My photography mojo has gone the way of the dodo bird lately. When we walk, it's dark. We've not been out for a proper hike since Christmas. Perhaps we'll remedy that this weekend. Yesterday morning I wandered through the frozen garden to see what I could see.
First was my potting bench. Just looking at it made me long for spring and the pleasant work of gardening.
2. There are a few sad roses, frozen and drooping, that bloomed after the autumn pruning. Poor things. As soon as the weather warms a little I'll be out there with my clippers.
3. The Cotoneaster seems to thrive in the cold. Brilliant red berries are a lovely sight from my window - they are the only colour in the garden just now.
4. Once indoors again I started cutting 3 inch squares from my overflowing scrap basket. I have an idea to make a Granny Square quilt. My supply of white fabric is depleted, so I won't begin sewing until I can replenish that. January seems like a good month to begin a project, don't you think?
5. The red and white in the china hutch is still making me happy. I took out the bits of pine that were dropping needles everywhere. Looking at the photo now, I see a tea cup and saucer purchased in Germany while on a trip with my sister and mother, a silver jug found in a thrift store, a soup tureen given to me by my mom, and a polka-dotted café au lait bowl that I purchased at a Matisse exhibition in Vancouver a few years ago. I like having stuff that inspires memory.
Linking with Five on Friday, hosted by Amy of Love Made my Home.
Your red and white china is so welcoming. It's good to have items with happy memories. All those material squares will make a stunning quilt. I look forward to seeing it. B x
ReplyDeleteGood for you.... making a quilt with 3 inch squares! It will be beautiful. Love your red and white china display as well. Yes, my garden looks terrible right now and we only had 2 days of freezing weather...... so unlike our norm. I can't wait to cut the roses back!
ReplyDeleteI'm sending you a few more bits for your squares, same type of fabric, of which I have far too much!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have such wonderful memories when looking at your china cabinet. Love the fabrics ready for your quilt project, looks amazing. Take care.
ReplyDeleteOur garden does not look very inviting either, the only colour comes from children's toys.... but I spotted a snowdrop today, always a good sign. Three inch squares will make a lovely quilt, lots of piecing! Have a good weekend and enjoy the hike if you manage to get out.
ReplyDeleteSpring is next and it will be here soon. Or so it seems on this very warm day. I like your red and white so much! Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe berries are so bright and cheerful and I love all your red and white china and pottery. It's lovely that you have memories of where each piece came from. Have a good weekend:)
ReplyDeleteLove your red and white pottery.
ReplyDeleteAlso love to see red berries, they are always a lovely and most welcome winter sight.
Good wishes for the weekend
All the best Jan
Lovely photos. I haven't been on a proper walk since daughter left. I miss going with her and the dog. Seems a little lonely by myself. Sniff. Sniff. It's lovely to see such a wonderful splash of colour when everything else seems so dull and grey.
ReplyDeleteHappy Five on Friday.
You have only to add a Valentine or two and your cheery hutch with the red and white dishes will get you through another month. Oddly enough, I was glancing at my potting bench today...still covered in snow. Hope that you get your hike in!
ReplyDeleteI think these 5 of Fridays are so much fun. Loving your red and white hutch. It makes me think of Valentine's Day. Nothing growing here this time of year except icicles. lol xo Diana
ReplyDeleteLook at all of your pretty colors, the fabric, the red plates and bowls. So cheerful.
ReplyDeleteYour pretty red and white hutch makes me happy too!
ReplyDeleteI love your potting bench! I have a potting bench in my greenhouse, but because the greenhouse is too dark for winter months, it tends to get very wet and soggy in there. I am just getting to know the greenhouse, as it's only a year old now.... Anyway, I started keeping the door to the greenhouse open just so the wind can blow through and keep it aired out. I should bundle up and go give it a thorough cleaning up - your cheery bench is inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteYour potting bench makes me dream of springtime! I love your quilt squares and your pretty china shelves. I am in love with red and white at the moment, too. Love the memories :) x K
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. I know what you mean about not taking photos at this time of year, I have hardly taken any for ages now. I hope you enjoy your quilt making, you have some lovely fabrics there. The red china looks lovely and will be a perfect decoration for Valentines!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, Lorrie, full of colours and light. I know what you mean speaking about little light. I think we have even less of it and taking photos is difficult.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, trying to take photos of the tulips, I used a light therapy lamp. :) Sometimes it works well, but this time even that didn't give good results.
I too am starting to dream of spring... and your potting bench definitely helps!
Have a beautiful weekend!
My garden is covered in snow. Weather looks like a "January Thaw" next week. I hope to walk around and get some pictures too. Yes, January is a good month to start a project or two.
ReplyDeleteMy area is currently covered in ice and quite brown. I, too, am longing for spring. What pretty red berries in the second photo. I really do love the polk-a-dot treasure in your cabinet. It's very cheerful. Spring will be here before we know it!
ReplyDeleteJanuary is a perfect time for a sewing project!
ReplyDeleteI am keen to get this weather out of the way and welcome spring...our garden is looking very dismal...
ReplyDeletelove your red and white china collection. A pop of red is so cheerful on these winter days and I agree that indoor projects are the order of the day! Happy quilting Lorrie and perhaps you'll manage to have that hike this weekend.
I see that winter is similar for you Lorrie - and we all seem to be muddling along trying to stay busy despite the lack of fresh beauty in the garden. I do love photos though of roses and things such as seed heads and berries which are often peeking through the leafless shrubs. Your red china is a colorful addition - you are already for Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been so lax regarding comments since my trip. I do read every blog post and then plan to get back and comment but something else always seems to happen and I fall behind! Our nasty bugs from Europe just won't leave and we don't feel great yet. Now my best friend has fallen and severely fractured her ankle so I will be busy assisting her once home from hospital as she lives alone. Winter is a season I do enjoy, however am finding it more difficult to handle as I age. 'Caution' seems to be my word for this year, I see too many negatives in the cards perhaps.
Stay well and know I love your posts and will try to stay current from hereon out.
Hugs and best wishes to you and your family for this new year.
Mary x
Red and white are so cheerful, always brings a smile to my face. I'm doing a bit of crafting too and I planted a bunch of Hyacinth bulbs this last week.
ReplyDeleteYes I think January is the perfect month to start a new project. I usually start missing spring December 26! I'm a spring/summer girl. Your dishes are very pretty. And that is exactly how I like to display things in my home. Rather than just going somewhere and buying stuff for the walls and shelves, I like to collect things from places and people. It's so much more meaningful and interesting that way. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Can't wait to start looking forward to nice weather to get out and enjoy some walks again. It's the perfect time fir a new project. I've got a few on the go and I'm catching up on lots of reading.
ReplyDeleteThe red china cabinet is so valentine lovely! Im trying WINTER SOW seed methods this winter. Fingers crossed and green thumb crossed too
ReplyDeleteHi Lorrie, so nice stopping by to visit your five on Friday. I especially like the red and white in your hutch and it will move nicely right into Valentine's Day. I can hardly believe we are well into January of this new year, and I send best wishes to you and yours that it is a good one!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'd love to show you around my garden but it's all white. The red and white china display is striking Lorrie, red being a colour I've never used until recently. I'm looking forward to spring and working on a Canada 150 display of red and white annuals.
ReplyDeleteI love your red and white! Beautfiul!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
When I see how pretty your fabric squares are, I wonder if that's what I need to try to do! I need to find some tips on making a granny square quilt! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteLove, love the red and white china cupboard. The quilt you will have to keep us posted on, it looks like it will be special. Oh and those red berries just delight my heart.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful eye for capturing beauty in your photographs, no matter what the season, Lorrie! I so appreciate your talent and always enjoy my visits to your lovely blog. Take heart, Spring is coming and soon you'll be at that potting bench and gardening up a storm!
ReplyDeleteExcited to see the progress on your granny square quilt from scraps. My own is on our bed, keeping us cozy and making me smile with all its scrappy colours!
Love the red and white dishes -- what a great way to collect -- beautiful useful objects, each with a precious memory attached.
ReplyDeleteYour potting bench does look a little lonely and forlorn -- but it's time is coming! If I were you I think I'd want to plant those red berry bushes in front of every window. They are so bright and cheerful and brave blooming in the snowy cold. (not a good idea I know as that would severely limit what you could plant in the real/usual growing seasons),
Love the hope in your garden, even though it is the dead of winter. Those red berries I love! And looks like you will have fun making the quilt with those fun colored fabrics! And those red dishes are swoon-worthy, love them!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you today :)
I've suddenly got interested in quilting after reading about it in a novel and now I'm noticing bloggers' quilting projects! I'm sure you'll enjoy making your quilt. Your lovely china items are to be treasured as they remind you of a special occasion or a loved one. I've been tidying, dusting and cleaning objects on my shelves and appreciate them too for the same reason. Wishing you a good week!
ReplyDeleteI worked on a granny square quilt off and on last year and just got it in to the hoop. It's such a fun block!
ReplyDeleteThere's still beauty in our winter gardens and you manage to capture it :)
Poor rose! I love your red-white pottery, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Germany