What's Happening

~  It's cold.  But, hey, it's winter time in northern Minnesota.  Had a high of 9 degrees today . . . with sunshine.  Hooray for the sunshine.  Phoo-poo to the prediction of -17 tonight.

~  I sorted through all my boxes of yarn this past week I had stashed up in the loft/attic.  Oh, my.  Where did it all come from?  Who knew I had so much?  Some was packed in cardboard boxes (luckily we don't have a mouse problem), but I thought it was a good idea to purchase some plastic totes in which the yarn is now residing . . . in a safer environment.  Plus, it's all sorted and organized so I know what I have.  (Yeah, too much.)

~  This morning I summoned up the courage to get back to working on my winter wall hanging.  I've had the hand quilting done for about a week, but was being a Nervous Nelly about starting the free-motion (on the machine) quilting part of it.  I'm not the greatest at that.  I can turn out a fairly good job, but not without ending up with stiff shoulders.  So I downed half a bottle of wine and went for it.  Not really, but that might have helped my stiff shoulders.  Or not.

~  I finally cobbled together a great recipe for Rice Pudding made with leftover rice.  (I can never seem to make enough rice for just one meal.  Same way with mashed potatoes.)  Now if I can just remember how I did it . . .

~  Daughter stopped in with the kiddlies she cares for a few days ago.  It happened to be on the morning I had made the Rice Pudding for our breakfast.  The 14 month old twins dug into the leftovers with great gusto.  They are both using a spoon now to carry food into their wee mouths.  Well, they use the spoon in one hand while every other mouthful gets shoved in with the alternate hand.

~  Our egg production has stayed good all winter.  (Knock on wood.)  We're getting enough eggs for all my cooking needs and even a dozen here and there to give away.  I don't know what we'd do without our good eggs.  The chickens have been staying warm and cozy in their little house with attached "solarium."  They have it pretty good. 

~  I made this dish of Apple Crunch this morning because I had some apples that were getting soft.  And to warm up the kitchen.  And to permeate the house with the enticing aroma.  And to have to eat.  It's now 5:30 p.m. and the above is all that is left.  Daughter did stop by and helped us get "rid" of it.  Guess it was tolerable enough that I might have to make another one tomorrow morning.  Maybe some more Rice Pudding, too.