2025 Gift Baskets

 Good morning,

Each year Catherine makes gift baskets for business clients of her CPA firm.  She buys all the ingredients, puts them all together and my job is to make and add the bow.  This is the first test basket containing fruit, nuts, and chocolate.  She has another winner this year! 

Catherine set up a table in the middle of our entrance hall so we have more space to work.  Before we are finished, we will have baskets covering the dining room table and every other flat area on the first floor of the house.

Ah, yes, it's Christmas time again!  I hope your preparations are going well.

All the best,

Lois

Sourdough Culture

 Good morning,

A few days ago I told you about the sourdough culture that our granddaughter, Anna, brought me from Alaska.

Well, for the past few days I've been growing that good stuff and am almost ready to make bread out of it.  This is how it looked last night.  It's getting all foamy and smells great.

I think today just may be a bread day!

:),

Lois

Birthday Dinner!

 Good morning,

Last Friday we celebrated two birthdays at J. Alexander's Restaurant:  our friend Bill's and mine.  There were five of us:  Bill, Catherine, Les (who happened to be in town), Kjell, and me.

The company and conversation were wonderful as was the food!  I look at these pictures and can still imagine the wonderful taste. Kjell and I had our favorites, steak and a fully loaded potato.

 Catherine's favorite is tuna with salad.

And, Bill and I were treated to the famous J. Alexander's Carrot Cake.

Such fun!  And, it is a pleasure to still be having birthdays.  It sure beats the alternative!

All the best,

Lois

It's That Time of the Year

 Good morning,

It's that time of the year that we enjoy our fireplace.  We seem to have enough firewood each year from trees that come down in our yard and wood that our friend Bill brings to us.

My only problem these days is carrying it inside because of my bad back.  Fortunately, I have a lovely family who will bring me buckets of wood so that I can keep the living room toasty warm.

Happy December!

All the best,

Lois

Lily's First Qualifying Agility Run!

 Good morning,

We are SO proud of our baby Lily and her trainer, our daughter Catherine!  Lily has just achieved her first Qualifying Agility Run at our AKC Queen City Dog Training Club.  

Lily is now on her way to achieving Agility titles.  We are sure her great, great, great Aunt Penny is looking down from doggie heaven and proudly wagging her tail!

Here's the video of the run:

We're so happy for Team Lily!

 All the very best,

Lois

Roses and Chocolate

 Good morning,

Yesterday morning I woke up to this on the dining room table.  My Honey knows EXACTLY how to wow me on my birthday.

 Thanks also go to Kjell's secret shopper, Catherine.

The day yesterday was wonderful.  Relaxing all day, then a lovely dinner out with family and friends.  The best part is I didn't have to do the dishes.  More images to come. 

 All the best,

Lois

Work in Process - Sweater Update

 Good morning,

Awhile back I showed you the back of a sweater I had started for our daughter Catherine.

Well, the front and the back are finished, so it's time to design and make the sleeves.

I'm writing this new pattern as I go so it takes longer than my designs I've made many times over and over.

So far, so good!

Stay tuned!

Lois