We were out thrifting again (big surprise) and I came across an untouched paint-by-number kit. I already had an untouched one at home, but this one was a hummingbird, and it was my livingroom colours, so I thought what the hell.

On the weekend, I decided I needed to start at least ones of them or they would sit there forever. So I opened the hummingbird box and got to work.

Its been decades since I did a paint by number. The ones I remember were on a solid piece – like a hardboard – nice and smooth. This is on piece of primed canvas. It was rolled up in the box, so I had to tape it to the table.

I worked on it for several hours and managed to get most of the background and larger areas done. It’s much slower than I expect, but I find these paints need a second coat. That or I have to get better about putting it on thicker in the first coat.

I’m thinking I might see if I can dig out my easel, and tape the canvas to a piece of wood and work on it that way. It might be a little easier on my back than working hunch over the table.

Of course… I have to remember where I stashed my darn easel first! I haven’t seen it since we moved! And I have a sneaking suspicion I might have given it away.

2024 is now officially behind us…

So what can I expect from 2025? I’m hoping the pace moves a little bit slower than 2024.

I hope it brings with it a chance to really make a dent in our debt, and tuck away a few dollars for the future.

I don’t think I’ll make any predictions for house projects. The furnace install in December was part of a package deal that included a heat pump and a tankless water heater. They will be installed at the end of this month. Dave is certainly looking forward to not having to haul and install window a/c units this year. And I’m looking forward to (hopefully) lower energy bills.

For the gardens, I plan to widen a couple of the borders along the fence, but otherwise keep things at status quo. I still have a pile of seeds left and more plants in the gardens than I can shake a stick at, so I’m challenging myself not to buy any new plants (other than annuals for planters) this year! Wish me luck.

When it comes to crafting, I plant to both knit and quilt exclusively from the stash. That shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I have so much yarn and fabric I’m literally tripping over it in the studio. I’d also like to spend some more time with my water colours if I can manage it.

Above all, I hope to have a happy, healthy 2025. And I hope you do too!

As the year comes to a close, what can be said? It wasn’t a bad year, but it also wasn’t a spectacularly great year. What it was, was a FAST year! 2024 just flew by and I feel like I just didn’t have enough time to do anything I really wanted to.

You saw my knitting and quilting tally – but how did the rest of the year stack up? House-project-wise – not great. We’d hoped to renovate a couple rooms, and replace the garage doors. Neither things happened. Early on in the year, I decided I really wanted to throw some money on our debt before spending much money on the house.

Then I needed a new vehicle, then we went halfsies with our new back neighbour (Loki/Freyja’s dad) on cutting down trees and putting up a proper fence between our yards. Then the furnace went! So there wasn’t much of a dent put in the debt AND we didn’t do any renovations.

I did get the sun porch painted at least.

And it was so nice finally get rid of the last of the ugly red oxide colour that the previous owners loved!

The gardens, of course, expanded – with the biggest expansion in the area of edibles.

The food garden was wonderfully productive.

And while I feel like I didn’t spend much time in the yard, my pictures say otherwise…

I also had many wonderful highlights

Including finally capturing the hummingbirds, hatching monarchs, and making friends with an army of tree frogs!

We didn’t travel much, but there were dozens of thrifting adventures, and a trip to a petting zoo/plant nursery…

And I got a wonderful chance to experience and capture the Northern light, virtually in my backyard!

So while the year flew by a the speed of light, and I didn’t accomplish all that I’d hoped, it was still a year with many wonderful small moments. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything!

2024 saw me complete 14 quilts. It’s my lowest quilt output yet, but it was a really busy year in the other aspects of my life, so I’m not too upset.

Most of the quilts were lap-size or larger, which also accounts for the lower count. I can whip out a baby quilt in a weekend – but lap quilts tend to take a few weekends to complete.

Four of the quilts were gifts (one wedding, two get well, and one pet gift). One of the quilts (and the largest) was for me. And one was for Burton’s chaise. And the rest went into the shop.

Before the year is out, I’m hoping to complete one more top… but it won’t get quilted until the new year, so it will get counted for 2025.

After a dismal showing of knits in 2023, I made a pledge to knit at least one project a month in 2024. And I’m happy to say I did it! +1!

I made 10 pairs of socks (five of which were for me), a hat, a bolero for a birthday girl and one awesome, if a little menacing handspun chicken!

None of them are huge projects, but with all I have on my plate these days, I’m thrilled to have finished them. And simple knits are the perfect way to unwind after a long day! I’m hoping to continue this trend into 2025.

Spring:

Summer:

Fall:

It was a good year in the garden, but I definitely feel like I didn’t get to spend much time in it.

Really, I actually spent a lot of time in it but it was time spent WORKING in it. Now that’s nobodies fault but my own, because I’m the one who decided I needed ALL The plants and kept bringing more home.

Maybe 2025 will bring a chance stop and smell the flowers just a little more.

“Hey, is that leftover turkey you’re snacking on?????”

Back on my birthday, I mentioned that we wanted to have a big sale in the shop to celebrate, but with the Canada Post strike, we had to close up shop for a bit. But the posties are back on the street, so now it’s time!

In honour of my 45 trips around the sun, we’re offering 45% off EVERYTHING in the shop! The sale starts today, with no code needed. It you’ve ever wanted one of our quilts, there’s no better time. The sale runs until new years day – so don’t miss out!!!

Click here to shop!

From ours to yours…

Wishing you all the best for Christmas and the coming New Year!

Everything is all wrapped up and ready to go. It’s going to be a quieter Christmas for us this year. Dave’s Mom is spending it with her siblings in the big city. My brother’s family is tied down with work/family commitments on their end, so we will do something with them in the New Year. If the weather holds, Mom and Dad will drive here tomorrow and we’ll enjoy a nice turkey dinner with them.

In the mean time, there’s not much for me to do, so I’m putting my feet up to do a little knitting.

Lemmy and I decided to crack into that big skein of handspun mom gave me for my birthday. We decided to make the Across the Generations Shawl.

So far, there’s not much to see.

I’ve got the centre square complete, and I’m ready to pick up stitches all around the outside to start all the pretty lace. The square does not really look big enough to me… but I’m trying to let it go. I know it will really loosen up and stretch out once it’s wet and blocking. Sometimes you just have to have a little faith.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas Eve.