Pink Purl

The Work of Happiness

"I thought of happiness, how it is woven

Out of the silence in the empty house each day

And how it is not sudden and it is not given

But is creation itself like the growth of a tree."

(from the poem "The Work of Happiness" by May Sarton)

Happiness...it springs from a moment of contentment.  I think of peace as being an extended, deep contentment, and happiness is a moment in time within that.  I sit here quietly and listen.  The house is full of blessing.  My heart skips as the spirits of love, abundance, nature, creativity and everyday magic embrace me...

Today I find myself frequently delighting in the small moments of an ordinary day, and feeling so thankful for them...Like the pink tulips on the shelf, singing their promise of spring.  The comfort of a hot cup of a tea on this cold winter's day.  Meditating while chopping vegetables for dinner.  Watering the plants and having a conversation with each of them.  Seeing Charlie curled up asleep on the bed.  Emails from family and friends.  The companionship and sharing of the day as Dear Husband and I work at home.

Happiness is an inner cultivation.  Like the expanding rings of a tree, happiness grows within us, layer by layer.  All the layers gathering, a glittering collection of memories, like jewels in a box.  And we can take them out, hold them up to the light and rejoice.  Happiness grows within us.  If we are careful enough, and quiet enough, we can hear and see it growing.  And by our choice we can make it an outward gift to ourselves and others.  Happiness...

Treat yourself to some HAPPY today! :o)

Home Sweet Home

Inspiration and part of the pattern for this wall hanging came from Tone Finnanger's (a Norwegian artist/designer) latest book, "Tildas Hus" (Tilda's House).  The winter wall hanging in our entry way had to go...I'm so tired of winter and needed a touch of brightness, a whisper of springtime...So here's what I made this week, while it was snowing and blowing outside.  The sweet motifs and candy colors made this a fun, happy little project. 

Here's my collection of Tone Finnanger books, in Norwegian.  I recently discovered that there are a couple of her books in English. Many of her books have seasonal themes, but I'm most fond of "Tildas Hus", as it features craft projects for the home/interior.  I often turn to her books for ideas and inspiration.

Most of this week was dedicated to getting back on track after being sick, and working on fulfilling orders for knitted items, especially fingerless gloves.  A lot of knitting at the moment.  Soon I hope to have some new scarves available.  Getting the flu has set me back a bit, so I may not be able to get more things ready for sale until early/mid-March now.  Watch this space!

A recent purchase was this delicious, super cloud-soft and cloud-colored mohair yarn (Sandnes Garn Kitten Mohair).  It's just so fine and tender...I couldn't resist it, and can't wait to start some knitting with it.  I'm thinking of making a simple triangular shawl with this, as I've not worked with thin mohair before, as sort of "training", or rather a prelude to moving on to trying knitted lace in time.  The knitting needles shown with the yarn belonged to Dear Husbands great aunt.  Not long after we married, I took up knitting. I was lucky enough to be given some wonderful old knitting needles from my mother-in-law, the needles having belonged to her aunt, who at one time lived in the USA.  Some of the needles are wooden, some are in metals, some in plastic.  I do use some of them.  Many though are 14 inches long, and they become a bit awkward to wield after a bit.  Still, it's a treat to have these old needles. 

Today and tomorrow we'll be getting ready for Sunday, when we have Dear Husband's family over for brunch, American style!  While sick, the place fell to disorder and ruin, so a huge clean is necessary as well as preparation of food, etc.  Sometimes I miss going to a restaurant for a big breakfast.  Here in Norway most people eat their breakfast at home, and there aren't many sit-down restaurants that serve breakfast (of course, we have the ubiquitous coffee bars serving rolls & things, but that's a little different, I think).  Daily breakfasts Chez Pink Purl are quick and easy.  But come the weekend, it's nice to splash out a little and make it special.  It's been a while since we've done that, so we're looking forward to this brunch. 

Charlie loves breakfast, lunch & dinner--he loves his food!  But he also loves to watch nature programs on TV!  This was Charlie the other evening while we watched a program on swans...He was captivated!  Just had to share this cute picture!

Wishing you all a terrific weekend!  And don't forget breakfast...it's the most important meal of the day!  Happy Days! :o)

On the mend...

We're on the mend here after having had the flu, and day by day now feel more human again.  I'm feeling very low on energy, very sluggish still, but better.  It was actually not too bad, Dear Husband and I being sick at the same time.  We took turns taking care of each other, which made a tough week go the more sweeter.  The last week saw us resting much of the time, along with stints of being parked in front of the TV watching the occasional film to cheer times we were awake. Reading, which I love, was put aside, as it gave me a headache.  I also managed some knitting this past week too, trying to work on several orders of fingerless mitts.  But my hands are a bit tired from so much knitting, so this afternoon I took a break and worked on a simple wall hanging I started yesterday.  By the weekend I hope to show the finished piece. 

One way in which I can tell Dear Husband is feeling better is that he's requesting sweets again!  LOL! He must be on the mend!  And as we've been doing so well with our resolution to eat less sugar, I decided to indulge him by making a treat--rocky road brownies.  To make these is very easy, just take your favorite packaged brownie mix and make it according to the package directions.  Let the brownies cool completely.  Then top the brownies with mini marshmallows ( I can't get mini marshmallows here, so just took big ones and cut them up) and salted peanuts.  Melt a bar of good semi-sweet baking chocolate, and drizzle over the whole thing.  Sit the pan of brownies in the refrigerator for about two hours, then cut into pieces to serve.  This is chocolate heaven! 

Happy Days! :o)

Love Day

Remember last week's post?   The one with the LOVE button?    Well, here's what that love button is part of: this Valentine bag!  This bag was sort of my own Valentine's Day challenge.  And I think I've fallen in love with it myself!  But this little gem can be yours as she is for sale...Please see the For Sale gallery for details.   I had such fun making this bag.  This one, too, was made from a couple of fat quarters, plus extra white fabric for the detail on the front and the lining.  This bag would make a special gift.

I had a longer post planned for today, but unfortunately, Dear Husband and I are both down with the flu this week...  And I haven't any energy today.  Being sick on Valentine's Day is not much fun.  But we're home sick, Dear Husband & I, and we're together, making the most of the day in small ways.  The special dinner I had planned for today will have to wait until the weekend, as we can only manage soup at this point--LOL! 

But today is a celebration of LOVE, and I've been thinking how blessed I am to be surrounded by the love of so many wonderful people in my life.  My heart overflows with this abundance...I feel that love is a precious gift, one to be given daily to as many as possible.  A little bit of love can change the quality of any day...Give a little, or a lot, of love today!

Happy Valentine's Day! :o)

"Love is a sign from the heavens that you are here for a reason." --J. Ghetto

LOVE is in the air...

Valentine's Day is just a few days away.  I like Valentine's Day.  It's great having a day to tell/show those you love & care about just how much you do love & care for them.  Love's holiday, as I call it.  And with the love-bug biting, this week I sat down one late afternoon and made some Valentines.

I came up with these fantasy "lollipops" for our nieces and nephew.  They're made of wooden popsicle sticks, craft foam, yarn, rhinestones, all sorts...(The Norwegian word for lollipop is "kjærlighet på pinne", which means "love on a stick"--very kid appropriate!)  On the backs of the lolly sticks, I put on a couple of magnets, so the kids can stick them on the refrigerator or wherever.  These were such fun to make!  And it was neat to come up with an idea with just what I had lying around in my craft room.  I made up some cards for sending too.  There was a time when I did a lot more paper crafting, although the scrapbooking craze hasn't caught me.  I like to make special greeting cards, so that's what I do whenever I can.  Nowadays though, paper crafting takes a backseat to other things, and I usually dig out my papers & embellishments when birthdays, holidays or other occasions roll around.  I've always gotten a thrill out of receiving a card, they can be just as wonderful as any wrapped gift.

More of using what's on hand, this week I made this sweet Valentine zip bag.  I made it out of two fat quarters languishing in a basket.  I love the little wooden heart-shaped button on the yo-yo rosette.  Not sure yet what's to become of this one...I just enjoyed making it...but it will likely be for sale sometime soon.

This Sunday, February 11th, is Mother's Day here in Norway.  Dear Husband & I are having his parents over for dinner Sunday afternoon to celebrate.  So tomorrow will be cleaning, cooking & getting things ready.

A lot of snow this week...Not sure now how much is actually out there, but it just seemed to lightly fall all week.  Not that it has stopped for the moment, I hope to get some wintry photos taken over the weekend.  The light hasn't been too good all week, making it hard to take any photos. 

Friday night kicks off the weekend...And on weekends I try to make something a little more special for us for dinner, on Fridays too, something a little more exciting than the usual week-day fare.  And tonight's was one of our favorites--Ginger Teriyaki Tuna Steaks with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Cider-Glazed Carrots.  Recipes are In the Kitchen. 

After such goodies, and a busy week, I'm looking forward to putting up my feet in a bit and do some knitting.  Dear Husband will likely be tuning in to watch the Norwegian finalists competing tonight for a spot in the Eurovision Song Contest later this spring.  The Eurovision Song Contest is an "institution" of sorts that is eagerly anticipated by the masses over here.  The quality of the entertainment leaves a lot of be desired, in my humble opinion.  But people try, and I could never stand on a stage and try to sing or dance--eeeeekkkk!  Still, I'll keep Dear Husband and kitty, Charlie (he likes to sit & watch TV--LOL!) company while they watch.  A lot of knitting can be accomplished while the box in the living room blares away!  Or maybe I'll make more cards...

Oh, the little pink/white polka dot thing at the top...Stay tuned and check back next week on Wednesday, Valentine's Day when the LOVE button reveals its true identity...

Until then--Happy Days! :o)