What I've been up to - part 1

While you were knitting crazy hats, I was knitting mittens.

This is all Tori's fault. When asked what she wanted for Christmas, she replied she wanted me to make her mitts. So I did. Apparently mittens on strings are back so I fastened ribbons to them.

The above pair was done in her favourite colours but didn't really match her cape (or any other winter wear) so I made her a pair of flip mitts too. I was working like crazy on these and managed to finish them one hour after we dropped her at the airport. Canada Post must love me this year since I am sending parcels coast to coast regularly.

Then I took a break and did this puzzle that my parents gave me for Christmas. It was the hardest one I have done for a long time. Too bad Susan wasn't around to help put in a piece or two.

Connor really liked the colour of the first pair I did and asked for mitts with fingers. So I made him mitts with fingers (some of you may know them as gloves).

I have made many other items over the last month and I will share them with you shortly.

Stay tuned!

Grace

This is my good friend Grace.  We get together a few times each winter to do puzzles and play games.  Her name suits her so well. She is wise, even tempered and easy to get along with.  She never complains or has a negative word to say about others.  Grace and her husband have recently helped his daughter and son-in-law buy a bed and breakfast and they will likely be selling their house here and moving 3 hours away.  I already miss her.

Tori gave Grace and I this puzzle Christmas 2008.  Because Grace was sick for a while and then involved in setting up the bed and breakfast it took us longer than usual to finish it.  It was difficult because of the limited colour palette.  But here it is finally.  Thanks Tori.

Our Weekend

This weekend was Snowman Mania.  My parents came up.  We checked in on the  ice sculpture a few times.  

The highlight for us was the Lumberjack show.  The Canadian team was all dressed in red union suits.  The Americans wore plaid.   You wouldn't get me trying this.  I like my feet where they are - attached. 

 

Here the Canadians are blowing on a fire.  They have to get a can full of water to boil before the Americans reach 150 points on the target behind.  There is a video of another event but it wouldn't load here so I'll try to add it separately.

 

There were many other events - chili tasting, hot air balloon rides, skating, tobogganing, but most of it was oriented to young families.  I got a nice picture of my parents.

 

We went to a Valentine's dinner and movie at our church Saturday night and spend a lot of time working on another puzzle.  I thought this one would be fairly easy because of the birch frames but it wasn't  There were loons in 3 frames, wolves and eagles and deer in two.  

 

A weekend with my Mom and Dad

First, Connor, my mom and I went skating at our outdoor rink.

 

Then we finished the puzzle I started earlier in the week. These laser cut puzzles are hard. There are no straight line borders - both inside and outside pieces can be curved. At least this one had very bright distinct colours to make it a bit easier.

 We also watched a few movies and played board games. It was a very nice weekend. 

Another puzzle

Connor and I worked on this puzzle for a few days this week.  It sounded really interesting on the box.  You are a new CSI working with Mac Taylor and Stella Bonasera (love her hair) and you need to solve the murder with them.  There is no picture of the actual puzzle (in the box or anywhere on the internet).  You have to put it together from the clues provided in the short story included.  Then you use the "clues" in the white boxes and the extra details from the book (DNA, autopsy results etc) to solve the crime.  There is a UV light included that is supposed to reveal extra clues once the puzzle is assembled (it didn't help) and when you are sure you have figured out who the murderer is the light is used to reveal the solution in the back of the book.  It was hard to assemble without a picture but we  pretty much solved the murder.

The weather has not been conducive to doing anything outdoors this break so it was nice to find something to do together.

My life

My life has a fairly predictable rhythm to it (now that the kids are more independent). In April I start back to work as a gardener. Things are pretty hectic through the spring, summer and fall. I am laid off just in time to do the Christmas shopping, baking and to catch up on neglected housework before the kids are home for the holidays. After that I am pretty much free to amuse myself. During the cold winter days I walk the dogs, do the day to day housecleaning and then I get to do what I want. I cross-stitch, knit (not nearly as much as I used to) and get together with a friend to play scrabble and do puzzles. This is our latest accomplishment.

This was one of the hardest puzzles I have ever done. There was no symmetry to the pieces. It actually came with a diagram of the puzzle shapes to use as a guideline. We couldn't have done it without the "cheat sheet". The pieces don't stay together very well and because the border is not straight there was a lot of shifting involved as we added the centre pieces. I wonder if it would be easier to start in the middle and work out? Anyway, it was a rewarding experience!

This puzzle reminds me of when we lived in New Brunswick. There was an old wooden covered bridge about a mile down the road. Just past it, on the top of the hill was an old white church. It was very picturesque.