circus. ;-)

Christmas Decorations

I felt like I over-decorated a bit last year, so this year I kept it simple.

Dining Room

Living Room

View from the Kitchen Sink

Spotted the other day while washing dishes.

Thanksgiving Dinner

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