January bl(AH)s

January has indeed brought some snow here. 

We missed two large snow storms across the province in the last few weeks. 

One of them saw schools closed in the whole province, except for our county.

Kids were bummed that we didn't get a snow day.

But into Saturday night and Sunday morning, we got our snow and a canceled church service.

Big deal in our house, I sing in the choir and the kids are both altar servers. A sunny day off.

The most perfect time to test the smaller of our two ponds for ice skating.

Turns out, the ice was thick enough!

This is the first time in our 4 winters here that we are doing this. I am so excited!

The kids are excited! The neighbour's kids are excited!

My daughter facetimed a family from the ice and they came straight over to play hockey.

Here is our portuguese Zamboni team

They finally were able to trim the alder bushes/trees that took over the pond. 

I haven't seen this view before.

Now, my usually very sport obsessed son, 

( He does play basketball 2 days a week, and skating, but that is not enough for him) 

can play outside again.

I am looking forward to a neighbour hood hockey game on the pond with benches and a fire pit next to the oak trees. Hot chocolate, marshmallows and wieners on the fire. Yes, Winter at it's finest.

But most times, you will find me here.

(the most delicious Moroccan Tajine cooking on the woodstove)

And if I'm lucky, I will get to knit a little bit of this.

(look ma, it's not socks!)

 

Oh yes, for record keeping, I must have a picture of my boy, who is now 12!

At the moment, he is heavily into rubiks cube, (and anything puzzle related.. triangles, shape shifters, holes in the middle of the cube), Basketball, skating and dreaming of sailing in the summer.

Have a good one, keep warm.

Amanda

a little stitchy

I have a little down time this week, so I pulled out a kit in an envie.

It's from Mollie Makes, UK version.

It's nice and compact. I only needed the hoop and a pair of scissors.

The thread is not such great quality. It tangles. 

I had a moment of bringing my own, but just went with it.

and this is for knitterly people. DO you see a problem with this below?

Gah.

Have a good one.

Amanda

how to pass the snow days away...

Day two of snow higher than a rhinoceros. 

Yesterday was Sunday, so that's ok. I managed to clear up enough to enjoy day 2-today of snowed in.

I've been threatening to do needle felting every storm day. Today was it!

(oh, I don't drink soda pop, but Propeller Ginger Beer, pictured int he back,  is my most favourite. It's made by Propeller Brewing Co. in Halifax. It's so gingery that it makes me sneeze and burns in my ears. I love it. 

If my husband ever gets a free tank at his work, Boxing Rock Brewing Co., 

he promises me to make a batch of Ginger Beer soda.)

 Neve made a dog from Wool Toys and Friends

 She made it a little bigger and added spots. The original was to fit in a pocket of a felt picture.

 I had some fun making this here frog from Wool Buddies

 with big googley eyes

 and polka spots

 I also finished off my socks! Hurrah! Spent time with my boy watching Harry Potter #4

 Here is a sad picture of our wood pile. It's only the middle of February people!

We don't have enough wood.

We do have oil heat, so not a huge panic, just huge $$

 All of our 5 doors were snowed in. And they open outward.

We just left this one for now. But I must shovel it out before it freezes. 

Don't want to have to deal with all of that melt off.

 Look way in the back to the left of the pole. There is a green handled pitch fork in the ground there.

See it? no? under the snow.

 And under the snow is all of the potential food for the deer. Poor things.

They have been in our yards eating the bark off the trees and my holly bush. grr.

There haven't been any tracks since the storm, so I don't know what they are eating these past few days.

yes, a lot of snow. We are all fine.

 At least we didn't have all the rain and flooding in Halifax 

or power outages in the Annapolis Valley area. 

I do hope there is school tomorrow though. 

I have to work.

Ciao, 

Amanda

Stella the Owl

I bought a new pattern from Abby at While She Naps.

I've bought quite a few patterns from Abby over the past year and I have to say, 

again, they are fabulous! Here are a couple:

Owl Lovey

Beastie Bag

This time, I bought Stella the Owl. It's going to be my go to baby gift. I didn't really have a designated one before, this is it.

A friend was overdue so I sewed one up in non-gendered colours. 

 The day after I finished, she had her baby girl! So I sewed this one up for her instead.

 I love the little bitty owl nesting in mama's wings. I love that the wings are not stuffed. I love that the inside of the wings are the same as the main fabric.

  I've said it all before, but it bears repeating! Abby's pattern writing is very clear and the pictures are a great aid in sewing it all up. I bought her new book Stuffed Animals. I look forward to spending some time learning as I go with her detailed patterns. Each pattern teaches a new design element. When I get to the end of that book, I'll know I can conquer anything in the sewing world of softies!

To go along with the baby gift, I'll be sending these itty bitty baby socks! Aren't they adorable?

They're from Stephanie at The Knitty Gritty Homestead. She had a giveaway some time ago and I won. Her mom made these teeny thangs. About size 0-3 months. I love them so much, I think I need to knit some for my own stash. See, inspiration is everywhere. And so is leftover sock yarn!

Ciao,

Amanda

Snow, snow, everywhere is snow

Continuing on with the weather report in Shelburne...

 Due to snowy and icy conditions..

 School is canceled today.

 Stay home and enjoy the snow.

I don't mind that. But I wish I had more of this...

My socks are done. And I've learned a lesson... check the dye lot, even if you buy the yarn at the same time from the same shelf.

But I love them anyway.

Ciao,

Amanda

A sock and a book

Joining Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along

Loving that the knitting bug has hit me for the season. I've started the second sock for the sock I started last March and finished some time in the late summer.

The book I'm reading... I love this author, Robert Rotenberg. He's a lawyer in Toronto. The stories, (there are 3, this is the third, one more coming out soon) are set in Toronto and I can picture all the places he mentions. Like a little trip back there. The crime novels are very captivating and an easy read. I highly recommend them.

 Now back to my sock.... I started the first sock from the inside of the yarn ball. The second sock was started from the outside of a new yarn ball. Yep, the stripes are in the opposite direction. This may not be a problem. But it may be a problem for me. Looking down. 

Instead of looking down at both socks, I'll have to start at one and continue up the next one from the toe! LOL

Yes, I do plan on wearing these inside of slippers and boots, so what's the big deal! I'm just so excited that I've done this sock rather quickly compared to the first one. 

The yarn is Loops and Threads Luxury Sock with cashmere blend. To. Die. For. I bought it at Michael's last year. Made my mom come so I could get both balls with a coupon! Thanks mom. No, you can't have my socks.

Cheers,

Amanda

Another beach??!!!

I picked the kids up from the bus on Friday and we headed to another beach in the area, Carleton Village Beach. We were the only ones there.

There was some rock climbing,

 Sand angels.

 Crossing creeks,

 Finding frogs in said creek,

 And me, me, I was knitting. Sitting in my jeans, sweater and wrapped in a towel. The wind was cold, but the kids went about in their swim wear. Nutters. 

After a big , hard week of sewing, I was rewarded at the Farmer's Market by being almost sold out. I have to put my nose to the grindstone and make tons this week so I can sell more next week. It's a lovely atmosphere. I like being a part of this group. 

I made 15 pairs of mittens and 5 felted soaps. I forgot to take a picture and they are all gone! Next time.

Cheers,

Amanda