Friday 4 February 2022

Calming Winter Walks, Colourful Icy Walls, DMC #3801 in Herringbone Stitch, Pretty Flowers

 The word for the start of February is SNOW and lots of it. I've been shovelling and shuffling about the trails. So pretty. Thursday's walk was through a winter wonderland. I kept stopping to look up,  gaze around at how beautiful the forest looked. Despite it is a bold look, and stark too with the brilliant white against all the black looking branches, I felt it was very calming.  

And the view through the window on the back stairwell always makes me stop and admire...in all the four seasons.

We enjoyed another delicious cake from Daughter. This one was orange flavoured and I really liked it. I thought the orange went well with the chocolate icing.

That same daughter built this wall for Robbie's snow fort. That's Abbey's and Petey's tails there, LOL.

It took her quite a while to get it so big. Gorgeous at night.

I got this tower of Happy Elephant gourmet teas and special drink cup for Christmas from older daughter. I love the designs on both. Remind me of Liberty prints or maybe Tilda's. 
I finished the scrappy Lily Challenge hanging. I picked a red tiny polka dotted fabric for the backing and used DMC #3801 which is cheery looking to stitch a herringbone stitch to hold down the edging. It took longer than running it through the machine obviously but I thought the lilies turned out pretty and deserved the extra hand stitched touch. 
Thanks so much to the folks who gave this project a feature on their link party!
I've added several more flowers to my The Scarlet House Floral Motif Sampler. Slow stitching which is a part of almost every day here at the wooden house...
The two of them have a hard life...
With Neddy nodding off dreaming about sticks to chew and squirrels to chase (which I am too!), I'll leave you. Hope you are dreaming of wonderful things too!

Check out more happy thankful things at Not Afraid of ColorBrian's Home Blog and It's a Small Town Life. Also linking with these wonderful parties... Kathy's QuiltsCreations Quilts ArtSmall Quilts and Doll Quilts,  Quilting Patchwork Applique and Alycia Quilts


29 comments :

Ruth Hiebert said...

Those snowy scenes are so beautiful .

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

what is the snow wall built of with the colorful "bricks" in it? it is wonderful!! I love all your views and I know you are very use to the snow and the large amounts but do you ever think of getting away from the cold and snow in the winter to a warm climate (just curious) the cake looks delicious!

Rebecca said...

Enquiring minds want to know....How / What are those colored blocks in the snow fort made off?

Brian's Home Blog said...

That really is a pretty Winter Wonderland and that fort wall sure is pretty! That cake sure looks yummy too. Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

Brian's Home Blog said...

That really is a pretty Winter Wonderland and that fort wall is so cool. That cake looks yummy too! Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

loulee said...

Beautiful snowy images.
Lovely sewing too, lots of progress it seems.

Jenny said...

Such wonderful photos - Neddy and hubby snoozing together, and that lovely wintery view it your window! You are a busy bed with so many projects on the go, nothing wrong with that of course. Our warm summer weather has left us today, we have rain and colder temps today while we are still on holiday. Gemma is cuddled up nice and cozy on the caravan bed.

PaintedThread said...

I think I'm in love with your daughter. ;-) Love the colorful snow fort. I wish I had thought of that when I was a kid. So cool! All your projects look lovely. Mmm... what a hard life. :-)

grammajudyb said...

I love the colorful snow fort! Did Daughter freeze the individual building brick of ice? So cool. I saw somewhere on the internet someone filled balloons with colored water and built an igloo. Such a cool idea! I wish I had a lovely place to walk in the snow. So beautiful. I really really like the time you took to do the herringbone stitch on your Lilly Quilt. So nice. I have been stitching so much lately my left thumb joint at my wrist is very sore. Reat and ice I think! Have a great week.

cityquilter grace said...

lovely photos of the pristine snow...we have none here in MD...and the herringbone stitch around the edge is just perfect!

Michele McLaughlin said...

I enjoyed your post so much! So many pretty photos and such beautiful scenery! How did you daughter create that multi color effect on the snowfort? My mother's favorite cake (or candy) is orange and chocolate! The Lily quilt is WONDERFUL! Love the herringbone stitch you put on! Have a safe and happy weeend!

K Reeves said...

Cozy winter days at your house! I love the snow fort, what a great memory for the kids! Your snow is beautiful, but very deep! We have had minor cold snaps, only hitting -5 to 8, but no real snow. I am thankful not to be cont8 ally shoveling, but we need some moisture too. Our weather had been very up and down, 40’s one day, then plunging to the zero mark. At least it is variety!

Your quilt finish is lovely, and this is the month for red and white quilts!

Ray and Jeanne said...

I also love a quiet wintry forest. Yours is beautiful. That fort is great! ~Jeanne

piecefulwendy said...

Look at all that lovely snow! I'm sure your walks are delightful. You have so many good things in your post - cake, fun gifts, cool snow fort. Your stitching is just lovely. I'm waiting for more fabric to arrive so I can begin another cross stitch. Neddy looks right at home and cozy!

Gwyned Trefethen said...

Thank you for welcoming us to your winter wonderland. Stunning scenery and cheerful stitching.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

The scenery is so beautiful with the snow! The CAKE - yummy! Someone really loves to keep you two in comfort food! LOL
The herringbone stitch is very pretty - all hand work! That takes a lot of time. We do not have a Ned, but hubby will start watching a movie and I am thinking he is engrossed in it like me and I turn to see him in his recliner DOZING! Ah to be able to just sit and fall asleep at a moments notice! LOL. Have a great week-end and thank you for another interesting post! Hugs

Linda said...

Your description of walking through the snowy forest makes me think of my favorite Robert Frost poem. Love that winter view out your stairwell window. Oh that cake - I want a bite very badly! Your tea tower looks good on those pretty hexies. Neddy looks so content. :) Have a wonderful weekend Jocelyn!

Nana said...

All you show is lovely as usual.

Nana

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

What a pretty walk
and your window - wow - it frames that view incredibly!!
The snow fort - that is super cool! and Neddy - he stole the show!

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Your snowy pics are so gorgeous. I complain about the snow, lol our 44 hours straight which amounted to about 4 inches of snow. But the neighbors everygreen trees look so gorgeous. Your lily quilt is gorgeous, and love your binding! Chocolate and orange, yum. However did your daughter do that fabulous snow fort? Love the blocks of color.

The Cozy Quilter said...

You've been walking in a winter wonderland! Your binding embroidery is perfect for this quilt. I have not seen that done before. Looks great!

Floor said...

Thank you for the congratulations.
Certainly nice all those dolls, but more can not be in the doll's room.
Still not feeling well so the trip to the quiltbee was canceled.
How beautiful it is outside with all that snow, really enjoy it.
We have not had any snow in the Netherlands yet.
The cake looks delicious.
Now go on with your fun projects.
Greetings,
Floor

CathieJ said...

Your local snowy scenes are gorgeous. They do give me a chill just looking at them. I love that tea gift. Your cross-stitch is beautiful. Your quilt is very pretty and the herringbone stitch really complements it. Stay warm and enjoy your stitching.

Karrin Hurd said...

Lovely projects. The cake looks yummy. I almost envy your snow. We are getting into the 60's and 70's the next couple of weeks, hardly had any rain in November and December and are on Level II drought precautions. I can only water on Mondays! Happy stitching!

Kim said...

Yes, life seems rather lovely and contented in your wintry wonderland. Gorgeous views! It must be heaven walking in that amazing landscape; bundled up with layers of woollies, of course. Love the herringbone stitch in red, skipping around the edge of those sweet polka dots. All I can say is WOW for the colourful wall in the fort. How beautiful it looks with the snow as a backdrop. I can only imagine how amazing it looks at night-time. Your daughter is a creative and clever lady.....and she bakes delicious cakes, as well!

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Your Lily quilt is gorgeous, and I love these pretty embroidered stitches in the binding. Beautiful snowy scenery!
Thank you for sharing winter happiness, and linking up ;)

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

Such gorgeous photos from your windows and wow on the snow fort. I am intrigued by the colorful block wall. Your quilt is gorgeous and love the hexi one too. Happy quilting.

Rosemary Dickinson said...

The snow fort is so impressive! I always love to see the projects you're working on. We've had lots of snow too but this past Friday we got ice. Everything is so slick and slippery. The weather is warming up and I'm hoping that ice finally melts.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I love the snow wall. There was someone on the news the other night that had built an igloo with colourful blocks and then had it lit up at night.
Your view through the window looked like a painting. Would be fun to take a photo from there for all the four seasons and then mount them for display.