Sunday 14 February 2021

Mood Boosting Things During LockDown

The high Arctic Polar Vortex chummy touched down here on its way through most of North America.  Instant frostier than usual temperatures. When it is -20 C straight temperature it doesn't take much of a breeze to have frigid wind chills.  But not alone with this as so many of you have emailed about your equally frigid temperatures much further south of us.

Low Winter Sun


On a bright note, the folks at the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre have noted the male American Goldfinches are already sporting brighter plumage. Though it may not feel like it just now, spring is inching closer!

A little closeup of overwintering garden remnants.
How it remains though freezing over and over.
Closer still with cropping and now looking like a painting, one I would call Coneflower in Winter.

My present book, The Overstory, offered up this advice in my reading yesterday. 

Do you know the best place to go if one has to sleep rough as in your car?  A warehouse store parking lot. They are always plowed, have lots of lights and security cameras that work. So pull into such a well lit corner, you can pop in and out for the bathroom and snacks; it is busy enough that no one will notice you. If anyone notices your car at night, they will assume it is night staff doing the shelf restocking.  Isn't that the best thing about reading; among other things, you can join someone on their journey as they leave their old life and take on a new name, a new life. And pick up tips if the need ever arises for you to do this, LOL.

 The talented Ann Wood at her blog, Ann Wood Handmade, published this post.  These ideas are so creative, just like Miss Wood herself, of course. See those tiny hexies in the right upper corner...they make me want to make them.  And the owl of course and the cute fish too. Always fun to see what artists are making and sharing.

March is not my favourite month but I enjoyed working on the March block of A Year at  Hawk Run Hollow.  I wasn't sure about that lion but liked it more as it emerged.  Cross stitching is soothing to me  just as I know some of you enjoy sewing on your machines.
I do have an issue with the pattern should you decide to get it; the colours in the photos are not the same as the ones listed for embroidering. In the photo, they are much brighter, not as muddy kind of as the suggested colours which are what I'm using. . 

I enjoy checking out stitch alongs. The Facebook group, Cackling Stitches and Friends, is sponsoring another quilty stitchalong. Patterns will be free for a month. This one is called Hagatha's House, set to begin March 1.

On YouTube I've been watching several vlogs that are quiet, peaceful and thought provoking. 
These have been beneficial to my mental health, certainly better than the news outlets! Here are two you might enjoy checking out. 
The first is Fairyland Cottage-this particular episode is Things I Stopped Buying.

And this one that is a real gem, Green Resistance...every episode features different people around the globe asking and answering important questions.  I love them!

Thanks for visiting with me today. I love your comments as that is how I know who is reading and how it is with you today and during these times; that is always so interesting to me.
Update: It's Thursday, so please think of checking out all the interesting links at Not Afraid of Color and It's a Small Town Life.

Also linking this post with Kathy's Quilts and In the Jesh Studio


25 comments :

Little Penpen said...

I’ve watched Fairyland Cottage before; a nice vlog. Your cross stitch is very pretty.

Lydia C. Lee said...

Interesting creations there!

AnnieO said...

Those are some extreme temps! Here in SoCalif spring is in February, when we usually get more rain, but it is very dry again this year.
Love your March Lion. It is likely the printer's fault they over-corrected the colors on the pattern jacket, I bet. Thanks for sharing your sites to check.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I will check to see if the book is available - it is cold here only 15 today which is very cold for us and that is the high and tomorrow the same- down to 8 two nights in a row - thankfully I know we will be back to the 50's by the weekend - we did get snow today too - other than snow flurries we have barely gotten any in about 3 years or so.
Have fun with your stitchery's

Out To Pasture said...

Gosh, Fairyland Cottage certainly has taught this old dog some new tricks! The closest I came to stitchery this winter is I've darned two pairs of socks. Feeble, I know, but satisfying nevertheless!

Deborah said...

We were to have warmer temps today but the polar vortex does not want to move one! I like listening to Fairyland Cottage as well and will have to listen to that episode. Stay warm and enjoy stitching.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Currently -3F here in Colorado - brrr! But it hasn't seemed to have bothered our birds here - they've been busy at the feeders. Your March cross-stitch design is delightful, although I'm sorry to read you aren't happy with the floss colors. I enjoyed looking through Ann Woods' ideas for scraps. Those little hexies are very sweet!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Your stitchings are always so pretty. Dang, I just can't imagine being that cold!!! Happy Valentine's Day from all of us!

junie-jesh said...

One thing is certain: you are not bored (smile) during a lockdown:) Love your capture of the low sun shining on the snow.
Maybe you remember I moved to TX: a complete surprise, it's snowing as I am writing. Tonight it's will come down to 11 deg.F and tomorrow to 4 deb. Am sure glad that among my 6 garbage bags for the goodwill were no sweaters or coats!
What a practical post "the things I stopped buying." God totally engrossed in it! Many thanks for this interesting and diverse post for All Seasons! Stay warm this week, Jesh

Shiju Sugunan said...

Beautiful cross stitch art!

Kate said...

Such a splendid post, Jocelyn! I, too, find cross stitching very relaxing. Thank you for all of the wonderful links. It was good news to read that the goldfinches are getting brighter plumage. Have a great week. k^^

Deb A said...

I'll check out those videos, thanks! I never seem to know what to watch lately. Sometime this year I need to pull out a half finished cross stitch and get it moving again. Right now... working on hand quilting and hand piecing... although I really should finish up a knitting and a crochet project for the kids. Stay well and warm.

Jenny said...

Love your sunshine an snow photo, its an amazing shot.

Jackie said...

The sun is shining here in Saskatchewan again today, and for awhile the wind died down and it was quite pleasant even though the temperature was -27C at the time I was walking.

Pretty stitching.

God bless.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

The 'Coneflower in Winter' photo is great -the flower is perfectly preserved. The photo of the sun is wonderful too! Thank you for the lead on the you tube bloggers too.

Angie said...

Jocelyn - your Coneflower photo is elegant and sophisticated. Wonderful! I like Ann Wood's scrappy animals, especially the owl and the chickens! I will have to come back and check out those YouTube links! All is well here in Montana - we are back to "normal" temperatures, so the line leading to my washing machine finally unfroze - long story but a happy ending!

Shannon said...

Your winter garden pictures are great! There's beauty even in dried dead up things! I love seeing them peek out of the snow! And the picture of that scrap busting blog post is adorable. I love all the little animals- the owl and fish and beetle at the bottom! I'm going to have to check it out!

andy's colours said...

Thanks for the most interesting links. The Green Resistance film is so touching. I will definitely look at more. We got only a couple of days of really cold weather like -12°C, but there are areas in Germany where temperatures went down to -25°C. Now, a mere week later, temperatures are rising and going up to 15 plus this weekend! Absolutely crazy. Love your pictures.
Greetings from Germany
Andrea

Sherrie said...

Hi Jocelyn,
Lovely cross stitch piece. I watched your videos...so wonderful to listen to. I've also joined the group at Cackling Stitches. I'm going to see if I can do the BOM for Hagatha's House. We'll see how that comes out. I really like your garden remnants...so pretty even in the winter. Have a great day!

grammajudyb said...

Thank you so much for the link to Ann Wood Handmade! I thought maybe I was the only one who mended and mended favorite pieces of clothing! I think your cross stitching is amazing! I’m feeling the need to get back to it. I can’t do it for extended lengths of time, my hands start to hurt. But I do enjoy it!
Coneflower in Winter is frame worthy! Love it!

Angela Tucker said...

Your photos are great. Here in California, our weather is in the high 60 degrees. DH had to cut the lawns today!! I checked out the scrap ideas. I love the angry apple! LOL It just seems to fit my mood today. I drool over all of the Hawk patterns but have never taken that leap. Your lion is great. Stay warm and safe.

Karrin Hurd said...

Thanks for all the good recommendations ands links! Hoping you are keeping warm!

Jeanne said...

It's cold here in Wisconsin as well, and I am doing needlework as well. Stay warm!

Michele McLaughlin said...

Enjoyed today's post so much! Love the crossstitch and the table square you are making! You are one of my favorite crafters so I am glad you are getting your mojo back! I think we would all be happier if the weather turned a little. Have a safe and happy week!

Jenn Jilks said...

I'd not heard that, about the birds. We have to many repolls right now!