my garden

I just finished reading The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I loved this book as a child, and reading it as an adult, I've found a depth and understanding in some of her characters which really spoke to me. I've been through some dark times in the past 6 months, and I don't think I'm quite out of the woods yet, but this story gives me hope.

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that we had to redo the gardens in front of our house last Autumn. The weather has been cold, so things aren't too far along yet (and there's plenty of holes waiting for new plants). However, I thought I would show you a few photos of the lovely things growing and sharing their beauty with us.

view of the front garden

tulips and grape hyacinths

pulmonaria and periwinkle

lettuce seedlings

rhubarb

cranberry bushes

strawberry blossoms

hrmmm...

I was supposed to hear by now if I got into the craft fair. Maybe my partner was just busy today, and didn't forward the email. I haven't totally given up yet. On the other hand, it means I wouldn't have to work like mad over the next 6 weeks in order to make enough toys. Well, I'll keep busy tomorrow so I don't worry too much.

I made another fabric toy today: a denim coloured bunny with a dark green vest. He's very chipper looking, and was named Sven by my husband. He has no explanation for the choice, but it stuck. I have come to the conclusion that my choice of fabric determines the final shape and character of the head. It something useful to know, so in future I can choose the right fabric for the toy I want to make.

I'm so pleased that so many people have voted in the poll! I'll wait until it's finished before making any conclusions, though. I noticed later that my choice of post title was pretty funny, and wondered how many of you read "pollo numero uno" on the first go, and thought I was going to write about chickens :D

I finished reading "Bridget Jones' Diary" this evening (I know, super exciting life I lead, isn't it? After that, we watched an episode of Star Trek) Can't understand why I've never read it before, and now want to watch the movie again (and not just to see Colin Firth). Has made me write with no nouns to start my sentences.

In other news, I turn thirty on monday. Horribly exciting, no? I had thought of planning a big birthday picnic and inviting all my friends, but chucked it to spend the day at the Montreal Botanical Gardens with my hubbie. I think I'll pack a lunch of yummy and terribly fattening food (too bad we can't have wine with it) and slide into my next decade without a worry about wrinkles, cellulite, white hairs, or any of that other horrible aging stuff. My husband loves me just as I am (am allowed to be horribly sappy when turning thirty, to take the edge off. Now look at pretty flowers)

feeling useful

I'm spending the morning at home today, and I've got so much done I feel super useful! I made muffins for breakfast, that were delicious with my coffee at 6:30 this morning. I tagged all the sock bags, packaged them up, and mailed them off to Zen Yarn Garden. I even finished the last toy of a big order I've been working on for months. Once I have photos of the last three, they will be mailed off too. (I must get a photo of them all snuggled into the box - so cute!) I also stopped by the local thrift store and picked up 4 pieces of fabric, a ball of yarn, a pair of knitting needles, a needle gauge, a folding fabric-cutting board, and a t-shirt - all for $7! Then I went next-door to their second-hand bookstore, and picked up four paperbacks for $4. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges, Maurice or the Fisher's Cot by Mary Shelley, and Every Living Thing by James Herriot (still missing The Lord God Made Them All). That should make up my reading material for the next couple months. I wish I had more time to read these days, but at least I have good books to look forward to.

The thrift store in town here is run by the VON. The volunteers running the shop are all these lovely older ladies, who are always happy when I come in and buy half their yarn and fabric supply. I was chatting with the lady in the bookstore, and she was so pleased when I mentioned that I can sew clothes and whatnot. She wished she knew how to sew, because the fabric in the stores is so beautiful these days. I'm sure you could say the same for yarn stores too. It seems crafty people everywhere are demanding quality materials, and now fabric and yarn shops are full of natural fibers in gorgeous prints, colours, and textures. Not like when my mother was my age, and you could usually only find acrylic yarn and polyester fabric.