Winter prettiness

I finally had time to get out and take photos. We've had gorgeous weather all week, very cold (-15-20c) and sunny. This weekend, a little warmer and cloudy, but I'm sure we will have white crisp sunny weather again soon.

You can faintly see in this picture the "glitter" snow gently falling in the sun... I LOVE when this happens! 

Sun as a bug in a rug. ♥

 

It was such a mild fall and early winter that the pussy willows started to "bloom". Now they're snow covered. 

 

I was really enjoying the low sun and trying to capture the flare in the lens. 

 

Winter ♥

I love when it's sunny and cold and snowy...

but I do miss summer ;)

Hope you're staying warm where ever you are!

Some things are certain.

What a strange year this is turning out to be!

We have had NO SNOW since mid-December or so. Very weird and made for a strange Christmas and New Years. Now, we have snow again which makes me so very happy as there is reflected light --> even cloudy days aren't so gloomy anymore. Today however (this picture was from yesterday), we have actual blue skies and sunshine. It's lifted my mood a lot and now that I think of it...when was the last time we even had a sunny day?!

One characteristic of this year is that it's totally unpredictable. It increases my anxiety levels but makes for a sense of adventure too. Who doesn't love spontaneity and adventure?!

The last time I had an unpredictable year like this was when I was about 19... And choices I made then, still affect me today (mostly in a good way!), so let's hope that the same can be said later about this year!

Adventure? What adventure?

The possibility of going to Japan again! (lots of reading this book and drinking tea and coffee at the moment)

Adventure of becoming an entrepreneur! It's in the cards and is my resolution. Although, I really don't do resolutions. Hubby and I do mottos. This year we haven't decided on it yet totally, but I think it's getting financially stable. Something definitely related to that! 

One thing that isn't uncertain: we eat well.

This gorgeous cinnamon rolls were consumed in honor of the new year. With cream cheese frosting of course!

This cake was my mom's birthday cake. It was a gluten-free sponge cake with a layer of meringue on top. And in between the layers and on top, a creamy coffee chocolate filling. And on top of that, ganache!! 

Oh. My. Word.

This was totally improvised. Totally delicious.

And it hasn't all been desserts. We've made yummy curries, savory casseroles, and there's a high consumption of these below at the moment. 

We really need the vitamin C now, since we are all a little sick. Poor muffin has her first cold. ;(  

She's still mostly in a good mood.

And no cold is going to get in the way of learning how to crawl!! 

She's 7 months and rocking on her hands and knees. 

We are going to be in mega trouble soon! :D

Another certainty: I will always be taking flower photos. 

This amaryllis has been blooming since New Years. First one stem. 

Now the one below. A nice little surprise too, a THIRD bud is coming up!

:)

For the first time this year, one of my all time favorites: tulips.

I don't think I've ever bought them so early in the year before, but I'm not one to argue with sales. ;) 

And my favorite, flowers on the nightstand. ♥

I got a cute Vera Bradley tote from my sister for Christmas, in which I've been stashing my yarny crafts. 

I gave up on the mittens since hubby broke my bamboo needles! 

So instead I started knitting this thick and chunky basic scarf.

My mom gave me some gorgeous yarn, so after long debate with myself and ravelry, I decided to make another south bay shawlette. I made 3 or 4 of these a few years ago as Christmas gifts, but never with a variegated yarn. I love this pattern and I love how it worked with the yarn!

It's quite big but super cozy.

The last pictures I wanted to share make me giggle. 

The aftermath of taking down the tree a month after having it.

:)

First snow and lots of food

Since last time...

We had snow! 

It came and went twice. And lasted a few days where we are (lots of tall buildings and shade keeping the ground cold). My baby's first snow! :)

School going folk had last week off for autumn break.

My nephew stayed with us for a couple nights and watched the (old and best) Star Wars trilogy, made homemade fluff (!), popcorn balls and ice cream. 

We invited some friends over for coffee last Saturday so I made red velvet cupcakes.
The recipe called for 2 tbsp of red food coloring but I had only paste/gels so it was hard to gauge how much I needed. As seen, they didn't turn out nearly red enough, but they were still delish.

Having grown up in the 90's, I associate carnations and baby's breath with being "garbage flowers". I remember them always looking tacky and cheap and stuffed EVERYWHERE. Yeah, I'm a flower snob (even as a kid)... But wasn't that always obvious?

Anywho, never were they my favorites. 

However, they've really grown on me lately. Mainly because I have torn apart cheesy bouquets and made my own little arrangements. 

Like below. 

I think this little posy is so cute. And over a week later, it's still looking so nice!

....so my bad carnations and baby's breath... it seems I was wrong!

With the leftover cream cheese frosting, I made carrot cake. Yum. 

The lighting of this photo (and the rest) is pretty horrendous since they were taken after sunset in our home's artificial light. 

Oh well. The food was still amayzazing!

On my culinary kick, I decided I wanted to try my hand at making my own pasta. 

It actually turned out really well!

It was a bit thick the first time (as in this spaghetti dish) because I didn't roll it out (old fashioned with a rolling pin!) thin enough and I cut it rather thick... Didn't realize it plumps when cooking! 

But since we made egg noodles essentially (eggs + flour), we were inspired the next night to create a homemade chicken noodle soup!

Hubby did the rolling out this time with his man muscles and got them far more perfect than when I did it :D Go figure!

Also this week, I have made raspberry muffins ("healthier" than cupcakes and without frosting = muffin). 

Didn't get around to pictures though.

And dinner last night was a chicken pot pie. It was so yum, we didn't get pictures of that either!

In a frying pan I sauteed: garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and small chunks of rutabaga. Oh and chicken!

In a pot I boiled small chunks (to cook faster) of potatoes and rutabaga. 

(Trying to use the rutabaga bag we bought, hubby loves them!)

Then I added to the chicken mixture some seasoning that sounded good (salt, pepper, herbs). A dash of cream and dumped it in the casserole dish.

I made mashed rutabaga and potatoes and dumped that on top of the chicken and baked it until it was looking golden brown and delicious. 

Leftovers for lunch!!

I am just loving getting back in the kitchen! 

I like hubby's cooking and he's taken good care of me the past year as head chef, but man, I love having time to chop and peel and stand at the stove.

I'm one of those people that enjoy creating with food as well, I guess. 

Hmm... what else to ramble on about... :D 

I guess that's it for me.

This post took me two days to write since it's hard to get a chance to sit and upload pictures and think of what I want to say etc all at one go.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time, au revoir!

We're moving!!

Yup, moving! Again!

We are moving into a slightly larger apartment which is closer to my parents and my friends...and is so much newer and nicer than our current apartment! The only drawback is losing our wonderful views and being so close to the woods we love, but honestly, we're gaining so much more that moving is more than worth it! YAY!!

Speaking of the view, what a pretty sunny wintery springy day we had!

So now that I've calmed down from my crazy garden planning, I can now lose sleep and be more than excited about moving (packing, eew!) and decorating the new place (woohoo!!)! One of the things I'm most excited about is decorating the balcony -- what to plant out there!?!

Ah, so many plans. :)

So this is what I've been up to since the last time I visited my blog... Oh, and working. I've been working again, and man, it's nice to get a paycheck! 

(funds those decorating plans, wink wink)

Anywho, that's a quick update.

Had a hankering for funfetti cupcakes (as you do if you've ever been pregnant and on pinterest) so hubby and I made some the other night. Yum! Easy recipe, too!

Playing around for a few minutes taking this picture made me suddenly fall madly in love with my camera again and so inspired to get back into taking pictures regularly.

I guess I was taking a much needed break. That, and I think with the increased light (and sunshine!) and general spring state of mind I'm in, I think I'm re-energized creatively. 

Ah, brain! Don't get me started on creative ideas! I'll never get to sleep tonight if I start dreaming up projects! 

:)

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend! 

HI YA'LL!

Hiiiiiiiii!!!!

Remember me?

I'm Anneli, the crochet/baking/gardening/photography blogger...

Oh, yeah. The one who hasn't posted in over a month?!?! 

*shhhhhhhh*

I seriously don't know where the time has gone. Well, I do, but let's just say it was work. No, it was school. No, I was a little under the weather. Ok, so I was a lot under the weather. 

But things are getting better! I have even managed to catch a cold, which is super typical since we are flying to Florida for Christmas on Friday...and I have never flown without being sick. It's just a thing I do apparently. Trans-Atlantic flights might be too enjoyable otherwise. 

(heavy dose of sarcasm there if you didn't catch it)

So you're wondering, what has she gotten up to in the past month? How could I have kept you in suspense? 

Well, not much has really happened here craft wise, baking wise, or even photography wise. (I cringe when I think about my grand plans for my 365 photo project). I've just kinda...been. And mostly glorious it has been. 

I guess you don't realize you're running on fumes until you're forced to rest. 

But fortunately, things are getting better and I am finding my inspiration again for all things I love to do. And energy to do it!!!

The main project I've been toiling away with when able, is the granny square blanket for my godmother. If you're the praying type, send one her way as things aren't looking good. And if you're not the praying type, send mental good vibes :) Every bit helps, I'm sure of it!

In these hard times, making this blanket for her has become incredibly sad but therapeutic. I so badly want her to be wrapped up in something I have made for her with every ounce of love tied into every stitch. 

That's the beautiful thing about crochet, if you're making something for someone, you can't help but think of that person and what they mean as you make it. Literally crocheted with love.

I suppose I ought to get to crocheting the squares together if I plan on finishing it before Friday!

Thanks for popping by and hopefully not forgetting about me! 

I'll try to make more of an appearance in the coming months. :)

Ponderings

Oh me oh my.

It seems this fall, I'm in a funk.

It's not a bad funk, I am actually quite happy... but I just can't seem to get anything done.

So very tired!!

Honestly, I'm looking forward to our trip to the States SO much that I am just counting down the days (41, if you were wondering). :)

I know why I am looking forward to our trip... can't wait to see special people, do special things, eat special foods etc etc. 

So, I am hoping time will pass quickly but painlessly. I can't wait for November to be over! (a sad thing to say on only the 3rd!) :D

It's stressful graduating and having to take care of all these final things and tests and such. Let alone, find a job!! We're gonna be fudged come January if things don't work out... and for some reason, I just can't find the energy or enthusiasm for job hunting. I suppose going to school for "the wrong degree" might have some effect on my mood. :P

Coulda, shoulda, woulda. 

Consequences are what they are... I just hope it all works out in the end.

So now that I have vented my frustrations and worries, I can focus on more "fun" things. :)

Like cleaning the house! Brushing the poor knotted mess of a dog! Cleaning the fish tank! Doing the dishes!

AHAHAHHAHAH!!!

It's a miracle I got out of bed before noon. ;)

I don't want to make this a pictureless post, so these are some pictures from last Sunday. I did a two year photo shoot of my friend's daughter and took some sweet family pictures of them too. :)

We went to the arboretum... which was still then covered in snow. Fortunately (?) the snow has since melted.

 I totally can relate to these roses covered in snow.

Thanks for stopping by, despite my glum mood. 

:)

Hope your weekend is a happy one!!