Party!

Look who's ready for some New Year's Eve fun!

Always the hit of the party. 

Penguins reminiscent of Wallace and Gromit's arch nemesis, Feathers McGraw,

bring smiles in the buffet line.

But nobody wants to take the last one off the platter. 

Who could eat a face like that?

From Betty Crocker's Best Christmas Cookbook.

King of the Pasture

The Cotswold Lion.

Micro Greens

Before there were fairy gardens there were even smaller, more precious, button gardens.

Agnes, our button collector friend,  made this one.

This book from our button club library is available for check out.

We see bits of moss greening up on the shady side of the yard. They would be prefect for a project like this.

Perhaps today is the day to get out our tiny trowel and do a (very) little gardening while we wait for Spring to (truly) arrive.

Knitting for Babies

Is so fun! 

Tiny knit items are so sweet.

But when put on babies the cuteness factor takes an exponential leap.

Of course we think this little model is absolutely adorable with or without a hat. 

As a matter of fact, we do believe he is The Cutest Baby Ever.

Top Knot Baby Hat

Worsted weight yarn (½ skein for most sizes)

#6 or #7 double point needles, or needle to obtain gauge of 5.5 stitches/inch

Row marker

Wool needle

1. Cast on 77 stitches
2. Knit for 4 (newborn)  to 5 (for bigger sizes) inches, begin decreases as follows
3. K9, K2tog (7 times), then
4. K8, K2tog (7 times), then
5. K7, K2tog (7 times) and so on until 7 stitches remain.
6. Knit these 7 stitches around until needed length for tying top knot is reached.
7. Cut yarn leaving tail of several inches, use tail to pull remaining stitches together, weave in end of yarn.
8. Tie knot.

For larger or smaller hats increase or decrease the number of cast-on stitches in multiples of 7 (63, 70, 77, 84, etc.) Then when you get to the first decrease row add or subtract 1 stitch to the first number on line 3 for each 7 stitches.

63 stitches cast on starts decrease with K7, K2tog (This is a tiny newborn size.)

70 stitches cast on starts decrease with K8, K2tog

77 stitches cast on starts decrease with K9, K2tog

84 stitches cast on starts decrease with K10, K2tog

Froggy Kong Jr.

Sometimes heard, but seldom seen around here this very serious looking little gray tree frog 

was recently spotted hanging out on our newly acquired Kong Jr. Green Halo coleus.

Perhaps he/she has been waiting for us to provide a suitably camouflaging and photogenic plant for his lounging pleasure.

What a nice addition to the alley wildlife. 

It is possible he/she may be the little guy who hitched a ride in the next door neighbors' car trunk from a nearby lake to the West Hill a few weeks ago? 

Perhaps she/he has now had enough of city life and is patiently watching from this perfect vantage point for an opportunity to hop into another open trunk and be homeward bound.

Fun Frog Fact: 

The gray tree frog freezes in the winter! It produces large amounts of glycerol. The glycerol is changed to glucose, and then it is circulated through the frog's cells. The glucose acts like a kind of antifreeze and prevents ice crystals from forming in the frog's cells. If ice crystals formed in the cells, they would rip the cells apart and kill the frog. The rest of the water and blood in the frog's body then freezes, and its heartbeat and breathing stop! When the temperature warms up, the tree frog "thaws out" and returns to the trees! - nhptv

Penguin Prezzies

John Lewis Christmas adverts bring us to tears annually. And by  "us" we mean anyone who has ever seen one.

This year is no exception.

Scenic Mountie

Here he is. The cutest little mountie ever, found at an estate sale, liberated from a doll collection display case and put back into service "defending the law" wherever needed. 

In the foothills. 

In the forests.

And in the mountains.

Of this educational book.

Not that he would ever sleep on the job, but should he ever need to play dead - to fool an adversary for example, his baby blue peepers close when he reclines.

Hungary?

Try a recipe from this sweet little cookery book.

Found at a flea market, published in Budapest in 1964, and illustrated in the most whimsical way, this charming book is chockablock with amazing recipes.

We will pass on the Jellied Carp, Pickled Scraps of Sucking Pig, Pancakes with either Crayfish or Calves' Brains, but the Transylvanian Layered Cabbage and Stuffed Pullet sound tasty.

No. 46. Exquisite Goulash seems like the best bet for less adventurous eaters who would like 

a taste of classic Hungarian cuisine. Oh no, we sent the cookery book on to a friend without copying the recipes for recipe No.1. Csipetke! Now what will we serve with the Gulyás?

Thank goodness for the internet. Here is a recipe for Csiptke, aka pinched noodles.

And if you celebrate Farsang you will need a recipe for Carnival Donuts. 

We hear it is impossible to have a carnival without them.

Someone's in the Kitchen with NDL

This sweet kitchen utensil came our way at the Lutheran Church Ladies' annual "favorite things" birthday gift exchange. Spoons like these, and more, are from Talisman Designs of Minneapolis, MN.

Finally someone other than our self to mutter to while slingin' the hash.

The Very Best Find Ever

It was a tent sale miracle.

Never seen before or since. Just one pair of the cutest Eric Carle Hungry Caterpillar shoes ever. And not found by us! Hope the lucky recipient appreciates the excellent shopping skills of the thoughtful gift giver.


Field trip anyone?

Up, Up, and Away

Last week in the community garden preschoolers came to tend their plot, then donned wings and floated and flitted and buzzed around the pathways in an end-of-year-celebration like no other.




After some exuberant flying, the kidsects sat down in the beautiful sunshine for a story about going to kindergarten. Giving these little ones wings before they soar off to the next phase of their education is an inspired and wonderfully symbolic sendoff. What a nurturing, positive start they have had in the loving care of awesome teachers who go above and beyond to arrange for them to be in the outdoors appreciating nature, using their imaginations, and experiencing the miracle of growing food and flowers from little seeds.








Go teachers!

A Good Browse

And perhaps some inspiration for a weekend project. Enjoy.

Open publication - Free publishing - More accessories

Deja Vroom Vroom

We hadn't seen this kind of vehicular action in our living room in a long time, but it had a very familiar feel to it.




This little guy seems to be a real chip off the old engine block.




Whether he joins the family business or drives in the Sturgeon Fest demolition derby someday (or both), it looks like "cool cars" are definitely in his future.

Knitting is Fun

And it doesn't get any cuter than this.




Copyright MCMLXXI Spinnerin Yarn Co., Inc., South Hackensack, N.J., U.S.A.