My Little Home and Garden

❀ Showing Promise

2012-03-18T20:00:00.000-04:00

I was happy to find that my first colourful crocuses of the season have popped up in the garden. As well, the daffodil buds are getting plumper by the day.

As for the snowdrops tucked in a dark corner, how did I never notice them at this stage in previous years, with the beautiful green patterns on the white petaled backdrop? I really do think that blogging makes me look at things more closely.

The fuzzy magnolia buds (having dealt successfully with winter's snow) are showing promise, as are the sturdy tulip leaves that have poked through the earth and pushed their way through last year's mulch. There are no blasts of colour here, but time will change that.

After the struggle, comes the bloom.

Here's to spring arriving, officially, this week!

What do you love about the new season?

If you're on the other half of the world, feel free to comment on autumn!

❀

I'm pleased to be linking with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

If you have time, please visit Sunlit Sunday here.

☀ Sunlit Sunday (#11): Warm Biscuits

2012-03-17T19:00:00.000-04:00

The sun shone a fair bit this past week and one would think I'd have a few photos featuring the rays on something outdoors.

Yet,

here I have warm biscuits,

sitting in the sunshine,

ready to come out of the pan.

There's nothing like a little comfort food now and again.

The added sunshine is a bonus, or should I "gravy" for the biscuits, in honour of my southern friends!

Leave a comment, leave a link, leave a "follower", just don't leave too quickly!
Have a biscuit.

Almost-Spring Wishes

2012-03-13T14:34:00.001-04:00

colour

thoughtfulness

friendship

possibility

growth

I'm wishing you these on this almost-spring day.

☀ Sunlit Sunday (#10): You're On Your Own

2012-03-10T19:00:00.001-05:00

Hello, Everyone

I needed to leave town for awhile, on a family matter. This little post is being scheduled in advance for Sunlit Sunday. I hope it goes off without a hitch.

Please link-up and play nicely amongst yourselves. I'll be sure to visit you when I have the chance.

Warm wishes to all,
Karen

☀ Sunlit Sunday (#9): Rose Hips

2012-03-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

I have plenty of rose hips in my back garden, along with the singing birds.

These New Dawn red spheres cover my blue arbour. They look rather straggly at this time of year, even when the sun shines. The canes, thorn-covered appendages, wave about in all directions as if to say, "Over here, Spring! Come over here!"

However,

with a little more sun

a little warm rain

and a few more months

(this is Canada, after all)

there will be a metamorphosis.

Patience.

The winter greys will pass.

Patience.

Colour and fragrance will return.

Patience.

They'll be a sky full of sunshine.

Patience.

There is still plenty to appreciate today.

The links, below, will offer you some sunny looks at the world.

While you're here, would you care to comment?

I love hearing from you!

"A Little Bird Told Me": Your Reminder

2012-03-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

Several of you have mentioned, over the past couple of months, that you had meant to add a link to "Sunlit Sunday". Life is full, people forget; it happens.

This, Dear Readers, is your friendly reminder. My next "Sunlit Sunday" post will be up and ready to welcome your links on Saturday evening at 7 pm, Eastern Standard Time. Everyone is invited to participate.

Let's just say a little bird told you.

Should you wish to read the instructions and/or view last week's links, click here.

I hope to see you soon!

Comments or Questions?
The box awaits.

♪ Backyard Birdsong: Give a Little Listen! ♪

2012-03-01T15:30:00.000-05:00

After some snow shoveling this morning, I spend a bit of time in my backyard and spotted this feathered lovely in the shrub just over the fence.

I looked in a bird book and wondered whether it was a Slate-Coloured Junco (Northern Junco; Snowbird). Bird watching is not my forté.

Can anyone identify it?

In addition to needing to know more about birds, there are days when I wish I had a snazzy camera and knew how to use it. The blur factor does kick in with my "point and shoot". I didn't want to get closer to this little one lest it fly away.

♪ Care for the "soundtrack"? ♪

Give a listen.

Here's hoping you have something to sing about and a welcoming shelter when the snow flies.

Comments?
Yes, please.

And the winner is...

2012-02-28T08:56:00.001-05:00

As promised, today I am announcing the winner of my (over 100 followers) greeting card giveaway. Thank you to all who entered. I've haven't done a giveaway before and the kind comments you left are appreciated.

To choose a winner, I used a random number generator, with the following result.

Then, it was a just a matter of finding the corresponding name, here.

I'll bundle up the 10 cards and envelopes and put them in the care of Canada Post, as soon as I receive a mailing address from:

★ Linda, the Crafty Gardener. ★

Congratulations!

Please pop over and say "hello" to Linda!

You'll enjoy your visit to her beautiful piece of land.

☀ Sunlit Sunday (#8): Knit 1, Purl 1

2012-02-25T19:00:00.000-05:00

I practised sprinting yesterday.

Perhaps sprinting is overstating the case, but a few quick dashes were made.

For a brief while in the afternoon, the sun would appear for a few moments,

then disappear behind a cloud,

appear,

disappear,

while I dashed between rooms trying to capture a ray or two for "Sunlit Sunday".

I thought I'd see how the sun played on the knitting.

The neglected knitting.

The warm brown wool from Prince Edward Island knitting.

The where-did-I-leave-off-better-sort-this-out knitting.

I'm using a sweater pattern ("jumper" for the over-the-pond folks) from one source, but doing a bit of texture using a design from this book.

Rephrase: The plan is to do the aforementioned.

The knitting needles haven't been clicking.

My follow-through hasn't been clicking.

I need a better routine to my day, one that clicks.

I'm a dropped stitch in the ribbing of Blogland creativity!

Here's what is done so far, highlighted by the infrequent sunshine.

I thought if I showed it now that perhaps I could update its status later.

Some sunny inspiration would help.

Tick tock, tick tock.

Knit 1, purl 1.

Click, click.

I hope you'll visit those who link below and share some of their sunshine.

Also, I have a little giveaway that you may read about and enter here.

Now it's time for:

That Was It?

2012-02-24T14:58:00.001-05:00

The meteorologists were predicting a big snowstorm last night, but it didn't quite happen. Remember when you were a child, those of you in northern parts, and a "snow day" would shut down the schools? Such excitement!

I felt a bit of disappointment over the big build-up and then finding just a little snow, followed by rain. I'm not sure why I was deflated, as it would have meant more to shovel. Truth be told, my young neighbour was out first and cleared the sidewalk in front of my house so I only had the driveway. He claims he needs more exercise. I maintain he's very thoughtful.

Is it snow? Is it ice? Is it melting?

Can I really fault Mother Nature with presenting this odd winter when I can be rather indecisive at times? (Soup or fish for dinner? Tidy or knit? Move or stay put for awhile?)

Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life a little rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

The mourning doves must be fans of Longfellow; they just carry on, have a little lunch, get on with the day. I'd better put this rambling to an end and do the same!

But before I go...

Two more things:

I have a teeny-tiny giveaway. You may click here to view it and enter, if you wish.

Also, the "Sunlit Sunday (#8)" post will be up Saturday evening at 7 pm (EST).

Please join in!

I could use a dose of sunlight. Click for a look at last week's post and details on how to participate!

Comments? I love to read them and will get back to you.

✽ 100+ Followers: "A Little Giveaway!" ✽

2012-02-22T20:07:00.001-05:00

Let's see, can a mess be pretty if I put a lavender border around it?

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that this blog had 100 followers and just this week reached 15 000 pageviews, as indicated by the little gadgets on the sidebars.

I know, one can argue that numbers don't matter, but I want an excuse to host a little "thank you" giveaway!

"Greeting Cards"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

l;j'
I've been making some greeting cards recently, several of which are shown in this video.

The cards are blank inside so that they can be used for a variety of occasions: birthdays, thank you notes, whatever you wish!

My little giveaway includes 10 greeting cards, handmade by Yours Truly, plus 10 envelopes (5 blue and 5 lavender). Each card has a ribbon detail on the front and a bit of something to decorate the interior.

I'm not going to show you all ten cards!

It's nice to have a little bit of mystery, after all.

How To Enter

★ If you are a follower of "My Little Home and Garden" (new or not-so-new) and you leave a comment on this post saying you would like to be entered, that's all you have to do!

Please ensure that your comment is here by the end of Monday, February 27, 2012 (midnight, Eastern Standard Time).

That's it!

Simple!

The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Tuesday, February 28th.

✽ Thank you, Dear Readers ✽

Peppers (Thanks, Poppi Linn!)

2012-02-21T10:23:00.002-05:00

I regularly read a lovely blog entitled "Poppi Linn". A few days ago, there were some photos and instructions for stuffed red peppers. My mouth was watering, which I took as a sign that I needed to make one for dinner, soon. As you can see, I did!

I will confess, sometimes I get a bit slack in preparing the evening meal.

I'm not going to use the cooking-for-one-just-doesn't-seem-worth-it excuse because I really think we should eat well whether one or six people are sitting at the table. Besides, this looked simple, as well as tasty and nutritious! Variations were encouraged in the posted recipe. That just makes things more exciting, don't you think?

I hauled out the cast iron pan. (There's a healthy endeavour, provided I never drop it on my foot!) A lone red pepper was in the fridge and a few other odds and ends. Throwing in some cayenne pepper added a bit of a kick! Some time in the toaster oven (a handy tool when you don't need the whole oven) and that was that!

There we have it, an easy, satisfying, vegetarian version of the recipe. The name may be "stuffed red peppers", but they're "Poppi's Peppers" to me!

I do hope that you will swing by Poppi Linn to read the recipe and take a look around her blog!

A Little Note (or two):

1. There are 14 posts in this week's Sunlit Sunday, if you'd care to browse.
2. I'm going to be doing an itty-bitty giveaway post this week in honour of exceeding the "100 followers" mark. Nothing grand, just a little one.

Comments?

I love them.

Playing with Paper and Words

2012-02-19T20:08:00.000-05:00

I've been playing with paper lately.

As regular readers know, I purchased some pretties a while back and thought it was time to try making some cards.

It's fun!

(I'm thinking about finding these 4 and 6 others a good home later this week.)

I also played with creating a word mosaic.

It just feels good to try something new every now and again!

Thanks to Mary for hosting "Mosaic Monday". Pop over and pay her a visit!

I adore your comments and promise to get back to you!