Second time around...

My second attempt at applique...this one is machine stitched.  I do like the way it came out  and I was wanting something with an autumn theme.

Is Winter Over Yet?

I think I had a lot of time on my hands....all that rain and wind.  I had to find something to do with my hands!

There is a blog that I follow written by a woman in Scotland.  She was formerly a university professor, but had a massive stroke in her early 40's which left her unable to continue in her profession.  Consequently, she began a career as a knitter and designer of intricate color-work patterns.  Last year she began selling some of her own spun and dyed wool.  This is some of her wool and one of her patterns.  This is a cowl.  The yarn is exceptionally soft, it had a wonderful hand when knitted!

I made an entrelac scarf years ago, but saw this pattern for a hat and decided to give it a try.  Worked well!

This is more of the beautiful yarn from the woman in Scotland.  Love the colors she has chosen to dye her wool!  Fingerless gloves are a must have for me, my hands are perpetually cold in the winter.  So these come in most handy for sitting around and reading and such.

Log Cabin Variation

Winter Pastime #4

My first attempt at applique.

I'm really cheating posting one of these a day!  Makes me look like I'm a "real" blogger!  Ha

Winter Pastime #2 & #3

Winter Pastime #1

Trying to use up all the "scraps" of fabric I've got laying around.  Not sure what to do with these squares...table toppers I guess????

Tulip Lasciviousness

New Vase

April "Snow Storm"

Further Adventures - Part Two

From points North on Thursday, went headed to points southwest and decided to spend a day on Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island.  En route to the island we saw an exciting Homeland Security exercise involving about a dozen Coast Guard boats pulling up directly behind the ferry and on loading and off loading people.  Through binoculars we could see dozens of FBI types at the back of the ferry.  Pretty exciting!

After arriving on island, we decided to head south to South Beach, Cattle Point and American Camp, where the Americans encamped during The Pig War.  It seems a trifling matter, but had it escalated, today we could all be having a "cuppa" instead of Starbucks! 

Cattle Point - not sure why it's called cattle, there were none in sight! 

 The Olympic Mountains were "up" as we say here the PNW

 There were hundreds and hundreds of these very large rabbits spread out over the bare fields.  Their holes were everywhere and I can only imagine their warrens rival the NYC subway system.  It's become quite a problem with no real solution.  Although eagles are in abundance, the rabbits only have to go inches to find a hole to hide in, so there is no real threat to them from this predator.

 This is the lighthouse at Lime Kiln State Park.  

 This is the lighthouse at Lime Kiln State Park.  Quarrying and processing of lime was big business on San Juan Island at Roche Harbor.

 Wally and I have a thing for madrona trees and this one is a beauty.

 Ma and Pa Kettle leave the city behind!

 Actually, we have a thing for all trees,  Look at this monster!

 The Olympics from English Camp on the north end of the island.  The British were much smarter than the Americans.  Their encampment was out of the wind in a sheltered cove!

 Heading back home--I never get tired of photos of Mt. Baker!

 The requisite artsy craftsy shot!

 More Mt. Baker

And that's all she wrote!

Further Adventures - Part One

Spring is here and we took advantage of the first sunny days in weeks to go forth.  We headed north first to Crescent Beach, BC, one of our favorite places to enjoy the water.  I love the charming cottages and English style gardens that line the beachfront promenade.

I love this one, so cute.

Even the birds go high class! 

 This place is for sale!  The new owner was there and offering the gazebo to his friend, said "he needed more room!"  I'll take it...hmm. how to get it across the border....  Wouldn't this make a wonderful B & B?  

 There are so many wonderful details to this place.  This is just one of several "gates" surrounding this estate.

 Here's another one!

 They are filming something called "Miranda's Rights" here.  We didn't see any filming or actors, just all their trailers throughout town.

I wonder if you sleep better "within" the circle?

It was a warm, mudluscious, puddlewonderful day and these kids were taking full advantage of it and getting covered in as much mud as possible! 

The intrepid explorer! 

The scenery can't be beat!

There's downtown Vancouver "across the pond" 

And of course there's my artsy-craftsy shot.  All in all a fabulous day.