Slow, Very Slow Progress

I continue to stitch.  It is so slow.  Perhaps it is just that I long for the spring to come.  For entertainment, we checked out an estate sale yesterday.  I came home with some cross stitch charts for which I may be able to find new homes.  Roger selected some small thing for his tool collection.  The two best things are the Donvier ice cream maker and the little book Roger selected for me, a sentimental little book of flowers with gorgeous pictures. At the moment, the Donvier liner is outside chilling out.  I hope to make ice cream, gelato, or sorbet tomorrow. 

My little Quaker design is coming along very nicely.  If I give it a little attention this coming week, I may be able to finish it. 

I decided to use the light green for the lettering.  It had been my first choice because I was afraid that the off white would not show up well on the fabric color.  Perhaps it would have been better if I had used the green for the leaves and stems; the light green has almost the same intensity as the fabric color and I fear it does not show up well. 

The third edge is finally finished.  I feel a little reluctant to begin the fourth edge for fear I will make another monumental miscount to frog out. 

The dessert does improve with age.  That is, if you like a more intense almond flavor.  It seems to become stronger with time. 

Here is my little Quaker sampler, one over one on 32 count fabric. 

I have finished stitching the brown on my Blackbird Designs project.  The blue and off-white are for the flowers; I still must decide which one will be the main color.  I am still working on a decision about the color of the lettering,  Will it be off-white or light green? 

Happy Valentine's Day and All That Schmaltz

In our household, we observed the day with treats, a special dinner with a very special dessert, Fyrstekake (Norwegian Royal Cake). 

 

It is delicious with the almond filling and it is supposed to improve with age.  We will test that out tonight.   The recipe is from Solveig Tofte who is preparing to open Sun Street Breads in Minneapolis.  Solveig has been involved in several food related businesses. 

Sunday evening we were as surprised as could be when Quincy, our food gobbling cat, refused to eat.  Some family members were ready to take him to the emergency after hours vet's office and thought that I should be cited for animal cruelty when I calmly said that he has refused to eat on occasion in the past.  As we began after dinner clean up, the first order of business was to discard the fat we skimmed from the roasted chicken drippings.  Where was it?  What happened to it?  Quincy ate every last bit of it.  No wonder he looked a little peaked and refused to eat his food.  It took him about twenty-four hours before he returned to his normal self begging for food and attention. 

 

Stitching Progress and Red Squirrels

Just like sides one and two, side three of the Winter Box had its full share of frogs. 

Side two is complete.  As I have said, I hope that the red for my initials is not too jarring. 

I have picked out and repaired my miscount on side three.  I wonder if I will make an error on side four when I get there. 


I have begun stitching on the two projects pictured in the previous post and will be able to show you progress pictures sometime in the coming week. 

Now for the little red squirrels, not that they have anything to do with stitching.  For most of the winter it has appeared that only one red squirrel has visited us but now I wonder if that little squirrel is trying to attract a mate.  A second red squirrel has been visiting.  It appears that the first red squirrel is sharing its access to one of the bird feeders with the second red squirrel.  Perhaps it is an effort to show the second squirrel that he/she has access to a marvelous food source in an attempt to attract a mate. 

New Projects

It probably is not wise to begin two new projects but I cannot resist as they are for two exchanges.  The bad part about this is that I am participating in a third exchange and will have to begin that one soon.  Here are the materials for the two exchanges that I currently have ready. 


The first one is just white on blue. 

For the second one, I have substituted the threads to go with fabric that I have.  None of this is suggested in the original design.  In both cases, I am digging into my stash.  That makes me feel virtuous. 

Our temperatures continue to be frigid, frigid, frigidly boneshattering cold.  It is soup weather so I am using ham left from dinner this past Sunday to flavor bean soup which I am currently cooking for dinner tonight.  Someone in the household wants to use buns that we have to make ham sandwiches to go with the soup.  I want fresh, crusty artisanal bread perhaps with some brie.   I think that we can accommodate both desires. 

Finished, At Last

My Quaker needlebook is now finished.  As I key in this message, it is in the post winging its way to its recipient.    :-) 

Our son Ben, the firefighter, is in bed catching up on lost sleep.  Saturday night he went out on a mutual aid call to a neighboring community to fight a fire.  Last night he was out on a local fire call.  He thinks the local fire was an "accident". 

I am ready to run the vacuum but do not want to rob Ben of some much needed sleep. 
So - - - Here I am posting a message.  I wonder what else I can find with which to occupy myself. 

Today we are supposed to have temperatures above zero.  This does not mean that winter is over by any means.  It is quite common to have a short break with more moderate temperatures following which we watch the temperature plunge and the snow fly.  This is not to say we do not enjoy these brief respites.  It is also not to say we do not long for spring.  It is fortunate that we can easily find springlike cut flowers. 

These tulips are giving us a small taste of spring. 

My but this is good.  I have almost finished the stitching.  Just a little bit more of the line upon which to fold back the edges and I will be done with the stitching.