February 1, 2008
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We got snow yesterday, a nice, juicy one that coated the cedars and everything else!
It was beautiful coming down, with big, fat, fluffy flakes that stuck to everything…
the horses got frisky….
the chickens hated it but still had an appetite…
the birds were lining up at the feeders…
the hills behind our house had a layer of frosting…
Justacat wasn’t particularly pleased but he didn’t complain too much about posing with the iced nandina berries…
Chip loved it and tried to sled down the hill on this trash can lid…
the grandchildrens’ swing looks lonely but lovely…
And today it is already beginning to melt off. I love snow, for about one day, and then I’m happy to see the sunshine and watch it go.
My mother-in-law has a new companion. My husband insisted she needed a puppy to help keep her company.
You can tell from this picture who loves the puppy! Toby is just 3 months old and is totally adorable and beloved by all of us!
I’ve just been in love with knitting lately, especially caps and hats.
I got a new book just before Christmas that included patterns for caps with ear flaps that I think are so cute. I’ve made them for granddaughters Emma and Lucy as well as for Buzz, the sister of our son-in-law who we also claim as an adopted daughter(hers is at upper left). The little tweedy-green hat (lower right) with a pom on top is for Wyatt, our grandson who will soon be 3. The white one is for a newborn…we have several friends expecting baby girls soon…this one has pastel flecks in the yarn. The pinkish one with the little top tab is knitted with two yarns held together, a solid pink and a “fashion” yarn that has little ribbon bits that stick out…probably about right for a little girl who’s just beginning to toddle.
I’m also in love with sewing, especially simple things that don’t take forever to finish.
A gift I enjoy giving to a newborn is a flannel receiving blanket. I buy two pieces of fabric in coordinating prints, one and one-quarter yards of each. I always prewash the fabrics before I cut or sew, using Dreft since this will be for a little one. Then I layer the fabrics, right sides together, and smooth out carefully. I square them up, usually to 40 inches, and then I use a dinner place to round off the corners…just cut around the plate with my rotary cutter…so easy! Then I pin jumbo rickrack (it takes two packages) around the edges, between the layers. I sew one-quarter inch from the edge, leaving a six-inch opening through which to turn the blanket. Once I’ve turned it and pushed out the seam all around, I press and then topstitch around the edge again, one-quarter inch in, thus closing up the opening. Voila! Takes about 2 hours to make, and with the double layer of flannel, it’s warm and snuggly and large enough to cover a little one for that first year.
This fabric is from the American Jane collection, and as you can see, the images are retro Dick, Jane and Sally…
…from my childhood as well as my own childrens’. I wonder if our grandchildren will also learn to read with these beloved characters? (Hmmm…wouldn’t “American Janet” have been a great xanga name????)
Happy 38th anniversary to my sweetie and me last Tuesday (we celebrated last weekend by going “to town” and shopping for a new flat-screen TV, which we have now ordered…hope the sound doesn’t completely go out of our old one before Feb. 15th!).
And happy snow (or not!) days to you!
Comments (13)
I loved seeing the animals and birds in the snow.
I miss feeding my birds this winter. Looks like you got more snow than we did. Just enough to make the side roads slippery. Enjoyed the pictures and the hobbies.
Happy 38th Anniversary! You’ve been busy knitting and sewing…nice hats! We have snow but not horses…they sure do enjoy the snow, great shot!
Many happy more! And one day of snow per winter wouldn’t be hard to take, I expect!
Oh I love your snow! (she said longingly) We had a huge rainstorm today. If it’d been snow…well, we’d be under drifts! I like your hats and your sewing project. I don’t enjoy doing stuff like that, but I admire those who do! Happy Anniversary–and what’s so important about Feb. 15th?
I’m glad you got your snow. It’s beautiful. I sure haven’t gotten my fill of snow this year. We had pouring down rain all morning here on the east coast.
Your little knitted hats are so cute. How long does it take to make one?
Beautiful pictures! And I love that Dick and Jane fabric!
My hubby “went to town” for me tonight, to get me a subway sandwich! Those who don’t live outside the city don’t appreciate “going to town.”
Love the pics…and the little hats are adorable! And that yellow lab (right? a yellow lab?) is also adorable!! We are lab people…right now we have a chocolate one named Belle.
Have a great weekend!
The hats are just adorable…and I can just see a tiny newborn all snuggled up in one of Miss Janet’s receiving blankets. If I ever have a grandbaby, will you please make her one?
I’m like you about the snow….it was gorgeous and fun yesterday, but I wasn’t sad to see it melting today.
Happy Late Anniversary!
Hi there. I wandered over here from prairiecowboy‘s site. I’ve read several of your entries. You make me feel as if I’m right there with you, while reading them. Having just been able to get extended DSL, I also enjoyed your pictures. Before that, I usually didn’t go to sites with pictures, because of the length of time it took to open them with dial-up.
Toby looks like the puppies my son just sold. His Candy blessed him with thirteen!!
Wonder why I never noticed you before. Think I’ll just subscribe while I’m here.
Happy anniversary!! And for all your photographs, I can only say wow! they are beautiful. The Dick and Jane took me back… thanks…
Toby is adorable! I love his strong square face and gentle but intense eyes. Your snow looked wonderful. Thank you for sharing your baby blankets with us. I took notes and plan on making one or two or even three sometime (LOL) in the future.
To answer your question on my YBR quilt: I did a simply meandering machine quilting on it. It went up so quickly, although I still have to improvement my stitch length work more. My parents are an incredible gift from the Lord. I am blessed indeed!
Oh, how I miss your posts! Your country pictures, your contented busy-ness, and then the trips back in time. Looking at the American Jane pictures reminds me so much of the emotions of first grade with Miss Linda Sparkman for my teacher and all of the strange little children in my class, who said I reminded them of a little pilgrim girl. Indeed, I felt as though I’d landed on a strange continent during those first days at public school. I loved your post! (as always.)