belated ta-dah

Ohayo  from Sapporo, or just good morning!

I'm so amazed we're here and you can read more about my adventures on our travel blog: www.springinsapporo.blogspot.com

Since I'm writing a second blog, I doubt there is much time or subject matter for this little crafty, cooking, gardening, "lifestyle" blog. 

What I'm getting at: a small 3 month hiatus. 

Before that though, let me share what I was up to those last hectic 2 weeks before we left!

Spring had sprung!

Family dinners of bacon topped pork tenderloin roasted on carrots and onions. Yum!

Dessert was creme brulee. Yummer!

 

Enjoying my orchid before we left.

Chasing this muffin down who has learned to stand on her own so quickly!

 

That hair!

 

 We miss this guy a whole lot.

And this naughty kitty.

Oh wait, what's she on?

I finished my blanket before we left!

 

TA-DAH!

 

80 squares, 8x10 rows, a thick border.

I didn't measure it but it's spread out on our queen size bed if that gives you an idea.

 

The border is just hdc around.

 

I tried fitting it in the frame (too lazy to switch lenses) by putting it on the floor and standing on the couch. Muffin didn't get it. But at least you can see how big it is in comparison to her!

 

the back.

 

I'm super in love and it turned out better than I could have hoped for.

I can't wait to use it next fall and winter snuggled on the couch. :)

And now I can start my white border sunshine starburst here!

I hope you'll check out our other blog linked above.

Have a great spring!

Tidbits

Raspberry lemonde bars. 

Obviously the solution to defrosted raspberries sitting in your fridge.

 

Easter photo session outtakes. Because every girl needs to have a butterfly dress like that. 

Super seriously still love it. 

 

As messy, loud, and sometimes obnoxious as this guy is...I'm really gonna miss him.

And those other two buggers.

 

Practicing still life and styling with my fantastic sister.

Much fun!

 

Playing with negative space in composition.

I really love these tete-a-tete narcissi. 

Working on my edge on the blanket. Slowly.

Pondering the packing conundrums.

Hoping no one wakes up my baby while she sleeps on the balcony.

Love that (Finnish) custom of having babies sleep outside.

I want to too!

Also, I should not consume more than two cups of coffee per day for numerous reasons (my coffee maker says I've had 3/4 liter of it so far...) but how I really would love another cuppa! 

One week till Japan!!

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!

Starburst-sunbursts and possibly the 2nd rainbow reveal

Lots of this again. Yay!!

Link to tutorial and pattern

I've gotten back into the groove with this blanket which has sat in the pile of WIP's since early summer. In fact, last time I crocheted these squares, I was pregnant! :O 

After making what feels like 10000000 crochet Christmas presents, I was definitely wanting to make something stress-free and all for ME. 

What delicious colors, I could play with these all day. 

I've even been a good girl and I've been following a "sew-in-all-the-ends-rule" every 5 squares. 

I've made 33 squares and I'm thinking of making it an 8x11 rectangle...so just a few more squares to go ;)

I took the pictures below for my Ravelry account.

I realized I had never updated the picture there to show the final product even though I finished this blanket before Miss Muffin was born... 

Now I wonder if I ever revealed it here...and I'm too lazy to go back and read so here it is! :)

By the way, I highly recommend having ravelry account if you like to crochet or knit. TONS of patterns there and lots of inspiration. Plus, if you upload the pictures of your projects to your account, it's a nice reminder of things you've made. I post most things to this blog, but to see projects, I'd have to search labels etc... On my ravelry page, I can see them all ka-bang right there!

Other than crochet, I've been baking. A lot.

Scones have been my latest conquest, something I've been trying to perfect. I love them with coffee!

I baked brownies today for a guest and covered them in whipped cream and sprinkles. I love the picture, I just want to swim it or something. Is that weird?

These two!

I loves 'em!

Miss Muffin started crawling this week (super exciting). 

She's still pretty slow though so life hasn't changed all that much. Yet.

Bubba is sweet as ever and hang out with her. She was cracking up at him licking his leg...  :D 

 Well that's it. For now. 

I'm trying to get back into a blogging groove. 

I kinda have missed it.

And it really inspires me to take more pictures of every day life... which is priceless later in life when every day life changes and these small moments are forgotten. 

See ya around! :)

Happy Halloween!

It's my little muffin's first halloween. Oddly enough, she is not going as a muffin.

We aren't actually going anywhere or celebrating in any way. Just thought it was important to capture the day in some way for her! 

Her BFF didn't think it was so funny!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Cuteness overload alert!

I'm the mama so I'm allowed to say that they're the cutest I've ever seen. :) 

Most adorable lady bug outfit. 

Manta being so sweet. 

 

Those are the cutest "shoes" ever. And the cutest leg rolls.

 

And this is the sweeeeeeeetest bear who ever lived. 

 

Awwwwww...!