First snow

It is wet but it brought happiness to thousands of people who were asking themselves every day when winter would finally arrive. First snow of this winter.

The temperatures have been quite high until today, usually over 5 degrees C which is not very common for our winters. Though, I admit, I liked that kind of weather.

Winter

I don’t call it winter wonderland anymore because there’s no sunshine that would expose those magic crystals in rainbow colors. I like to shovel snow - I take it as a recreation for my arms and back – though, this winter it is heavy as a stone. Cats prefer to stay in warm places, only sometimes one of them thinks of catching birds. Ž nailed up two sticks on a feeding house, so that cats can’t go in. They used to wait for birds in there.

Neighbor's cat trying to catch sparrows. :)

I thought of making a lace napkin for my mom but this one is not perfect enough to give it away as a gift.

In a certain way I like winter. In weather like this I can read, make lace, learn Spanish or do something else. This is actually a peaceful time of year. At least this winter it is. Holidays behind, plans for the future ahead; for a moment I am content with what there is.

Winter wonderland

A winter will officially start on Friday but we already had real winter weather. I like this kind of winter, with deep snow and temperatures around -10 degrees C. And of course, with blue, blue sky. Usually I have to search for this deep blue color of the sky higher in the hills but that Sunday sun was shining also in Ljubljana. Ignoring the cold Ž and I went on a hike. It took us less than two hours to get up the hill and less than an hour to get back down. I enjoyed every minute of this hike. It felt indeed like walking in some white wonderland. I also thought of gathering some mistletoe but there was none.

Over the weekend the temperatures have risen and snow has started to melt. Thoughts about spring have started to sneak into my mind lately. It is always so when a landscape gets dull and grey.

Amish Puzzle Ball

It was -11 degrees C when I drove to work this morning, and the meteorologists say that it will be even colder. I can say that spent a couple of pleasant days indoors. Well, mostly indoors. When I went for a short walk yesterday in the afternoon the wind was whipping the skin on my face, so after a few minutes of this torture I turned back and went home. It was more pleasant to watch the blue sky through the windows. Also birds are cold. And cats, too. I let one of the cats to be inside for some time. Usually they don't want to be indoors.

I finished the Amish Puzzle Ball already on Thursday, so today you can finally see what I made last week. I searched quite some time on the Internet to find a tutorial, and even then I did it my way. This puzzle ball splits into three pieces and can be put back together again. Most tutorials tell you to sew all pieces together but in my opinion this is not necessary. After all it is called puzzle ball.

I will use softer fabric next time (if there will be next time). It is easier to sew it because pieces are quite small. Anyway, it was a nice project for windy and cold afternoons.

Wind and cold

Usually I don't listen to a radio and as you know I don't have TV. Yesterday the radio was on, and most of the time there were warnings about strong wind and tremendous cold. -10 degrees C is not really cold but the meteorologists say that the temperatures might drop to -20 next week. Also, because of the wind it feels much colder than it is. I don't go on walks in such weather, the wind is too strong. I am also surprised because Ž tells me each time when he walks into a house that it is cold. Strange, because he is never cold.
The pictures are from our walk on one windy day. We went home earlier than planned, it wasn't pleasant out there, although the air smelled so nicely of dry grass.

I haven't finished the project I started two days ago but there are only a few more stitches to be made before I can show you the final product. It is more time consuming than I thought it would be. Certainly not something that I would like to make everyday. Well, the weather is just perfect for staying inside and sewing. Or maybe knitting, too.

Hello winter

It has arrived, this cold season of a year and we are again living under a foggy lid. Well, sometimes we do see a sunset. And stars, too.I finally finished making Christmas cards. They are not so important as getting together with those we love. Friends and family. They are important.

One may ask what does this pumpkin in a picture has in common with all this. For me this "warm" picture is a symbol of coziness, of these cold and yet warm days.

Stars

Usually windows in my home were decorated with paper stars at this time of year. Not this year. Yesterday I had enough time to sit down and fold paper again. Funny, but each year I make new stars although I always keep the old ones stored in a drawer. There are many instructions for many different stars in my book but I can't get tired of the same design every year. It is my favorite, a bit rounded and almost always in two different colors.

It takes time to make a star like this, just like making lace. Unfortunately I can't show you what kind of lace I made yesterday. At least not before Christmas.

So, if you want to make your star, here are the instructions: part 1 and part 2. I still have two more to make. I can hardly wait! :)

P.s.: Talking about stars ... these days we can see both planets, Jupiter and Venus on the evening sky.

Snowflakes

Snow, snow, let it snow. - it started snowing today, quite early this season. Snowflakes melt almost immediately.

- it is time to be creative again, it is time to make something new (lace not included; I will be able to show you my first real lace next week).

- I keep noticing that shops are beginning to stack shelves with Christmas products.

- I make herbal teas with lemon juice and honey every evening.

- I use gloves in the mornings while driving to work. Sometimes also when I drive back home.

It is getting cold and dark outdoors, it is getting cozy and warm indoors. Though, life still hasn't slowed down. Not yet. There's still lots to be done before winter truly knocks on our doors.

Shrove Tuesday

I started to sew my Carnival costume but ended up wearing a simple mask. I have no idea why people don't wear masks and costumes anymore on Shrove Tuesday. No wonder that winter lasts so long. :)

Well, if you kept wondering where I was... Previous week I was lying in bed, most of the time. Thursday before it was sunny but chilly outside, after some time of cloudy weather. So, of course I went for a long walk that afternoon, and two hours after coming home I went to bed with fever. It lasted until last Friday. I hope that winter is saying farewell to this land, I started to miss green leaves and warmth. Actually nothing much happened these days, staying at home and somehow trying to get better takes a lot of energy. I am slowly starting to live my normal life, it seemed to me that I was hibernating last week. And made lots of plans for this spring! :)

Busy

There was so much to do at work that I had no time to live my life. At least it seemed so. Actually I was out a lot, counting birds. The season has started... Although, I wish that life would slow down. At least just a bit. So, here are a few photos I took lately.

I can hardly wait that it gets warmer.

I can hardly wait to see green leaves on the trees again. I miss those days when slide door leading to the backyard can be opened all day long. But... we have new neighbors. It seems that life will change a bit. Obviously we will need curtains. Unfortunately.

Have a good day.

Stars, stars and more stars

It is that time of a year when I make paper stars. This week I made one red and one yellow for windows at home and a blue one for our window at work. I like this blue one, it looks more like a snowflake than a star.These days I've been finishing my last issue of the magazine, so next year I will have time for some other projects. I have learned a lot, but being an editor is time consuming and sometimes very stressful. And most often you don't make friends, asking people for articles and photos. Because nobody is paid for their contribution. Most of the time not even me... But I like the thought that I do something good for other people; for me this is more rewarding than having a full wallet.

Karma for today: Believe that life was given for joy.

First snow

It started to snow at about noon today. At least it doesn't rain. We would be flooded again, if it rained. Until now I was quite content with the weather this year, although it was supposedly raining more often than other years. But now, when the temperatures dropped below zero, I started to look up the adds about travel destinations like Bali or Red Sea. Neighbors left for Turkey two days ago, to get away from everyday life (floods, renovations and similar) and rainy & foggy weather.

The other day, when Ž and I were cleaning around the house, we spotted these mushrooms. Lovely, aren't they? Already covered with snow by now.

I will be on the road again tomorrow early in the morning. I hope the roads will be cleaned by then. And I have to remember to wake up early enough, to shovel the snow in front of the house.

Have a lovely weekend!

Karma for today: Be grateful for the future possibilities that await you.

Merry Christmas!

Cold

These days people talk a lot about the temperatures. They have dropped below -10 degrees C. Which is cold. Yesterday I went for a walk at about noon, and it was -14. At some places it was below -20 in the morning.I like winters like these. Cold and with snow. But they are rare and far between.

I might not write much more here on my blog this year. Life is not easy at the moment. I might not send you a Christmas card, my life energy is too low for creating. Don't worry, I will be fine. It is just that some things in my life have to come to an end. They might still last, but eventually changes will come, and with them a better life. It has to happen, one day.

Have a happy Christmas, if I don't write another post by then.

Leafless

I went for a walk yesterday after dinner, it was getting dark already and it was only 4pm. Clouds were covering the sky, and in a distance a huge disc of the sun was seen through them. The cold pierced me to the bone; I do need a new winter jacket and gloves. :)

When I was almost back among the houses, I noticed that trees were already almost all leafless. When did this happen?

I am looking forward to spring (leaves will grow again in April, so for six months we will be looking at this dull brown and gray landscape), though there's lots do be done until then. Life to be lived.

I baked bread in new baking tins in the evening, but the light was too bad to take any photos. It is this time of a year when we should actually rest and prepare ourselves for the time after Easter, time of growth. It is time to make plans and it is time for learning. I should probably not complain over fog which we have every day now, should I? ;)

Cozyness

It started to snow. It is a total chaos out there on the streets. I might make a little snowman in front of my door in the afternoon. Shoveling the snow away from the street in front of my house is waiting for me this afternoon. Winter's tale.

These last days I was reading a book. I couldn't wait to sit down in the evening and start reading again. Chloë by Freya North. Reviews don't give it any credits but I liked it. One of those fairytales. I used to live in one. Some time ago.Also some plants started to bloom at this time of a year. Amaryllis. Two of them. Red and pink-white. Both with two stems. And both orchids, too. Pink and white. And one of the cacti. White. Lovely.

Two days ago I played with the paper again; I found so many magnificent blogs about kirigami. Japanese paper folding and cutting. People make amazing things. I started with the little elephants. Tutorial was found here.

I was invited to go to Ikea tomorrow. Of course I didn't say no. I will be back behind the screen on Friday, hopefully. :)

Simplicity

The other day I received Weleda news brochure. I've been using their products for about 13 years and I am very satisfied with them. Reading editorial got my brain into action again. We love simplicity, it says. That's why we have habits. Like Germans eating sausages in the middle of Italy. So it says. But not me. I am a kind of conservative, I admit, but usually I don't refuse to try new things. Because I might like them. Diversity preserves life.-17 degrees Celsius (1,4 degrees F) was shown on the screen in my car this morning. And I was wondering why I was so cold last evening when I was walking back to the car from the city center. It was only -10 then. I like such winters. At least I know it is winter.

It is beautiful outside today, the sun shines and white snow blinds you. Time to go to the hills and mountains again. I've been resting long enough. And holidays are definitely over, yesterday I had to put down the Christmas tree because the needles started to fall off. Have a nice weekend!

Back again

It felt like being on a short vacation, staying at home for another extra day. It's been snowing for whole morning, this is the first snow this autumn. I hope it is not the last one, winter is usually so long without any snow.I am almost fine by now, still drinking tea and eating lots of citrus fruit. The birthday party was quite nice, of course we were eating way too much, like always. But it is so hard to resist when there are so many different cookies on a table! I've been making quite many paper boxes lately. For my grandmom's present I made this pink one and wrapped the present into a paper for which I was sure my grandmom would like. I gave her also a box full of spring flower bulbs that she will be able to put on a window shelf.
As the smell of snow has been in the air for some days now, I managed to clean some windows in the living room and started to make paper stars. I am not sure, but every year it seems like my hands get bigger and every year I find my clumsy hands folding those little folds with more difficulty. It's only one week left until the first advent Sunday, where did all that time go?

Snow again

It was more than 15 degrees Celsius during the weekend and it was so hard to believe that there would be snow again. But it is. Here in Ljubljana we were a bit lucky because it wasn't snowing hard. My brother lives in my parents' weekend house which is located at about 600m above sea level and they've got much more snow. It has been like this for more than 10 years now. I remember those long winters with abundance of snow. We could still ski on the slopes near our weekend house. Today this is not possible anymore. Right, two years ago we had this 'normal' winter again but they've been really rare in the last 15 years. And it usually snows when my crocus start to bloom. Every year. Or at least it starts raining then...I just wonder what we are doing with our planet and eventually with ourselves. It is interesting that today's children have so many allergies. I know lots of children who can't drink milk or eat bread with gluten. In our days such things didn't exist. If somebody had asthma it was already strange enough. And today every second child has some problems. Today it is not even allowed for the children to bring the cake for their birthday to kindergarten or school because certain parents just panic...
Those were happy times, the times of my youth...

And with the snow also came some good news. My colleague from work gave birth yesterday in the evening to a healthy boy named Enej. This is a Slovenian name for Aeneas, the Trojan hero. He already looks a hero today, her husband sent us Enej's photo. And today there's lots of laughter in our offices. I hope it will be another pleasant day. For you too.

Winter impressions

I know, they look more like fall impressions but I took these shots on Sunday, walking through the woods.
This is my 100th post. Time really flies these days. Happy weekend!