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 four Labrador Retrievers.

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Saturday, August 31, 2019

Ivy

Good morning,

This ivy is growing fast to cover the tree trunks left after we removed trees next to our fence.  We'll just let the ivy take over and provide greenery to cover the stumps and fence. 

Mother Nature is so very helpful. 

:),
Lois

Friday, August 30, 2019

Comfort Food

Good morning,

Sometimes we just need good old fashioned comfort food.

This is chicken breast served on green beans with mashed potatoes and mushroom sauce. 

Oh, yes, this was good.

Lois

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Late Summer Pool Days

Good morning,

Here's another day at the pool for the pups.  Wendy and Elsa are developing their water retrieving skills.  They are both dock diving competitors.  Wendy was invited to the Nationals last year and Elsa is already earning ribbons after her first month of competition.  They are both naturals!

So much fun!

Lois

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Wednesday Work in Progress

Good morning,

There has been progress on the current Cables and Filigree Lace Sweater.  I'm up to the first sleeve.  As many of you know, I write my own patterns.  For the sleeves I enter the appropriate data for increases and pattern changes in Excel so that I can check them off line by line.  I use safety pins (my friends call them "Lois Pins" and have supplied me with many of them - thank you!) to count rows along the side so I only have to worry about counting the most recently made rows on my excel sheet.printout to know what is next.
An update on last week:  the front is now finished on this sweater and is attached to the back at the shoulders with a three needle bind off. 

This sweater is a custom order so is already sold.  There is another sweater in a different size and similar pattern and color in the shop as I write this.  Click here to see how it looks finished.

After this sweater and coordinating accessories are complete, I'll be making another custom order baubles sweater.

What are you making, baking, growing today?

All the best,
Lois

----------------------------------------------------------
Come see what else we've made!

EvensensProductions.com

Original and Traditional
Hand Crafted Designs
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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Siblings and a New Toy

Good morning,

The "kids" got a new toy at the dog club this weekend and they all claimed it as their own.  Just like any other group of siblings, right?
Here's a very brief video of the action as the three of them each held on to the toy and went round and round.
And, the winner is Baby Elsa!  Elsa is fearless. 

The great part about all of this is that the pups play together nicely.  There is running and chasing and play fighting, but no real fighting. 

They are good pups!

:),
Lois

Monday, August 26, 2019

One Log at a Time

Good morning,

My Honey splits...
...and I stack one log at a time.

Those log racks are four layers thick and we'll be adding more.  We will be warm this winter.

:),

Lois

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Locust Just Out of His Shell

Good morning,

This critter left the ground and his shell in our back yard.  We came across him while he was drying off before flying away.

What a lovely shade of green.  ;)

Lois

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The Es and the Ts at the Pool

Good morning,

Photo credit goes to our daughter, Catherine, for this image.  Our Labrador Retriever Es (Elsa and Erik - top of image) and our friend Erica's Border Collie Ts (Teddy and Tillie) are enjoying the pool at Erica's home.

What a lovely way to enjoy the long, hot days of summer!

Enjoy,
Lois

Friday, August 23, 2019

Dock Diving Elsa

Good morning,

Catherine shared this short video of Elsa in Dock Diving Competition a week ago.

Elsa is a natural!  She loves doing this and is bringing home the ribbons to prove it.

Yay Team Elsa and Catherine!

We are so proud!

Love,
Mom




Thursday, August 22, 2019

Doggie Gas Mask?

Good  morning,

I snapped this picture of Elsa with a new Zebra toy that she was "Lab Testing." 

As I downloaded the image with many others and saw it in thumbnail size it appeared she had some sort of gas mask on.

The new toy passed the lab testing and is a favorite.

Sweet.

Lois

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

This Week's Sweater Progress

Good morning,

The back is finished and the front of this sweater is well on the way.  That's good progress this week considering all of the other things we have done.

This sweater is a custom order so will go to the buyer as soon as it is finished.

I enjoy my cables and lace patterns.  This one is different from any I've done before because of the different size sweater I'm making.  When finished, I'll be sure to include it in the monthly Needlework and Wood Working Update.

What are you making this week?

All the best,
Lois

-----------------------------------------------------
Come see what else we have made!
Original and Traditional
Hand Crafted Designs
-----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Mums in the Sun

Good morning,

These beautiful yellow mums are one of a pair that grace our front porch.

These are exactly the colors I've used to make afghans.  I've sold the last one of the yellow flower on dark green afghans and have another on my "To Make" list.  I can never go wrong when I use colors I find in nature when designing needlework projects.

So pretty!

Lois

Monday, August 19, 2019

A Beautiful Wedding

Good morning,

Last Saturday we attended the wedding of the daughter of our friend, Bill.  I'll share a few of the pictures I snapped with my phone camera.
This is a classic, isn't it.  The flower girl decided to exit and the ring bearer just put his pretty white satin pillow down when she did.
A little help from Dad helped the flower girl down the aisle.
Here are Bill and his gorgeous daughter.

Thank you, Daddy.

The ceremony was beautiful and according to script.



 Man and wife.  Beautiful!
 This is the gift that Kjell made and we gave the newlyweds. 

What a joy it was to attend their wedding.

All the very best,
Lois

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Fattening Up the Fish

Good morning,

We truly enjoy our goldfish pond.   Catherine purchased these goldfish for me for Mother's Day.  They were tiny feeder fish when we put them in the pond.
The fish grow quickly on all of the yummy bugs they find in the pond.
The sun on the water provides some lovely reflections, too.

Retirement is good.  We are able to be home to enjoy the garden and so many other things at home.

Lois

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Butterfly on a Log

Good morning,

We still have plenty of logs to split in the back yard.

I'm enjoying all of the critters that are on and around the logs.  We have lizards that scurry from one to another and butterflies that seem to like to land on them.  I used all of the zoom I could to get this image.  I quietly walked around the car and through the parking area and almost got a close up, the that clever butterfly immediately flew away.  Maybe tomorrow.

Happy Summer!

Lois

Friday, August 16, 2019

Go, Penny, Go!

Good morning,

At 14.5 years old Penny still enjoys her walks so we take her whenever the weather is cool enough.

I took this picture of her yesterday evening as we walked around our front yard.  The front of our property isn't fenced so we leash walk her there.

Penny is still a happy girl.  She softly wags when we talk with her and pet her.  To see her excited though, just pull into the driveway while she is outside at the fence.  When she recognizes the car, she gets so excited, hops around, and can't wait for us to come inside.  She acts like a ten year old!

Go, Penny, go!

:),
Lois

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Catherine's Rice Pudding

Good Morning,

Last night our son, Don, and grandson, Alex, were here for dinner.  Actually, they brought dinner from Marco's.  It was some of the best pizza and salad we've ever had.

The finale was our daughter Catherine's rice pudding for dessert. 

What a fun evening with family and yummy treats!

Thanks, everyone!

Lois

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

This Week's Project - Cables and Lace Sweater

Good morning,

Here's this week's newest project.  It's a Cables and Lace Sweater that is a custom order.  Although similar to sweaters I've made before, this is a size I haven't made before so I've designed a new pattern for it. 

These unique sweaters take more planning, time, and concentration than most other designs, but the results are truly worth the extra work.

I love hearing about and seeing what you are doing, too.  What are you making, baking, and growing this week?

All the best,
Lois

-------------------------------------------------------------
Come See What Else We've Made
Original and Traditional
Hand Crafted Designs
-------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Hibiscus by the Pond

Good morning,

Today's image is of the hibiscus blooming beside our gold fish pond. 

Such pretty blooms!

Lois

Monday, August 12, 2019

Sleeping Sweetheart

Good morning,

Sweet Elsa is seven months old already. 

Sound asleep.  So sweet and innocent.

Elsa is a good puppy.

:),
Lois

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Needlework and Wood Working Update - August, 2019

Good morning,

This has been a busy month for both Kjell in his wood workshop and me in my needlework studio.

Above is a favorite Large Flower Garden Afghan Blanket. $155.  Click here for more images and information.
Here's another Large Afghan Blanket completed and sold this month.  I love these colors.  Have I mentioned I love blues?
I made the wool blend cloche hat above and

this non allergic acrylic cloche hat to restock the shop this month.  Dozens of cloche hats are available from $8.  Click here and scroll down to see them all.
Kjell has made some absolutely incredible wood carvings this month!  Above is Poseidon and the Vikings.  $88.  More images here.




This companion piece to Poseidon and the Vikings is titled "Vikings are at the Roots of Our Family Tree."  $88.  More images here
Kjell has made two Equestrian pieces this month.  Both the horse artwork and the frame are engraved.  This is a larger piece, approximately 21" x 15".  $148.  More information here
This is a slightly smaller piece, Mare and Foal.  $128.  More information here.
The wood art above can be hung on a wall or displayed with our stand sold separately.  The two Equestrian pieces require a larger stand than we have available for other, smaller items in the shop.  This larger stand is available here.
Here's something that Kjell made for us.  This is so much fun!  I did a separate blog post about this and included a video so you can see how it works.  Here it is.
Kjell made this for us.  It is mounted on the gate across the driveway to the back of our yard.  He engraved the wood and hand painted it.  Classy!  Think that's a clear message? 
And, finally, I made several more sets of Luggage Identifiers in a variety of colors.
These certainly are terrific to have on your luggage when trying to find your own among the thousands of others at a cruise or airport terminal.


$5 for a set of 6;  priceless when you travel.  See all the colors currently available here.  Of course, if you want a different color, just let us know.  We'll be happy to make up a custom order for you.

That has been our very busy month!  We both have a number of other items in the pipeline that we'll show you next month when finished.

We truly do appreciate your likes, shares, favorites, and purchases. 

All the very best,
Lois

---------------------------------------------------------------
Come see what else we've made!

EvensensProductions.com

Hand Crafted
Original and Traditional Designs
---------------------------------------------------------------