Color Overload...

I will believe it when I see it, but they are forecasting temperatures around 85 F/ 29 C for the middle of this upcoming week!!!  I'm ready!  (it is not warm right now and raining again...)

Two Unexpected Visits...

First there was the unexpected visit from The Sun: Hurray! Just look how beautiful everything is in the garden right now...

We had a few days of drizzle and low hanging clouds and the unexpected sun break did wonders. I even did some knitting outside!  {smile}

Click! to enlarge...

Then that evening Mr. G. and myself unexpectedly had dinner at Dog Mountain Farm which had opened its doors for the first time that very day! They had had such an overwhelming response, that they almost ran out of food, how awesome is that?
The restaurant and Fresh Market are situated in an old retro looking gas station. Go to their Facebook page (see link) to see some pictures of the outside. Everything is still in its early stages, but this is going to be a great place to hang out... These are the same people of the goat farm that we visited last week. It felt so good to just sit there and meet local people from our community. Plus the food was delicious and so fresh! 

  'Twas a good day!

Turning A New Leaf (and some other ramblings...)

Yes, we have leased a Nissan Leaf (electric car) and it is just fabulous! 

It feels like driving a sports car, at least compared to driving my minivan... <wink> We have wanted to make this green choice for quite a while now and are very happy with this decision. The rule is that whoever will be driving the longest distance that day, gets to drive the Leaf. So far that is working out pretty good!

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Over the weekend we had some wonderful Spring weather and tasty drinks were had outside. (= anis flavoured Pastis) I also purchased Spring-like clogs/ sandals from Swedish Hasbeens ('Ornament'). The funny thing is that my sister in The Netherlands has exactly the same ones and I purchased mine without realizing that!  <wink>

Of course now it is raining again so not the best time to wear them... On Monday, when the weather was getting more cloudy, but still warm, my Dutch friend A. and myself walked over to the Tulip 'field' that I had spotted during one of my runs...

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And this morning I put together this little Spring/ Summer top out of some lovely Liberty fabric that was given to me by a good friend. The pieces of fabric were very small so I had to improvise some. (no way to avoid the blue stripe I'm afraid)  I think this will be become a very wearable top!  {smile}

Simplicity #1693

Sewing In My New Work Space...

Click! to enlarge...

Ah yes, I finally finished another dress, it had been a while... 

I still haven't figured out what to do about the overlap in the front but I'm certain I will find a solution. I'm very happy with how it came out, especially the lapped zipper in the back! I followed yet another (but free this time!) class on Craftsy ("mastering zipper techniques') and it worked like a charm. Don't know why it has taken me this long to figure out this lapped zipper technique?!  <wink>

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So in February I had the brilliant idea to turn our office room into a sewing room! It was full of Billy bookshelves (Ikea) and Mr. G. was more than helpful in taking out all the books and papers and then eventually the dreaded bookshelves themselves. (they are now stored in the garage)  Thank you Mr. G.!

messy shelves...

knitting corner (left), sewing table (middle) and cutting table (right) 

Olive's crate is underneath the cutting table...

peg board...

office area...

The room isn't quite finished, but it doesn't need to be. The essentials are there and this set-up works! Slowly I will add little bits here and there.
I love both sewing and knitting in this room. Our main computer is in here as well so I can listen to all my Pandora stations all the time: just marvelous! 

A couple of days after I took the main pictures, I purchased this trolley at Ikea. I had eyed it for several years now and finally decided to just go ahead and buy it. Needless to say it fits in perfectly and I love it to pieces!  {smile}

Goats Galore!

Yesterday we went on a little (very little) road trip, right up on the hill behind our house. A little ways along the plateau you will find Dog Mountain Farm, a beautifully situated organic farm with, among other, tons of kids! (baby goats) Get ready for cuteness overload:

Miss M. got to hold some of the babies:

They also had ducks and geese and big black chickens and bunnies and pigs. So much fun!

Those big eggs on top come from the geese!

Spot the curly tail!

The location right up the hill facing the Cascades was just wonderful. The skies were so big!

What a fun afternoon out for our stay-cation!

Beeeeeh!

Bryan Ferry...

picture from the net...

Last night we had tickets to see Bryan Ferry live at McCaw Hall in Seattle's opera house: he was spectacular!

Bryan Ferry arrived with an 8-man band and their sound was amazing. For his first song he sat behind a keyboard way in the back so I didn't spot him until Mr. G. pointed him out.  He switched off between playing behind the keyboard and standing center stage in his typical stance. Even though he has reached the age of 68 (!) his voice was still fabulous and his showmanship (his 'suave'ness) was certainly going strong. My favorite song was "Love Is The Drug". What a great evening of entertainment it was!  {smile}

Here you can read a good review of his concert in Vancouver B.C. from the night before...

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So yesterday was only the warmest day of the year so far: 78F/ 25C!!! Since we are enjoying our Spring Break, we spent the whole day outside. I got up early and went for a run and finally it was a good one! It has been months since I've had a good-feeling run so that gives me hope for the future. I ran passed first a very large plot of Peonies (many many rows) and then just around the corner I discovered a whole field with almost blooming Tulips, right here in our little village! {smile}

While I was out running Mr. G. took his pick-up truck and had it filled to the brim with dark mulch. (1 1/2 cubic yards!) He shoveled everything into the wheelbarrow (many times over of course) and I spread it around by hand. Yes, my hamstrings are now very tight! <wink>  

I edged some grass borders, did more weeding and helped Miss M. with her little 'Radio Flyer' project. Mr. G. drilled some holes in the bottom for drainage and she added some weed barrier material for the lining. Together we bought some plants of her liking and off she went. The other half of the wagon has Radishes seeded in.

Now we can move the flowers in or out of the sun as needed!

After all that work, I spent several wonderful hours in the sun reading a book and getting my tan on! What a day!

Now of course all the sun has disappeared again and rain is on its way, but with all this sunshine in our pockets, I think we can face everything again for a while...