This is our beautiful landscape, (ie. our driveway.)  It was WAY too cold to go out today, but we did manage a couple ventures.  Of course, Jon had to fill the bird feeders.  And I took a couple pix, but 12 degrees is just a little too cold for sledding, or anything else.  So we just stayed inside.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

 

 

Priscilla gave me an amaryllis bulb this Christmas, and we thought it would be red.  But!!!

 

Look how beautiful she is, pink and variegated.  We have loved watching the flowers emerge, and they are gorgeous!!!

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

On a walk one day last week, we saw Violet's daffodils looking quite bold for January.  That one looks like it might bloom SOON.  I hope it survived the cold and little snow, or that our friend picked it, and brought a little spring inside.  

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

And Gizmo helped.  He hung out by the fireplace all day.  Better than underfoot, right?

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

 

 

 

The Ice Storm flew right by us;  all we got was cold and rain.  But Sunday was definitely an inside day around here.

 

So we made our own fun.  We took tomatoes that we froze last summer and made a big pot of tomato sauce.  I thought it was about 3 or 4 quarts worth, so we got busy canning it.  It was a fun project for a wintery day.  

 

Turns out we had 16 pints!!!  We had to set up the canner twice, as it only holds 9 pint jars.  That's OK, it was nice to work in a warm kitchen.  And we have lots of lovely seasoned tomato sauce.  We added garlic, oregano, thyme, basil, pink celery leaves, and peppers that we grew last summer in the garden.  

 

I hope you did something fun.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

The Big Storm of 2026 missed us.  There was a lot of build up, and predictions for a real mess;  but we live in a "bowl" here in the mountains, and the storm slid right past us.

 

This is what we got this morning:  a little snow.  It is cold, though.  Not supposed to get up to freezing today.  So I guess it will be another inside day for us.  That's OK, we love it.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

Using mostly the same fabrics as the aforementioned placemats, I made this quilted hot pad.  I love this pattern.  It takes about a yard of fabric, because all those triangles are double folded.  This thing is thick enough to use as a trivet.  And I will, because I think it is gorgeous.  I love these colors.  Now, THIS makes me smile.  

 

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!!

 

I have had this pattern, and this fabric forever.  I love the fabric so much that I haven't cut into it, because I was saving it for THE right project.  Well, I finally did it, and they came out OK.  But I'm not that crazy about it.  

 

Oh well, it's a set of four placemats we can use in the spring.  It was fun spending a couple cold days up in the loft where it's warm, and any day spent sewing is a good day for me.  

 

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!!

 

It was kinda warm on Wednesday, so we walked the loop.  As we were getting down to the creek, I couldn't believe how beautiful these trees looked against the winter blue sky.  

 

I hope you are getting out when it's warm, because it appears that this weekend is going to be back to cold.  I'm hoping for snow, myself, but not holding my breath.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

I asked my friend the other day what's her favorite color, and she responded:  "sunset."  I love that answer, so I took this picture to send to her.  I want to make her a quilt and wondered about her favorite color.  Won't "sunset" make a gorgeous quilt?  I can probably use every color, just assemble it in a way that appears gradient.  I am excited.  

 

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!!