Spring Has (FINALLY!) Sprung

As anxious as I am to get outside into nicer weather, I do love the company of my lap friends.  Old Twinsy, the neighbor cat., has become our full-time pet.  I imagine he is about 16 or 17 years old, maybe older.  He is 99% an indoor boy now.  Coal takes up most of the picture (as he does in real life).  He is dominant cat and has taken over the leadership position since our sweet Sammy passed away over two years ago.

My outdoor buddy is always Mel.  She spent the afternoon following me around the yard while I took photos of all the blooming splendor.

 

Then she took a little break......... 

 

Upstairs in the attic room the seedlings are doing their thing getting ready to go out into the garden in a few weeks. I am trying to grow some "profitable crops" this year....tomatoes, pumpkins, various squashes.  It seems everyone at work has gone on some sort of organic/vegetarian/low carb diet and they will be in need of my produce soon.

 

My other "profitable crop" is coming off the knitting needles.  A pair of soft cotton blend mens socks from Debroah Norville Serenity Sock yarn.  In reality I don't think I have actually sold more then 4 pairs out of the over 40 pairs of socks I've knitted since I first learned how in November 2008.  The rest seem to make their way as gifts to various relatives and friends around the world.  

 

I guess with tax time upon us I am consumed with thoughts of making money from what I love to do.  Unfortunately passion very rarely translates to profit!  I bounce from one project to the next.....a few doll leotards here, a cross-stitch gymnast there.  Not nearly enough to derive my entire "living" from my handiwork.  I don't think I could give up gymnastics anyway.  Not that I will become wealthy from that either.  Another "passion rather then profit" pursuit!

I have always been driven by my heart rather then my head anyway...............................

Trees or Eggs

Just a few days ago I woke up to this.....

...and the strange urge to put up the Christmas tree!   Winter has lingered long and hard around here.  I love the snow, but I'm really need some quality outdoor time.

This morning was a bit different.  The sun was bright (after an amazing huge RED full moon last night) and the temps actually have made it up into the low 50s.                           

These tiny little daffodils were poking out of the front flower bed and a few lovely purple crocuses were up in the side beds.  Lovely Mocha made her appearance after being a no-show for 24 hours.  I worry about her.  She's nearly nine years old and has lived all her life as a barn cat.....a neutered barn cat, but  an outdoor kitty none-the-less.  She makes full use of the barn, upstairs and down, has tons of straw, food and water and many, many hiding places.  Well, she must have found one of those places yesterday.  I found the large "perpetual feeder" dumped over and emptied as well as two of the lawn chairs tossed over.  I know the raccoons and possums frequent the cat food offerings, but they usually aren't so destructive.

 

Carmella(below) also enjoys her outdoor time in the sun.  She more then any other of the "house cats" loves to be outside.

 

The sunny weather made my visions of sugarplums and candy canes fade away and I went to work on some eggs.  These are Prairie Schooler book #169 "Folk Eggs".  Don't know how they will be finished up yet.  Stitching has ground to a halt as I am totally out of DMC 3863 and the half-hour trek to Hobby Lobby or JoAnn Fabrics seems a bit of a waste for only that one item.

 

 

My ongoing obsession with Pinterest has yielded this vintage beauty. I love how the Victorians gave animals such human characteristics. 

May the Blessing and Joy of Easter touch all of you!

Welcome Spring (?)

So this is it?  This is Spring?  The view from our upstairs window yesterday morning.  It continued to snow all morning long.  It did manage to melt away in the afternoon "warming" to 37 degrees F.  For the first time in many weeks I actually had a day off on my day off!  Usually on non training days I fill up the afternoons with private lessons.  It had become a vicious fight amongst the parents to"capture" me for those 2 available hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I have temporarily "retired" from lessons.  A cooling off period for my adoring stalkers.

Being so cold and nasty outside meant that the good seats inside were in short supply.  This is just one of many photos where the cat varies in each shot from Roy and Carmella (shown here) to Coal and Twinsy later on and endless combinations of those four.

 

The good seats outside were occupied too.  This is an old cabinet on my porch that I use for garden supplies, bird seed etc.  The neighbor's two chickens have been hanging around our house for ages.  They eat anything they can find and poop everywhere.  Over the weekend they finally gave a little payback by leaving me 12 eggs...and another one on Monday.  Thanks so much to Barbara in Maine for all the advice on exactly what to do with these eggs.  I have been given farm-fresh eggs before, but never had any of my own.  I was so afraid I was going to kill(or worse yet EAT) a potential baby chick!  Barbara gave me all the hints and tips to figure it all out.  She also helped me in indentifying what breed these were.......American Black Copper Marans.

 

The chicken gifties were promptly turned into these.......................

Italian Easter Pies.  An old recipe from my grandmother it is sort of a cross between a quiche and a pizza.

 

On the crafting front I turned some of my Etsy sales money into yet another Etsy purchase.  This lovely yarn (and bonus freebie) are from the Etsy Seller MarigoldJen.  Lovely sock yarn in the color "Strawberry Lemonade"

 

This lovely skein knitted up into these even more lovely socks.

 

From another Etsy Seller SweetEmmaJean I bought the kit for these felt treats.  The package had been sitting around for a while, but with not much to be done outdoors, I started and finished quite a few indoor projects.  I think these cute little felt pies will go on to a wreath.  I have some mini wooden rolling pins to paint and add to it.  Then we need to get to eating some potpies to save the little tin pie pans to add as additional decoration.

 

I started..............

and finished another gymnast design.  This is Mariya Livchoka of Ukraine.  She still needs a Balance Beam beneath her feet.

 

My own gymnasts were able to keep the Balance Beam beneath their feet over the past weekend and win the District Championships for Level 4,5,6 and 8.  The Level 7 group took Second Place.  A marathon weekend of gymnastics, but very successful.  Unfortunately I am never able to get any good photos at competitions because I am right up there coaching.  Maybe I can steal a few from some parents and post them next time.

Bud

June 1998- 12 February 2013

 

 

Sweet, loyal, loving friend.  We will go walking together again some day.

Resolutions

Oh no, don't look away; don't tune out.  I know, another post about New Year's Resolutions.  But I promise some interesting photos ( since I finally figured out the glitch with posting them) and some Downton Abbey goodies.  Now Downton Abbey....there's something we can all agree on.  The countdown is going on at my house right now.  I'm giving Joe his fill of football so I can switch to PBS at 9 on the dot.  I don't want to miss a second.

As for those resolutions.  Firstly, I'm not even going to mention anything about my weight.  I haven't given up, but the more I think/talk about it the worse it seems to get.  So instead I've devoted my resolution list to all stitchy/knitty, crafty things.

 

This pile of American Girl doll leotards has nothing to do with my resolutions.  This is the re-stock for my Etsy shop.  I actually sold out of leotards shortly before Christmas.  I don't think I will ever be able to make my living solely from Esty sales but I was able to make a tidy little sum to be reinvested into someone else's Etsy shop!

 

 

Resolution #1  To make at least one new Downton Abbey inspired outfit for my 16" fashion dolls each month of 2013.

 

Here is my take on Lady Grantham's 1913 brown velvet number.

 

 

Resolution #2  Knit one pair of socks each month of 2013.  These rainbow stripes were finished right before Christmas, so I can't count them.

 

 

 

 

This pair was just finished last night.  "Sprinkles" from the Etsy seller Knits in Class.  I think my mom will get these for her birthday on the 17th.

 

 

Resolution #3  Cross-stitch one ornament per month.  Not necessarily Christmas, but any seasonal theme to expand my stash of ornaments and little "pillows" to put on wreaths.  Notice there is no photo to go with this resolution.  I have yet to get started on this.

 

On the reading list is this pile of seed catalogs.  It's even expanded a bit since this photo was taken.  Hardly into Winter and already I am thinking about the veggies and flowers I will plant in the Spring.

 

As odd as it seems. I do enjoy the cold weather.  It's rather labor-intensive to keep this place warm, but the cold weather keeps the cats close by.  No one wants to stay out for more then 15 minutes tops!

Back to the drawing board to sketch up a few more patterns for my Downton Abbey doll clothes.  Can't wait to see the new season!!

Darn It!!!

I had quite a bit I wanted to share, but I'll be back later when the "insert photo" thingy is working again.

As The Year Draws To A Close......

...I avoid the numerous "Year In Review" TV shows.  I just can't stand them.  So much sadness in the World in 2012.  But so much beauty in my own little world.  More snow is predicted for tonight and I must admit this gives me such a childish delight!  New Year's Eve is my least favorite holiday so I will be happy to stay at home.

 

Meanwhile, indoors............  Carmella admires my most recent Etsy purchase.  I've been doing rather well in my sales of little doll leotards in my Etsy shop.  So much so that I've been turning around my profits into purchases from other sellers, most often sock yarn.  I have my eye on a few more that are on "New Years' Sale" today.

 

A bit of crafting going on to.  My continuing love affair with felt.....these snowmen are from a kit my mother sent me many years ago.  Seeing as they were just heads I had to find an interesting way to display them.  Lime green and aqua blue seems to be all the rage this year.

 

Another pair of socks is on the needles and I have several pieces of fabric laid out for doll clothes.  My 2013 goal is to make my 16" fashion dolls a Downton Abbey wardrobe.

 

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year 2013!!