Advent Weekend ...

1st Sunday of Advent...

It is a windy, rainy Sunday here today ...

Perfect for nesting...

for baking ...

listening to Christmas music...

for crafting ...

for lighting candles...

At dinner, we will light the 1st candle of Advent

and say our blessings ...

This year I decided to create an Advent tray.
4 candles (from Ikea) wrapped in twine hold coffee stained tags (tutorial above). Pine cones gathered from our walks and a few artificial sprigs weave in and out of the candles ...

An advent blessing

May the SPIRIT of Christmas

which is PEACE

The GLADNESS of Christmas

which is HOPE

The ADORATION of Christmas

which is JOY

The HEART of Christmas

which is LOVE

Be yours

NOW & FOREVER

Amen

Linking with :

the nest

~Wishing you Peace, Hope, Joy & Love this Advent Sunday~

♥ D

Yarn Along ...

Crazy for Cables ...

I love trying new patterns and designs, but I am crazy for cables ~ I love the chunky look a nice cable gives to sweaters, hats & scarves ...
Before starting any new patterns (like the "knit a dog" one I planned on beginning), I thought I had better finish off Christmas gifts first. Originally, I was going to make this a cowl with a nice chunky wooden button, but since I love knitting cables, I got carried away, and it is now going to be an infinity scarf, to be wrapped around twice :-) A pair of fingerless gloves perfect for filling up bird feeders will accompany it ♥

I'll often take down one of my Tasha Tudor books from the bookcase and have a read.

"Forever Christmas" is filled with wonderful, inspirational images such as the one on the cover of Tasha creating a boxwood Advent wreath with vintage satin ribbon (from her parent's wedding). Winter at Corgi Cottage looks magical! How fitting that Tasha's signature phrase was TAKE JOY ♥

Linking with Yarn Along.

Yarn Along ...

A dozen or more granny squares should be all that is needed to finish my "snuggle on the sofa" blanket. Perfect for cuddling, reading stories , and watching Christmas movies.

"Case In Point"

Since it's a Christmas gift, I couldn't leave it out in plain sight :-) so it stays safely hidden in one of my vintage suitcases!
This Christmas is my grand babies 1st so I've taken all the little bits of wool used in sweaters/hats/toys I've made through the year and incorporated them in the blanket to make it more special ♥

The suitcase idea is working out better than I thought and I may just keep it out to hold wool all the time.

It would also be really handy when travelling as I like to bring along something to knit or crochet.

I made a paper sleeve for my knitting needles in some paper from an old knitting magazine I had & folded the bottom over to cover sharp points.

Next on the knitting needles will be making a Black Lab dog from a pattern in this sweet book
KNIT YOUR OWN DOG...

Linking with Yarn Along.

Texture Tuesday ...

Each year we anticipate the doves nesting in our garden.

When they nest, they have always chosen the same little corner atop one of our garden arbours putting using that side of the garden off limits for a while :-) Once they are finished with the nest, we are always shocked that it managed to hold an egg, let alone Mama dove :-)

They like to sit and rest on the deck directly off our kitchen. We talk to them, and they have become tame enough for me to get quite close with the camera. It's getting this close that you can really appreciate just how gorgeous they are ♥

***

Dove Love

Kim Klassen texture: Phoebe

***

Linking with Texture Tuesday today @ the cafe.

The Art of Sauntering ...

Hello there

I thought I'd take you along on my walk today ...
This morning started out absolutely gorgeous with bright sunshine and a warm wind
(later in the afternoon this all changed and the skies opened up)

I love walking along the trails

the lake on one side of me and woods on the other ...

It is a haven for birds and squirrels and chipmunks...

On any given day, I see something that makes me laugh ...

Something that makes me grateful I live near such beauty...

the calmness of the water ...

the changing colours of the leaves...

a scene like this ...

It takes days of practice

to learn the art

of sauntering.

Commonly

we stride through the out-of-doors

too swiftly to see more

than the obvious and prominent things.

For observing nature,

the best pace

is a snails pace.

~Edwin Way Teale~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday...

When ever possible, I prefer to take the "scenic route" when driving ...

I would much prefer stretches of green fields than pavement ...

And spotting deer grazing in the field is just an added bonus!

As I pulled up the gravel road to get a better look
he stopped for a moment to watch . How gorgeous is he!!

Then, continued nibbling ~
On the same gravel road, a family of Wild Turkeys were enjoying a stroll :-)
Mama Turkey had no trouble gathering her brood (we counted 8) and getting them safely off the road and into
the woods ♥

Peace is every step.

The shining red sun is my heart.

each flower smiles with me.

How green, how fresh all that grows.

How cool the wind blows.

Peace is every step.

It turns the endless path

to joy.

~Thich Nhat Hanh~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday...

Happy September 1st!

Even though Fall doesn't "officially" begin until the 23rd, September 1st always marks the beginning for me :-)

It is a gorgeous day outside. We had lots of rain and thunderstorms overnight. The grass was soaking wet this morning, plants hanging heavily, but the sun is out now, birds are singing, and there is a wonderful breeze coming through the windows. No need for the A.C.!!
The tomatoes are ripening at a rapid speed, and we seem to be incorporating tomatoes in every lunch & dinner menu :-)

Any that don't ripen will become green tomato relish.
Because of that, I always hope a few will remain greenish ...
The marigolds will linger well into September ...

Waiting for the sun to dry off the clothesline ...

I thought it looked so pretty though with little rain bubbles balancing along each line ...

The Hibiscus blooms are enormous again this year ...

Droopy from all the rain...

But not the Snapdragons ~ they are tall & strong...

And it doesn't take long before the bees and wasps

gather around the trumpet vines ...

Delicious Autumn!

My very soul

is wedded to it

and if I were a bird

I would fly about the Earth

seeking the successive

Autumns

~George Eliot~
***

Fall fairs * Chrysanthemum filled urns* Crisp weather* Pumpkins on porches* Candy apples* Wool sweaters * Comfort food* Baking* All new episodes of fave shows on TV * Hot homemade soup simmering on the stove* Open windows* Apple picking* Country drives enjoying the changing leaves* A basket of wool to start new knitting projects* Signing up for new classes* Curling up with a book & crocheted blanket * Logs piled up by the fire* Candlelight*

Just some of the little things to treasure in Autumn ♥