A diamond in the rough...

 Winter is still here.  We had an icy fog go through and create a frozen glaze topped with 3-4 inches of light and fluffy.  Good thing we didn't have anywhere to go.  We just stayed indoors and enjoyed the beauty.

In the twenty years we have been in our cabin, we have occasionally had brown creepers around.  They have never been on the feeders.  The creepers always stick to the pine trees spiraling up in search for bugs.  This little guy is different.  He is always on the feeders. I love watching him.  He doesn't let the bigger birds push him around.

The turkeys swing by once a day to see what dropped from my feeders.  They are fun to watch as they can put on a show.

On February 12th, the diamond from my wedding ring fell out.  I should have known that after 27 years of marriage the prongs would wear.  I looked high and low for that diamond to no avail.  Still, I didn't stop looking and sure enough I found it today.  It has fallen out when I was putting the dishes away.  I saw a sparkle as I was pulling out a pot.  Lo and behold there it was.  How lucky am I?

That was my weekend in a nutshell.   I did find time to work on my little wooden bucket.  All of the caulk is off and it's sanded.  The only thing left is to finish it with linseed oil.

What adventures have you been up to?  Do you have snow?  What projects are you working on? 

Birds and buckets...

 

After a week of -20 temperatures, it finally warmed up.  Ella and I enjoyed the morning on the porch watching the birds.

Ella was very happy to soak in the sunshine.

My husband got me this little bucket along with a few other auction items this weekend.  He knew despite it being covered in what I think is caulk, I would love it. 

He was right.  I love making something old new again.  I spent the day slowly chipping away with a chisel and hammer.

I'm getting closer.  Hopefully a soak will help me get the last of the gunk off.

It is going to make a great planter when I'm done.  Some sanding and linseed oil it will be as good as new.

I enjoy a good challenge.  What are you working on?  Do you have snow or are you able to go outside and enjoy the day?

Olympic hopes...

I'm afraid my Olympic dreams have been crushed...

I'd like to thank my husband for his love and support.

Second verse same as the first...

I tried again and now I'm done.  I really wanted homemade licorice.  This time I had all of the correct ingredients and gave it another go.

I didn't use black food coloring, so it doesn't look very licorice like.  It doesn't taste very licorice like either.  I'm done.  It was a different recipe, but same results.  I even used extra ainse to no avail.  Live and learn.  Leave licorice to the professionals.

Other than that it was a quiet weekend.  I met a friend for hot yoga.  I really enjoy yoga and have been diligent for over a year.  My reward is to go to an actual hot yoga class.  

After class we enjoyed a cup of coffee and a visit.  I know, hot yoga hot coffee?  It is winter.

Maybe I'll have something interesting next week. We got a bunch of snow and I planned to go sledding today but the road melted off.  That is NOT a complaint.

Are you also struggling with winter doldrums?  Any advice?

Try try again...

 This weekend felt like a good time to try making licorice.  I developed a taste for it thanks to my friend from Denmark.  They are crazy about black licorice there   She had given me a little bottle of likrid flavoring a few years ago, so I could try to make some.

I'm not much of a candy maker, but I wanted to give it a try.  I found a recipe, set everything up, and read the directions several times over.

Everything was going great.  Up until I went to use the licorice flavoring.  What I thought was a full bottle turned out to hardly have a teaspoon.  I needed 4 tablespoons. I think it must have leaked or dried up over time.

It looks great sprinkled with salt.  It wasn't.  Not enough flavoring.  I'm pretty disappointed.  Now I'm determined to try again.  Stay tuned...

Have you ever had a recipe fail?  What was it?  Did you try again?

Tarts are tart...

 I've always wanted to make a tart.  This weekend seemed like the perfect time to try a new endeavor.

My husband and I made an orange tart with a chocolate graham cracker crust (store bought as I'm terrible at graham cracker crusts).  I found they are aptly named. That sucker is tart.  It isn't bad, but I think we will just cross it off the to do list and move on.  If you like tarts or have ever wanted to make one here is the site.  

https://fortheloveofgourmet.com/orange-chocolate-tart/

We also went for a drive out to the prairie.  We were looking for a cabin we had wanted to buy many years ago.  It was completely in the middle of nowhere and the day we figured out where it was it was the very day they were closing on its sale.  It is so well hid, we didn't find it this time and we have been there. We did enjoy the drive and saw some nice scenery.

We wish we had brought our fishing poles.  It was a nice warm day and these ponds are right next to a fish hatchery.

I think odds would have been in our favor.

I also went the Stock Show and Rodeo to see my niece rope.

She missed her calf which is a bummer.  I did enjoy seeing all of my nieces and nephew.

January is almost over.  Winter is trudging along.  I hope you are finding things to keep you busy.

Passing time...

We have been busy with winter projects.  My husband has the wood stove cozy and warm.  His latest project has been tissue boxes.  

I think they turned out perfectly.  Also he has good timing as it seems like everyone has been getting sick.

I couldn't help myself and made some orange almond biscotti.  I was cleaning out the fridge and there were a few overripe oranges begging to be biscotti.

There was, of course, quilting.  I'm getting closer to the end.  A few more rounds on the last of the cabin blocks.

There isn't much else to do.  It has been cold and windy, but Ella and I braved it for our Sunday walk.  The rest of the weekend was enjoying the fire.

What projects have you been working on?  How has the winter been?  Hope all is well.