Baking, Birds, Books and Stitching

The still early darkness is making long evenings, even longer nights for sleep, leisurely mornings for us retirees, comforting ourselves with food and hot drinks all the while. Sort of housebound but in reality not. This winter seems to be going on long without a break, not giving us any hint of an end in sight just yet.
We are comfortable though and only uncomfortable from our own doing...over eating and not walking as far or as long. The urge to treat yourself seems stronger when the outside weather is cold and too much treat type food has found its way into my cupboards. No one to blame for that but myself and the store that had Lays chips on special 2 for 1.  Salt will usually win over sugar for me.

And speaking of comforting food, I made a massive apple crisp. I used this recipe from Amanda at the wonderful I Am Baker site- it sandwiches the fruit between two layers of the crisp mixture which is my favourite part.

 A great little video and her other videos are wonderful too.

Perfect with a dollop of cream...

Anyway, a good season to sit in my pet chair by the large window and stitch which has led me to this point as of today with my Cornwall Cottage Sampler. Pleased with this progress.

Will I be able to close that gap by the 28th?? Fingers will have to be busy all this week! Having all these half quakers finished by then is my February OMG at Elm Street Quilts. Ummm looking tight.

So happy to be participating in the SAL hosted by Avis at Sewing Beside the Sea, the perfect encouraging group to get this project finished. Such wonderful stitching and interesting projects to be seen by these fine stitchers:-
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda,Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Catherine, Deborah, Connie, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon

Stitching pairs perfectly with audio books!
The Silent Patient by British author, Alex Michaelides.. Truthfully, so far I don't see what all the fuss has been about but apparently, the ending will be heart stopping. ( Don't mean to sound a bit snarky there but so many books are not delivering for me these days, which I know is just me.)

I've been on the trail of these guys below. Grouse are funny birds; here we almost step on one before it explodes into the air and away. The flurry is almost frightening and drives the dogs crazy.  I spy one or two in the trees but not very often.
Murphy spotted these first; I didn't know what they were, with their feathers all puffed out like this to keep warm. I enlarged the photo on the computer and could see they were Ruffed Grouse.  I read they withstand our frigid winter temperatures by growing extra feathers around their nostrils to warm the air they breathe. Isn't nature grand! Now if only we could do that! I asked Hubby what are our special adaptations and he said our brains. 😊

That one on the bottom looks like he's about to burst! Love their expressions.

Hope you are keeping warm or cool as your climate dictates! And thank you all for stopping by; I love hearing from you and getting to know you even just a little bit.

Happily linking with Kathy's Quilts, Stitch All the Things where Christine introduces us to her new updated sewing room,and The Jesh Studio.