Spring!

It is just around the corner.
I can smell it!
So can Jackie as our walks are taking a lot longer than usual.
I suspect this are my Irises, but I can't be sure.

Either way, it is a sure fire sign that spring is indeed just around the corner.

I have also been in quite the baking mood.
To celebrate Pi day, 3.14.16, I made this most delicious, super awesome, strawberry pie!

I followed the recipe from a Taste of Home, Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pie.
There may be a lot of steps,
I did stand in the kitchen for way longer than I enjoy,
but it was worth it!

I also made cookies.

Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip!
I think there are 7 left.

I have frogged my Winter Twilight Mitts once again.
I swear, it is not a complicated pattern by any means. I just happen to have the attention span of fruit fly as of late.

I think I've got it now!

While the weather was decent, we finally hung up my bird house!


As well, I received a very amazing gift the other day and I cannot wait to stain it properly and hang it outside in my garden.

My photography skills do not do it justice.
This is the Green Man, carved by Hubs!
I am just so thrilled by this piece of art.

I hope you are all well.
Enjoy your day doing whatever it is your heart desires!

Mistakes Were Made...

..but were they ever tasty mistakes!
Who knew that little bread maker could make so much?
I followed this recipe from Pies to Pasties for a pie crust,
and created this strawberry pie!


I had some left over dough and strawberries, so I made an attempt at cookies.

They look really messy.
They are very sticky.
They do taste awesome!

I had a day off yesterday so I painted.

This is watercolour on a card sheet.
It is a birthday card for my mother.
I think I am slowing starting to feel more comfortable with this medium.

I frogged my fingerless Winter Twilight Mitts.
I started fresh.
I just wasn't satisfied with how the stitches were evolving.

That's better!

Jackie and I went for a quick walk to the post office this morning.
We could not pass up this fresh spring feeling that is in the air.
We came back covered in mud, but it was worth it.
Now we are inside trying to find the missing pieces to her wonky bird.
I'm ahead a point.
I discovered the foot.


I hope you are all keeping well.
See you later.

Start of a New Month!

Happy beginning of March everyone.
A lot of things going on this month.
The clocks spring ahead signalling the change of days.
The end of the month is Easter.
It is a start for new beginnings.
We have been puttering around the castle as well.
Since Jackie is hellbent on destroying every toy she owns, I have been trying to find something that she will like to chew, but not demolish in two days.
This was her last toy if you will recall:

Remember it had a ball attached?

I found this one while grocery shopping.

The tag said for tough love.
It started out great.
Jackie was carting it around wherever she went, cuddling, sleeping with it, showing it to perfect strangers.
It seemed to be going so well.
Then the relationship changed.

I woke up to the foot yesterday afternoon.
It was like that scene from The Godfather where Jack Woltz finds the head of the horse in bed with him. D:

Jackie still carts around her toy, just in various pieces, depending on her mood.

Speaking of carting this around....
We are having a fabulous time with the bread maker.
Hubs is on a quest for the perfect sandwich bread.
He thinks the last batch just might be the one.

I was actually on my way to bed and Hubs carried that loaf up the stairs and into the room to show me his creation.
It was pretty good.

We love the pizza dough feature.
I think that is the setting I use the most.

The recipe I use is from Food.com. This is the simplest I found. It yields 1 pizza or 2 fair medium pizzas. That way we can each have what we want on our pizzas!

I have also been cross stitching and catching up on Pretty Little Liars.

The progress may be slow, but it is steady. I find it relaxes me. I love how the chart makes the difficult decision on what colour to use.

Also, I started a pair of finger-less mitts.

The pattern is Winter Twilight Mitts by Laura Rintala.

I'm sure there are other things to talk about. I just cannot seem to recall them at this time.
I'm off to bed.
I hope you all have a great day!

Sadness

I had a bunch of things I wanted to talk about this week, but it is not going to happen. At least not this week.

Reno suffered his third urinary infection in as many months.
We had to make a decision and it killed us both a little inside.
At our last veterinary appointment which into major surgery, we were told that his little heart was getting incredible weaker and the next time, he will not be so lucky.
Seeing him in pain, is something I would not wish on anyone.
So,
Reno's final day was yesterday.
He was an incredible cat.
Reno was special because it was like he came with the house, on that faithful day when Jo was renovating the garage and spied that tiny fuzzy bundle in the corner.
He came a long way and it was a miracle he lived as long has he had.
We are grateful that he chose us for his family.
Ever present in whatever tasks we were preforming whether it was artistic, culinary or involving heavy equipment.
Thank you Reno.

Outer Space

Have you heard that they were able to grow a flower in space? After looking for a link to better explain my statement, it would appear to not be the first ever grown in space.
I still think it is pretty cool.
So much so, it inspired me to try watercolour paints for the first time in decades.

I'm not totally happy with the final result, but it will do as a first try. I just need more practice.

I have also been trying to draw more frequently. It would seem my fingers have forgotten how to hold a pencil.


The shadow belongs to my supervisor, Napoleon.


To get ready for the premiere of X-Files, I have been cross stitching while binge watching the previous seasons.

This is the easier choice to make as it hurt to breath as you step outside during this week.

Stay warm everyone!

The Hunt Begins

After a mani-pedi
We have a squatter in our midst.
He (or she, I respect their privacy) is a clever little thing.
He managed to climb up to the top shelf in our pantry and liberate a graham cracker.

He didn't even eat a hole in the box. He managed to climb inside, drag it out and knock to the floor.
We only found it because he was unable to push it through the little hole in the back of the pantry.

Reno is very excited about the hunt.
He has been unwavering in his guard post just outside the pantry doors.
We do not want a repeat of last year's adventure with his urinary infection so we are keeping a close eye on him to make sure he does not open those doors.
Just to be on the safe side, we have trimmed his nails/weapons of destruction.


I don't like this one bit.


Do you see what he is doing? Are you allowing this?


Now how will I catch that mousy?

Oh! It's Winter Again!

Happy Belated New Year!
I hope you are all happy and enjoyed the festivities!
We all had a rather nice time.
We decompressed.
Ate probably too much.
Drank a bit.
Enjoyed everyone's company.

We spent New Year's at my parents' house.
There was just a dusting of snow but it was enough to make the toboggan careen down the hills.
The tree survived, no thanks to Reno who did his best to become a live action ornament.


Then Reno and Napoleon set up a location to wait for Santa.


When the big man did arrive, he spoiled everyone.


There was a ball attached to this toy at one point.


I received a bird house that Jo made from an actual bit of a tree.

I cannot wait until we can place it outside!

My other present was the family making Christmas breakfast!

Anytime someone else is cooking, I am happy.

I have also been crafty during our downtime.
I completed a toque for Little Man's employer for who he dog sits.

Jo is happily modelling for me.

I do not know whether I will work out the pattern details or just try another version.
I'll see what next week brings.

I have been cross stitching quite a bit lately while watching Orange is the New Black

Ok. I see what the big deal is now. I have really been enjoying this show.


At Mom's there are always a lot of feathery and fuzzy creatures to enjoy. It makes up for the temperature in the house as being the sameas on the sun. How can you sweat watching t.v.?

All joking aside, it was a lovely visit. There were no weird conversations or subtle put downs. No comments on how I cook or clean. Just a lot of heat and weather network.

We were all pretty tired on the drive home.


I am going to go and continue binge watching Orange is the New Black.
I hope you are all well and recovered from the holidays!