The storm before the calm.....

We head back up north in a few days. We fly instead of driving so what needs to go with us is shipped. It is a job.

All projects are on the back burner. The coffee mug says it all.

I have set up the den as a staging area.

Boxes like this are packed and sealed.

The studio is almost back in order.

The sewing/craft closet is boxed and labeled. I knew where everything was before but just couldn't move in there.

Projects are lined up in order.

I even cleaned the top of the desk.

So, how about some coffee and my knitting!

What's been going on in my kitchen....

We have taken a new direction in our food preparation and consumption. We are both concerned about what is in our food and where it comes from. Processed foods are slowly disappearing from out diets. Vegetables and fruits are abundant. And we are having fun!

An electric wok made by Breville (I have no affiliation just appreciation of their products) has joined the kitchen staff.

Jack has become the prep chef extraordinaire.

All of this done a little ahead of time quickly becomes a healthy dinner with some left for lunch the next day.

The grill has been put to use all winter.

We par-boiled the sweet potatoes and then grilled them. They were almost better than steak fries!

Fresh salads with homemade vinaigrette are our favorites. I like to garnish the salad with Parmesan crisps. These are easily prepared. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spoon about a tablespoon of cheese onto the paper. Leave some space as they will spread. I use just a little bit more and use the back of the spoon to press the cheese down. Bake for about 6 minutes. Watch carefully! They can be made in various sizes and the time adjusted.

So, that's what been going on in the kitchen around here.

Then there is the knitting. I finished Charlotte's Web.

Have a wonderful day and week.

Busy time of year.....

Once again the blog took a back seat and I feel badly about it. However, I have not been idle. My knitting fingers need a break as I think the wool is rubbing the skin off! Or perhaps it is the dye in the wool. But I am making progress and hope to have this project to my friend Nancy for finishing before I go back to Maine. That date is approaching quickly.

I have a new toy.

Now another gadget needs my participation in the learning curve. Yes, I am giggling....The return of a Polaroid type camera.

And I have been cleaning and moving furniture. Why just last week I moved a grand piano and a sofa.

And as usual I left the vacuum in the middle of the room!

I shall continue to look for "stuff" for the house.

And in my house, I have been cleaning and organizing - closets and cupboards and drawers. I invested in plastic ArtBins and with my trusty Brother PT labeler, I have sorted and put together what needs to be together.

In the process of going through all of this, I found 3 projects that could be completed. They were and went to my friend Lynn at A Quilter's Journey for some long arm quilting. You can read about Lynn's shop on Facebook.

I think I made these miniature Log Cabin quilts 25 years ago. My eyesight was much better then. I found a quilt that was a challenge from my blogging friend Rett at Gazebo House. The challenge was to only use fabric from our stash. I worked on it eagerly and then put it away. I found it while cleaning and two hours later it was done. Now it will grace the dining room table.

And I finished Jack's table runner which will live in Maine.

And the back of it.....

While at the quilt store I bought some placemats. Yes, I could make them but the reality is that I wouldn't. I love the "modern" quilting look. The background fabric and the quilting is as important as the actual "block" which is sort of freeform and cattywampus.

So now back to the knitting!

But first I shall set the table! Have a wonderful rest of the week.

A change in plans........

I have been doing a lot of knitting. It is hard to write a blog and knit.

I would like to finish this jacket before we go to Maine although there were a few days in Florida that I could have used it!

Jack saw some quilted table runners at a local quilt shop and suggested that it might be a nice gesture to make one for his house. I suggested that it might be a nice gesture if he ran the vacuum for me - and a deal was struck! I shall finish it tomorrow and then off to the long arm quilter.

I had forgotten how much I loved batiks and sewing.

Some new linens and ranunculus at Trader Joe's prompted a tablescape. 

There is something wonderful about white ironstone and white flowers.

We had planned a day out in downtown Sarasota but thought better of it and changed our plans. From time to time I have seen doll houses made out of metal like the one I had as a child. They have not been in good condition. But yesterday tucked away in a corner was the exact doll house of my childhood in excellent condition. It followed me home. The doll houses were made by Louis Marx in the 40's and 50's and the furniture was made by Renwal.

Notice the sewing machine in the window!

I shall have to find some outdoor furniture. 

And the living room is a little bare. But the fun will be finding furniture in miniature. 

It was a good day!

Now I shall go back to my knitting and listen to a book.

I hope you have a wonderful day and good week. Thank you for stopping by.