Kjell snapped this image of a garter snake on our front porch. He looks very well fed!
These characters are harmless and do a great deal of good in the garden. They eat all the critters that eat our plants so we're happy to see them around.
Of course, the pups think they should keep all snakes out of the yard, but this one was smart enough to be in the front yard where the pups can't get to him.
Ah, yes, signs of Spring....
Lois
I love Spring! Every morning I go outside to see the new blossoms.
Today I wasn't disappointed with this beautiful bright red tulip. I planted this many years ago - perhaps 30 - and it returns to delight us every year.
Happy Spring!
Lois
We have four flower pots on the front porch. Two of them contain lilies that return year after year. It's always a wonderful part of Spring when I see the Lilies returning.
In a few weeks I'll show you pictures of beautiful lilies blooming here.
Happy Spring!
Lois
Our little hydroponic garden is thriving in our library. We are enjoying the fruits of our labor while cooking, too!
This was a winner!
Do you like to experiment in the kitchen? I love experimenting, especially with bread!
All the best,
Lois
Elsa (top) and Wendy are out for last call before bed time last night. Lily is also wandering around the yard.
Earlier in the evening, Elsa and Lily had a small possum down and "playing possum" in the driveway. I didn't manage to get a picture because I was busy getting the dogs back into the house.
Kjell and I watched the possum on the security cameras, though. It took about ten minutes for the little critter to slowly stand up, then stagger around a bit before crawling under the gate and waddling down the driveway.
When I took this picture, I asked Elsa if she found a possum tonight. I didn't say it angrily, just a question. She immediately looked guilty! I told her there was no reason to feel guilty. Her job is to keep scary critters out of the yard.
The pups do a very good job of securing the property from scary critters such as possums, birds, bunnies, leaves blowing in the wind....
They're wonderful pups.
:),
Lois
This is our Lily "in the jungle" of our back yard. It seems every 48 hours we alternate between Spring and Winter.
The grass and flowers are growing so the greenery in the back yard is getting deep.
Kjell says Lily thinks we should get out the lawn mower. Cute.
;),
Lois
We hit the jackpot for dinner last night. Catherine brought us single Cob Salads last night. Kjell made pan fried garlic and sea salt shrimp.
It was the very best of the best!
We can do this one again!
The weather feels like summer this week so summer salads are just perfect!
What's your favorite summer dinner?
All the best,
Lois
Today's image is courtesy of Kjell. He took the girls (Lily, left, and Elsa) out to enjoy the beautiful weather and they went exploring under the old oak tree.
They have been having a great time digging it all out for the past few years.
Winne the Pooh comes to mind....
:),
Lois
These sell out fast, so I'm back on a roll making baby blankets and matching toys. This baby blanket will have a matching doll toy. These make lovely gifts! When finished, it'll be in the shop.
We have nearly 300 other items in the shop now that are ready to ship.
Reminder: There are just a few days left of our 15th Anniversary Sale. Our Etsy shop is 15 years old this month, so we are offering our first-ever all-shop sale to celebrate. Use this coupon at checkout for 15% off your entire order to your USA address: 0326ANNIVERSARY15. The coupon is valid through March 31. Orders over $200 ship free to your USA address with no coupon needed.
We thank everyone who has encouraged us since we started our retirement adventure, Evensens Productions, fifteen years ago. We sincerely appreciate your shares, favorites, likes, pins, comments, and purchases, too!
All the very best,
Lois and Kjell
This is breakfast-type food that can be served at any time of the day. This is another Kjell meal so keep in mind he grew up in Norway where high calorie and high fat meals kept the cold away.
This was quite tasty so was worth a few extra calories. It's potatoes and carrots mashed with butter and served with white sauce with herbs from our garden. Of course, that's bacon. Good, thick bacon, I must add!
We don't always eat like this. The day before our dinner was chicken, salad, and green beans all prepared by me.
;),
Lois
We have had some beautiful weather in Ohio this week.
It was perfect weather to enjoy a glass of wine on the patio.
I hope all is well wherever you are.
All the best,
Lois
We had this Norwegian-type snack of shrimp boiled in salt water on bread with mayonnaise.
Yes, it's delicious! It reminds me of when we bought shrimp on the dockside in Oslo and sat on a park bench to eat it. We had plenty of competition from the sea gulls trying to steal our shrimp!
Happy Spring!
Lois
We're fortunate to have Jungle Jim's International Market near us where we can get foods from all over the world.
Since My Honey is Norwegian by birth and American by choice, we enjoy foods popular in both countries. Pictured is a favorite. Kjell fries the fish balls in butter, olive oil, and spices. He serves them with potatoes, carrots, and a yummy white sauce with herbs (locally grown in our library hydroponic garden) and garlic that he makes himself.
An image of the meal prepared is in my earlier post here.
For those not familiar with fish balls, think of them as meatballs, only with fish instead of beef or pork. The name of the brand of fish balls translates to House Mother. I really like the traditional artwork on the can, too.
What traditional foods do you enjoy?
All the best,
Lois
Here's another Work in Process that I am working on between other projects. I switch between knit and crochet to give my hands a rest. It seems knitting is harder on my hands than crocheting.
I've designed this sweater for Catherine. Her favorite style is a tunic and she likes the yarn. I've finished the back and have started the front. It's too warm to wear this now anyway, so I'll continue to work on it alternately with crochet projects.
What are you making, baking, growing this week?
All the best,
Lois
This image doesn't do the food justice. This is Salmon in a Shrimp Sauce that Kjell made. It's served with potatoes and carrots.
The trick to the salmon flavor is that it is pan fried on both sides. The sauce contains shrimp, tomatoes, white wine, herbs from our hydroponic garden in our library, garlic, and lots of patience.
It was fabulous!
Thanks, Sweetie! I love your concoctions!
Love you,
Lois
I have good news and bad news about our Tulip Magnolia.
First the good news! It bloomed this week! How gorgeous!
I'm so glad I went outside on Monday and took pictures.
Now for the bad news. :(
There will be a few blossoms that missed the cold and will still bloom, but the full glory of the tree is gone for this year.
Mother Nature isn't always nice. I'm just grateful for the few hours we were able to enjoy the glory of this tree in bloom.
Happy Spring!
Lois
This week's Work in Process is a baby blanket. I'll make a toy turtle to match which will make it a lovely baby gift. There are other blankets and sweaters for babies and children in the shop ready to ship now.
I am also waiting for sunny days to photo hats that I've finished, but have not yet listed. I like to photo them in both natural light and with flash to show the stitch details.
I have more ideas than I have time! On my agenda are more baby blankets, turtles, dolls, and a large Brilliant Garden Afghan Blanket. Someone wrote and asked me about a large afghan blanket with brilliant flowers and a bright green border similar to a lap blanket already in the shop. So, that one is perking in my mind while I'm making other items.
Thanks to everyone for your encouragement, comments, shares, likes, pins, favorites, and purchases, too! Our shop is very special to us as we enjoy our retirement from our professional lives. And, a reminder, this is our Evensens Productions Fifteen Year Anniversary on Etsy! To celebrate, we have a sale running for March only, 15% off! Use this coupon code at checkout: 0326ANNIVERSARY15.
What are you making, baking, growing this week? I love reading your blogs and hearing about what you other creative people are doing!
All the very best,
Lois
Coming soon to our garden are Tulips and Iris.
Today, though, there is snow in the forecast.
Mother Nature is teasing again!
;),
Lois
More Daffodils are blooming along the stone wall in our back garden. These yellow and white Daffs bloom seven to ten days after the King Alfred bright yellow flowers.
Beautiful!
I love Spring!
Lois
Yesterday was turkey day at our house. We feed our pups raw food that we purchase directly from the grocery and butcher. Today it was 40 pounds of fresh turkey directly from a local butcher.
Usually, we just get the trimmings, but this time, we got a half of a turkey in the box. What a surprise!
It takes about an hour to get it cut, ground, and stashed in the basement freezer.
Of course, the three Lab Supervisors are also Lab Testers so they get a piece now and then during the process.
We're good for another eight to ten weeks before we have to repeat the process.
Happy dogs, happy life!
Lois
Mother Nature gave us the first crocus blooms today.
These beauties have been blooming beside my driveway for more than 35 years.
Lovely!
Happy (almost) Spring!
Lois
Yesterday morning I was greeted by this sweet little buttercup.
Soon the entire back yard will be covered with a blanket of these little beauties.
I'll have that song in my head all week.
All the best,
Lois
It's lovely to see these daffodils, tulips, and day lilies poking up through the ground. Years ago, I planted these with a "planned random" (yes, an oxymoron) pattern. The way it worked was the best part: there was color for most of the summer.
When one of the types of flowers began to die back, the next would bloom. There are even different types of daffodils and tulips that bloom at different times.
My back and knees don't allow me to garden like I used to. One of the wonderful thing about living in the same house for 47 years is being able to see flowers bloom that I planted 30 or 40 years ago.
Spring is almost officially here!
All the very best,
Lois
Our Daffodils have bowed their head in the (almost) Spring rain.
It is so wonderful to see beautiful blossoms again! Each morning I go outside to see what Mother Nature has brought to us to enjoy.
Happy (almost) Spring! We are enjoying beautiful weather right now, but could still have some very cold weather before Winter is truly gone.
All the very best,
Lois
When I took this batch of bread dough out of the oven after the first rise (no heat for first rise, just oven light turned on), and prepared to knead it once again, I noticed he was smiling at me.
Yes, he was quite happy!
It is good to have happy sourdough.
;),
Lois
Our indoor garden is perking up now that the days are getting longer. Our Peace Lily will soon have a new blossom.
I'm so happy to see the daffodils pushing up through the ground outside, too!
We are having some very warm days, there are insects swarming in the air, and the soil smells of fresh rain. But, it's still only March so we could have more very cold days.
I hope the weather is lovely wherever you are.
All the best,
Lois
Our shop, Evensens Productions, is 15 years old and we are celebrating with first-time 15% off shop wide!
We hope you'll come and shop to celebrate with us! Use this code at checkout for 15% off your entire order this month only: 0326ANNIVERSARY15.
We have nearly 300 items for all ages ready to ship to your USA address!
Thank you, from the bottoms of our hearts, for your encouragement, comments, favorites, likes, pins, and purchases, too!
Questions? Please ask!
All the very best,
Lois
This is another yummy Norwegian-style dinner prepared by Kjell. Those are fried fish balls and boiled potatoes topped with his delicious white sauce. He used herbs we grew in our living room in our hydroponic garden. That white sauce is a real winner!
Yum!
Lois
I'm getting back into the swing of things producing items for the shop.
This is a dark brown basket weave hat that already has a ribbed brim and will have a pom pom when finished. When finished, it'll be in the shop where there are already nearly 300 items ready to ship.
What are you making, baking, growing this week? I love hearing about your projects.
All the very best,
Lois
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!
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
