first snow ~ Melissa

brrrrrr......

baby it's cold outside!

 

Hoping everyone had a Thanksgiving they are thankful for.  I did.  Our holiday was spread out over Thursday and Friday.  It was good to spend time with both families and catch up with friends we haven't seen for far too long.  The snow came last night and it's cold enough it appears it's here to stay for a few days.  We've turned the page towards our year end celebrations and the house is a flurry of activity as the fall decorations get tucked away until next year and the Christmas loves slowly start appearing.

 

I'm looking forward to Christmas this year.  Last year was tough.  This year I'm soaking every bit of joy in through all my pores.

 

Are you all ready for December?

I am!

 

Melissa

seriously? ~ posted by Melissa

Kelli gets spring tulips and I get this:

 

 

spring snow after a snow-free winter

 

 

this is what I woke up to this morning

 

 

the sun eventually won this heavenly battle

 

 

and after a quick stop for coffee I was finally off to work 

 

 

Mother Nature, you're one practical joker!



Sugar, Spice and Puppy Dogs

Day 3 of our huge snowstorm has turned into an ice storm.  Another day home from work and getting ready to hunker down and hope we don't lose power.  We got up long before dawn to watch the news so I decided to bake while the electricity is still on.  My grandma used to make the best homemade cake donuts and lacking her pastry skills, I made an old favorite from my childhood.  I don't know where my mom got this recipe but I'll share it since it's really easy and fast.

Buttons and Bowknots

2c baking mix (such as Bisquick)

2T sugar

1t nutmeg

1/8t cinnamon

2/3c milk

1 egg

Sift dry ingredients together.  Add milk and then egg.  Knead dough (add more baking mix if too sticky) and roll out 1/2" thick on lightly floured surface.  With donut cutter, cut circles and holes.  Twist each circle into a 'figure 8' and place with holes on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.  Cool on baking rack.

Melt 1/4c butter and dip cooled pastries into butter and then a mixture of cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar.  Eat with a warm mug of hot cocoa. 



Now, it's off to make another pot of coffee and watch Dozer play outside.  He loves all this snow ~ his favorite thing is waiting down in the backyard for Jason to throw snowballs at him from the deck so he can try to catch them in midair.  It's hilarious.  Hope everyone stays safe and warm today!  ~ Melissa







Snow Day

Home from work (with permission) ~ love when it's the bosses idea and not just mine.  It's a wintry, whitewashed, peacefully quiet world today....and it's the calm before tomorrow's storm!!!

It's still coming down pretty hard, too.  Crazy beautiful.    ~ Melissa

....and they told 2 friends

and so on and so on .....

More visitors in the apple tree today.  I can't tear myself away from the kitchen between watching the snow fall and waiting to see what new hungry bird drops down to devour the very last 2 apples still on the branches.  I have to take pictures through the window from inside since I realized yesterday that stealth is not one of my strong points.  I tried to go out onto our deck more than once but couldn't get more than a step or two before every bird on the block took to flight.  As you can guess, I'm not getting much knitting done :)    ~ Melissa

Winter Visitors

Rare Seattle snow this weekend brought some interesting critters to our neighborhood ~ I think they must love frozen apples!

Time to get the bird book out ~ I know the big guy is a woodpecker of some sort but the beauty in the bottom picture is a mystery!   ~ Melissa

Extended forecast...

Calls for snow tonight and tomorrow ~ the way things shut down altogether around Seattle when we get this type of weather, I may end up with an extra day off work and another day to knit.  Hopefully if we do get anything significant it has come and gone by Saturday morning so our train trip to Portland isn't cancelled.  There will be 200+ very very sad knitters if that happens.....

I'm halfway done with my shawl ~ it's my favorite of all 4 lace samplers that I've done.  Lots of new patterns and a few new stitches, and I love it when I learn something new.  Morgen should be blogging along with us soon ~ her invite has been sent so I'm expecting to see some progress photos from her and she can share more of her great tips!  Karen is plugging along also and has posted some photo updates on her blog that you can check out here.  And Kelli, we haven't seen or heard from you lately but knowing you that means you're on a mission and probably close to finished already.  Am I right? ;)

Day XII

Day XI

Day X

Baby, it's coooold outside

Our first snow of the year ~ it's early and not mixed with rain so maybe the forecast for a long, cold, white winter is right.

Dozer will be okay with that ~ he's decided the giant snowflakes are messing with him and has taken to chasing each one he sees ~ it's something new in the 3 years we've had him and it's so hilarious the image stabilizer couldn't quite calm my quaking hands since I was in hysterics trying to get a picture of him.

This is the best shot of the day ~ sounds like I may have lots of time to practice over the next few months ~ hopefully, the novelty won't wear off for Dozer.  It's so good to have a dog around to keep your spirits up!

He's not howling ~ he's trying to catch the flakes.....pretty cute, eh?!