Blue and Yellow

Here are two bags I finished making recently. I must be in a blue and yellow mood.

This quilted one I made for my mother to use in Florida. Can't you just picture using these bright colors down there in the warm weather? I think it will go with her colorful clothes. The instructions were five pages long so it took awhile to finish. I'm thinking of making another one from this pattern for myself - but using some funky black and white prints. I like the zipper top, and all the pockets - two outside and six inside!

This is an Inga bag like the one Sarah made last month. I thought the pattern looked fun so I wanted to try it too. I like the way you turn the granny squares so they're diagonal, but the holes make horizontal and vertical lines.

Another bag must mean I need a new project to put in it, right? :) I have a few ideas.

As a matter of fact I just got a new knitting book. I won a Barnes & Noble gift card in a raffle so I got myself a treat - some very cool ideas in here.

Nice Ice

It was a pretty day today - everything all sparkly.I sometimes knock down a few icicles when I open the front door. I have to be careful not to get stabbed!

The stone wall by the cellar door is looking a little glacial.

Haha - I had to put this one in since it's so icy cool. It's from a couple of weeks ago in Freeport.

A Miscellaneous Collection

I've been wanting to write about some of the things in my house and deepest winter seems to be a good time.

I've been replacing switch plates and I got a bunch of these Anne Kilham ones. She's an artist from Maine, and her things are so pretty and cheery and New Englandy. It's like having mini-pictures around, and most of them remind me of favorite places or favorite flowers.
Some interesting lamps (at least I think so - I hope this isn't too boring)

This one was made by the potters at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth.

Two from Ikea - they have a really good selection of lamps.

I'm not sure where this jug came from, but it's perfect for a lamp. Maybe it came from around Keuka Lake somewhere.I know this one came from somewhere near the Finger Lakes. The potter isn't there anymore but I remember driving way back into the hills to get there. It was worth it - his stuff was really nice.

Now we're really getting into the miscellaneous section.

I love these batik curtains in Katie's room. We found these cool matching stars in a Ten Thousand Villages store in Cambridge. Definitely a fun store to spend some time in.

OK, my earring collection is a little over the top. I give some away once in awhile but my frame is getting full again.

These are witch balls. I think they're supposed to protect you from evil spirits or something. Bruno bats them around sometimes.
And I just can't resist putting in a project picture. These granny squares are made of cotton and they're going to become a tote bag. I just have to sew it together now. I'll post a picture when it's done. Sarah made one of these and I got inspired to try it too.
My blogging buddy - he sits in front of the screen when I'm trying to type. :)

The Great White North

OK I know it's January and this is New England, but I think we're getting a little extreme. All I heard was a chance of snow this weekend, but that turned into a foot! It seems like every time it snows we get another foot. It's a good thing it evaporates because it certainly hasn't been warm enough to melt. One pile behind the house is now taller than the deck.

All right, I'll stop complaining. It actually does look pretty.

Winter Scarves

I love scarves. They're so warm and cozy and interesting-looking too. Here's the one I made for Katie this year. She picked the colors. I love the way it came out.And here's Sarah modeling the one I made for her. Luckily it goes with her new coat too.

January

So what's new for this weekend? More snow. We've had quite a few storms this winter and we seem to get about 8 or 10 inches every time. This one was at a pretty convenient time anyway - we got to shovel the driveway during the middle of the day. It's really pretty when the snow is on the trees.

The driveway looks pretty good for the moment. We always have to keep it clear because of the hill. Cars get stuck at the bottom sometimes.

Max gave me his giant snow blower. It works great, even with the big piles left from the snow plows.
Sarah cleared the decks and car. Thanks for all the help! Lots of exercise today.

Bruno goes camping

Bruno got a new cat tent this weekend. Katie and Raf went to Ikea and this is one of the things they bought. We didn't know if Bruno would like it or not, but he was pretty interested. Doesn't he look like a natural camper? haha! So cozy!