My sieve hanging in the kitchen. This was one of those "it's bedtime and I need a picture" days.


My carrot barrels emerging from the snow. It's so exciting.


Missed photo number 2. I'm not sure what happened. I guess I just forgot.


Abby and her "star." This was a super tough toy starfish we got for Abby a while ago. Despite multiple layers of quilted nylon she had gnawed a hole into the batting within forty-five minutes and was happily tearing away at the rest of it in no time at all (after I'd pulled out and disposed of all the stuffing). While the rest of the star went pretty quickly the binding really has held up very well and it is still one of Abby's favourite toys. Neither of us are sure how she ended up wearing it but I did manage to get a picture before I collapse laughing.


Our annual civic carnival, in celebration of the returning sun, always begins with a dog race. It's not totally apparent from the picture but the dogs really seemed to be having the time of their lives.


One of those random pictures I took on Saturday afternoon. A Christmas decoration I keep forgetting to take down.


We had a Sugar Shack meal (hosted by the local Francaphone Association) at the carnival. It was really good but very sweet. This was dessert: Grands-Père dans le sirop (Grandfathers in syrup). Imagine a dumpling but instead of cooking it in soup cook it in maple syrup and you'll have this dish.

This picture is from a while back - before we went on vacation anyway - I haven't worked on these socks since going to Ottawa. I found the picture in my "blog this" folder today and can't remember why I put it there. Must have been a knitting woes story. I'd tossed my knitting bag onto the couch and then sat on it as far as I can tell: I was was working the heel of my sock so the spare fifth needle had been shoved into a ball and forgotten. I discovered it was broken later on when I tried to pull it out again. It was a really bendy needle anyway and I can still work my sock on four needles so it's not really a big deal. I like to work around a square better than a triangle though - I poke myself more with a triangle - does anyone else find that?

Anyway - for some reason I really like this picture but I can't quite put my finger on why. It might be the green, or the pale needles, or the sunshine and shadows. It might even been that delicate curve in my broken needle. Anyone else have theories on why a person likes a picture? I find it interesting sometimes to notice which pictures I like and which fail to capture my attention. It's a great game to play on Flickr when you're board.

This was my January project. I ordered the fabrics back in October or November when I was getting other things for birthdays and Christmas. January and February are always rather bleak months here. The light is starting to come back but we're just reaching the coldest part of the year and the idea of spring is far away. Even March can be pretty bitter. This year I wanted something bright and cheerful to work on to get me through the frigid weather and what better project than a quilt that will keep us warm through said frigid weather for years to come.


I saw the Sunny Tied Quilt on the Purl Bee last spring and fell in love with it. So bright and colourful. So simple. Just the sort of thing I like. I changed up the colour scheme to show off a leafy print I'd found earlier in the year - lots of greens and yellows with some creamy white and a muddy brown. I see sunshine, melting snow, new grass and moist earth. The ties are Cascade 220 and the backing is cotton flannel - very cozy.


This quilt has been finished but for its label since before we went on vacation. I finally made up the label and sewed it on (along with a little applique for fun) after we got back and put the quilt on our bed for the first time. At 85" x 100" this quilt is plenty large enough for our bed (a double). It is even long enough, owing to our footboard I think, for me to do a pillow tuck when I make the bed properly. My grandmother always does this and it feels like such a grown up way of making a bed. It also makes the perfect spot for our favourite black cushion to curl up. He gave me some funny looks when I was taking the pictures.