Now Where Is My Needle????

Ok I am one messy creator. I did get an inspiration to get started, and I am jumping off from there. The finished piece will be shown next week, and I will post the others too. 

We had a dusting of snow over night that made the drive into work extremely slick. But thankfully I made it in one piece. More snow coming in tonight and into most of the day tomorrow up to 12 inches. Winter is refusing to go out with a whimper. 

I threw some ribs in the crockpot before I left for work, I just put a few seasonings on them and let it go all day. Since I had never cooked ribs that way before I had no idea what would happen, but wow were they good and I may go get another rack to put in the freezer while they are still on sale. 

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My aunt and uncle are getting better every day. They got the goodie box and it raised their spirits.  I am sure they will get to go on their vacation.

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Have a great rest of your week and stay safe from any of the storms. 

We are tucked in and ready!

A Stitching Challenge Out of My Wheelhouse

This morning I was up early and saw the sun rise.

And there was a red fox strolling through the back yard. 

He did not have his skis, jacket, and pack but he was beautiful all the same.

My sweet aunt contacted me she and my uncle have covid. They are doing well but I felt bad and made them some cookies and added some other goodies to a box and mailed it off. They are supposed to leave for Aruba in a couple of weeks. So, I am praying it all goes well for them. 

I got my book out on different stitches as my sweet friend Donna 

sent 3 of us a challenge.

She sent us a package of bits and pieces of fabric.

We are to make something out of this. No real rules and just do your own thing. But I am not that creative, and I have not stitched all that much but oh well here I go!

I took a very long walk today. While not sunny it is nice. I have shown this brook many times and have walked by it hundreds of times and yet it still makes me stop and look and listen and marvel at it every time!

I finished this book this morning. It is historical fiction but is based on true life events. British women were dropped behind enemy lines in Paris to spy and report back. Some people focused on the things she got wrong like people using comforters on their beds. (Not used at that time) I focused on the story itself and found it a good informative read. I knew American women were spies, but I had no idea the British women were also. If you read this book, I would love to know your thoughts. 

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I am off to work on binding my rug and to try and figure out just what to do with this challenge.

Starch?

Sunday my friend and I headed out for a very short walk. 

But our walks are always pretty.

The weather has been beautiful since our cold snap, and we may get close to 60 by the end of the week. So, the ice is not that safe around here. I do not remember it being this warm before. After our walk we headed for lunch it was nice to catch up.

Today I did a ride along with husband to the dump. I picked up the sweet tin that I will use for storage in my rug hooking room.

and there was a 2 pack of spray starch (I took one). I do not use starch much anymore, but it is almost curtain washing time and yes, I iron and starch them to make them look crisp and ready for open window weather. 

Ok my witch is done she needs a good pressing and to be bound but the hooking is finally done. I made a few changes to the pattern. I added the pumpkin and the moon I also put the spider off her hat. But the biggest change was the border. It was all triangles I chose to make it bittersweet. Voila there she is!

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Another beautiful day here so I got a walk in and a few errands. 

I washed the kitchen floor and did some other cleaning. Time for pjs and a couple of shows before bed. 

Have a great week!

What a difference in temperature!

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By Monday it was in the high 30's my friend called, and we strapped on the snowshoes and headed out. It was hard going as we were breaking the trail and there is a pretty thick crust on the snow. 

But the payoff was so worth it!

Sunny and glorious!

Just time with my friend and the fresh air I could not ask for anything more.....

Ok maybe a lovely drink by the fire in our favorite place. Now that is perfect! 

It tired me out and I slept so well that night. 

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I bought this book new and was very disappointed in it.

Quick read what could have been told in 4 chapters was dragged out to a whole book. 

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I have also had some good hooking time, so my witch is coming along. I am ready for her to be done I want to move on to something else. 

Have a wonderful week!

Brrrr

As you have probably heard we had a cold snap. I had to work, and work is like a barn little heat with the wind blowing the door open every few minutes. By the time I got home on Friday I was so tired and so cold. I went right up and took a long hot shower. 

This is after I am all warm and snuggled in. 

Sat morning 20 below! We haven't been this cold in years.

And the wind was blowing nonstop which made it about 45 below zero. And yes, I had to work. 

Friday evening, we pulled all the shades and curtains to keep the heat in and we had the woodstove going. So, we were warm and luckily, we did not lose power like some in the state did. (We do have a standby generator in case though)

The windows were thick with frost. 

Our Mt Washington has the world's worst weather. Friday night into Saturday it broke records and was the coldest place on earth. Even colder than Mars! 

Mt Washington is not the tallest mountain compared to others but because of where it sits it has some of the worst weather. There is a weather team there 24/7. At one point the wind was blowing over 100mph they were averaging minus 108 with the wind chill with a temp of -47. 

Take a few seconds to watch real footage of the mountain during that storm. Turn the volume up just crazy.

On another note, I get King Arthur's flour catalog, so I saw a banana cake recipe in it. 

I had 2 bananas that were going brown so I made it, it was just ok and not a recipe I would keep to make again. 

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The weather has changed we were in the high 20's today so I took a walk while avoiding the ice. The sun was shining it felt good to get outside in the sun again. 

Have a wonderful week!

 

Happy Imbolc

Imbolc is the celebration of Brigid the Celtic goddess of fire and fertility. Imbolc is the halfway point between winter solstice and spring. A celebration of light. And I am all for going back to longer days. 

Witch progress slow but sure. 

I thought I would also post a few pictures of my little studio aka the spare bedroom. I just swapped the chair out to a more comfortable rocker.

A portion of my cork board that I hang some of my rugs on. I do rotate them now and then.

I have all the comforts of home in this little room. I am always so happy when I have time to spend in here. 

So thankful husband was able to redo this room for just me a few years ago.

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We are going into some very very very cold weather. By the time I go to work on Sat morning it should be minus 18 with 40 mph wind.

Husband thinks there should be a cold day called. (Not just a snow day) They are talking about power outages with the wind. So tonight, I am very thankful for the generator outside and the woodstove that is happily humming along in the basement. 

Stay Cozy 

Home Cooking

I finished my Louise Penny book and have started another one. I have only read a couple of chapters not sure if it is going to be a keeper.

Sunday morning, I made us some hard boil eggs. They came out perfect. The fool proof way is start them in cold water once they start to boil take them off the burner let them sit for 15 minutes then drain the hot water and put them in cold water. Perfect every time. 

I made a few extra for some deviled eggs. 

Save the shells and put them directly in the garden. This time of year, I put them right on the snow. I do crunch them up a bit but so good for the soil no need to do anything else to them. by spring I will turn them right into the soil 

I made a stuffed pork loin. I just sliced the loin to lay flat then I pounded it a bit to make it even. I sautéed some onions, spinach, and garlic. I threw in some tomatoes at the very end. Rolled it up wrapped a few sliced of bacon around it baked until the meat reaches 174. Perfect! Very very tender. 

The plan this week is to take the left-over pork and cut it up and make nachos. Husband is very picky about nachos so I will make his mild with cheese and a bit of salsa with the pork.  I will really add to mine. I love it all!

And to top it off a chocolate cake. No eggs no dairy

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I shoveled some more today. I had not done the front walkway and we do use it now and then, so I attacked it. It had a hard crust and had not been shoveled since we got all the snow.  I got it done and I was tired after. But I am not walking much right now the roads are all ice and I am not that brave, so it was good exercise.

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I see we are going to get some really cold weather. We are watching the chiefs game and they are so cold there I think we are going to get that weather. So I will tuck in and do some stuff around the house and hook a bit and wait for warmer days. 

Have a wonderful week!

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