Needlework Update - March, 2026

 

Good morning,

Welcome to our Needlework Update!  This is where we show you what we've completed since the last Update.  

Above is a gorgeous Warm Rich Browns Large Afghan Blanket.  It's lovely for a man or a woman.  $185.  More information and images are here.  Hint:  This is a great Easter, Mother's Day, or Father's Day present!

 This Christening, Bris, or Naming Ceremony Blanket is very popular in the shop.  $75.  Only one currently available.

 This Lap Blanket in Royal Blue and White is a lovely gift for someone special or to use yourself.  The colors just might be your school colors, too.  $55.  More information and images are here.

 This Wool Blend Basket Weave hat was a custom order and has been delivered.  I'm currently working on a dark brown hat in the same design. When finished, it'll be available in the shop.

This Pure White Cloche Hat is new in the shop.  $10.  More information and images here.

This wool blend hat is available here.  $12. Only one available.

This Royal Blue hat is available here.  $10.  Only one available.

And, finally, here's a brown Cloche Hat that was just added to the shop.  $10.  More about this hat is here.

 That's it for another Update.  We are both planning and making things for the shop.  We sincerely appreciate your encouragement, likes, shares, favorites, pins, comments, and purchases, too!

 Please stop by to see the  nearly 300 items we have available to ship now at Evensens Productions!

You'll note there is no wood working update included this time.  Kjell is still taking time off from wood working since his cataract surgery.  He has to be very careful not to get dust or wood chips near his eyes.  We hope to have him back in his wood workshop soon!

All the very best,

Lois

Happy Anniversary to My Honey!

 Happy Anniversary to My Honey, Kjell!

Yesterday was our anniversary.  This year we celebrate 27 wonderful years of marriage and 10 years of retirement. 

 Thank you for the lovely flowers, Sweetheart.

 Thank you to Catherine for the tray of cookies from the same wonderful bakery that made our wedding cake.

This is my gift to My Honey who makes such yummy meals, especially those with a Norwegian flavor.

Last night we cooked at home.  Next week we will celebrate with a dinner out at a restaurant. 

Life is good!  

I love you, Sweetie,

Lois

Signs of Spring

 
Good morning,

When I was out in the back yard with the dogs yesterday afternoon, I saw the daffodils poking up in front of the stone wall. 

We have had temperatures in the 60's and down to zero over the last few weeks.  Now that the daffs are poking their leaves up we know Spring is getting close!

All the very best,

Lois 

 

 

 

Egg Lunch Salad During Lent

 Good morning,

That's going to be LOTS of egg salad!  Catherine is making it for the dog club luncheon during a show.  

It looks good to me! 

 Of course, Lily is available to supervise and be the official Lab tester.

Yum!

:),

Lois

Work in Process This Week - Intarsia Hat

 Good morning,

My current project is an intarsia knit hat.  When finished, it will be available in the shop.   There are similar hats in other colors in the shop that are available to ship now.

I have been making some smaller items since finishing the Large Warm Rich Browns Afghan Blanket last week.  After a large project, it is fun to switch to some small projects for awhile.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the very best,

Lois

Potholders Made in Norway

 Good morning,

Those lovely pot holders are eleven years old. When Kjell and I visited Norway in 2015 we visited his sister and brother-in-law.  While sitting on their deck, my sister-in-law pulled out her knitting needles, yarn, and began knitting.  Before the evening was over, she handed me this lovely pair of potholders.

These are double thick and just wonderful to use.  I've been using them for eleven years now and they are like new.

I so appreciate hand made gifts.  Thank you, Torild, I think of you every time I use them. 

All the very best,

Lois

So Peaceful

 Good morning,

That's sweet Elsa sleeping on the couch with Catherine's pillow.  

It's really hard to be a dog here. 

Precious.

All the best,

Lois

CinCity Short Ribs

 Good morning,

Catherine sent me this image of her Short Ribs dinner at CinCity Steak House, a lovely Cincinnati restaurant. 

My goodness, that looks good.

At least I can enjoy seeing it without eating a single calorie.  There are good things about images....

:),

Lois

Velvet Roses

 Good morning,

These roses are so pretty that I had to get a picture to share.  These are from My Honey for Valentine's Day.  

The roses are real, but they appear to be made of velvet.

So pretty!

Thank you, Sweetie!

Love you,

Lois

(Special thanks to Kjell's not-so secret shopper, Catherine.) 

Indoor Garden Update

 Good morning,

Our little indoor garden is coming along nicely.  I wish I had more space where I could transplant some of these into pots and keep them in the sun until I can plant them outside.  

This is a fun project that Santa brought.   

All the best,

Lois

What Dad Sees

Good morning,

Kjell sent me this image.  That's his knee in the lower right corner.  He was sitting in his recliner trying to watch TV, but this is what he sees.

 

Dear Sweet Elsa has a way of being "in your face!"  She's very sweet, though, and gets down when asked.  She just wanted some loving and perhaps a cookie or two.

 

Do you have fur babies that manage to get your attention easily?

 

:),

Lois

Towel Critter - Freedom of the Seas

 Good morning,

The towel critters on board RCCL ships are getting more and more unusual.

I'm not quite sure what this one is supposed to be.  Anyone have a guess?  Perhaps a very fat camel?

Anyway, he's cute.  Catherine sent me this image from her cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas.  Thank you, Catherine!

Enjoy!

Lois 

 

 

 

Top Tier Event - Freedom of the Seas

 Good morning,

Catherine snapped this image while at the Top Tier Event aboard Freedom of the Seas.  This is an opportunity for a question and answer session with the Captain for very frequent cruisers.  I recognize the lounge aboard Freedom where this event is taking place.

Catherine tells us that's Captain Materiz from Stockholm, Sweden.  He joined RCCL in 2001 and Viking Serenade was his first ship.  Kjell and I didn't know him when Kjell was working.  

It's fun to see all of these images from Freedom.  I hope you're enjoying them, too.  Thank you, Catherine, for sharing them with us.

Love you,

Mom

Paradise Island, Bahamas

 Good morning,

There in the distance is the famous Atlantis on Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas.  

Catherine took this image from her balcony aboard Freedom of the Seas.

She stayed on board the ship this time since we've visited Atlantis many times before.  It's one of those places you should see at least once if you get to Nassau.

 An interesting tidbit of information:  Paradise Island was called Hog Island until it was developed as a tourist destination.   

Enjoy!

Lois

Nassau Party Boat

 Good morning,

Our daughter, Catherine, took this image from the balcony of her suite aboard Freedom of the Seas.

This Nassau Party Boat has gotten a new paint job since we've been to Nassau.  It looks like camouflage to me.  ;) 

Enjoy!

Lois

Work in Process - Rich Warm Browns

 Good morning,

The work in process this week is a large afghan blanket in rich, warm browns.  

Since I took this image, I've finished all 80 squares and am now crocheting them together.  This one will be stunning!

When finished, this will be available in the shop.  There are many finished blankets and other items in the shop ready to ship now:  https://EvensensProductions.Etsy.com.

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the very best,

Lois

Dinner at Chops - Freedom of the Seas

 Good morning,

Ah, yes, dinner at Chops aboard Freedom of the Seas.  This is their fantastic rack of lamb.  

Lobster bisque came first.

  

Everything on this menu is fantastic!

Ah, yes, memories.  Thank you for sharing your images, Catherine!

Love you,

Mom & Dad

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day
from all of us in the Evensen Household
Kjell, Catherine, Wendy, Elsa (pictured), Lily, and Me!

Casino Royale - Freedom of the Seas

 Good morning, 

Catherine and Erica are aboard Freedom of the Seas and are sharing their images with us.

Kjell and I lived aboard Freedom for six years before his retirement from Royal Caribbean.  We are seeing many changes on board since we left in 2016.  

Beautiful!

Enjoy,

Lois

Chair Warmer

 Good morning,

While his Mommy is cruising with Catherine, Teddy is busy keeping our Daddy's chair warm.

It's rough to be a dog here....

;),

Lois

Giovanni's Restaurant - Freedom of the Seas

 Good morning,

Catherine and Erica's first stop on board was Giovanni's Restaurant for lunch.   

 Ah, yes, cruise ship food!  This is Linguine con le Gamberi.  AKA Italian pasta and sea food.  Oh, my....

More to come!

Lois

Freedom of the Seas

 Good morning,

Catherine and Erica have checked into their Jr. Suite aboard Freedom of the Seas sailing out of Miami, Florida.

Freedom holds a special place in our hearts.  That ship was Kjell's and my "home" from 2010 to 2016 when he retired from Royal Caribbean after 31 years.  Of course, Catherine sailed with us many times while we were there so a cruise aboard Freedom is a homecoming for her.  

Have fun, Ladies!  We look forward to seeing your pictures!

Love you,

Mom and Dad

Flying Delta

 Good morning,

Catherine and Erica are flying Delta.

Any ideas where they could be going?

Watch this space for images from warm places! 

;),

Lois

Air Force Museum Photograph

 Good morning,

Catherine and Erica are traveling again.  No, not on the aircraft in the image.  That sure looks like an older version of the aircraft used as Air Force One.

Catherine sent me this image that she took at the airport in Dayton, Ohio.  The small print in the lower left corner says it is from the National Museum of the United States Air Force. What fun it would be to visit this place!

At first I didn't realize how big this picture must be.  Take a look at the electrical outlet in the upper left corner.  This picture is huge!  

How very cool!

Thank you, Catherine.

Have a safe trip!  Love you,

Mom

Planning the Next Escapade

 Good morning,

The Pack is having a meeting of the minds to plan their next escapade.

Hmmm....

 I wonder what they are dreaming up now....

;),

Lois

TV Time

 Good morning,

Here's another picture Kjell took while we were watching TV in the living room.  

That's Elsa closest to the camera and Lily.  Lily is getting so big!  She's lost the puppy look and is a big girl now. 

The girls have decided this couch is theirs.  

Ah, yes, another snow day at home....

Happy Winter!

Lois

Electric Snow Shovel

 Good morning,

Our new electric snow shovel came today.  It's a cute little thing and will handle up to six inches of snow.

 Kjell "drove" it past me standing on the back porch so I could take a video to send to Catherine at her office.  Of course, it wasn't intended to use on the packed snow next to the car.

Later Catherine came home and used it on the sidewalk in front of the house.  She said it is great!

Let's hope the arrival of the new device means there won't be any more snow this winter if Murphy has his way.

All the best,

Lois

Snow, Snow, Go Away!

 Good morning,

We got another three inches of snow yesterday.  Just what we needed, right?  It's just enough to have to shovel again all the places that were shoveled a few days ago.  The image was taken an hour before the new snow started falling....

 At least our trash was picked up this week.  We were missed last week and Kjell had to pull the full can back up from the curb.  Not fun since we are considerably "up hill" from the street.  

Stay warm!

All the best,

Lois

Checkup Appointment

 Good morning,

Yesterday was a check up day at UC Health.  

We laugh about people who say they will travel when they retire.  We travel to and from UC Health!  Seriously, we're glad we traveled far and wide before we retired so now we can relax at home.

We're fortunate to live less than ten minutes from the University of Cincinnati and UC Health. 

 This time it was Kjell's turn for a checkup.  This is about one fourth of the large atrium waiting area.  I turned the camera to get a section of the room where I didn't get anyone's faces.

 Kjell's tests were so good that he didn't even have to sit in the fancy chair when we saw the doctor.  We talked about test results, were told to come back again next year, and we were ready to go home.

I love that kind of visit.  Yay!

All the best,

Lois

It's a Ruff Life

 Good morning,

Kjell sent me this image of Wendy (left) and Elsa dealing with their "ruff" life.

They are part of our security system on their chargers.  They look calm now, but don't try to come into our yard uninvited!

I hope you're staying warm!

Lois

Catherine's Potato Ham Corn Soup

 Good morning,

More food!

With all of this snow and cold weather, staying home to make and eat good food has become the achievement of the day.  

What's really fun is using what we have to create new and tasty dishes.  In that crock pot is Catherine's potato soup with ham and corn added.  It was fabulous!  

What is your favorite cold weather food?

I hope you're staying warm!  All the best,

Lois

Just Enough

 Good morning,

Yesterday evening after dinner I got so hungry.  I could have easily sat down with a bag of chips, or opened a bag of cookies....

But., I opted for a few crackers with a taste of cheese.  It was just enough.

I didn't used to have so much self control....

;),

Lois

A Joint Venture Dinner: Split Pea Soup and Whole Wheat Bread

 Good morning,

Kjell and I shared the kitchen for most of the day yesterday.  

We had a great dinner of Kjell's home made Split Pea with Ham Soup and my home made Whole Wheat made with Brown Sugar bread.   

 Of course, the ham bone from Catherine's marvelous ham dinner flavored the soup along with chunks of very tender ham.

 And, the whole wheat brown sugar bread rose perfectly to the occasion.

 Win-Win!

Sorry I can't share samples here on the blog.

All the best,

Lois