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, April 30, 2022

Snakie!

 Good morning,

We welcome garter snakes in our garden.  They are not poisonous and eat all kinds of little critters that eat our flowers.

This little one was smart enough to be in the front garden, not in the back where the pups would have surely found it.

:),

Lois

Friday, April 29, 2022

Elsa's Sphinx Impersonation

 Elsa:  Look Mom!  I'm a Sphinx!

Me:  Very good, Elsa.  You are doing that very well.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Sir Winston Churchill Daffodils

 Good morning,

We have some Sir Winston Churchill Daffodils in the front yard down on a hilly spot.  I wish I had planted them closer to the house because they smell so wonderful.  Even that black ant can't resist.

I had a hard time getting down the hill to snap these pictures because the grass was a little wet.  The sun was perfect, though, and I didn't want to miss my chance.
While shopping for Spring bulbs, if you ever see a package of Sir Winston Churchill Daffs, buy them and plant them.  You'll enjoy them year after year.

Happy Spring!

Lois

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Office Dog Wendy

 Good morning,

This image is courtesy of our daughter, Catherine.  She took Wendy to her office, but didn't get much work out of her!

Well, Wendy's job is really for companionship and she's very good at that.

;),

Lois

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Work in Process - Blooms in a Box

Good morning,

Afghan Blankets have been very popular in the shop during the past month.  Above you see blossoms blooming in preparation for the next Flower Garden Afghan Blanket.  There are many other blankets in the shop available to ship now.

Cloche hats have also been very popular this month so I'm keeping my fingers busy making more of them.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the very best,

Lois

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EvensensProductions.com

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Monday, April 25, 2022

Return of the Lilies

 Good morning,

My lilies survived the winter!

I'm quite happy there was something left beneath the soil since the squirrels thought I had planted them for their amusement last year.  

;),

Lois

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Indoor Bouquet - Design Inspiration

 Good morning,

More and more of these beautiful African Violets are blooming this week.

I have made afghans with these colors reversed.  Perhaps It's time to make one with the colors in this order.  

There is so much inspiration for my needlework designs in Nature.

All the best,

Lois

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Red Bud Trees

 Good morning,

Our Red Bud Trees are just beginning to bloom.

They are a little behind other years because of our crazy weather.  It can be warm and sunny one day, then cold and snowing the next.

The only advantage to these temperature swings is the knocking down of mosquitos that hatch, then freeze.  Hopefully, these stingy critters will be fewer this year.  

Happy Spring!

Lois

Friday, April 22, 2022

More Red Tulips

 Good morning,

The red tulips are so very hardy!  This row beside the ADT sign (turned the other way) has been blooming for more than 40 years.  

The great thing about having all the different types of tulips is that they bloom at slightly different times so there is something new blooming every day.

I love Spring!

:),

Lois

Thursday, April 21, 2022

I'm a Pillow

 Good morning,

I sat down on the bed for a few minutes to chat with my son on the phone and this sweet little girl cuddled up and went to sleep with her head on my lap.  

Elsa rarely lets me out of her sight.  She is precious.

;),

Lois

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Bouquet for a Friend

 Good morning,

These lovely flowers were from my garden.  I made this bouquet for someone who couldn't see them bloom in the garden, so this is the next best thing.

So pretty!

:),

Lois

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Field of Buttercups

 Good morning,

This year the buttercups are thick and beautiful in our back yard.  Soon the grass will fill in those spots as the buttercups die back for the summer.

So pretty!

Lois

Monday, April 18, 2022

Brilliant Tulip

 Good morning,

We generally view tulips from the side, but this top view of the inside of the bloom is just spectacular.

This another of the tulips that have been blooming in our yard for 40 or more years.  

Gorgeous!

:),

Lois

Friday, April 15, 2022

Good Friday

 Good morning,

The Christian World is celebrating Easter so just images for reflection this weekend.

We hope you have a Blessed Easter.

We will return to our regularly scheduled blogging on Tuesday.  :)

All the best,

Lois

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Sisters Who Share

 Good morning,

Wendy (left) and Elsa have managed to share the "deck chair" on the patio.  

We originally bought this bed for Penny to use outside, but she never had any interest in it.  Sadly, she died in 2020, but the chair has remained very popular with the other two girls.

Happy Spring!

Lois

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

The Flowers and The Bees

 Good morning,

This honey bee was kind enough to stay long enough for me to take a picture of him.

So pretty!

Lois

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Healthy Brunch

 Good morning,

My Honey and I take turns in the kitchen which gives each of us a rest from the cooking duties and provides for a variety of good food.

My honey prepared such a simple brunch last week:  two eggs over easy, fresh sliced tomatoes heated just enough to melt cheese on top.

Yummy, filling, and even good for us!

Thanks, Sweetie.  Love you,

Lois

Monday, April 11, 2022

Easter Season

 Good morning,

This is not a religious blog, but it is the time of year to recognize the importance of the season for millions of people around the world and right here at home.

For Christians, the Easter season is a time of reflection and hope.  In this time of war, instability, and illness, many of us find prayer especially comforting and renewing.

My personal prayer is for peace and healing.  And, for all those who are ill and suffering both around the world and here near and dear I pray that they will heal and renew in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lois


 

Sunday, April 10, 2022

Red Tulip

 Good morning,

Here come the tulips!  

This is another one that has returned year after year to share it's beauty with us.

I love Spring!

Lois

Saturday, April 9, 2022

Princess Wendy

 Erik:   Wendy, why are you sitting in that chair again?

Wendy:  Because I am a Princess.

Erik:  Who says you are a Princess?  You're not a Princess!

Wendy:  Au contraire.  I am a Princess.  I just know it.  And, I am sitting on my Princess throne.

Erik:  Mom, is Wendy really a Princess?

Me:  No, Erik, but she likes to pretend.  We will let her say she is a Princess today.

Friday, April 8, 2022

Time for Violets

 Good morning,

The violets have begun to bloom and are so pretty sprinkled around the yard.

I remember making chains of them and wearing them as necklaces when we were kids.

Kids with cell phones and video games probably don't have time to make violet necklaces these days.  So sad if they don't....

Happy Spring!

Lois

Thursday, April 7, 2022

Needlework and Wood Working Update - April, 2022

 

 Good morning,

This is our monthly Needlework and Wood Working Update which features the items we have completed since last month's update.  

Above is a generous size lap blanket in shades of brown and tan that is perfect for a man or a woman so would make an excellent Father's Day or Mother's Day gift.  $65.  More images and information here.

 This is a lovely highly textured super soft wool blend afghan blanket 46" x 48".  $100.  More information here.

 And, the final blanket for this month is The Blue and The Gray.  The Georgetown University colors were selected to represent the colors of the North and the South during the Civil War.  My interlaced pattern stitch represents the strength of the United States as one nation.  $60.  Details here.

 New this month is this soft mobius shawl scarf.  What a lovely Mother's Day present that can be used as a shawl on chilly evenings or a scarf in winter.  $45.  Details here.

 This coordinated hat and cowl are sold separately.  What a gorgeous fashion addition to your wardrobe!  Hat $40. Hat details here.  Cowl Scarf $38.  Cowl details here.

 This cloche hat ...

 ... and this cloche hat were both sold out shortly after they were made and listed in the shop.

Even more hats were made and added to the shop...

There is a variety of yarn content and sizes.

Several dozen hat choices available here.

Toilet Tissue Toppers are also very popular.

What a great way to dress up your bathroom decor for only $8 each.



Our Toilet Tissue Toppers can be found in our Home Living Entertaining Shop Section.

This is an absolutely gorgeous wood carving that Kjell completed this month.  $94.  More details and information here.

Two more of these Kennel Tags were also made and delivered this month.  Since they are personalized, I'm using our Elsa's tag to show you how they look.  Temporarily, these are not available to be made.  I'll list them in the shop again when they can be ordered.

 So ends another month of creativity for our shop.  Come see what else we've made here:

EvensensProductions

We love sharing our creativity and sincerely appreciate your encouragement, likes, shares, favorites, and purchases, too!

All the very best,

Lois

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Work in Process This Week

 Good morning,

I've had quite a few distractions this week so haven't worked at the same pace as usual on projects for the shop.  With all the distractions, I am not taking custom orders for awhile since I'm not able to project completion dates.

There are times when I'm able to sit and work, though.  I'm finally putting together the afghan blanket you see in the image.  This time I'm using hunter green for the border.  The colors are more vivid in real life.  I took the picture with my phone camera with just the light beside my chair.

Afghan blankets have been selling out quickly recently so I have several more color combinations lined up to make. 

 I find my crochet and knitting very soothing.  I'm also so very happy we have the shop.  It's a sense of purpose after retirement from the professional world.  And, it is so very good to know that our items can be found in homes and businesses around the globe.  Thank you for that.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the very best,

Lois

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Daffs Still in Bloom

 Good morning,

We still have clumps of beautiful daffodils around the yard.

 We have had more than the usual temperature swings this Spring.  We'll have very warm weather for a few days, the suddenly dip below freezing for a day.

 The daffs don't see to mind those temperature swings and the cool weather just may keep them from wilting sooner.

I do like the sporadic cold to keep the mosquitos down.  So far, we have had a bug-free Spring.  Nice.

All the best,

Lois