Friday, November 23, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to tell you about our Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at  our shop Pretty Wit

Most things are up to 50% off! And to show our appreciation to you, our  good friends, we'd like to offer an additional coupon for free shipping in the US!  Just enter the code "spinster" at checkout! 


 
 
 
Hope you all are having a beautiful and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend!
♥Genevieve



Saturday, November 17, 2012

It's time for coziness and hot cocoa!

Here is one of the oldest and most spectacular lodges in Oregon.
Built in 1936, right at the timber-line on top of Mt. Hood, hence the name Timberline Lodge.
Here is a picture of the lodge being dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 28, 1937.
And here is the lodge in Winter. --Talk about being snowed in!
My Mom and us three spinsters stopped by there on our way home from getting apples in the Hood River area. We went from Fall to winter in one day. It was freezing cold up there and there was some snow already, but when we got inside it was nice and cozy with fires going in all the (huge) old fireplaces.
So, we decided to get lunch at one of the three restaurants they have inside. 
It was called Ram's Head and was on the 3rd level.
The food was stupendous and the hot cocoa was, in a word, divine. 
Gen took these pics.
Starting from the bottom...
Hot Chocolate
whipped cream
chocolate sauce
salted caramel sauce
bits of English toffee
a cinnamon stick
heaven.
 This was ours (above)
This was one I found online (below) Chocolate sauce, baby!

So, if your ever traveling in Oregon and you have good winter tires and a day to spare...
It is certainly worth seeing... and tasting.

Hope you're all having a wonderful November and getting excited for Thanksgiving Day! 
I know I sure am!
Love,
Marguerite


Monday, October 15, 2012

Oatmeal, elbow grease and Autumn

Do you know what I love? Autumn. Yesirree Bob.
 via
I fell asleep last night to the sound of the rain tip-tapping on the roof of my home. And woke to a cool (not cold) breeze blowing gently on my face. Of course that was followed by a loud banging sound coming from my niece who was downstairs playing. 
Which, even after a slight grimace on my part, was no less delightful. It was  followed by a warm fuzzy feeling of coming downstairs in my warm fuzzy slippers to see my Mom drinking her coffee and having a cozy chat with my sister with her bible on her lap and all the Fall colors brightening the sky outside. 

I then proceeded to make my usual weekday oatmeal with flax seed meal and maple syrup and a cup of steaming hot strawberry lychee black tea. Mmm... nourishment.

Then I read the next chapter in Galatians, for my morning bible reading and felt so uplifted, even with the thought of impending yard and house work. 
To take care of that, I flipped through the Oct./Nov. issue of Mary Jane's Farm and suddenly I felt not only that I could get through my daily work, but that it just might be enjoyable! 
Which... it was.

I helped my Mom empty flower pots and take them up to store for the winter, planted an Aster, watered some bushes and plants, took the garbage up, fed some old lettuce plants to the cows and I got an old wooden coke bottle box to use in my room as a little shelf. Of course it was covered in dust and other things which I wont dirty the page with, so I hosed it off and sprayed it with cleaner and it is drying outside even now.

Days like these could always be described in less than heartening words. I could've talked about the headache I had last night, all the work that didn't get done during the summer or how the days all seem to blend together with nothing much to make them anything special. 
But today did feel different. Not because it was all new or exciting or everything in my life is perfect, but I felt the Joy of the Lord and heard His music in the trees and smelled the sweetness of the air and everything looked so much more beautiful when I thought of who created it and who He is and how much he cares for EVERY one of us. I was filled with gratitude and an overpowering feeling of how much Jesus cares about me. He takes care of us every day. Even though, we complain and ignore Him and make the same mistakes over and over again. He doesn't just ignore us or complain and He never makes mistakes. He is full of Forgiveness. A true friend, helper, healer and Father. He never leaves us or forsakes us.

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of Your
countenance. In Your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Your righteousness shall they
be exalted. For You are the glory of their strength: and in Your favour our horn shall be
exalted. For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Psalms 89:15-18

I hope you all have a beautiful, joyful day. Filled with love, a little elbow grease and strength for each new day.

Love to you all,
Marguerite

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Happy Thought

This movie makes me laugh. A lot.
Awesome music. Hilarious characters. So many good quotes!
"You just gestured to all of me." - Hiccup

Has anyone else seen this gem?
♥Marguerite
ps here are two BEAUTIFUL songs from the movie.


Friday, September 14, 2012

Needle Case giveaway at The Willow Nest!

 
Anna from The Willow Nest is giving away one of these sweet needle cases! Go! Go enter! And win! And then you can give it to me. ;) 
♥Genevieve

Friday, August 31, 2012

Yummy find!


Hi friends! It's been a long time since we posted on here. We've been having a wild and crazy Summer! It's been a fun time though. We're looking forward to some lovely camping trips in September and October which we think are two of the most beautiful months (where we live anyway..). Then we hope to enjoy a simple and slow Autumn.

Anyway, I popped on here to share with you a recent find. This free e-book called 7 Ingredients or Less by Minimalist Baker. I just started following Dana of the Minimalist Baker blog and I'm addicted. She has totally simple and easy and DELICIOUS recipes that are quite often vegan or gluten free friendly aaaand she is witty besides. She just released this new e-book and I thought I should share it with you. Who can resist No-Churn Root Beer Float Ice Cream? Or Banana Peanut Butter Cup Popcicles? Or Vegan Mochas (in which said recipe there is a bonus recipe for vegan chocolate syrup. Hello sundae!!!) OK, I guess you can tell that I have a major sweet tooth! Click on the picture and it will take you to her blog where you can download it for yourself! And I recommend you sign up for e-mail updates from her blog. She sends you  a PDF of every recipe she writes to your inbox. Yeees!

What recipe looks the best to you? 
What are your plans for the upcoming months?
♥Genevieve

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Knit Along Progress Report

Hi Friends! Just a quick update on my Tops, Tanks and Tees Knit Along project. This is the last day for the knit along and I didn't quite finish in time. But, I really didn't expect to get as far as I did so I'm happy with my progress. 

For those of you who haven't seen my other posts, I am making Abalone with Lion Brand Cotton Ease yarn in Stone and Terracotta. I took this project to work on during our beach trip and worked on it a lot (yay for beach time!). Unfortunately when I got it home it smelled of crab SO BAD. I guess it was a bad idea to cook crab in such a tiny condo! Ha ha! So I had to let it air out for a few days before I could stand working on it again. I'm happy to report that it's now crab sent free.



And here is a picture of what it looks like right now. I have to finish grating the left shoulder seam and then knit the edgings. 


 First time using the Kitchener stitch. It's fun and I love the results. I think I pulled my stitches a tiny bit tight in a few places but I'll practice and get better. 

What have you all being working on?

♥Genevieve
luvinthemommyhood

Happy Thought


Hello lovely butterfly friends!

Yes, that was completely random.

We're all sick at our house today. Pookey.
So we're all staying home today, resting (hopefully) and taking very strong and healthy concoctions.
Such as apple cider vinegar mixed with cayenne pepper and salt and water. It's called Fire Water. Yeah. It's potent stuff.

Isn't this picture from Anthropologie delicious? Oh! I love their wild quilts and comforters! It makes me want to snuggle down under the covers and just think of nothing else.
And what, to my wondering eye did appear? But the very same chair that I have right beside my own bed! (I am so in. Ha ha!) I'm using it for a "temporary" night stand. Because the only furniture I have to my name is a plant stand. My Mother is very gracious and of course lets me use hers since I'm living at home. Oh, what a comfort to live at home! "What else would bring one anywhere?" 
(I think that's from Persuasion...)
It is a very cool plant stand though, that my brother made for me! It was actually supposed to be a night stand, but I didn't want to put it behind my bed cause you couldn't see it back there.
Here it is with the terrarium and orchid I got the same Christmas. Aren't they delightful?
The stand is made from a solid Juniper stump!


 Sorry for the terrible pictures. I'll have to get better ones some time.

Anyway.. enough of my ramblings. 
I hope you are all feeling well this lovely Spring day!
Adieu,
Marguerite

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Come yarn with me..

Good day and Happiness, dear readers!
I want you all to join me in this yarn along.
Ginny over at Small Things has been hosting these Yarn Alongs and I'm loving them so I decided to try it. The point is to post a photo of what your reading and what you're knitting (or in my case, crocheting.)
And that agrees with me.
So here goes..

Crocheting
A Blanket 
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool
Colors: 2 skeins of Currant (bright pink) 
6 skeins of Water Chesnut (light pink)
Pattern: "#66 Dainty Chevron" in book, 154 Crochet Wave Patterns by Darla Sims.
Reading
Emily's Quest 
(third book in the Emily of New Moon series)
by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

This is the week of three! I have only three skeins left to crochet and I'm reading the third book in the series! I love it too! The series is wonderful... but then, everything by L. M. Montgomery is wonderful.
aimee

Monday, April 23, 2012

More Projects

Here is my progress report on my cardigan for the Tops, Tanks and Tee's Knit Along at Luvinthemommyhood. Still knitting away! 
Pattern: Abalone


 And here are the other things I've been working on the last few weeks. Made this headband for my sis! Love this yarn! It's Vanna's Choice Baby Yarn in Cheery Cherry. But it's more of a hot pink than a Cherry. 

Trying to get a head start on inventory for our business Pretty Wit.  These are Ear Warmers and Fingerless Gloves embellished with wooden buttons.


This is a tote/purse I made for my sis-in-law's birthday! I used Noodleheads 241 Tote Pattern which I highly recommend.  It makes for a very nicely finished bag and it's so fun to sew.




I finally got some pictures of my too cute nevvy in his Christmas present. A Viking Hat! I used Mamachee's Lael Viking Hat Pattern which I highly recommend as well. 



Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?!





Are you tired of my pictures yet? I don't think I showed these to you all yet. I made these fingerless gloves for myself right after Christmas. I love them! They are so comfy and pretty. I used Cable Fingerless Gloves by Tamarack.  And the yarn is Noro silk garden yarn. Loved knitting with it.





 ♥Genevieve


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Happy Thought

Psalm 37:3-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.



Happy Tuesday!
xo Marguerite

 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Another Knit Along


I've decided to join this fun Knit Along! I'm making an open front, short sleeved cardigan in coral and grey stripes! Here's my progress thus far:


More details on my Ravelry page! 


What are you making?
♥Genevieve



Sunday, April 15, 2012

Finished Projects!

Why hello friends! I just wanted to share a few projects I have finished in the last few weeks!

I made this little sweater dress for my niece for her first birthday!
More pictures and details on my Ravelry page. 


I made this shirt for myself! It is the first knitted garment I've ever made and I love how it turned out! More details on my Ravelry page. 





And here are some pictures of my nice clean room just for fun. :) I'm planning on redecorating someday but this is what it looks like right now.




What have you all been up to lately? Feel free to link to your projects in the comments!
♥Genevieve