Olallieberry

Just a Little Rest

I have come to a decision, albeit a difficult one. In order to keep my life in a healthy place I have deemed it necessary to take a bit of a break from this space I love. I’m simply trying to juggle too many different things at once, so for next little while I'll be distancing myself from the computer in an effort to clear my head and focus on priorities, at least until things feel a bit more under control.

Thank you all so much for visiting me here at Olallieberry and for leaving your kind words of support and encouragement. Blogging has changed my life in so many positive ways, and I really look forward to continuing this journey very soon.

Until then, take very good care dear friends!

Janine xox

Snowy

Well, it's here. I think we've seen the last of the beautiful warm days--the cold weather has settled in early. Yesterday we had our second snowfall, which in itself isn't really a big deal except that this time it came with a biting cold wind, and the temperature barely made it to 1 degree C. The weatherlady calls for similar all next week.

Now that I've gotten used to the idea, it really isn't so bad. I love all the things that come along with the cold weather: hot chocolate, baking, knitting, warm fires, sweaters and socks. Things I don't like are feeling holed up inside, and having to wake up earlier in the morning to ensure time for thawing and scraping of the car windows before going to work. Don't get me wrong, I love snow and crisp air. But the winters here can be long and harsh, and it doesn't take much time before I'm yearning for spring (here I am talking about yearning for spring, and it isn't even winter yet...sheesh).

Needless to say, social events become a very important respite from the cold weather. Off we went to visit friends who have recently moved into a new home, and we were so happy to celebrate with them. I baked my regular cake for such events, which is simple to make and a pleaser every time. See the carrier I put it in? Just as an aside, I spotted the same one in a second hand store for double the price I paid for mine new. Beware all you fellow thrifters, second hand doesn't always mean we're getting a deal! Wonderful weekend wishes to you all. xox

P.S. - Have you seen the baby? My heart is simply overflowing!!

October

Just a very quick note to let you all know I am in fact still here! October has proven to be a very busy month so far, leaving me with little room for much of anything other than the bare necessities. Hoping things settle soon so I can give a bit of an update as to what's been happening around here. Suffice it to say for now, I was able to harvest one last batch of strawberries from the garden patch last week before our first snowfall hit hard. Fortunately the miserable weather was gone as quickly as it arrived, and we are now back to enjoying beautiful days filled with golden sunny warmth. We have however been clearly reminded of that which is inevitable, and that these lovely autumn days are numbered (insert ominous music effect here). 

Hoping your October has been grand! xoxox

Flu... Pie... What's the Difference?

Well, I was planning on this post being about one of my very favourite fall things--apple pie. Gala, Pink Lady, Jonagold, Macintosh; all great pie apples. Not to mention the heirloom varieties that come straight from the local farmer, to which the perfectly shaped storebought varieties simply cannot compare when it comes to flavour.

Ours is most definitely a pie-loving family. No store-bought crusts in my kitchen, unless of course I buy tons of apples with the intention of preparing many pies and blogging about it, then suddenly coming down with the flu over the weekend, leaving the family destitute and disappointed in their insatiable desire for apple pie and ice cream.

Yep, the flu.

Home from work; too lethargic even to hold up a pair of knitting needles in an effort to alleviate the excruciating boredom which has quickly set in. Quiet empty days of nothing but NeoCitran, hot and cold flashes, joint pain, and unyielding headaches to keep me occupied while everyone else is off to school/work. Mr Mylo cannot bear to degrade himself by keeping me company and offering a comfort cuddle. Only wrestling and playing for him during the day, which I am in no mood for as I must conserve every bit of energy in order to effectively wipe the unending trail of drool from my cheek. (I did mention NeoCitran, right?)

So here I lay, worried about my absence from work, knowing what will be waiting for me when I get back, desperate for something to occupy my mind, unable to raise up for more than a few meager moments before breaking into a dizzying sweat and collapsing back down wondering what on earth I was thinking by getting up in the first place. Fortunately I can manage to balance the laptop on my chest for short periods while laying flat on my back with my chin pinned to my neck. You know, it's amazing what you can actually do with PicMonkey when you have a little extra time on your hands!

So the apple pie post is now the apple/flu post. Think I'll go doze a bit.

I'm so bored.

September Busy

Gackers, back to school season is in full swing! Early mornings, lunches, homework, errands, activities, work, shopping... luckily stores like Ikea have a cafeteria to grab a bite when time is really tight, but I do try not to think too hard about those mystery meatballs...

Found a nice stash of lace weight yarn at the local thrift shop, I'm pretty sure its a silk merino blend. Four dollars for two very large wound cakes... Jackpot! Now to figure out what to use it for, I'm afraid I'm getting a bit shawled out.

Must dash, looking forward to visiting your lovely blogs very soon dear friends!

xoxoxoxox

Basking

Thank you, thank you, thank you for gifting me with your visits and very kind comments recently; I'm so happy to meet many of you and discover more of your lovely blogs. AND, I'm so pleased that some of you have found success working through the soapmaking tutorial! Your own journeys down this path give me such pleasure, thank you for sharing your experiences. 

It' been a stunning September so far, warm and summery. Hard to remember Septembers of past years where the hard frost often set in early. As for right now, the light is glorious; everything basks in it. It is the guilded season; plush, gold, beckoning, fleeting. We push away thoughts of the grey we know is inevitable. How is it possible when surrounded by such splendour?

Ahhh, and I've been knitting, knitting, knitting. Promise to share soon! xoxoxoxoxox

Evening

The light fades earlier in the evenings now as we settle comfortably into our fall routine.