Hi! :) Happy New year! I hope yours has started off on a good note, and if you live in the US, I hope you're trying to keep warm and cozy. To say the least it's been chilly...even down south!
I don't make resolutions, but I did promise myself to make more time for stitching this year. This is one of the pins I finished up recently. It's colors remind me so much of the flowery chenille bedspread I had on my bed when I was a little girl. :)
...I also promised myself to have a bit more fun because last year was really hectic. We really should all do that though. ;)
Last Sunday I left the house bright and early, and I drove ten minutes back to my favorite place, the pond behind the old church. (click pictures for a larger view!)
Completely frozen now and covered with snow, the pond was just as beautiful in it's white coat as it was back in October when it reflected the reds and oranges of fall.
A bunch of guys had shoveled clear a large rectangle of snow so they could play hockey on the ice.
The sound of their skates seemed to echo in the wind, and memories of skating with my dad and sister when I was a kid, came flooding back.
I had white skates, and each skate had a big black pom-pom tied tightly to it's laces near the toe. Each pom-pom had a little bell. They looked ... and sounded so cute! :D
The three of us would skate for hours, taking breaks every now and then to warm up while sitting on the logs our town would set up around a big steel drum that held a warm fire. With our bright red cheeks and shivering, my sister and I would sip our hot chocolates, never wanting to be the first to say "I'm tired, can we go home now." Never wanting to spoil the fun. It's something how a simple sound can stir up a precious memory. :)
...The wind was biting as I stood there reminiscing, and my fingers began to sting, so I ran back to the car to warm up, and for another quick drive down the road to take a few more pictures.
There I found two others also taking pictures, but unlike me they had fancy cameras mounted on tripods.
I'm happy with the pictures my little Cannon Power Shot
takes, plus it's easy to use. I just leave it on auto. :)
Winter is so beautiful.
The snow, the ice, the brown shades of the bare trees, the deep blue skies, the stillness I love so much,
...and that sound of ice skates! :)
xo Paulette
Lovely pictures, thank you for sharing. I love winter too, there is something so magical when the snow drifts slowly down and everywhere you look there is glitter!
ReplyDeletePretty pin as well. Have a nice day!
What a beautiful pin! Love the softness of it. The photographs are stunning, that camera of yours does a great job! I have never ice skated, but I can just picture you zooming around with your pom-pom, bell ringing skates!
ReplyDeleteWow, that brought back some old memories. We had only two pair of skates for all the kids so taking turns was learned early and i can remember falling and being helped up by big brother. Love the pastel pin-very soft and feminine.
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you Paulette. Happy New year and coincidentally i posted on FB this afternoon about February being about 'Fun' for me, there isnt' enough of it so i'll have to create my own and then i came here and you'd posted it too so that's it it must be now right ? :)
ReplyDeleteDear Paulette,
ReplyDeleteYour pin is simply exquisite! I always look forward to seeing your next creation.
What beautiful photos, I love this Church!
It is funny how a sound or scent can stir memories.
You have taken some beautiful pictures.. Thank you so much for sharing them.
blessings,
Penny
What a beautiful post Paulette.
ReplyDeleteI, too, used to go ice skating on a large lake, when I was a yound girl. What fun it was.
Your new design is lovely.
Rose
Happy new year to you, your latest pin as the softest of colours and is so precious. Love the photos of your childhood hangout,what a beautiful place to grow up x
ReplyDeleteI love your new pin, but most of all I love the story of skating when you were young and the beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI love your new pin, but most of all I loved hearing about skating when young and the lovely photos.
ReplyDeletewow, what an amazing part of the world you live in - those photos are just stunning.
ReplyDeleteLove your pin too, would love to be able to touch it, bet it feels amazing with those 3d flowers
Hi, I love your stitching and the pins that you make are so pretty. I love your pictures and your comment about skating makes me think of my daughter when she use to skate. We didn't want her skating outside because of her blades for her skates being so expensive. She competed in her younger years. Hugs and Prayers from Your Missouri Friend.
ReplyDeleteI'd be willing to bet your little camera takes every bit as nice a pictures as their more expensive ones with a lot less hassle. I've never ice skated - tried a couple of times but my feet freeze in mere seconds so it wasn't at all pleasant. That, and I don't have a coordinated bone in my body!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, I really miss the snowy winters of Pennsylvania - it's just grey rain here in the UK! I love your latest pin...Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty pin, the colours are soft and gentle, lovely!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures, we hardly ever get snow here.
ReplyDeleteThe pin is stunning
Your pictures are beautiful, as of course is the scenery around the pond, thank you for sharing these lovely images. xx
ReplyDeleteHi, Paulette! The pin-heart is very beautiful! I love winter too, thanks for nice photos. ХО
ReplyDeleteMore fun! Yea! So glad to see some new stitching and the winter pics are lovely.
ReplyDeleteHave a fun weekend!
Hello Paulette, You Pin is absolutely lovely. I love the pastel colors. The photos of your Winter Wonderland are also beautiful... BUT I am more than ready for Spring to arrive here in Michigan. Hugs Judy
ReplyDeleteoh yes, i do remenber too, i had wooden skates with strings that became wet and every time you had skated they went lose. you had to unwind them and start over again, but i was every time more difficult because the strings went frozen and your fingers too hahahaha.
ReplyDeletelater on i had white skates too, oh so much better ;-)
beautiful pictures and a fantastic pin.
greetings miek
Such beautiful images my friend-- so serene and peacefull. That's the thing about snow- it seems to blanket the world in a quiet beauty.
ReplyDeleteVicki
Your pictures of winter-wonderland are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI missed your Posts and your lovly needleworks.
I wish you a great year 2014 and a happy weekend
Happy New Year Paulette, and an unusually cold one it is!! I like that pond behind the church. It seems like a peaceful place to reflect on the wonders of life.
ReplyDeleteIce skating was big when I was a kid but I could not skate. But I went along when everyone else went to the ice because there was always a bonfire and plenty of company around it keeping warm. Seems like kids don't skate so much anymore.
Lovely pin. Glad you are finding more time to stitch.
xx, Carol
You took beautiful pictures. I was trying to envision where the pictures where taken. I lived on long island most of my life, just relocated to knoxville, TN. I like all of your pieces of of course the heart is beautiful. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cindy! :) ... The pictures were taken in Cold Spring Harbor. xo
DeleteYou Pin is absolutely lovely,i hope you have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs Ingvor
Your hearts are always so pretty! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My senior year in high school, we all received ice skates for Christmas. Mom and Dad would take us to the park by the library and the whole family would skate. Then we would go home and drink hot cocoa in front of the fireplace. I had nearly forgotten. Thanks for jogging my memory!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story to share with us Paulette! It's so amazing the little things that bring back those memories of long ago. So sweet.
ReplyDeleteYour pins are such works of art Paulette. Each one has so much personality. I love to see your treasures you create!
Blessings, Edie Marie
Hello sweet Paulette,what a beautiful heart again and I love your pictures from your magical place.....
ReplyDeletehugs from me to you
xxx
Not only is your pin as beautiful as Spring it reminds me how perfect your little works of art are made with your tiny little stitches. Lovely photos of frigid Winter and her glorious fresh coat of white. I can almost see you ice skating across that frozen bliss. Serene Sunday Dear...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by Paulette and all your encouraging comments! You always make us feel that the things we make have worth. I can't tell you what that means to Marie & me. Have a blessed and creative week Paulette!
ReplyDeleteBig winter hugs, Edie
Love the pictures... (looks like a wonderful place to live) As much as I love your pins.
ReplyDeleteHello Sweet Paulette, I'm loving your latest pin - another little delight - and your pics are fab! I also loved sharing in your reminiscing of happy younger days, thank you for such beauty! More happy times to you lovely,
ReplyDeletelove and hugs, Joy xoxo
Another talent of yours...Reading you is as pleasing as watching your pins:)
ReplyDeleteNicely written and well done again;)
Your photos are just magical! I live in hot North QLD and have never experienced snow, so your pictures really do look like a magical wonderland!! Very special :)
ReplyDeleteAdorable new pin and skating sounds so fun!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Tatyana
Your little pin is just so sweet, I love your style! It is still summer here in Australia, but the nights seem to be a tiny bit cooler lately. Hopefully, autumn is on the way soon. I lived in North Dakota for all of my teen years, and I have most definitely reached my lifetime quota for SNOW!! It is pretty in your pictures, but I don't miss the bone chilling cold at all. xx debbie
ReplyDeleteI just love your pins and those photos are really dreamy. Jo x
ReplyDeleteOh, baby - no resolutions (that's me), hectic year (that's me) - how strange it is to me that making seems to turn off and on, and last year was off till the last few weeks - desperate spurts of energy born of love (which begets presents). It's a sweet thing, detaching from the should and wandering in a beautiful place; a camera always helps the heart to see. Just know that your work always refreshes me, even when my soul is as tired as it is now.
ReplyDeletePaulette, you are a beautiful writer! And your photographs are fantastic too. Such a talented, sweet person. I really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this wonderful blog with me. Just love seeing how others live and love your place on earth. I live in South Africa near Cape Town and hardly ever see much snow.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Susan. We've had plenty of snow this year, with more on the way. Yay! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Paulette,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your visit and sweet comment about my Valentine mice.. I am so happy you enjoyed.
Sorry it has taken so long to come back..
blessings,
Penny
Такое нежное сердечко! И очень приятные пастельные цвета! Очень красиво!
ReplyDeletetesting...
ReplyDeletetesting again!
ReplyDelete