Villefranche, France

 Good morning,

Kjell was going through images he took while we were still at sea so many years.  He worked at sea for 50 years and I was able to travel with him for the last 20 years.  The image above was taken in Villefranche, France, about 20 years ago.  Every time the ship stopped at that port, we went ashore for lunch and to take pictures.  It is still our favorite port in the Mediterranean.

This image has been a favorite for a long time.  We've framed it and given it as gifts, have hung it in our own home, and have sold copies of it at fairs for our grandchildren's schools.

It's fun to go through old images, isn't it.  There are so many great memories triggered by them.

All the best,

Lois

Mom! Come to Bed!

 Good morning,

I carried some items upstairs last night and, of course, Elsa had to come with me.  It's so funny when she decides it is time for bed and she lets me know it.

I think we humans are owned by some very nice dogs here in this house. 

;),

Lois

Work in Process - Shiny Flowers for Afghan Blanket

 Good morning,

The weather is (strangely for this time of year) quite warm this week.  And, just to make us long even more for Spring, the sun was out yesterday.  Catherine and I had a Girls Day Out and had our hair cut, then brought home pizza for dinner.  Such a lovely day!

I finished the Turquoise, Purple, Green, and White Bavarian Afghan Blanket that I was making last week.  The colors produced a very striking blanket.  It is now in the shop here.

In the image above are flowers blooming in a box on the dining room table again.  These pretty flowers with shiny petals will eventually be a part of a large afghan blanket.  It takes longer to work with this yarn because of its texture, but the extra time is worth it.  When I have made of eighty of them, they will make a beautiful blanket.  When finished, I'll photo and list it in the shop.

 What are you making, baking, growing this week?  I love seeing what you are doing.  A friend in New York State made sourdough and published a picture of it on Facebook.  Oh, it looks good!

 All the best,

Lois

Bath Time for the Stuffies

 Good morning,

Our pups, especially Baby Lily, tend to take a stuffed toy outside every time they go out.  They just don't bring those toys back in.  Of course, they get muddy and dirty.  So, every few days we walk around, pick them up, and I toss them into the washer with Tide and laundry sanitizer.  Above you see a load of toys in the washer. The image was taken through the glass top of the washer. 

 Here we go with a little rinse action....

 After a trip through the dryer,

here they are in clean baskets ready to go back upstairs.

When we take a basket of clean toys upstairs, the pups get all excited as if they are all brand new.  It's so much fun to watch!

Yes, they are spoiled, but, hey, they are sweethearts.

;),

Lois

Snuggle Time

 Good morning,

Catherine sent me this picture of Elsa and Lily (using Elsa as a pillow.)  

Usually, we have to separate these two when they play too rough, but it seems they have come to an agreement about snuggle time.

Just darling.

Thanks for sending the image, Catherine.

Love you,

Mom

It's a Dog's Life

 Good morning,

This is Wendy, one of our four canine burglar alarms on her charger.

It's a ruff life....

;),

Lois

Fried Apples

 Good morning,

I showed you the ham we enjoyed a few days ago.  That ham lasted for several days with so few people in the house.  Of course, the pups got some, too

We had quite a few apples on the dining room table that weren't going to last much longer so I made fried apples.  Well, they aren't exactly fried, but close.  I put about 1/3 stick of butter into a large skillet, sliced 8 or 9 apples, added two heaping tablespoons of brown sugar, and shook some cinnamon into it.  Then I covered it and let it cook in the juice of the apples until soft.  Oh, so good!  I left the skin on the apples.

This was just perfect with ham and also maked a great topping for ice cream!

Yum!

;),

Lois