No Idle Hands Here

My horoscope for today said:  "Those home improvements that you are doing yourself--they have become a matter of urgency.  Get them done a.s.a.p.!"
I've been cutting and staining and varnishing baseboards.  Kubota Man did not want painted baseboards--he wanted real oak, so that's what I got--at $2.39 a lineal foot.  But they are soooo lovely.  Also varnished some doors, and finished the linen cupboard and broom closet.

Angel 3 of the Christmas tree skirt is finished--that means the embroidery is all done.  Just washing and sewing the lining and edging.  Fait accompli!

I'll try to do a better picture next time, or when the skirt is finished.

Madli's Shawl is finished, but not blocked (after the renos are done--no room).

Now I'm working on a shawl for a friend's wedding.  The beads are way more beautiful than the picture shows.  This is the Laurel Leaf shawl from Victorian Lace Today.  I am working double beads (Swarovski Crystals) into the spaces left where the edging is knitted onto the center part of the shawl.  The picture shows the beads strung onto the Kid Mohair (Kid Seta), ready to be inserted.  i am also making the shawl wider

than instructed, and 8 feet long, or till the yarn runs out.

And last, but not least, the Christmas Stocking I have started for Daughter #1.  The grandchildren have received their cross-stitched stockings, but the adult children's aren't all done.  Will post as they are completed.

Today I went to pick up another load of plants for the greenhouse, which all have to be transplanted tomorrow.  There will be greenhouse updates here ,tomorrow.

Post-Olympics Post

What an exciting time it has been.  Mind you, we didn't have much time to actually watch any events, but we caught up on the news every day.  I've always been proud to be Canadian, but my chest just busted these two weeks.  Mind you, I'm for everyone who makes a great effort regardless of where they are from.  On my part, I am of Austrian and German descent, DH has roots in the British Isles, I've taught students from all over the world...I consider the world a huge village (I know that's idealistic).

We've been quite busy in the greenhouse.  Most of my sharing for today is on my  (click on its title)Weed it and Reap garden/greenhouse blog.  Please visit me there.

On the way in from the greenhouse, I noticed my St. Francis (aka St. Francis of the Snow).  He is waiting patiently for spring, so I can keep him company in the garden.

For supper today, I made my most (one of my most) favorite soups in the world: 
Kale and Chickpea Soup
2 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 c. cubed sweet potatoes
1 large sweet red pepper, diced
1 box (900ml) sodium-reduced chicken broth, or homemade
3 c. water
1 -19 oz. tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
6 oz. Old Fashioned ham (I buy a thick slice at the deli), cubed
3+ cups well-washed finely cut fresh kale (or spinach)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp rubbed dried sage

Cook onion, garlic, pepper and sage in olive oil, till onion and garlic are soft.  Add all ingredients except kale.  Simmer about 15 min. till potatoes are tender.  Add kale and simmer 5-10 min. till kale is tender.  The original recipe calls for 1/2 tsp salt, but I pass on that because of the sodium content of the ham and the broth.

Oops, almost forgot:  Madli's shawl is finished, but I can't block it because of the stuff all over for renovations.  Angel 3 is almost finished on the tree skirt.  Finished one sock in Bamboo yarn, summer rain color.  Varnished Baseboards.  Will likely put the Linen cupboard together tomorrow so I can take the rest of the Living Room apart and use the spare bedroom again for storage.

Second Thoughts

I would never phone a friend to whom I hadn't spoken in a long time, and say, "Hi, I'm alive and well, and busy. Goodbye." and hang up. And that's exactly what I did in the earlier post. So, I hurried through my work and made it a point to show you what I have been doing.

Renovations: That sort of went on hold over Christmas, but right after Christmas, I did the suspended ceiling in my basement kitchen, while waiting for the plumber and electrician.

Behold:
It was really easy, took only a couple of hours. After I had completed it, and one of the flourescent lights went out, I realized that I hadn't dropped it low enough to work on the lights easily, so, this is what I did. (Remember, the ceiling grid is suspended by wires, and supported around the edges by an L-shaped track) I drew a line all around the edges, 1" below the track. Then I lifted up the panels and released the screws and rescrewed them along the new lines. Then I released the wires and lowered it to the right depth. Voilà, 30 min. later, the ceiling is in its new place. Light changed. Fini.

The cabinets are coming in on Monday. I bought more of the same wall tiles as upstairs, since I had to open a new box of grout to use only 1 out of 10 lbs. I love those tiles. Will post later about upstairs.

Knitting/Crocheting/Embroidery

Madli's Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia, for my cousin's wife (Germany) who sent me a batch of lovely sock yarn for Christmas. I will be making a pair of socks for him, too.

Rainbow Baby Shawl. Although crocheting is not my favorite pasttime, I love making this shawl. Two evenings of work. It's for a very special young lady who is expecting at the end of February, it will be blessed at church--it is a joyful prayer shawl.

Cross-stitch Christmas Tree Skirt: before I retired, I made up my mind to give each of the kids a Christmas tree skirt. While I still had a paycheck, I assembled the materials. So far I have one all finished, and have been working on this one in 2010. I want them all finished by the next Christmas. I also want to have a cross-stitch Christmas Stocking for everyone. The four grandkids got theirs last Christmas. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures.

Wedding Update: The wedding plans had been all finalized for Labor Day Weekend, then my daughter got the news that the groom's mom, who is a radio announcer in Fiji, could not get the time off work, due to some special event for the Muslim population. So we tried August 14--the caterer wasn't available; Aug 7-- the hall wasn't available; July 31--Maid of honor can't get time off work; Aug 24--no caterers available, local town's 100th anniversary; so now everything is (I think) all set for July 17. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Till next time: You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. (Author unknown)