Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Snowfall Warning

Issued at 04:31 Saturday 24 December, 2016

Snowfall, with total amounts of 10 to 20 cm is expected.

An area of heavy snow will continue to move across southern Alberta this morning. Many areas around Calgary received around 15 cm of snowfall last night and another 5 to 10 cm is expected this morning especially for areas near and east of Red Deer. In addition brisk easterly winds will generate local blowing snow over open areas and along major highways. Conditions should improve later this afternoon when the weather system responsible for the snow finally weakens.

Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.

9:13 a.m.: This is the current view from my back door.  Note: the 'stoop' has a roof, but that hasn't stopped the snow from entering, given the wind that's accompanying this storm.  (And yes, for the yarnophiles among you, that's my largest yarn storage chest...)

9:31 a.m.: Still snowing, moderately heavy, with wind.  My neighbours across the street cleared off their van and drove off about 15 minutes ago -- the first moving vehicle I'd seen.  Since then, three fairly large cars -- and one small one -- have driven by the front of the house (the hamlet's main street).  No sign of a plough, though I've heard what I thought might be one, more than once.  Probably out on the highway that runs north-south just a few blocks east of the house.

On the Alberta Motor Association Road Reports site, the highways hereabouts, running both East-West and North-South, are all either red or yellow, which means either completely snow-covered, or partially snow-covered, and if you click on one, you get messages like "Covered snow, Snow and Ice on shoulder, Snowing, Strong Wind, Drifting Snow. Fair visibility."

I'm still ready to go up to Edmonton for this evening, but if I can't leave by 2:30 p.m. I won't go.  It's a good 90-minute drive and sunset is scheduled for 4:17 p.m. up there.  Driving in the snow and wind in the dark?  Nope; not happenin'!

I could try for tomorrow a.m....but we'll see. One snowy day at a time!

Wherever I find myself this year, with Christmas and Hanukkah both beginning this evening, there'll definitely be light, love, music, and joy.

To that end...here are a few 'crafty' photos for the season...

Winter Warmth!
"Muffatees" from my friend, J.

One of several cotton "spa sets"
with soap/body wash included

One of a couple of hats

Of course, the wonderful "Cracker Candy" has been made -- this time with almonds instead of walnuts -- and it was so much easier the second time around, because I was geared for the speed required to assemble it!  

The Five-Minute Fudge is all wrapped and ready to go;  Hanukkah 'gelt' (gold chocolate coins which, in Canada, are wrapped as imitation 'loonies') is packed, as are other stocking-stuffers.

But the stockings are stuck in the garage with the other stored Christmas decorations -- and the car.  

10:13 a.m.  The snow continues.  Only one other vehicle has come down the street.  Miss Pookie-cat is curled up on my bed.  Time for me to wrap the last two gifts and get out my suitcase...just in case the next three hours bring a break in the weather.  

And download Skype just in case.

Whatever source of Light you are celebrating this weekend...may there be an abundance of it, with joy, health and happiness now -- and in the year ahead.

Linking up to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...

God bless you, every one!

Some People Make It Look So Easy

Recipe: Tasty Timeline

Just before I began my "lay-low-for-Advent" time out with Facebook, I found this recipe for "Cracker Candy" posted there by one Lori Nolan.  In the video -- complete with fast-forward -- she makes this stuff look oh-sooo-easy to make.

I had the ingredients around the house, so I thought I'd give it a try.  If it worked out, I reasoned, I'd take a batch over the the Mirror & District Museum's Open House tomorrow afternoon, and maybe make a batch for the kids at Christmas, instead of my (traditional) 5-Minute Fudge.

Well...it really is pretty easy -- but you have to work really fast to spread the brown sugar and the chocolate layers, and I was really worried that the bottom -- the crackers -- moved around on my greased tin-foil, so that some of the brown sugar topping seeped under them.  In the end, my 'taste test' showed that that was really -- as Martha would say -- a Good Thing.  The stuff is delicious, and is now boxed up in the fridge for delivery tomorrow.  Batch #2 will come closer to Christmas.

Another person who makes "it" look so-o-o easy is my friend Mary Wilton, with her fabric painting.  You'll recall from an earlier post that a week ago I took her Friday evening/all day Saturday class...with mixed results.

Not being one to waste materials, on Wednesday I 'set to' figuring out what I'd do with them, as well as doing up some more mono-printed pieces for more wintry miniatures.

First, though, I relegated the "trees positioned on background 3" to the 'sample' files.  No matter how I played with it, I couldn't see how to make it work.  The brown trees are just too clunky -- and positioned in just such a way that I can't work around 'em.  At least, not right now.

That decision made, I turned to the other backgrounds, and the other painted trees, which had fusible web (Mary gave us Steam-a-Seam Lite) applied so were ready to cut out and fuse where desired.  In the end, I used only three more of the trees I'd painted -- all "birch" -- and I cut off the main part of one of the background pieces to make this new miniature composition:

Old Birch at Dawn (C) 2016
5" x 7" matted to 8" x 10"

Old Birch... - Detail

The bottom of the piece was replaced (as you can likely tell) by a piece of unpainted fabric for the 'snow', because the original just didn't 'work' for me. :-)

The remaining background I'd painted had that weird grey stuff going on along the bottom from a failed experiment, but I really liked the top of the piece so again, I separated the two.   That crazy grey stuff had something to it, though, once it was standing on its own.  It kinda looked like foggy evergreens.  So...I fussy cut it along its top edge and auditioned it in various ways against that background.  The result is another mini...

Foggy Morn (C) 2016
5" x 7" matted to 8" x 10"

Foggy Morn - Detail

Last but not least, I'd painted a piece of that white-on-white fabric, and outlined an evergreen with blue gel glue on the right side.  Wednesday I painted the tree; once it was dry and heat set I washed out the glue, so that today it was ready to stitch.

I confess I don't think this one is quite as 'strong' as the night-time version, but I offer it here for your consideration anyway.  :-)

First Snow on the Prairie (C) 2016
5" x 7" matted to 8" x 10"

First Snow - Detail

I hope to present these to Denise at the Bonavista Fine Art Gallery in Sylvan Lake on Wednesday, along with these ones that need hand stitching before they're ready...

You'll notice one is...ahem...smaller than the others.  That's because while I "measured twice and cut once", I...um...still cut it a bit too small.  Not to worry! I have a mat that will work...so stay tuned for a "finished" post within the week.

Meanwhile, as I have some hand-stitch to do, I'd best be off!  I'm linking up to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday (on time for a change!) and settin' to work.   I'm thankful for her faithful platform, where I can meet up with so many wonderful creative people!  And I remain thankful that all of you, Gentle Readers, continue to read the ramblings of this Crazy Canuck.  :-)

Have a great weekend, eh?