so, it's still April

 04  20 2020   not an ordinary day, mind you none of our days are ordinary nor normal.  So better to make the best of what we've got!

Earlier yesterday morning we did a mini road trip (I know, I know...what about staying at home??)  but it was a drop off to deliver grandson two's birthday gift (and birthday's are very important to little boys), home made cookies and some other treats for Vanessa and the boys.   From a safe distance we did get a brief chat with our daughter and then it was time to hit the road again.   We'd already decided that just saying hi to our grandsons and then leaving would have caused more upsets than needed.   Hopefully it will be sooner than later that we can actually visit (fingers crossed).

The drive itself reminded me of  'taking a Sunday drive' of years past....no traffic just local scenery to look at.    It was nice but also so strange.   And the travelling time door to door one way a mere hour!!  The old norm  driving was an hour and a half or longer each way.

Today's grocery pickup was a success as most of what I'd ordered was included in the order....including some yeast!!

The mail was delivered shortly after 10 am and that's early for us.   The parcel in the box was for
our neighbour so DH delivered it to them.  A while later the same neighbour after checking their
mail delivered  our parcel in their box to us!   The parcel that arrived (quite unexpected)  contained wooly  goodness....two types of roving!!! 
 
Many thanks to Michelle for your thoughtfulness! (boulderneigh.blogspot.com)  

round and round

A new day yet it feels like someone hit the repeat button.   Outside sunshine, blue skies and white puffy clouds.  And there's a full moon rising tonight!


Indoors one of the beans is finally up.    There is no explaining why is did the 'bury yourself' in the dirt and then finally sprouted up in the middle.....so this is middle earth!

friends sticking together

Sully and Bunny

friends sticking together

take your pick

so, is it spring or not???   April 1st woke up to snow! A dusting the next day....and so the week has continued cold and some flakes falling.....sigh     So, winter still or really spring??

Today it's 04 04 2020   or 2020 04 04, take your pick.

Remember the good old days when it was ok to go to the store, library or other shops??

Friends sticking together.

take care everyone.

back to gentler times

it's Time Life  60's love songs on tv, we were much younger then and worries, well  they were nothing  as compared to today's world.  So yes, I have somewhat dated myself but that's ok.

The old songs are a reason to smile.   These days we need reasons to smile.

So how are you doing with staying at home?  What are you doing to keep busy?

always, always

thankful,

grateful 

and

blessed

take care

behind the patio hedge

life goes on at a slower place.  Finding new ways for every day routines. well it is interesting especially when everything is at home.   No more 'we're out of....' and just go to the store.

In this corner of the world it is the start of spring.  The extra hours of daylight are a bonus.  I've been planting seeds indoors for this year's patio garden. 

We missed our weekly family lunch with our daughter and grandsons.   They're safely at home.   Maybe we should plan a video chat lunch date.

remember...keep your distance,  stay safe  and healthy!

so here we are....

March 20th, 2020........the first day of Spring (yeah!!)   and most everything else (boo!!!!)

It is hard to keep perspective with the virus spreading and everything is uncharted territory.

Keep connected with friends and family.  

Thank goodness for emails.

Keep busy at home.

Read a book, pull out unfinished projects,

try a new recipe.

and always, always,

be thankful,

grateful

and blessed.

stay healthy and safe.

bring on the sunshine

These days finding reasons to smile, well sometimes are fewer and father apart. 

Spring IS right around the corner.  The weatherman is promising sunshine this week and milder
temperatures.

And this morning I can across this quote:

"Everyone should be taught to sew, not merely for the sake

 of making something, but as an accomplishment which may prove

a stabilizer in time of perplexity or distress.

Many a time when I need to hold myself firmly,

I have taken up a needle - a sewing needle, some knitting needles, 

or a crochet hook.  Whatever its form or purpose, it often

proved to be as the needle of a compass,

keeping me to the course."

- First Lady Grace Coolidge

To this quote add spindles for spinning and the compass course is easily charted.

Keep calm and carry on.

forward and back

Today is 02 02 2020, forward and back, just the same.   Along with hindsight being 2020   and here we are in 2020.   It's going to be some kind of year.

A category 4 atmospheric river hit all of the province...... and what is this???  lots of rain, flooding in some areas, wind  and someone with their finger on the repeat button.     It used to be that when the pineapple express came up from Hawaii sure it brought rain along with milder temperatures.  By Tuesday more than a chance of snow.......how many days till spring, too many according to the calendar.      And not to forget, it's Groundhog Day!


In the meantime, a new start for February, some Santa Cruz roving.   Other than VM bits to remove it's lovely to spin.

always be  

 thankful, grateful and blessed

and let others know that 

you're thinking about them

lend a hand 

things do come full circle

till next time.

it's been a very long month

It truly has been a long month!

A week of Arctic weather was more than enough.  And that is the reason bears hibernate!   Indoor life was fine and there were more than enough options to keep busy.........

Our resident Anna's hummingbirds survived the extreme cold.   Feeders were kept insulated as best we could.

On rare moments, brightness in the sky..sunshine, I remember you sunshine .... and then gone again.


Australia needs help in so many ways.    I found a link to a Quilt Guild that  is making quilts for fire victims.  With the theme Trees, I   made a pattern and then working from fabric stash did some hand applique.   Not fancy but heart felt.   They're now on their way to Oz.

Postage to send  joey pouches and the like is way too much so we've opted to send a money donation.  The Koala Hospital  Port Macquarrie NSW has a good website and info.


And the keeping busy.........

The white turtles are Clun Forest.  It's one of the wool types I'll spin as part of a breed study with our Ravelry Jenkins spindle group.  On my meet the sheep list I've eight to try....

And for fun (using up some spun bits and pieces)  knitted and crocheted bags.   They're a perfect size  to hold an empty gelato container.   And emptying that container......pure bliss!

and that's a wrap for January 2020!