Friday Afternoon

Feeling busy lately - but blissfully so. I am really loving being at home - awaiting the arrival of our first babe. I like doing the dishes with the quiet of 7 am (and following it with tea and knitting).

There is something very powerful about designing your day. Sure there are chores to toss in and errands to run - but somehow they become more enjoyable with tea in hand or with the distant sound of rain falling.

Lots of love,

 

Insta-week.

My last week or so in Instagram pictures. 

That isn't a pumpkin under my sweater - baby bump!

Loves!

 

A Simple Day.

Simple days are often my most favorite.


I spent some time this morning checking on my garden. We had heavy rainfall yesterday and I was a bit worried about some of my more tender plants. Thank goodness everything was alright.



This is my first ever squash plant to survive long enough to get this big. Our climate here in Vancouver seems to disagree with these plants. I'm certain this little guy is a fighter.

I don't have any ripe tomatoes yet, but tons of glorious blooms and about a dozen little tomatoes starting to grow.

A fresh batch of iced tea is accompanying me on this simple day. After I juice the lemons for the iced tea my hands are scented sweetly of lemon for hours later.

I started on a new knitting project. This is my first time using a stockinette stitch.

And lastly, to end this sweet simple day how about a bowl of homemade soup? I made some delicious minestrone yesterday and enjoyed a bowl for lunch.

I tossed all of my ingredients into my crock pot and put on low for the day.

I used,

1 can drained and rinsed kidney beans
3 carrots roughly chopped
1/2 red pepper diced
1 tomato diced
1 can of tomato sauce
several cups of homemade chicken stock
1 cup dry wild rice (I cooked this first until soft then added to the soup)

seasoning
dash or so of seasoning salt
thyme 1-2 tsp
sage 1-2 tsp
handful of fresh basil tossed in the last few minutes of cooking

Top finished soup with yummy cheese of choice. I chose some lovely double cream Gouda.

Have a lovely day!

Rainy Monday

I awoke this morning at about 6:50 am to the sweetest sound. There was a faint pitter patter of rain. We haven't had rain in a few weeks here - and I have to admit I've missed it oh so much. There is something so romantic about a heavy rain downpour. I've spent this morning snuggled with the pug on the couch enjoying the sounds of rain and knitting.

I ran outside to snap a picture of the beautiful water beading on my broccoli plant leaves. I am completely drenched from a mere 60 seconds in the rain. It feels delightfully refreshing.


I think I'm having a bit of an affair on my camera with Instagram. I love the convenience of taking photographs from my iphone and editing them right away.

I hope your day is relaxing and lovely.

Loves!

Happy Monday!

Okay, so most people don't celebrate Monday morning with that much zest. I am still on vacation though and relishing every Monday morning that I am not at work. Life has been quite busy lately, but not incredibly interesting. Whenever I watch a great fulfilling movie and it ends I always imagine every day in those characters lives as being continually interesting and rich. It's a pity to think of great characters doing laundry and cleaning the bathroom.

We have been blessed with lots of sunshine lately which has triggered something within my garden - my once weak plants are exploding and happily soaking up the rays. While weeding the other day I spotted some tomatoes growing. My tomato plants have become so thick that it was almost hard to spot them.

So lovely. I love gently bending back tomato plants, just touching the plant makes my hands smell of tomatoes. Delicious.

My many cucumber plants are all flowering. I had great success growing cucumbers last year, I'm anticipating a nice crop for this year. Pickles perhaps?

I've also been knitting lately, still working on a scarf for my beau. I took a break yesterday to work on a new pattern I had seen - It's called a seed stitch. I think it turned out quite nice. I'm still working on some tension issues, but I'm sure that will come with experience.


The pattern in front is the seed stitch, the one behind is just a plain garter.

I should mention that the happy apple and pear fabric is from Daiso. I have oodles of fabric to use up and shouldn't have purchased it, but it was too adorable. I keep dreaming up projects to use it up.

That's my little update of what has been going on here. I am still working The Quilt. The Quilt has become a title in itself, no longer is it a sweet fun project that was intended to amuse me in the summer months. Instead it has become this massive endeavor that is now covering my kitchen table. I am in the actual quilting stages which is exciting, but hard on my back. I will probably finish quilting today and just need to do the binding on the edges. I have no idea how people make these regularly for fun, the amount of work is immeasurable. I can't wait to be finished, I know it will feel like a big accomplishment.

How is your week so far?

Loves!

Vacationing

I am still on my wonderful summer vacation. There is something very liberating about waking up in the morning and designing your day exactly the way you want it to go. Most of the time it doesn't turn out as perfect as I envision, but it is truly fabulous. I am slowly working my way through a list I created that includes all of the things I want to accomplish with my time off. I blogged a little about that list in my Quilting Inspiration post. My list is a lot longer then the one I described there, but I am happy to report that I can cross one project off.

I have learned a little bit about knitting.


This is just a simple Garter Stitch. So far I have just knitted squares, this is a slightly bigger square. I'm thinking it might be a nice face cloth. Isn't it wonderful making something from simple materials?

I have worked a little on my quilt. All of the squares are cut out and stacked up on my sewing table waiting to be sewn. I need some more motivation to start that project!

I have always dreamed of painting a water color. I love how happy and cheery water colors look. So here are my recently purchased supplies. I'm excited to listen to some soft music and paint something simple and fun.


Accompanying me today while painting is delicious homemade iced tea. I used this recipe from Babble.com. I have to say it tastes pretty fabulous.

Mmmm steamy tea steeping.


I added the juice of two lemons to the pitcher of iced tea.



Are you on vacation?
Do you have any projects that you dream of accomplishing?
What is your idea of the perfect day?
I'd love to hear your thoughts <3

Have a wonderful Thursday!