Nature played a crew joke on us. 6" of fresh heavy snow to cover those little green arms that were trying so hard to reach up for the sun. The good news is that I think they will be fine and once this snow melts I have a feeling that everything will finally spring into action!!
My issue of Martha Stewart Living showed up on Friday. It's all about the upcoming V-day. Pink, red, lavender, butter cream, chocolate. It was written all over. So to calm my urgent desires for sweets I baked a red velvet cake and slathered it in the traditional cream cheese frosting. I have to admit that the cake came from a box, so while it's definitly delicious, it's not as good as homemade would have been. My pictures look dark because it was late, but I can assure you that it is indeed a yummy red velvety color.
I spent most of my weekend... wait... make that all of my weekend cleaning, painting, washing laundry, and sleeping. Yep.. that's about it. Our house had gotten to the point where my skin started to crawl so I cleaned EVERYTHING. I even went so far as to empty the entire refrigerator to wipe down the shelves and walls. What can I say... it just had to be done.
We also started redoing one of the extra bedrooms upstairs. Some day that room will be my office, but because of reasons hard to explain it will be an office/den for John... for now. It's coming together pretty quick, but we still have a few key pieces of furniture to move up there and then I'll show you :D
Happy Monday Everyone!
xoxo,
Jennalou
This weekend I stole a few hours to myself to finish the cushion pad cover for this corner in my bedroom. I used a really pretty fabric with organic shapes that just melts into my room and added a blue edging to spruce it up a bit.
I still want to hang some art work... maybe some photos in this nook, but otherwise it's complete, comfortable and all mine to enjoy for hours and hours of reading time.
xoxo,
Jennalou
ps... can you believe how fast December is flying by? I sure can't!! There is still so much to be done!
My winter bulbs have sprung into full bloom this week. As I left on Friday for the No-Coast show my Amaryllis was only beginning to open up, and when I returned it had really evolved. This is my very first year planting winter bulbs for indoor enjoyment and I've become a real addict. You see... I don't have the best track record with house plants. They usually do well for a while, but within 6 months they are in really sad condition which usually is very uninspiring and I end up killing it. But with these bulbs I feel like there is nothing I could do to stop it. They are so willing to just live on and will do everything in their power to shoot out those BIG beautiful blooms.
I got some paper whites too and am thoroughly enjoying the scent they give off. ** pst... do you see my little helper in the background? She had to sneak in for the photo op. **
I wonder... does anyone know if it's too late to start more of these?? I'd love to get a whole group of them going so I can enjoy them all over my house.
As a quick note I thought I'd mention that I'm FINALLY adding the postcard packs that I've had ready to go for months now to the shop. Don't know how I kept forgetting to photograph them, but it seemed that every time I had a chance
to do so it was cloudy out. Anyways they are available in "Sew Savvy" and "Sweet Tooth".
xoxo,
Jennalou
What a great weekend. So much was accomplished around here including lot's of cooking, gardening, reading and knitting.
I spent my Saturday in a luxury of laziness. I joined a new friend for coffee and sewing talk, then came home to knit and read. 
The scarf took me no time at all and was finished by bedtime. This was the first time I've used yarn with that thick and thin handspun texture and I couldn't be more pleased with how it came together. If you've never tried it before I'd say just do it... You'll love it!
I've been reading lots of gardening books, particularly ones which talk about perennials. They are so beautiful and the thought of only planting once and then enjoying blooms year after year is so charming. As I was removing all the dead veggies from the garden, where next year I plan a patio, I couldn't help but wish (as I have done many times before) that I was on HGTV. They make all the madness and work look so easy peasy. A complete garden reconstruction in just a weekend? Impossible. And although I know they have crews of many people doing many things all at once I can't help but wish that real life were like that. If it were I would have a newly decorated house/garden/garage in just a few short weeks where along the way the HTGV crew asks us to leave for the day and come home to a place we didn't even know was possible and lots of expensive surprises. If only.
I kid though... I really do enjoy doing the work for myself. There is a lot of satisfaction in putting in a long day of hard work when you know it's all yours to enjoy.
Now I better be back to my sewing... I'm sorry if you're waiting for your custom work... I promise I'll be done with all the orders by Wednesday!
** Scarf was knitted on 10.5 needles with Sensations Licorice #2347(2 skeins) which I picked up at my local JoAnn's craft store.
xoxo,
Jennalou
