Playtime

 Good morning,

Kjell snapped this image from his spot in Catherine's recliner.  We have puppy-proofed and blocked off a corner of the living room so Lily (center) can play without getting into trouble either for herself (i.e., electrical cords!) or us (anything we treasure that doesn't belong in a puppy mouth).  

That's Elsa monitoring the activity.  This usually lasts only a few minutes before Lily decides to use her older siblings as chew toys.  Our older dogs are quite patient, but we don't let Lily take advantage of her puppy status.  Look how big she is getting!  Soon she will be five months old.

I hope the weather is cooler soon so the pups can spend more time playing outside.

All the best,

Lois

I'm Watching You

 Good morning,

Kjell sent me this image.  He was sitting in his recliner watching TV when sweet Elsa just sat and looked at him until he stopped to pet her.  Of course, he snapped this picture first.

I think Elsa is the most patient dog I have ever had.  So precious.

Happy Sunday!

Lois

Bath Time for Erik

 Good morning,

Catherine sent me this snap shot of Erik getting a bath at the groomer's.  They are at a friend's home and the friend happens to be a dog groomer.  

Usually, Catherine gives our pups baths in a bathtub here at home, but he's 80 pounds and at 14 years old is not as agile as he used to be. Bending over the bath tub to wash the big guy isn't easy, either.  The groomer has a separate area with the right height facilities to give Mr. Erik a bath with the least stress for all involved.  Erik is a very gentle, good boy, so he doesn't object to being bathed.

Labs have very heavy coats that generally shed twice a year.  At home we do most brushing out on the patio which works well for all of us and the house.  Labs generally don't need baths unless they have been into muddy or salty water. It was time for Erik....  

Erik came home all fluffy and clean.  So cute!

 Happy Summer!

Lois

Evening Sky

 Good morning,

It is quite hot here in the US Midwest and also very windy.

This was view of the beautiful evening sky from our patio when I took the pups out.  The pups don't want to stay outside very long because it is so hot.

I'm looking forward to Fall.

All the best,

Lois

Work in Process - Blue Lovers Afghan Blanket

 Good morning,

I've got a good start on the flowers for my next Large Afghan Blanket.  This one is already spoken for.

 I've ordered more yarn that should arrive soon.  

It's so hot here that about the only thing to do is stay inside where it is cool and crochet.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best,

Lois

Needlework and Wood Working Update - July, 2023

 Good morning,

It has been a busy month of creating needlework and wood items after several weeks of appointments that restricted our time in our studios.  

Above is a Large Warm Browns Afghan Blanket that is beautiful for a couch, bed, or recliner.  These have been very popular colors that make a lovely gift for a man or a woman.  $185.  More images and information here.

 I've created another Large Flower Garden Afghan Blanket for the shop.  This bed or couch size design is one of the best sellers over many years.  It's just so colorful and happy that is is appealing to all ages.  $185. Only one available.  More information and images here.

 This lovely lap blanket can also be used as a baby blanket.  It's perfect for a car blanket, reading chair, and even can be folded corner to corner to create a warm shawl.  42" x 31" - $55.  More information and images here.

 I've restocked Luggage Identifiers, also.

 

 We have these available in a variety of colors.  Set of 6 for $5.  See them all here.

 I've also added more Toilet Tissue Toppers.

 These are available in a variety of colors.  $8. each.  See them all here.

Kjell has been busy etching images on tile coasters.  Above is one he made for us as he is experimenting with different engraving techniques.

 Kjell made a set of four of these for the shop and they have been sold.

 He also made a set of these for the shop and they have been sold.

 This is his most recent set of four coasters.  $22.  They are available here. 

 And, now he has created a box to display or store his tile coasters.  $7.  Available here.

So that's it for this time.  We are enjoying our various projects and are glad to be back in creative mode once again.  

Come see all items that we have made: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EvensensProductions

 

We sincerely appreciate your likes, shares, comments, favorites, pins, tweets, and purchases, too! Thank you for supporting our USA small business since 2011!

Until next time....

Lois

African Violet Beauty

 Good morning,

Here is more color inspiration from the flowers around me.  This African Violet is blooming in my dining room today.

 As I put together yarn colors for various knit and crochet projects, I love standing in my craft room holding the various yarns up next to each other in the sunlight coming through the window.  I so often come up with color combinations that mimic those in the flowers around me.

So calm.  So lovely.

All the best,

Lois

Fun in the Sun

 Good morning,

Kjell sent me this video.  He was filling the pups' wading pool and got a little help from Lily.

Precious!

:),

Lois

Three Dogs One toy

 Good morning,

Well, dog "kids" are the same as human kids, that's for sure.

Wendy, Lily, and Elsa are all playing with the same toy that's "buried" in the middle of them.  That's Lily in the center squirming her way under Elsa to grab it.

We must have hundreds of dog toys around here, but that one seems to be special at the moment.

Go figure....

Lois

Fish Picnic on the Patio

 Good morning,

Catherine went fishing (at the grocery store) for the pups this week.

 They each enjoyed his/her own fish dinner sushi style.

 The "kids" have no problem consuming these quickly.  

Picture credit to our daughter, Catherine.

Happy Summer!

:),

Lois

Fungus Among Us

 Good morning,

We've finally had some rain so we're getting some pretty fungus growing at the base of our old oak tree stump.  

The design is quite beautiful, isn't it....  I see color combinations for knit and crochet projects everywhere, especially in nature.

Happy Summer!

Lois

It's Hibiscus Time Again

 Good morning,

It's Hibiscus time again.  I was delighted to see this lovely blossom greet me this week.  They will continue to bloom until the first frost.

Our Hibiscus bloom in white, a lighter pink, and this lavender-pink.  They came with the house and I have encouraged them by replanting them around the garden.

So very pretty!

Happy Summer!

Lois

Pizza Consumption Monitors

 Good morning,

The Pizza Consumption Monitors were working hard when Daddy heated left over pizza to consume for lunch on the patio.

It's so funny how quickly he can have their full attention.

Yes, they all got some.  

;)

Lois

B 2 B Labs

 Good morning,

Lily and Elsa are stretched out back to back near our feet on the patio.  It is so sweet how close they have to be all the time.  That's Daddy's foot at the top of the image and my knee at the bottom.

Little Lily isn't so little any more is she!  

Happy Summer!

Lois

Chili Spaghetti

 Good morning,

I made chili spaghetti for dinner last night.  This one is an old standby and I've published my recipe for it before.  Take a look if you're interested.

 I used to make this for the kids after a long day at work.  It goes together quickly and everyone likes it.

What's your "go to" quick meal?

Lois

Work in Process - Flower Garden Afghan Blanket

 Good morning,

Eighty colorful flowers have bloomed for the next Flower Garden Large Afghan Blanket.  I've started surrounding them with off white, then will finish with a grass green scalloped border. When complete, it will be listed in the shop. 

The Warm Browns Afghan Blanket I showed you in process a week or so ago is finished and in the shop.  It turned out beautifully.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best, 

Lois

One Dish Dinner - Cottage Ham and (Norwegian) Kraut

 Good morning,

I made a classic one dish dinner this week.  That's a cottage ham just the right size for two people and

 Norwegian Kraut. 

 I scrubbed a few potatoes...

...sliced them, and placed them on top of the kraut.

Just cover and pop into the oven at 350 F for 45 minutes to an hour - long enough to cook those potatoes.

And, you're ready to grind some pepper on top if desired.  I don't add salt because the ham is naturally salty.  The flavor of the kraut and ham together is all that is really needed.

A salad on the side is nice, but I had mine with apple sauce.  There's just something right about apple sauce with ham and kraut.

Quick dinners are often the best dinners.  Yum!

:),

Lois

Wild Flowers

 Good morning,

I receive seed packets of wild flowers from organizations to whom we donate every year.  I spread the seeds in a medium size pot on our patio to see what we get.

The little plants are beginning to produce flowers this week.  It's fun to see what is new every day.

 This dainty little flower is such a pretty color!

Enjoy,

Lois

Shrimp in Wine Sauce

 Good morning

Kjell whipped up this tasty dinner last night.

Those are shrimp prepared in a little wine, butter, and garlic served on toast.  The toast is bread I had made earlier in the day.

What a perfect light summer dinner!

What is your favorite summer dinner?

Lois

Squirrel Bird

 Good morning

I snapped this picture while sitting in my recliner.  The picture was taken through glass and a screen, but still is pretty good.  

Mr. Squirrel has mastered the bird feeder and was enjoying some of my home made bread.  Kjell built the bird feeder last year and added the plastic around the bottom to keep Mr. Squirrel away, but even that has now been conquered.  

The birds still get their fill, too, so it's not all bad.  ;)

Happy Summer!

Lois

Bright Orange Day Lilies

 Good morning,

These Orange Day Lilies came with the house 44 years ago.  I've spread some of them around to various parts of the yard as I wanted them as fill and they never disappoint year after year.

I get a kick out of the bright orange color that always arrives with the hot July weather.

Lovely.

Enjoy,

Lois

Wild Morning Glory

 Good morning,

These white morning glories pop up all by themselves.  I imagine a bird was nice enough to bring the seeds and that some people might consider them weeds.

But, they are quite lovely aren't they.

All the best,

Lois

French Onion Soup and Fresh Bread

 Good morning

Yesterday, My Honey made French Onion Soup that was fabulous.  This is definitely one to be repeated!

 In the soup and served along side was fresh bread that I had made earlier in the day.

Home made soup with home made bread.  There isn't much better than that!

What's on your summer menu?

Lois

Work in Process - Warm Browns Afghan

 Good morning,

This week I'm working on a Warm Browns Large Afghan Blanket for the shop.  These color combinations are always popular and I can't seem to keep enough of them made to always have at least one available.  

I have a number of things on my "To Make" list right now.  We had quite a few appointments this Spring so I'm behind in keeping the shop stocked with most popular items.  

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

 All the best,

 Lois

 

Fourth Food

 Good morning,

We certainly aren't going hungry this summer!  

Catherine grilled dinner on the Fourth of July.  Beer Brats were the classic...

 ...a slaw salad...

 ...baked beans...

 ...and corn on the cob.

Kraut and raw onions on the side, of course.  This was Daddy's first plate.  He couldn't get it all on one plate at one time.

We ate our picnic dinner inside because we don't like to share with the bugs.

We hope you are all enjoying the summer!

All the best,

Lois

Late Lunch with the Family

 Good morning,

Kjell and I enjoyed a late lunch at deSha's with daughter, Catherine, and son, Don, this week.  Yes, that's my red pony tail in the image.  We were waiting outside until the area overlooking the lake opened for early dinner at 4 PM.

 This is the view from our table.  We watched ducks come and go as we enjoyed our meal together.

 The restaurant has a very extensive menu.  There is no way you can leave this place hungry!

It was fun to having everyone together.  Thank you, Catherine, for taking us out to eat together.  Photo credit goes to Daddy Kjell.

All the best,

Lois