I was looking at the wonderful jack frost whiskers on the branches the other day, and thought of...doilies, crochet doilies.  I might have mentioned that I come from a long line of needlewoman, women who rarely were seen without knitting needles, crochet hooks, needlepoint, embroidery on the go.  Every tea towel was embroidered.  Every pillowcase had crochet edging.  All tableclothes were decorated with edgings and embroidery or cutwork. Chairs enoyed needlepoint seats. Newborns were wrapped in knitted or crochet sweatersets and knitted shawls. Children wore handmade mittens and toques outside to play.  And the family slept under handmade cozy quilts  It was the way of things.  It was art - woman's art and I happen to own a lot of it passed down to me from my grandmothers and my mother.   This handmade heritage is probably why I opened and ran a yarn and needlework shop for as long as I did.  And these lovely old handmade pieces comfort me and inspire me  It's a good thing.

This morning we woke to snow, big fat flakes of it.  It started sometime early this morning and continues as I write this.  Libby and I walked, as we do every morning, and I felt like I was walking in a snow globe.  I remember a wonderful snow globe treasure. It belonged to friends of my parents  . I could happily disappear into that globe while the adults visited. As I remember, the globe was a heavy glass paperweight and when I shook, a snowstorm started.  Sparkly snow fell on the small cabin and the tiny person walking with his dog through the snow toward it.  It was magical and I used to imagine the small person was me  I’ve looked ever since for a snow globe like that, alas to no avail. 

Yesterday, we walked in sunshine and actually saw two robins.  Today, not even a flicker was out and about.  The only activity we saw was a women grumpily brushing off her car, and our intrepid mailman who agreed that today is indeed much different than yesterday.

We did follow tracks though, on our route – we saw rabbit tracks,  car tracks,  footprints, and of course us, Patty and Libby breaking trail up the alley and around to the busy street with its ever present threat of buses and trucks , and then rounding the corner to the more quiet street where we encountered a man in a short sleeved tee shirt shoveling his walk while his yellow lab ate the snow. The lab came over to say hello to my cautious Libby who shyly wagged her tail .  Then we came home, put on the kettle, and settled down to work while the snow fell all around us.

Earning for spring

I was roaming around the garden this morning looking for a sign, any sign that spring might be here.  What I found was a garden full of sleeping plants.  At least I hope they are just sleeping.  Not surprizing I guess.  We still wake up to a frost covered world every morning.
We are settling into this new house. After living on the West Coast for so long,  I love the bright prairie sunshine that pours in the windows most days.  And Libby is in love with the snow. 

I lived away from Calgary for over 30 years and it's true - you don't go home again.  Moving here has been like going somewhere entirely new.  This new Calgary is an exploration.  Today Libby and I found the Kingsland Farmer's Market and one of the best cups of coffee I've had in ages.  We also bought organic Bison bones for Libby along with a beautiful Organic Chicken from the Bowden Chicken Farm for dinner.  

Friday Favourites

Fridays are for favourites and here are a couple of mine off the top of my head.  Since this is a brand new blog and I'm just getting used to navigating around it, I'll keep it simple for the first few times posting.  So...happy Friday if you're passing by, and welcome to this new endeavour of mine

This is my yarn basket.  I'm embarrassed to say this is only a small part of the "stash"  How can you tell I love red...even down to my socks!

My Favourite Things include Libby, my 4 year old border Collie who keeps me fit and makes me think.

snow,snow,snow

snow,snow,snow, a photo by PatriciaLandry on Flickr.

play, play, play