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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Friday, April 30, 2021

The Girls Sunbathing

 Good morning,

Wendy and Elsa took full advantage of the beautiful weather this week.

Soon the blacktop will be too hot for their pretty little feet, but we have plans for that, too.

 We are getting estimates to have the blacktop removed and a concrete driveway poured.  

Stay tuned....

Lois

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Dandy Lions

 Good morning,

Here's another sign of Spring that some people don't necessarily want in their gardens.

 The dandelions have bloomed and create a beautiful yellow and green carpet in our back yard.

There are uses for these pretty flowers, of course.  There's dandelion wine and the leaves are a tasty addition to salads.

We don't use chemicals to get rid of weeds in our yard because of the dogs.  It makes life very interesting to see what grows and what doesn't.  If a plant is unusually annoying or even dangerous, we manually dig it out.

So, the "Dandy Lions" stay.  They're pretty!  And, the pups love to go out and sniff each one.

;),

Lois

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Road Trip!

 Good morning,

OK, it was a shopping trip, but it was fun to think we finally could have a road trip.  :)

The wood store is 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic one way North of us.  Kjell has a few projects in mind and needed to get a variety of different types of wood to make them.

He carefully selects the wood grains depending the projects he is planning.

There can be huge differences in the grain...

... of the same type of wood.

He selected these four pieces (the horizontal ones) also.  Then he added a few more pieces....

So here is today's haul all loaded in the back of the car.  

And, now the fun begins!

;),

Lois

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Porch Mums - New Growth

 Good morning,

There are signs of life in the flower pots on our front porch.  

These mums are relative newcomers to our garden - I believe they've only been here five or six years now.  I'm so impressed that they survive winters that include several days up to three weeks of below freezing temperatures.

Expect to see a large spray of beautiful yellow flowers in each of the two flower pots in the late summer.

:),

Lois

Monday, April 26, 2021

The White Iris Story

 Good morning,

The White Iris are in bloom this week.  

 Each of the flowers in our garden has a story.  These Iris were a gift from a friend many years ago when bulbs were being thinned in her garden.  My friend passed a few years ago so having these lovely flowers each spring are such a wonderful remembrance of her.  It's as if she comes to visit me again every spring.

 Lois

Sunday, April 25, 2021

From Sheep to Yarn in Norway

 Good morning,

This is a peek inside my needlework studio.  Kjell had shelving built to the ceiling for my yarn stash that rotates constantly.  There are all types of yarn here:  wool, acrylic, cotton, bamboo, silk, and so many blends....

I use all different types of yarn depending on the item I am knitting or crocheting.  I just came across this video of how yarn is produced from sheep to yarn in Norway.  After watching it, you will know why wool is so very expensive!  Take a look here:


That was fun, wasn't it!   

Lois

 --------------------------------------------

Come see what we've made!
EvensensProductions.com
Original and Traditional
Hand Crafted Designs

--------------------------------------------

Saturday, April 24, 2021

May I have a menu please?

 Wendy:  May I have a menu, please?

What are your specials today?

I'll just have a rare burger and fries, thanks.

The chair backstory:  Wendy gets into chairs herself, but sometimes has to ask for help to get down.  Lawn chairs tend to fall over when she jumps out alone so she "calls" for her human to come outside and hold the chair while she descends.  I was in the kitchen when I heard, "bark," pause "bark," pause....  I went outside to find her sitting here as if waiting for the server to arrive to take her order.

It is so much fun to have Labs!

 ;),

Lois

Friday, April 23, 2021

Peace Lily in Bloom

 Good morning,

The Peace Lily in my indoor garden is in bloom so I am sharing its beauty.

Lovely!

Lois

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Another WIP

 Good morning,

Here's what is on the hook today.  I'm now making a scarf with this stitch to see how I like it to use to make something bigger. I like it!  

I think I'll make a hat to match, too.

Below the crochet hook is the front side of the work. I have the scarf folded over so you can see the back side of the work above the crochet hook.  I like the reversible stitch for a scarf.  Nice!

What are you making, baking, growing today?

Lois

---------------------------------

Come See What Else We've Made!

EvensensProductions.com

Original and Traditional

Hand Crafted Designs

--------------------------------

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

April (Snow) Showers

 Good morning,

There's a saying here on the South Coast of Ohio:  If you don't like the weather, just hang around for ten minutes.  It will change.

I took the picture above last night just before going to bed.  

And, it's still here this morning.

Yep.  Snow.  I'm sure it will be gone before Noon.

Lois

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Work in Process This Week

 Good morning,

I love this pattern stitch so here's another blanket I'm working on this week.  These colors would be great for a man or a woman.  I have a couple more rows to go and it will be a generous size lap blanket or a crib blanket.  These are also wonderful to have in the car.

You are seeing it draped over the back of my recliner where I work on it in the living room.  When finished, I'll photograph the blanket and list it in our Etsy Shop where I have similar blankets in other colors available already.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best,

Lois

 Update:  It's finished!  More images of the finished project here.  :)

--------------------------------------------
Come See What Else We Have Made

EvensensProductions.com

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

Monday, April 19, 2021

High Test Breakfast

Good morning,

We enjoyed this high calorie energy breakfast recently.  

That's french toast made with my home made bread and covered with real maple syrup, thick bacon, and goetta.  For those who aren't familiar with goetta, it is a German sausage made with oats, pork, and spices.  It's a specialty in the Greater Cincinnati area.  

Yum!

Lois

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Top Spot

 Good morning,

When we pulled into our driveway and I got out to open the gate I heard a tremendous noise from the treetop at the bottom of our driveway.

There at the top of the tree, about 70 feet in the air was a huge hawk screaming.  I don't know if it was a mating call or for some other reason.  Does anyone know why a hawk would do this?

Lois

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Black Tulip

 Good morning,

This is called a Black Tulip, but it is actually a very deep purple.

I received quite a few bulbs from a friend who received them from the city when they were raising the tulip bulbs from a display to replace them with other flowers many years ago.  These lovely blooms continue to bring joy to us year after year.

Happy Spring!

Lois

Friday, April 16, 2021

Lilac in Bloom

 Good morning,

Our lilac is just beginning to bloom.  I wish I could share the lovely aroma with you.

:),

Lois

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Elsa Watching Spring

 Good morning,

Elsa is in one of her favorite spots watching the world go by.  The pups can go in and out of the back of the house to the fenced back yard through the dog door whenever they wish, but also enjoy sitting by the front window.  

We definitely have a very effective alarm system if anyone comes close to the house.

;),

Lois

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Cuddling With a Friend

Good morning,

That's our sweet Wendy sound asleep with one of her toys.  

The same as human children, she likes to cuddle with a toy as she falls asleep.  Well, actually the toy is in her mouth so there is no chance it will get away. 

;),

Lois

Monday, April 12, 2021

Pure As the Driven Snow

 Good morning,

I planted these large white tulips 35 or so years ago and had to move them once when we had a water line break.  I had just an hour to run out to the front garden and save what I could.  Fortunately, I was able to lift, thus save these beauties and many more like them.

It's amusing that there are a few in the middle of the yard where they got placed when soil was filled into the trench after the water line repair.  Those were ones I didn't find to lift, but managed to survive anyway.  Catherine carefully cuts around them when she mows the grass early in the season (she'll laugh when she sees this.)  It's fun to see them out in the middle of the lawn.

:),

Lois

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Candy Stripe Tulip

 Good morning,

I only have one of these left after thirty years.  I guess I could raise the bulb at the end of the season and check to see if there are any new bulbs I could separate, but I don't want to risk losing this one.

I call this my Candy Stripe Tulip, but I'm sure there is a different official name for it.

There was a period many years ago when I attempted to plant as many different varieties of tulips and daffodils as I could find.  I found quite a few, that's for sure!

Happy Spring!

Lois

 

 

 

Saturday, April 10, 2021

This Week's WIP

 Good morning,

A few weeks ago I showed you the center of this crochet piece.  I was working with a pattern stitch design trying to decide if I wanted to make something with it and, if so, what.

I really liked what I saw so have continued adding rows of pink and grey to this one.  A couple of days ago I thought it might be a baby blanket and I'd add a toy to go with it, but now the blanket has grown into a large lap or even recliner blanket.  Stand by for what I decide it will be when finished.  I'm having fun with this stitch!

In the meantime, I made a lap blanket in the same stitch, but different colors.  It is in the shop here if you'd like to see how it looks finished.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the best,

Lois

---------------------------------------

Come See What Else We've Made!

EvensensProductions.com

---------------------------------------

Friday, April 9, 2021

Yet Another Type of Daffodil

 Good morning,

The new blossoms in the garden today are yet another type of daffodil.  These are the same height - 12 to 15 inches - as the common King Alfred yellow daffodils, but the flowers are clusters of multiple blossoms on the top of each stem.  The blossoms are extremely fragrant.  

Each day something different is blooming.

I love it!

Happy Spring,

Lois

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Red Bud Trees in Bloom

 Good morning,

A few days ago our Tulip Magnolia bloomed outside our dining room doors.  

This week our Red Bud Trees are in bloom outside our living room doors.  

I absolutely LOVE Spring!

Enjoy!

Lois

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Tulips are Pink Violets are Lavender

 Good morning,

The parade of color continues in our garden.

 It is so much fun to go outside and see what is newly blooming in the garden each morning.  

I'm so glad I spent so much time in the garden years ago because we are still reaping the benefits of bulbs, trees, and shrubs that continue to bloom year after year.

 What is blooming now where you live?

Happy Spring!

Lois

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Fragrant Daffodils

 Good morning,

It is amazing how just a few Daffodils can fill a room with the sweet fragrance of Spring.

Happy Spring!

Lois

 


 

Monday, April 5, 2021

The Easter Bunny Came!

 Good morning,

The Easter Bunny Came!  Those were the words we heard from the kids every year as they were growing up.  It seems the Easter bunny  has remembered where we live all these years.  ;)

 Not only did the Easter Bunny find us again, Catherine made a spectacular Easter brunch for the three of us.   

We hope you all had as an enjoyable Easter as we all had.

All the very best,

Lois

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Happy Birthday, Idlebrook Bjorn Erik Evensen (Erik)

 Good morning,

Our Erik will be 12 years old tomorrow on Easter Sunday.

Of course, there will be a party.  But, ssssh, please don't tell him.

;),

Lois

 

 

Friday, April 2, 2021

Needlework and Wood Working Update - April, 2021

 Good morning,

Welcome to this month's Needlework and Wood Working Update. 

Above is a new carving from Kjell, "Faces of Love."  What a lovely Wedding or Anniversary gift.  It is to be mounted on the wall without a frame. The depth of the carving provides movement and texture as you move around the room.  $83.  More images and information here.

 "Holy Family" is another wood carving intended to be displayed directly against a wall without a frame.  The beauty and depth of the carving is exceptional.  $83.  Only one available.  More information and images here.

 Kjell made this set of nautical coasters for our own recreation room.  They're large enough to accommodate a large coffee cup, too.  The designs are walnut inlay.  These are even more beautiful in person. 

 This has been the month of the afghan blanket for me.  I am restocking very popular colors and designs that have sold out quickly recently.  This is the newest one "Stained Glass Flower Garden," is available here.  $165.  Only one available.

 This is another version of "Flower Garden" that sold out during the previous month.  $165.  Only one available.  More images and details here.  

 This bed or couch size large "Warm Browns Afghan Blanket" is a favorite color combination of circles and squares very appropriate as a gift for a man or a woman.  I like to think of these colors as Vanilla Chocolate Swirl since I'm such an ice cream lover.  $165.  Only one available.  More images and details here.

 Here is a lap blanket in the same color design as the larger couch or bed size blanket shown above it.  $65.  More images and details here.

These two face masks were a custom order and have been delivered.  We have many available in the shop here, too.

And, finally for this month are two Cloche Hats that also make excellent Chemo Caps.

We have several dozen Cloche Hats/Chemo Caps in a variety of colors and styles from $8. here.

We sincerely appreciate your encouragement, comments, shares, likes, favorites, and purchases, too!

All the very best,

Lois

 ------------------------------------------------

Come See What Else We Have Made!

Evensens Productions.com

Original and Traditional Designs
Hand Crafted in Ohio, USA

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