Indoor Blossoms

Good morning,

This sweet African Violet continues to bring us beautiful blossoms. 

Staying home isn't so bad.

All the best,
Lois

Another Elsa Picture

Good morning,

OK, I'm a sucker for cuteness.

Elsa is napping with mousie and I just love the look on mousie's face.

From her position you can see why we call her our peanut dog.

;),
Lois

Memories

Good morning,

Facebook reminds us of posts we've made in the past.  Just this week I received two of very good memories. 

Last year this week we had a lovely lunch with our friends Tor, Teresa, Gary, and Lynne.  It feels strange we couldn't do that again today because of Covid-19 and social distancing.

Two years ago this week we were aboard Liberty of the Seas as passengers with our friends Martha and Russell Hooker.  It was a wonderful cruise of relaxation and the first (and only) cruise we've taken since retirement from the high seas.  It feels so strange that all of those ships are no longer sailing around filled with happy guests this week.

We didn't know just how precious these memories would be until now when we can't do the same this week.  At least we are still able to communicate with our friends and the day will come when we can get back to some semblance of normalcy to enjoy being together once again.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong.

Lois

The Pool is Open!

Good morning,

That's Wendy "helping" Elsa out of the pool at our friend Erica's home.  That's Erica's pup looking on.

I think it's too cold to swim, but don't tell that to a Labrador Retriever!

Happy Spring!

Lois

Fresh Bread

Good morning,

It was about time I made bread again.

This is my basic egg bread and it sure was good!

It is good to be home!

:),
Lois

Elsa's Bug Encounter

Good morning,

Before I tell you what happened to Elsa, I just want to say she is just fine now.

Last weekend I woke up to see Elsa in our bed exactly as she usually is, cuddled up with us, but when I looked at her face, I thought she was a different dog.

Elsa had been bitten or stung by a bug of some sort.  We aren't sure if it was a spider, hornet, or wasp.

Our baby's eyes were nearly swollen shut and she had swollen patches all over her body.

Our regular vet wasn't in, but we called our friend/Elsa's breeder who also works at our vet's office.  She told us to give Elsa Benadryl which we had on hand.  Cath also took Elsa out to a medical friend and called the emergency vet just to know what we should be looking for until we could get Elsa into see a doctor on Monday.  We were told to take her to the emergency vet if Elsa had problems breathing which she did not.  Throughout this whole ordeal, Elsa acted like her bouncy self even though her eyes were so swollen and she had bumps on her body.

Forty eight hours and five doses of Benadryl later, Elsa was back to normal.  This certainly was scary, but we have had some experience with this before.  One of our previous Labs, Chris, found himself a wasp nest and was stung repeatedly in his face and we were told to treat him the same way. 

So, all is well now and our baby is fine.  I imagine she will avoid whatever bug she tangled with if she sees one again!

Poor baby.

Lois

Work in Process This Week

Good morning,

I have so many projects going this week that I don't know which to pick up first when I get a chance to knit and crochet.


Above is a Christening Blanket that is just finished and now in the shop.  It's here if you want to see how it looks finished.  :)

While I was working on that, My Honey asked for a face mask for our next trip out.  He picked out the yarn he wanted and here it is hot off the hook.

This is a top down baby sweater, size 12 months.  I'm still working on this one.

I'm also still working on the off white flowers for another afghan blanket.  The afghan is my upstairs project.  I'm working on the other items shown in the living room.

And, then daughter Catherine came through the living room and asked for another mask.  She has two already, but needs a third so one can be on her face, one in the washer, and one in the dryer.  She is going to her office every day (she's in an essential business) and is kind enough to do all of our grocery and other shopping for us.  She picked out this brown tweed.  I have a similar one in the shop, too.  Our masks in the shop are here.

I've made more than four dozen masks since I started making them in early April.  The family and Catherine's office are all supplied and I have sold quite a few of them in the shop.

I've also been quite busy photographing and listing wood items that Kjell has made.  He has been very productive this month!

That has been the activity of the week.  I really do want to get working on that afghan again.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best,
Lois

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Elsa Duckie and Daddy

Good morning,

Elsa is sound asleep and snoring in this image.   She's leaning against Daddy while holding on to her duck. 

It's precious how the puppy children are exactly like people children when it comes to wanting to take a favorite toy to bed and cuddle up with Daddy and Mommy.

Precious.

It is good to be home. 

:),
Lois

Cabbage and Lamb

Good morning,

My Honey made dinner again.  I love the simple and tasty Norwegian comfort food.  Just layer lamb and cabbage in the crock pot, turn it on, come back in seven hours and you have a fabulous dinner.  Kjell added some applesauce to it this time and I loved the flavor.  I always add apples or applesauce to my sour kraut so he decided to add it to this, also.

Another classic Norwegian part of the meal is boiled potatoes.  Very simple.  Just smash one of these on your plate, then cover it with cabbage and lamb making sure you use plenty of the liquid on the potatoes.

Yummy!

:),
Lois

Faces of Erik

Good morning,

It's Erik's turn.  Erik is our eleven year old big, lovable, hunk of a Black Labrador Retriever.

Erik started out as an agility dog, then dock diving dog, but is now Chief of Security at our home.  He had to have knee surgery that shortened his athletic career.

Erik does have a scary look about him to someone on the other side of the fence,

but to us he's our big cuddly "Erik the Man."

 He does a very good job of protecting all of us.

;),
Lois

Penny at the Vet

Good morning,

Catherine and I took Penny to the vet for a checkup a few days ago.  With social distancing Penny stayed on Catherine's lap until we went into the exam room.

 What a great sign!  It's in the waiting room.

And, the sign is perfect for our Vet. 

All the best,
Lois

White Iris

Good morning,

The beautiful white iris are in bloom once again this year.  These lovely flowers are from bulbs given to me at least 25 years ago by a dear friend.  She died a couple of years ago and it is wonderful to have something so beautiful to remind me of her.

The scaffolding you see behind the flowers is our painter's.  It's on the side of the house and not easily seen from the street.  Now that the weather is warmer, he should be able to continue with the house painting that began, uh, I hate to say how long ago!  He gets here when he can.  But, that's OK.  We don't mind at all.  We're not going anywhere....  (Insert chuckle here.)

Happy Spring, everyone!  I hope you're able to get out and enjoy some flowers, too.

Lois

Faces of Penny

Good morning,

Here are a few "Faces of Penny," our 15 year old lady. 

Penny's bed and favorite comforter are in the living room where we can all be together for most of the day and evening.

She snoozes on and off...

...and opens her eyes to be sure we are still there.

 And, she smiles.  :)

Although she suffers from arthritis (as many of us do), she still enjoys her food, her trips out to exercise in the back yard, lots of company and kind words, and just being with us.  I love it that she still wags when we come into the room. 

We love you, Miss Penny,

Mom

Pan Fried Salmon

Good morning,

Yes, more food.  Catherine was able to get us a side of salmon so My Honey prepared it the Norwegian way.  It's pan fried and just marvelous.

His secret sauce has a sour cream base...

and, of course, the salmon was served with boiled potatoes.

It was all very yummy!  Thanks, sweetie!

Lois

Daffodils and Tulips

Good morning,

These lovely daffodils have a marvelous scent.  There's a little bug in this one enjoying shelter from the gentle rain.

This tulip is one that a friend brought to us about 20 years ago.  She brought quite a few bulbs - probably two dozen - from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens when the Zoo was lifting bulbs to put in the next floral display.  The Zoo was giving them away to whomever wanted them. 

These other tulips...

were planted more than thirty years ago when I was enjoying every different type of tulip I could fit onto our property.  It's lovely how so many of them have survived.

Spring is wonderful, isn't it....

All the best,
Lois

Chili Spaghetti

Good morning,

It's almost same old-same old around here.  Chili Spaghetti again, but this time with mozzarella
 cheese since we are out of cheddar.

That's what happens when you are sheltering at home and aren't getting to the grocery.

We're not complaining.  The dinner was great and we are well. 

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong.  And, in Ohio we are staying home, too.

All the best,
Lois

Red Bud Trees in Bloom

Good morning,

Our Red Bud Trees are coming into bloom.  So pretty!

Of course, now we're back to needing the grass cut and the bushes trimmed.   That's a small price to pay for Spring and Summer!

Happy Spring!

Lois

Wendy and Miss Piggy

Good morning,

Wendy likes to have a toy in her mouth when she falls asleep.  One of her favorites is "Miss Piggy."

Even when she rolls over, Miss Piggy goes with her.

Our furry kids are so cute.  Yes, I'm very opinionated about that.  ;)


Lois

A Blessed Easter and Passover

Good morning, Happy Easter, Happy Passover,

Yes, Easter is different this year.  We aren't in church.  We aren't wearing and seeing Easter bonnets.  We aren't with our families.  We aren't preparing dinner with extended family members.

But, we are alive.  Most of us are healthy.  We have so much to be thankful for on this Easter Sunday.

We have our faith, our families, our lives.  We live in an age when we can communicate so many ways while remaining socially distant to see and visit our families near and far.

We hope you have a Blessed Easter and Passover.  We send our love from our family to yours.

With love,
Lois

Work in Process This Week

Good morning,

I started this feather and fan design scarf, then was sorry I did because the yarn is very difficult to control over the needles I'm using.  I've searched through my other needles to find another in bamboo, but the yarn hardly slips over those needles at all which is also difficult. If I could get out to the store, I'll shop for other needles to use.  Catch 22.  Well, I didn't feel like tearing it all out, so I'm continuing.  It's almost finished now and I'll keep this one myself.  I just love it!  I'll make another with other yarn and needles for the shop.

I have this hat and cowl set just started. It'll be a lacy ladders set similar to the winter white and soft browns sets that I recently made for the shop. 

I'm still working on the off white flowers for the next afghan that I showed you last time, too.

And, then, as I was happily knitting and crocheting along, all of us Etsy sellers received an email from Josh Silverman, Etsy CEO, asking those of us who could to make non-medical masks.  The Center for Disease Control had recommended all of us wear non-medical masks (leave the medical masks for the medical personnel) when making necessary trips outside the house. 

I developed this design and made quite a few for our family and Catherine's office staff.  She is in an essential business (CPA) and owns her own building.  She is not allowing the public into her lobby, but is receiving tax information through the door.

I then made this one and listed it in the shop.  It sold within the hour so I went to work making even more.

 So the rest of my time has been spent making masks and I've been able to build up a selection in the shop.  We include three disposable food grade filters and they're here if you care to take a look.  These are NON medical masks that are intended to be used in conjunction with the CDC recommendation for the general public to use when making necessary trips out into public areas.

That has been my crazy week making at least four dozen of these.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best,
Lois