A Little of This and That

I hope you're enjoying the holiday season. At my home, a couple of old friends came for dinner on Christmas. I have a renewed appreciation for my mother and all those decades she produced turkey and all the trimmings! It's safe to say I have numerous little packets of turkey, rutabaga, Brussell sprouts, stuffing and more in the freezer. Some of the bird (and cranberry sauce) went home with my guests for turkey sandwiches.

Mya, my foster cat, was happy to greet visitors and decidedly uninterested in the fir tree. She inspected a branch one day and that was it. I'll count myself lucky.

I did a bit of knitting in early December. This was part of a gift for a Secret Santa exchange at a party for the volunteers at a local animal rescue group. Not knowing who would receive it, I was opting for something suitable for a man or woman. I've since seen the recipient wearing her scarf, so that's a good sign. It's easy to knit and the free pattern, called Christian's Scarf, is on Ravelry here.

There is something fun about the delivery of a package. This one arrived in November so I'm hoping to finish up a project in the next week or so. More on this Noro Kureyon yarn later. 

Right now, it's time to decide between sorting out my TV room or starting the Gail Bowen mystery I picked up at the library this morning. Hmmm . . .

Hello, Again

Hello, again. It's been months since I've paid any attention to my blog and thought I'd make a bit of an effort to get back to it. I find it too easy to be a homebody these days, so took advantage of a recent sunny day and headed out to a local conservation area. I was rewarded by the sight of oak leaves. When I was growing up (not where I live now), I remember seeing oak trees all the time. So pretty.

Along with the wooded areas, my walk took me by areas of milkweed. I did spot an orange butterfly, which I assumed was a monarch, staying rather late in the season. Carrying on, I paused on a viewing platform by the marsh.

A stroll by the lake was also part of the trek. The woods, marshlands and a huge lake, all in an hour or so.

If you'd been with me, perhaps we would have lingered here, sitting and talking about whatever came to mind.

The moon was the incentive to head out for a stroll this evening. Various old songs have been playing in my head. Just now I thought of the lines:

The moon belongs to everyone

The best things in life are free

I hope you're enjoying the moon too.

A Quiet Sunday

I thought I'd say a quick hello to you. It's a quiet day. Mya the foster cat is snoozing, laundry is swishing and the fridge is partway through a good cleaning. I'll watch Vera, sip a cup of coffee and iron away. Not exciting, I know, but there's a certain peace that comes when things around me are brought back to some kind of order.

I started to play in the garden this past week. Colours are appearing and I've been raking some leaves and pulling a few weeds. Do you have a gardening routine that you follow? Things get out of hand here, as spring turns to summer, and each year I promise myself things will be better!

Planting bulbs in previous autumns: that is an act of delayed gratification that offers a big payoff! Some flowers now and tulips to follow.

A few pansies found their way into pots. I thought this was such a pretty blue.

 

Also, fragrant hyacinths are blooming and magnolia buds are just about ready to flower. Spring. I love it.

I hope your new week is a good one.

☀Sunlit Sunday: Our Final Week

Welcome to the final week of ☀Sunlit Sunday for 2016. For most of us, spring has begun (ice storms notwithstanding). Others are all set to roll into autumn. Wherever you're from, thank you for joining in this year, even if this week is your first time.

Tulips called to me this week, in colours often associated with Easter. I have some tulip leaves in the garden, but I haven't looked at them since things got a nice coating of ice a couple of days ago. I hope they survived and spring forth now that it's getting a bit warmer.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy some cut ones indoors.

Here's hoping the rabbit and mouse don't nibble them.

To those who celebrate it, Happy Easter.

To all, may this new season bring you joy.

Thank you for sharing your posts about sunlit themes over the past few months. It's been a pleasure to host this little gathering for you.
 

Your turn.

An InLinkz Link-up

☀Sunlit Sunday: The Second Last Time

Welcome to ☀Sunlit Sunday, our second last gathering for 2016.

Spring is arriving this weekend (for some of us), so farewell to winter.

It was a gorgeous day for a long walk by the lake and a long talk with an old friend. The beginning of the week was grey, but things have turned around. Another bit of exercise was attempting to manipulate a large, past-its-prime wool area rug out of the house, into my car and up to the waste management facility. The name is grander than the former one: the dump.

I thought I'd take a photo of the opening Christmas cactus flowers and someone decided to get in on the act and steal the spotlight. The colours look rather bright, but I didn't tinker with them, it was just the bright afternoon sunlight having some fun.

I hope you found some sunny spots in your week.

It's your turn.

An InLinkz Link-up

☀Sunlit Sunday: Mad Dash

Welcome to ☀Sunlit Sunday. It's a bit of a mad dash to get this post up and ready by (roughly) 8 pm. Emails are flying back and forth. I'm lucky enough to have some new furniture arriving Tuesday morning, but I just found out today it was ready and I still have the old sofa and chairs in my living room.

Emails to a couple of places that might take donations. Emails to a young woman I know who has seen it and sat upon it and thinks it would suit her just fine. I'm sending photos to her and pointing out the items do have some issues. Let just say the artfully tossed throws are there for a reason! I hope she takes my advice and comes over to take a good long look at each piece before she and her husband rent a trailer, just in case.

Meanwhile, the pot of tulips is still hanging in, catching the light and looking lovely. The Christmas cactus, which had a few blooms in December seems to have plans to produce some flowers for Easter.

The sunny, afternoon light show will go on later in the day, once the clocks change this weekend and we "spring forward". If you're in Saskatchewan, you needn't bother! For those who live in other countries, Saskatchewan is one of Canada's western provinces and the only one that does not set the clocks forward an hour in springtime and back an hour in the fall. You may not have known that, but perhaps you've heard of our new Prime Minister's visit to Washington. Justin Trudeau has made quite a splash!

The wonderful foster beast. Little does she know her living room is about to be torn apart. She is a sunny presence in my home and makes me laugh every day. I'd write more, but Mya has decided to rub her head on my laptop in a plea for attention. She is not to be ignored!

I hope you all have a lovely new week!

It's your turn.

An InLinkz Link-up

☀Sunlit Sunday: Potted Tulips & Mya

Welcome to ☀Sunlit Sunday this week. We'll wrap things up at the end of the month, but, I hope, keep in touch beyond then. I still need to get better at blogging more often and figuring out what I want to say.

I can't just share foster cat photos! This little miss has been enjoying her cat tree more and more since I've moved it into the living room. I think Mya likes the late afternoon sun. She is very active and can amuse herself with her Crinkleball toy, tossing it around, chasing it and even carrying it over to me to throw for her. Maybe she's part dog. I do think her colouring is beautiful, but I'm not sure how to describe it.

Speaking of colour, I picked up a pot of tulips in the grocery store. I admired the soft pink ones, but opted for something with a bit more zing. I'll enjoy them opening up indoors, then can plant the bulbs in the garden come fall. Double the pleasure.

One more of Mya, shimmering in the sun. If, by the way, you have any ideas of how I promote this girl on the animal rescue Facebook page, do pass them along. Adoption is the goal, but she's fun to have around in the meantime!

Here's wishing you some sunny moments in the new week!
It's your turn. 

An InLinkz Link-up

☀Sunlit Sunday: Mya

With lovely Purl having been adopted, I now find myself welcoming another foster cat. Mya moved in on Thursday afternoon and she has adjusted well.

I had her set up in the guest room, a safe place to make herself comfortable with food, water, cat tree and litter box on hand. By Friday, she was more than happy to explore other parts of the house. Now, she has access to the main floor of my bungalow, but still chooses to do her serious napping in her room. Maybe it's the sunny, southern exposure!

I don't know if you can tell by the photos, but she is a tiny cat, about half the size of Purl. She's the same age, though, turning 7 years old next month. Here's hoping someone wonderful applies to the animal rescue group to adopt her. Not everyone considers taking in a more mature animal, but we had a 14-year-old dog adopted today, so there is reason to be hopeful and look on the sunny side of possibilities.

Your turn!

An InLinkz Link-up

☀Sunlit Sunday: Enjoying Winter

Welcome to ☀Sunlit Sunday. It was a busy week, with a few little messes to untangle, but the sun shone on many days.

I still have a centrepiece I received in December. The carnations are long since gone, the Christmas balls removed, but most of the greenery remains and few more pinecones were added to what is now a winter arrangement.

 On Thursday, it was time to breathe deeply and enjoy a hike. 

 There were some wooden bridges,

 sunlight through the trees,

a long creek,

 and even an old log cabin.

It was a beautiful way to spend a couple of hours.

Your turn.

An InLinkz Link-up

☀ Sunlit Sunday: She's Not Here

She's not here, snoozing on the couch.

She's not snuggled on the quilt.

She's not to be found in a sunny spot on my carpet either.

That's because, after 9 months with me and nearly 2 years with our animal rescue, Purl has been adopted by a lovely couple. That, my friends, is sunny news for this almost 7-year-old kitty! Have you ever considered fostering? There is such a need in many places.

Your turn.

An InLinkz Link-up

☀Sunlight Sunday: Week 4

It's just a quick post from me today with glimpses of sunshine inside and out. No word yet on Purl the foster cat and her Extended Visit.

One bright spot in the week was being introduced to this young woman's music. Her name is Annie Sumi and she was a featured performer at a local gallery event. If you're at all curious to hear this folky singer/songwriter, here is a link.

It's your turn.  

An InLinkz Link-up