2nd Advent...

As we light the 2nd candle of Advent we reflect...
We had a little bit of a Winter wonderland ♥

We love snow...

Christmas lights look prettier...

Cardinals look even more amazingly beautiful...

bare branches become art...

& our resident squirrels look even more adorable with a dusting of snow on their nose :-)

Texture Tuesdays...

~ Sparrow Sentiments ~

Kim Klassen Texture: Stained Linen

***

The theme at the Cafe this week is Gratitude.

Grateful for every little Sparrow in our garden ♥

This little Sparrow found shelter under our deck and provided lots of entertainment as I watched her move back and forth, eating some of the fallen seed, then scurrying back through the lattice to keep dry on this rainy Tuesday.

***

I would maintain

that thanks are the highest form of thought

and that gratitude

is happiness doubled

by wonder

~GK Chesterton~

Linking with:

Texture Tuesdays

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~