Thank you so much for your lovely thoughts on the 18th anniversary of the blog. They mean a great deal to me. Bless you. Without all of you, I’d just be talking to the ether.

The snow is slowly melting but we have so much on the ground that it’s going to take a long time. In the meantime, I suppose we’ll get more snow. Sigh. I spent the other day filling nylon knee-highs with salt, tying them off, and throwing them up on the edge of the roof over the kitchen. Don helped out and came up with the idea to tie some wire around the end. The wire hangs down and we can easily remove the whatever-you-call-’ems. The ice was so thick on the edge of the roof that it wouldn’t melt. These little devices help to jumpstart the process. I learned about them during the winter where I was all alone here with Scout (Don was acting in Boston.) We don’t want any ice dams on the roof.

Fun, right?

We’re watching the Olympics, of course. We haven’t missed a night. It’s a nice escape from the turmoil going on around us. I’m in awe of the athletes, no matter what country they are representing. I cheer for all of them.

The other day, I was clearing out a big basket and I found this little wicker baby carriage. I completely forgot I had it! It’s very old. I bought it way before I got into Blythes and little dolls. So it was a lovely surprise. It’s now living on the Blythe shelves. But first, Derek took it for a spin.

It is decorated with hand painted flowers.

The little pad for the baby is hand stitched. So lovely. The carriage is lined with what is now very fragile fabric.

Gosh, it’s so sweet! This happens rarely, but I love it when I rediscover something I had forgotten existed. Especially when it’s so sweet!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Saturday morning – a day when the temps will finally hit the forties. It looks pretty cloudy out there, but I promise not to complain about that. Warmth…warmth is what we need here and that will be much appreciated.

I started the afghan yesterday, but I somehow miscounted the chains in the foundation. As I headed to the finish of the second row, that miscount became obvious, so I frogged the whole thing and I’ll try again today.

Things noticed: My eyes become tired much more quickly these days – very different than when I was routinely doing handwork over 10 years ago. And my right hand hurt at the end of the session. You remember that I overdid the crochet years ago and my wrist and hand suffered. But for some reason, I was very tense as I was starting the afghan, so that may be why my hand was sore. I’ll definitely have to pace myself and crochet just one row a day. Nothing more.

Maybe I need to wear one of those magnifiers I see in catalogues? Has anyone used one?

I was up and drinking coffee before I realized that today is Valentine’s Day. We don’t really celebrate except to say “Happy Valentine’s Day.” We’ve done that. So we’re good.

The mini Victorian sideboard is finished.

Left side. (That’s a Christmas card from a fellow Blythe collector in the background.)

Right side.

Front.

Somehow I just couldn’t have a piece all in yellow with no aging, especially a big old sideboard. The yellow would have been too much.

Okay, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Tomorrow, we head into daytime temps in the 40s. I cannot wait. 37 degrees today and sunny.

Later today, I’m going to pick up a spare ball of yarn and relearn crochet. I expect it will come back to me pretty quickly. My muscles already remember using the hook. I need to practice making a chain and then do a few rows of the ripple stitch. I was going to do this yesterday, but I was too tired by the time I got to it.

Finished my library book, which was automatically renewed online right after I turned the last page. Since it was a new Michael Connelly, I didn’t think that was going to happen. Anyway, I’ll return it soon. Now I’m reading Robert Macfarlane’s Is a River Alive?  He writes about nature and he does it with simply gorgeous language. He’s a poet. Obviously, this one is about rivers and their importance. His book Underland, is one of my all-time favorites.

In progress. As always, yellow looks different all the time, depending on the light. I witness this every day because our kitchen walls are yellow. Sometimes I love them, and sometimes I dislike them intensely.

I’m slowly aging the cabinet. I did much of this late in the day yesterday and I’ll have better light today. Hey, it was free and I always like a little challenge, so what have I got to lose?

It will be placed in this third floor hallway. The key will be the wallpaper I use and how I accessorize it. Oh, and the floor. I can’t linger on that because the thought of all the popsicle sticks I’m going to have to stain and then fit in all of the rooms of this house is way too daunting.

One room at a time, Claudia.

I got up first today – I work up early and my brain was way too busy – so I made the first round of coffee. Just now, Don brought me my second cup.

Why does his always taste better than mine?

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.