Needlework and Wood Working Update - January, 2026

 Good morning,

Welcome to our Needlework and Wood Working Update featuring items we have completed since the last Update.  

Above is a Large Afghan Blanket featuring beautiful pink and turquoise raised flowers bordered by matching turquoise.  $185.  Only one available.  More information and images here. 

 This sweater was a special project for our daughter, Catherine, for Christmas.  It took longer than usual for a couple of reasons, mostly because I designed as I made it.  It's crocheted with a special gorgeous Lion Brand Yarn.  

 I have enough yarn to make a couple of items for the shop, too.  Above is a cloche hat.  $12.  Only one available.  More information and images here.

And, here's a matching scarf that is so very soft and comfortable.  It will be a favorite for years to come.  $40.  More information and images here.

Kjell has not been working with wood for a couple of months because he had cataract surgery and couldn't take the chance a wood chip or dust could get into his eyes.  He has been busy with his 3D Printer, though!  He made two of these chisel sharpers:  one for himself and one for a gift for our friend Bill who is so helpful for so many things we need done here.  All reports are that the sharpeners work perfectly.

Kjell has started wood projects again.  Some are partially made, others are still in the drawing stage on his computer.  

I also had cataract surgery that showed me down, but I was able to keep crocheting and knitting for the past couple of months.  Now that we've both recovered, we are up and running with new projects.

We sincerely appreciate your encouragement, likes, shares, favorites, pins, and purchases, too, from our little shop for the past fourteen, almost fifteen years:  EvensensProductions.Etsy.com.  Come take a look!

 All the very best,

Lois & Kjell

Chef Kjell's Meat Cakes

 Good morning,

The house smelled fantastic while Kjell was making his Norwegian Meat Cakes this week.  Notice I started to cut the first bite, then remembered I needed to take a picture.  Also, you'll see my security team leader at the top of the image. I'm not so sure whether she is guarding me or the meat cakes.  ;)

 Kjell's meat cakes contain both beef and pork.  

Here's what he wrote on his blog about the ingredients:

"Homemade Medisterkaker (70% pork and 30% beef), mixed with egg, red onion, ginger, nutmeg, salt, pepper, potato starch, milk, and red wine. Side dishes: potatoes, mashed sweet green peas, and brown sauce with wine. Wine in food reminds me of a few years back when we visited the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. If you can't drink alcohol, you can eat it."

This was fantastic!  Kjell made several dozen so we have some frozen for future meals.  

It's such fun to take turns cooking so we can enjoy so many different yummy meals!

All the best, 

Lois

WIP - Christening Blanket

 Good morning,

This week I'm working on a Christening Blanket for the shop.  This one is a favorite for me to make and for our customers.   It is so lacy and soft.  It will become a family heirloom.

I have finished the large afghan turquoise blanket I showed you last week while I was making it.  I took the pictures for the listing yesterday and will write and upload the listing in the next day or two.  

There are many blankets and other items available in the shop now here:  EvensensProductions. 

What are you making, baking, growing this week?

All the very best,

Lois

BLT

 Good morning,

I consider a BLT (Bacon Lettuce Tomato) sandwich comfort food that brings great memories of my childhood when my Mom made them.  

I made mine with my toasted homemade whole wheat bread and was very generous with the mayonnaise.

Yum. Oh, yes, yum!

 What's your favorite comfort food?

:),

Lois

Last Week's Snow

 Good morning,

This picture just popped up in my feed last night.  I took it a last week when cities North of us were getting record amounts of snow.

 We were just lucky!

Last night was even luckier.  We're having a record warm spell for January.  It was 61 F at 11 PM last night.

Last month, we had a very cold December with snow and continuous temps below freezing that kept the ice and snow on the ground and streets for much of the month. 

There's a saying in Cincinnati:  If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes. It'll change.

I hope the weather is comfortable wherever you are.

All the best,

Lois

Wendy's Winter Nose

 Good morning,

This is our beautiful eleven year old Wendy.

During the summer months, Wendy has a black nose.  When the weather turns cold and she spends more time in the house out of sunlight, her nose turns pink.

I think she is pretty both ways.

:),

Lois

Baby Basil is Born (Sprouting)!

 Good morning,

We have baby basil sprouting in our hydroponic garden.   

 This is a follow-up to my post detailing how we set up our Christmas gift from Santa.  

Click here for the original post. 

Perhaps we'll eventually get enough to use in cooking.  ;)

This is fun!

Lois