Snow Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making up for our no snow holiday season.  So beautiful!
Thanks for stopping by...Have a great weekend!

Poetry Corner

 

Beneath the crisp and wintery carpet hid
A million buds but stay their blossoming;
And trustful birds have built their nests amid

 

The shuttering boughs, and only wait to sing


 

Till one soft shower from the south shall bid

 

And hither tempt the pilgrim steps

 

Of Spring.
Robert Bridges
Feeling a little poetic today, and opened my Bartlett's Familiar Quotations...my addition published in 1955.
A treasure trove of quotes and poems, with an index to help you find a poem or quote for every occasion.

More snow, a pot of soup for dinner, a meeting of my Guild.  Enjoy this beautiful day my friends.

My Own Winter Wonderland

 

It's not unusual to have snow in February in Chicagoland,
but it is strange to have it be our first real snowfall of the winter.


 

It's sunny today... but just the calm before another storm
expected tonight.

 

Our kind neighbor goes down the block with his snow blower.
After shoveling the driveway a couple of times, I really appreciate the help.
Doesn't everything look sweeter with a covering of snow?

 

While it's cold outside it smells of summer inside.  All the herbs and rose petals I dry each year go into a basket.  Then when I'm ready...OK, it's long overdue, I strip all the leaves and buds off the lavender and other herbs.

 

Then mix them all together.  Now,  I am displaying it in a jar.

 

Just open the lid for the scent of summer. A special gift, when spring is still weeks away.

Take care my friends and thanks for stopping by.

More Winter Fun

 

We were delighted to see these beautiful Siberian Huskies at Starved Rock.  They were there to raise awareness on a cause called Free Spirit Siberian Rescue.  They gave demonstrations with these working dogs, and pulled a sled through the park.  How perfect for a 20 degree day in nature.  They are a beautiful breed, and this organization, huskyrescue.org, helps to save strays, abused, neglected or otherwise abandoned animals. 

 

It was a beautiful winter day, the sun was warming our spirits and good friends always warm my heart.


 

 

I saw more songbirds at this feeder than I've seen in years in my yard at home.  Darn cats!
Did you happen to hear the news last week of how many of our wild birds are killed by cats each year? 
I could have stood and watched these beauties for hours...

 

but we were there for a little hike.  All these stairs!  Going up is fine for me, it's the going down that hurts.
We walked a trail to Lover's Leap, and nobody took the leap, thank goodness.

 

I look like Gulliver in the land of  Lilliput!  These two I've know since 8th grade...
Just ten years ago...LOL 

 

This one, oh the things he does to make me happy!  Thanks babe for the best day.
Thank you to my dear friends, another 39 years...that's what I wish for all of us!

Last week I made, well actually poured some soap.

After having the goat milk soap base for over a year, it all came together in one crafty afternoon. I melted the soap in the microwave, and added organic lavender and dried orange peel and some essential oil, then poured the melted soap into these molds.  I had a bit left over so I used this silicone cupcake mold to finish off what was left. They turned out so fragrant, with a real soap texture, unlike other melt and pour soaps I've used in the past.  I gifted a few to my girlfriends and to our dear Charlotte for herself and her sweet Mom.

The silicone cupcake mold worked really well.  I'm not a fan of baking in this,
so I'm glad to have another use for it.

I wrapped a few of my favorite Yardley Old English Lavender bars for a few Valentine gifts.  They are so fragrant that you don't need to unwrap them to enjoy the scent.  I made some at Christmas and everyone really liked them.  These have a tin heart and a Tim Holtz key on each. 

I mounted a couple of the hearts I made with the air dried clay.  Sorry the photo is wonky, but I really like how it turned out.

More snow is expected today.  I confess after all my shoveling and hiking this weekend, I started my day with a couple of Tylenol and a hot shower to help with the stiffness. Old bones...  I enjoyed every stair step and every shovel full...I am part polar bear you know! ;-)

Enjoy this beautiful day my friends, and thanks so much for stopping by.

Annual Birthday Trip

 

Here are the usual suspects...Sue, Dot, Ron, My Sweetheart and Kevin.  For the past few years we have celebrated 3 of our winter birthdays by going to Starved Rock State Park here in Illinois to see the eagles that roost near a lock in the Illinois River.
These are friends we've been sharing winter fun with for 39 years!  In fact, it was 39 years ago Sunday that we first went skiing together, and the anniversary of our friend's Sue and Laury's first meeting.
Missed you guys!

The Lodge at Starved Rock is lovely, and they have the best brunch buffet.

So cozy.

Quite a spread. This is just  the desserts.

Just loved the mantle and the eagle photos.

My dearest noticed this cabinet and pointed it out to me. I told him I never loved him more that right that moment...   What guy notices a cool old cabinet?  Sigh...

More tomorrow...

 Just wanted to give credit where credit is due to the creators of these beautiful hearts.  First this beauty is from Genie from Climbing the Digital Mountain.  It is so lovely, so many sweet touches...Thanks Genie!

And the garland is from Carol from Art and Sand.  She also made the cute little bag holding the tiny hearts.  I have this garland hanging on my china cabinet and it looks so nice.  I am so grateful for all these amazing women and their generosity.  When is the next swap?  I'm ready!
Shoveling snow this morning, YEAH!!!  I've waited and waited for this.  I actually put on Christmas music as I shoveled to thoroughly enjoy the whole experience.  Call me crazy, but I love snow!!!
Back tomorrow with the rest of the story of our little trip, and some crafting I did, and how I managed to sleep through the halftime show and the whole second half of the Super Bowl. ;-)

Enjoy this beautiful day my friends.