About this Blog: Bread making recipes, knit and crochet projects, wood working, gardening, digital imaging, travel, cruise ships, Labrador Retrievers, and more....

About the Header Image: Idlebrook Wendy Darling Evensen "Wendy" one of our three Labrador Retrievers.

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Monday, February 7, 2022

Guard Dog in Training

 Good morning,

Catherine sent me this image of Bri (a friend of the family spending a few days with us) at Catherine's office.  

 Bri is in the entryway of the office watching for anyone who doesn't belong so she can scare them away.  

Such a sweet face!

;),

Lois

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Following the Ice is Snow

 Good morning,

Yesterday I posted pictures Kjell took of the ice storm we are enduring here in Cincy.  Today we have snow on top of that ice. 

Nearly everything in Cincinnati is cancelled until this is melted which doesn't happen very often.

If you look carefully down at the street, just to the right of our flag pole, you'll see Catherine's car covered with snow.  She was at her office yesterday during the ice storm.  She made it home, but not up the driveway.  

Just a few days ago, our temperature topped out at 62 F.  

That's Cincinnati weather. 

Lois

 

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Ice Storm

 Good morning,

Kjell took these images in the morning after a night of rain and as the rain was changing over to ice pellets.  The ice continued to fall all day and into the night, then the snow started to fall.

 We are up to a Level 2 Weather Emergency as I type this.  It will be a couple of days before the temp is forecast to be above freezing.

In the meantime, I'm keeping the fireplace cranking....

Ah, yes, February....

Lois

Friday, February 4, 2022

Needlework and Wood Working Update - February, 2022

 Good morning,

Welcome to this month's Needlework and Wood Working Update.  This is where we share what we've completed during the past month in our Needlework Studio and Wood Working Workshop.  

Above is something very new in the shop!  This is a hand crafted wood Bread Board and Knife that is lovely to use while serving fresh bread at the table.  I love the fact that the knife has its own storage space on the board.  The knife also comes with a guard for the very sharp cutting edge.  $90.  Only one available here.

 This is a similar bread that was a custom order and has been delivered.  
This is our bread board.  Kjell made this one for us and I just love it!  I make bread several times a week so it is terrific to have this lovely board to cut slices exactly as we want them for toast, sandwiches, french toast (thick slices!), etc....

 This pretty bowl is something else that Kjell made for us. Lovely!  I'm hoping he will make another for the shop.

This Shades of Turquoise Large Afghan Blanket is in the shop and ready to ship.  It's a favorite color combination for me so I especially enjoyed making it.  $165.  More images and information here.

The hat above was a custom order that has been delivered.  The colors just "work" so beautifully together!

I made a similar Wool Blend Nordic Knit Intarsia hat for the shop.  $40.  More images and information here.

This knit sweater in super soft yarn was also a custom order and has been delivered.  This yarn will also make marvelously soft hats and scarves.  Those are on my To Do List.  ;) 

Just in time for Valentine's Day!  This lovely Pink Bobbles Scarf is crocheted of heavy super soft and warm.  $36.  Only one available here.
This matching crochet bobbles hat is so very soft and warm.  $36.  More info and images here.

Here is a knit cables version in the same gorgeous thick pink yarn.  $36. More info here

This is a Knit Eyelets hat in the same soft, warm, heavy pink yarn.  $36.  Available here.
Also in the same pink yarn is another style.  This is a Cloche Hat/Chemo Cap that is especially warm and comfortable.  $14.  More info and image here.
This similar hat is crocheted in executive gray.  $14.  Available here.
Again, a similar hat, but this one is crocheted in wool blend yarn.  $15.  See more about it here.
Pretty colors are also safety colors in this hat.  $8.  More about it here.
This lovely blend of colors coordinates with a scarf and other hats in the shop in the Hats Scarves Headbands section.  This hat $8.  Available here.
And, finally, we have two more tissue toppers to restock those recently sold.  Royal Blue $8. here.

Pink Toilet Tissue Topper $8.

We have even more Toilet Tissue Toppers in a wide variety of colors here.  $8. each.

See our entire shop of more than 300 items here. Order today and we'll get your Valentine gifts in the mail within 24 hours.  Gift wrap option is available at checkout. 

When I get all of these images together each month I often surprise myself at how many items we have created.  We truly do enjoy our retirement shop.  In fact, I refer to it as our "retirement gig."  We have the opportunity to be creative, design and make things we love to use ourselves, and offer them on line.  We are so very honored that so many people in the USA and world wide have chosen to purchase our items for themselves and gifts.  Thank you so very much.

We'll be back next month with pictures and information about items we are working on right now.  

All the very best,

Lois

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EvensensProductions.com

Original and Traditional
Hand Crafted Designs
Made in the USA

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Thursday, February 3, 2022

Face Mask Saga

 Good morning,

A few days ago I posted about the three masks I received at my Meijer store when I entered to do my weekly grocery shopping.

This week I received three more N95 masks (see above) which was great because my family members haven't been able to get them.  This time the masks are equipped with valves.  What makes these interesting is our hospitals don't allow the masks with these vents that allow the air exhaled by the wearer to leave the mask, thus contaminating the nearby air.  

Soooooo, that means the person wearing the mask is somehow protected, but anyone nearby not wearing a mask is not....

The Saga of the Government Issued Masks continues.

Your tax dollars at work.

An aside:  I have recently had two teeth replaced with dental implants. The teeth aren't in the center front, but close enough that they would be missed if I spoke or smiled.  After the initial surgery to place the implants, the bone had to heal for four months, then the gums were surgically opened, impressions made, the new teeth made, then mounted.  All of this took another month.  During this time, it was good to be able to wear a mask in public so that I could hide my role as a cast member of the Beverly Hillbillies show.  I just love dental implants, but the journey to get them is a long one.

Lois

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Banana Bread

 Good morning,

Yesterday morning I walked past bananas on the dining room table.  Those bananas kept whispering, "Banana bread, banana bread...."

So, of course, who will argue with a bunch of bananas?  The banana bread turned out so pretty I had to take pictures.
 

 It tasted  fantastic, too.  

The recipe is from a very old Betty Crocker cookbook.  I've added 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg to the recipe and a whole cup of walnuts.  The recipe calls for 1/2 cup walnuts.

Yum!

;),

Lois

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

New Tool

 Good morning,

I finally bought a set of lighted crochet hooks with wonderfully comfy handles.

 I just love these things.  

Regular readers know I turn out a large number of finished projects each month.  I was moved to find more comfortable hooks after finishing my last afghan blanket.  Although I am careful to take breaks and stagger projects with different hand movements, I really felt the strain a few days ago.

So, I'm off to the races with my new hooks.  Such fun!

:),

Lois