For the last few days a freezing easterly wind has been blowing over the land which kept us indoors most of the time; and as close to the warming fire as possible (staying in Pajamas all day optional).

To sweeten those (hopefully) last weeks of winter weather we did lots of baking, painting, building (more on that soon to come..) and sewing (I’ll post when it’s finished..).

Baking chocolate brownies must be one of the nicest domestic pleasures.

I didn’t even know brownies before I came to Ireland (oh wait, I think I had them once when I was in New York). But my mother used to bake the most delicious chocolate cake and the topping was very similar to the sweet and gooey consistency of brownies.

When we bake brownies now I always remember this chocolate cake and how I licked the pot AND the bowl completely clean. It’s still my favourite part. And Lenja’s too…

We also spent some time looking through photographs of last year where I found another picture of a finished baby hat (do you remember the stripy one I posted?). I also loved making this gnomey hat for a little girl that was born last November:

You can find the free pattern for it here on Ravelry (in the original pattern there are two pompoms on the side). What would I do without Ravelry?! I can’t wait to cast on for my new projects…

Since our flower bulbs outside have lost any interest in growing and opening up their buds we decided to bring a bit of spring inside.

(by the way – it wasn’t MY idea to polish the nails of a three year old…:) )

What about you? How do you spend your days while you are waiting for spring to come (or you first autumn days if you are on the other side of the world)?