Postcard Challenge weeks 16 & 17

There seems to be a pattern with me lately...I can't seem to get these done at the proper time.  At least Darcy is very kind about it and doesn't rap us on the hand with a ruler or anything. :)

Week 16...otherwise known as last week...Thadeus sends a postcard from Romania. 

The postcard is a photo I took then played around in Photoshop a bit to give it a vintage feel.

Thadeus writes:

Maggie-
Iceland was amazing. I can't stop thinking of you even when I know that I should be actually reading the books and documents in  front of me. I have scarcely seen the outside of the library here in Romania. I think I have discovered the source of the shipment. Time will tell.
       Yours-Thadeus 

The accompanying page is a little boring. I thought the paper is somewhat old wallpaper like...something one might see in an old library. 

Week 17 Maggie writes to Thadeus from Norway. 

She doesn't mention why she is there. It seems Miss Maggie is somewhat a woman of leisure. Taking photos, painting etc.

 Maggie writes:

Thadeus-
I'm so excited that we, I mean, you are getting more answers. I feel as though I'm part of your journey as well now. I hope that doesn't offend you since you are doing all the work.
When you visit next I'm going to make you some Norwegian specialties. 
      Yours truly- Maggie

She certainly tends to stumble a bit when corresponding with Thadeus. Maggie seems quite impulsive...doesn't think before she speaks...or writes.

The page includes the recipes written in Norwegian...sure hope she can translate them...and a pocket that showcases rosemaling.

Thanks for bearing with me and the extra long post.

Stop by Darcy's blog to see some more Norway postcards this week.

Garage sale season!!

It's that time of year again! 

The garage sales have begun. I scored big time today. It was a moving sale. They just wanted the stuff GONE! 

I got ALL of this stuff for $4.00. 

Oh yeah! 

Once again this year I'm trying my very hardest not to buy anything new...aside from adhesives...

But rummage sales, thrift stores, garage sales and free bins are not NEW items. 

 

To knit or crochet

I finally learned how to knit on needles...albeit only with a new special kind of yarn. There are many brands and styles of this yarn on the market...but this was the only one at the fancy pants yarn shop that a few of my knitting group friends and I went to last week.

I made this knitted scarf.  The surprising thing (that will only make sense to knitters)is that there are only 6 stitches per row....all knit stitches!

I even figured out how to bind off by myself!! It was without a near catastrophe but I managed to save it....thank goodness.

I think I'd have cried it it had fallen apart.

Then last night while watching "Wheel of Fortune",

hey it's educational for the kids,

I crocheted this scarf with the leftover yarn.

I can't believe how quickly it went!

Of course it's much thinner and much longer. 

I am pretty sure I have to stop all yarnwork for a while. 

I've had a pain in my basal thumb joint for a couple of months now. I had some stiffness and then something that felt like it came out of joint and popped back in. Honestly, after that it felt better than is had in a month or so...but now it  has flared up again. 

I've decided (with my non-existent medical degree) that it's either tendonitis or arthritis....hopefully the former.

Late afternoon Tea Tuesday

Since I am so late today, I decided to answer Kimmie's, our sweet hostess, question with my post. 

She asked:

what is ever-present in your not so simple life?

off to the edge and not making it into every photo op and blog post?

 

This is the idyllic image I  show...beautiful crab apple blossoms, lovingly gathered by my own hand alongside an anniversary card from my in-laws. 

Lovely, right?

But this is the whole scene....

The seemingly ever present paper pile on the table. It gets moved from place to place but seldom ever fully dealt with. Right now there are dozens coupons, a community ed catalog that I really need to fill out registration forms for, a grocery list and kids school papers that need to be oohed and aahed over.

I like the first picture much better. :)

 

Spring is in the air

We've got a pair of chickadees busy preparing a nest in the bird house I plucked out of a FREE pile at the curb while on a walk last year. Those birdies have it stuffed so full that the nest is trailing out. 

I'm not sure how they plan on raising babies in there.

 

We are finally getting some moisture. It's been so dry that grass was crunchy.

The crab apple blossoms love it.

I'll be cutting some off in a bit to bring inside. Too bad the blossom stage is so short lived.

My neighbor's tree is further ahead than ours...at least I get to enjoy it from afar.

 

Postcard Challenge weeks 14 & 15

I find myself playing catch-up this week. With the kids on Spring break, I completely forgot about doing my postcard! 

Week 14--
Thadeus writes to Maggie about his long absence.

Maggie-
So sorry to have worried you but I was unable to send any correspondence.  I was sent on another errand- this time I was at sea for a couple weeks. I was certainly happy to come to port here in Singapore.

I want to see you again. Please send me your travel plans. I'll be waiting here at the beach for the next few days. 

So that must be why Thadeus never made it to Israel.  *wink*

Here's my page with a few notes...more clues to his research one would assume.

And now for Week 15 from Iceland!!

I knew I had to do the Northern Lights. We see them here in MN sometimes. I have fond memories of sitting in silence watching the colors play across the sky.




Maggie writes in her sweet note:

Thadeus-
I am so delighted that we were able to spend an entire day together. I'll always cherish sitting on the steps with you. The Northern Lights   were like a symphony. We didn't need to speak, we just had to be.
I wish you would end your research - I fear for you and your well being. Who knows what you might discover.
Warmly-Maggie

My goodness they've met again. A romance seems to be brewing between them.

The page features the word magnificent boldly circled. I'm thinking that Maggie has fallen head over heels.

Please swing over to Darcy's blog and check out the rest of this weeks postcards.




 

Toddler Tea

Imaginary tea is just as fun as 

the real deal some days...

 

Inspired by Pinterest

In the weeks leading up to Easter I saw a few ideas on Pinterest that I thought...

"I could totally do that!"

 

I made this wreath for my mom's apartment door. 

And these cute little deviled egg chicks for Easter.

Of course, today I went to link to the original pin and share the link to the owner of the photo...no luck. 

It says "original pin deleted". 

All I have is the photo in Pinterest. 

I'm not about to post someone else's photo on my blog without being able to give a photo credit. 

Yet another reason that I'm now labeling my photos. 

 

Longing for Summer

 

After a few glorious days in March that made us here in MN forget that we should still have snow on the ground...our weather has turned. It's cold again. 

It's has me "Longing for Summer"...

I used lots of yummy texture. 

Honestly...the background is my favorite part of this piece. 

It was just too plain to leave on it's own but I wanted lots of it to show.

 

40 Tea Tuesday

My BFF turns the big 4-0 tomorrow. Since she's across the country from me I decided to SPAM her snail mail box this past week. I'm sure she'll get me back next month when I going the club but its all in good fun. Neither of us are freaking out about 40...it just doesn't seem possible. I feel like I'm 20 something. 

I sliced open the side of a water bottle and filled it  with a packet of flowers seeds, a knit dishcloth, crochet scrubbie, a wine cork, confetti, a few fortunes and a note.

The note explained the contents... 

In summary it said:

If I were there I'd give her flowers, instead she'll have to plant her own. 

If I were there I'd help her clean her house, instead she'll have to have her family to do it for her. 

If I were there I'd share a bottle of wine but sorry I drank it.

I also made a series of postcards with little snarky remarks all in jest of course. 

I realize this post doesn't really have anything to do with tea... other than the fact that Sandy and I often have a cup of tea and a chat over the phone. 

Stop by Kimmie's blog to see some "real" tea posts.

 

Knitting again

I have finally gone beyond just the standard dishcloth project.
Not that I won't be making more of these but now I've been experimenting a bit.










I made a slight bigger doll hat and am planning a matching scarf.






I wanted more of an elf hat look for this one so I came up with my own "pattern".   The "pattern" is still a work in progress. :)

Now I'm working on this  new stitch...

Looks like popcorn to me!!

Since Pinterest has gotten so big I've decided to start labeling my photos so that if they are "pinned", the credit goes to me.

Don't get me wrong....I love Pinterest, but I also want to make sure I get credit where credit is due.

Not a part of Pinterest yet...need an invite?  Let me know in a comment.

 

 

Garden 2012

 Preparation for this years garden has begun.  

All of my seeds have sprouted into these cute little seedlings...hooray!

I have 4 varieties of tomatoes, basil, mint, parsley, thyme and dill in one tray and petunias just getting started in the second. 

Not sure if  the flowers will be big enough by the time I want them outside but I had to try anyway.

The garden plot is waiting to be prepped as well.  

I haven't dared do any raking or hoeing since hurting my back. I've got plenty of time though, we usually don't plant anything outside until after Mother's Day. Then the chance of frost is pretty slim.

Can't wait to get the rest of the seeds into the ground! 

We love having a garden to eat from.