' Keeping in Touch' Newsletter
March
March — the in‑between month. Snow melting, mud everywhere, the first hints of light returning. A month where people crave small comforts and tiny rituals.
March always feels like a pause between seasons — a place where we’re still wrapped in winter but dreaming of spring. I’ve been leaning into small, quiet pleasures lately, and I wanted to share one of them with you.
Wherever this month finds you — knee‑deep in mud, dreaming of spring, or curled up with a warm blanket — I hope you find small pockets of calm. Thank you for being here with me.
Warmly, Shelley
A little Irish kitchen magic for March —
warm potato bread, roasted tomatoes, and a cup of tea "
to welcome the season of small blessings
In our little family, that little bit of magic always began in the kitchen.
Kitchen Memory
My Grandmother's Peas: A Little Irish Luck
Every spring, on St. Patrick’s Day, my grandmother,
(we called her Momma) would press three pea seeds into the cool earth just outside her kitchen window. She said it brought good luck — not the flashy kind, but
the quiet, steady sort that keeps a household
humming. The kind that helps bread rise, keeps
the kettle warm, and brings people home safely.
I didn’t realize until much later that this
is an old Irish tradition —planting peas on
March 17th to bless the home and the year
ahead with Wealth, Health & Luck.
It makes me love her ritual and miss
her even more.
March a month of small hope
the first brave green shoots, the softening of the earth, and the old belief that luck can be coaxed into a home with a few simple rituals.
March Charms
'A handful of Irish Kitchen folklore to warm the month
MATCH THE SYMBOL WITH THE FOLKLORE
1. Sharmrocks symbolize protection, renewal, and the promise of brighter days.
'Where shamrocks grow, blessings follow.'
2. A sprig of green - peas, herbs, or even a single leaf -
placed on the kitchen windowsill was said to invite spring into the home.
'Green on the sill brings green to the door.'
3. If the march wind blows through an open kitchen door, it was believed to carry away the heaviness of winter.
'Let March winds carry the old year out.'
4. A candle lit in the kitchen welcomed good spirits and softened the darkness. It guided loved ones home.
'A candle lit in kindness keeps the darkness gentle.'
5. On St. Patrick's Day, Irish families planted peas to bless the house with a steady, fortunate year. Some tucked three peas into the soil for faith, hope, and love.
'Peas planted on St. Patrick's Day grow luck as they rise.'
6. Potatoes, bread, beans - simple foods were believed to hold the strongest blesssings because they came from the earth.
'Blessings rise from simple foods.'
7. Irish cooks cut a small cross into dough before baking - not only for faith, but to 'let the fairies out' so the bread would rise.
'Bread shared is luck shared.'
8. Tea leaves were believed to hold the whispers of the day, gentle reminders, not predictions.
'The cup remembers what the heart forgets.
A= B= C= D=
E= F= G= H=
A Touch of Folklore:
'this is anotber fun thing my grandmother did'
For hundreds of years, tea leaf readings have been
practiced in home parlours.
Yes, tea leaf reading is one of
those pleasant pastimes
that we are losing. Some say it's
the invention of the
commercial tea bag that
sealed its fate.
This intriguing custom is great
fun for your guests,
leaving them to ponder the
patterns on the bottom of the cup
and to relax & enjoy life.
Tea-Leaf Symbol Matching Game
'Match each tea-leaf symbol to its meaning
& enjoy a quiet moment of folklore'
1. A message or news is coming.
2. Good fortune or protection.
3. A new beginning or fresh start.
4. Love, affection, or emotional warmth.
5. A wish coming true
6. Growth, progress, or steady improvement.
7. A peaceful moment or rest ahead.
8. A journey or small adventures.
9. Success after effort.
10. Harmony or things falling into place.
“Ready to sharpen your tea‑leaf reading magic? Click here to download my tasseography booklet.”
It is FREE for you!
Whether you’re planting peas, sipping tea, or simply watching the light return, I hope this month brings you small comforts and a little Irish luck.
Warmly,
Shelley
If this quiet little newsletter brings you a bit of peace, I’d be grateful if you shared it with a friend who might enjoy it too. Word of mouth is how these gentle things find their way
WHOOPSY -
so sorry, I added the wrong crossword puzzle in February's Newsletter, which was just the mock-up I was playing with, rather
than the final draft.
So I have put the real February Crossword in the Feb
newsletter below if you'd like to give it a try.
Thanks for humouring the elderly! xoxoxo
' Keeping in Touch' Newsletter
February
February arrives quietly, like a letter tucked into the snow.It brings with it soft light, heart-shaped cookies, and the kind of love that doesn’t need grand gestures — just warmth, memory, and a wooden spoon stirred with care.
This month, I’ve been thinking about the way love settles into small things: a tin on the shelf, a scent in the kitchen, a puzzle shared over tea. So I’ve gathered a few gentle offerings for you — a cozy recipe, a story from my grandmother’s kitchen, and a little crossword to warm your winter morning.
Whether you’re baking, puzzling, or simply pausing, I hope this newsletter feels like a quiet gift. One that says: I’m thinking of you.
“The Shelf Where Love Lives”
On the old pine shelf in the corner of the cottage, they danced every February. Not in real time, of course — but in memory. The couple in the photograph, framed by heart garlands and candlelight, had once twirled across a winter floor in their finest clothes, laughter echoing through the rafters. Now, their image sat among pitchers and ribbons, a quiet reminder that love doesn’t fade — it settles in, like warmth in the wood grain, like the scent of cinnamon in the air.
The Cart of Kindness
They gathered hearts in winter’s chill,
Red and bright, with gentle will.
One pulled the cart, the other gave,
A love so simple, soft, and brave.
No need for ribbons, lace, or gold —
Just kindness shared, and hands to hold.
And in that cart, a truth was spun:
That love begins with only one.
February’s Messenger
She walked into the wind with purpose — not to fight it, but to carry something through it. A bouquet of red and pink blooms, gathered from her garden’s last breath before snow. Her hat nearly flew, her boots soaked through, but she smiled.
February had asked her to deliver a message: that beauty can bloom in the storm, and love — real love — is often carried on the wind.
When I was little, there was always a tin on the kitchen shelf — round, floral, and slightly dented from years of use. It wasn’t fancy, but it held magic. Inside were cookies my grandmother, who we called Momma, made by hand, often shortbread, sometimes with herbs from her garden. She’d press them into shapes with the back of a spoon or a carved wooden stamp, and if it was February, she’d use the heart cutter she kept tucked in the drawer with the tea towels.
I remember standing on a stool to peek inside, the scent of rosemary and sugar rising like a promise. She’d let me choose one, and I always picked the smallest heart — not because it was the prettiest, but because it felt like a secret. A quiet little gift, just for me.
Now, when I bake these shortbread hearts, I think of that tin. Of the way love can be tucked into small things. And how a cookie, warm from the oven, can carry a memory across generations.
Kitchen Memory
A Tin on the Shelf
Cozy February Checklist
A checklist of gentle things to do:
-Bake something with herbs
-Write a note to someone you love
-Light a candle and read for 10 minutes
-Go for a winter walk
-Make tea and sit by the window
-Save a heart-shaped cookie for yourself
Thank you for spending a quiet moment with me today.
If this little puzzle brought a bit of warmth to your February,
feel free to share it with someone who could use a gentle pause in their day.
Wishing you soft light, warm kitchens, and small joys tucked into the week
ahead.
Shelley
' Keeping in Touch' Newsletter
January
Dear Friends,
A new year has arrived quietly, like soft snow settling on the fields. January has always felt like a pause to me — a moment to breathe, to gather warmth, and to let inspiration rise slowly, like bread in a warm kitchen.
Outside, the world is hushed and still. Inside, the kettle sings, the lamps glow, and the simple rhythm of needle and thread brings comfort to winter days. I hope this month finds you wrapped in small joys and peaceful moments
FEATURED THIS MONTH: CROSS STITCH PATTERNS
January whispers softly,
In threads of blue and white—
A month of quiet wonder,
Of lamplight in the night.
We stitch our gentle stories,
One moment at a time,
And find within the stillness
A peace that feels like home.
January is the perfect time to settle into a cozy chair and create something beautiful, one tiny stitch at a time. Here are this month’s featured designs
— each one inspired by the gentler side of rural Canadian life.
for more patterns
click our girl here
Once inside the 'cross-stitch' section of this site, you will find barns, quilts,and cozy kitchen scenes. Spring pieces that bloom with soft colours, hopeful themes. All are aligned with the peaceful, rural life that inspires it.
A Thought for the New Year:
' Beginnings don't need to be bold. Sometimes the quiet ones carry the most promise
A Cozy January Recipe:
MAPLE OATMEAL BAKE
This is the kind of breakfast that warms the whole house — soft, lightly sweet, and full of that gentle comfort we all crave in mid‑winter. It’s easy, wholesome, and perfect for slow mornings when the snow is drifting outside. Recipe Below
Ingredients
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 ¾ cups milk (or almond milk)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• Optional: blueberries, chopped apples, pecans, or raisins
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly butter an 8×8 baking dish.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs,
maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla.
4. Add the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Stir gently to combine.
5. Fold in any fruit or nuts you like.
6. Pour into the baking dish and smooth the top.
7. Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the edges are golden and the center is set.
8. Serve warm with a drizzle of maple syrup or
a spoonful of yogurt.
A Little Note
This keeps beautifully in the fridge — perfect for reheating on chilly mornings when you want something nourishing without fuss.
A Little Kitchen Recipe Memory
I’ve always loved how winter mornings seem to hold their own kind of hush — that soft, blue‑grey light that slips in before the kettle sings. When I was little, I remember padding into the kitchen in my wool socks, the floor still cool, and finding my mom already stirring something warm on the stove. Oatmeal was one of those quiet comforts she made without fuss… just oats, a splash of milk, and whatever sweetness the season offered.
Sometimes it was brown sugar, sometimes a spoonful of homemade jam, and sometimes — my favourite — a drizzle of maple syrup that perfumed the whole kitchen. It wasn’t fancy, but it felt like love. The kind of love that doesn’t announce itself, but simply waits for you in a warm bowl on a cold morning.
Maybe that’s why this Maple Oatmeal Bake feels so special to me. It carries that same gentle spirit — simple ingredients, soft warmth, and the feeling of being cared for before the day even begins.
for more recipes
click our girl here
Shelley's Kitchen Tip:
On cold January mornings, I love keeping things simple and comforting in the kitchen. One little trick I’ve learned over the years is to warm your mixing bowl before making anything with oats, butter, or maple syrup.
Just rinse the bowl with hot water, dry it quickly, and then add your ingredients.
The warmth helps the maple syrup blend more smoothly, keeps the butter from seizing, and gives the whole mixture a soft, cozy start — almost like the recipe is waking up gently, just like we are on winter mornings.
It’s a tiny step, but it makes everything feel a little more comforting… and in January, those small comforts matter.
OMGosh;
Just realized, that while I was focused on helping my website clientsI totally disregarded my own site.
But I think it's all fixed now.
On that note since my site was so scrambled, I created a WORD SEACH FOR YOU featuring all my
Cross-Stitch Pattern names! It's a hard one;
have fun searching!
Closing Reflection
January has a way of inviting us inward — into our homes, our hearts, and the quiet corners of our creativity. It’s a month that asks nothing loud or hurried of us. Instead, it offers a gentle beginning, a soft place to land after the fullness of the holidays.
As we step into this new year, may we give ourselves permission to move slowly, to savour small joys, and to create at a pace that feels kind. May we find beauty in the ordinary, comfort in familiar routines, and inspiration in the quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
Here’s to a year stitched together with warmth, intention, and the gentler things in life.
From My Heart to Yours
Thank you for being here — for your kindness, your encouragement, and your shared love of art, stitching, and the gentler things in life.
May this month bring you warmth, creativity, and many cozy hours of making something beautiful.
With gratitude,
Shelley
' Keeping in Touch' Newsletter
Christmas Edition
Oh, and they are a
natural stress reliever
When the winds are howling & the snow is drifting ~ this night would be a great time to curl up in a comfy chair before the crackling fireplace and unwind as you create your own piece of threaded canvases.
Nearly Christmas!
By Vera Ernst Mc Nichol
It must be nearly Christmas,
there’s enchantment in the air
A certain cheery feeling,
that takes away our care.
Faces radiate with gladness
in spite of frost & snow,
Greetings seem more friendly
everywhere we go.
It must be nearly Christmas,
the children are so good.
They seem so over-anxious
to do the things they should.
Older folks see visions
of Christmas days gone by,
other family circles,
where childish hopes ran high.
It must be nearly Christmas,
the people are more jolly.
Everything is bright and gay,
with mistletoe and holly.
Excitement seems contagious,
vibrating through the crowd,
until love fills with one accord,
the humble & the proud.
It must be nearly Christmas,
Good-will and peace abound.
At no other season
is such magic found.
There is a glow of happiness,
that no one can explain...
It must be that the Christ-child
has come to earth again!
Welcome Dear Friends !
May we be among the first to wish you & yours,
A wonderful, wonder-filled Season!
It’s in the air, in the mood, in the eyes of every child - the wonder of the season that little spark that sets these holidays apart from the rest of the year.
It is that something special we wish for when selecting our gifts– that little flash of marvelous with a sprinkling of merry!
I can think not much would surpass the pure pleasure of sending a note of dearest thoughts to a friend, except maybe hearing “you’ve got mail!”
Let us all leave behind letters of
love & friendship, family & devotion
hope & consolation, so that future
generations will know what we
valued & believed!
Twas Twilight On Main Street!
As twilight drifts about the town
the shadows cast most softly down.
Folks quietly put their shops to rest,
contented feelings of being blessed
graced those merchants of this day
as they reflected and
went on their way.
Gathering coats ~ locking up tight
~ heading for home
~ the beckoning light.
As twilight drifts about the town
velvet snow comes cascading down.
Despite all the frost & snow,
everyone is so friendly as they go.
Kindled fires await their return.
Hot apple cider, their only concern.
As twilight drifts about the town
goodwill, peace & magic abound.
This cherished moment is within view;
this can happen for me & you.
Hold fast to your dreams,
wishes & desires,
positive thinking is all that it required.
Hang on so tight to impossible seems
of your faith, of your hopes,
of your dreams!
Our Christmas Prayer.....
.. that we may touch the earth with kind & gentle
hands, that freedom be found in this and other lands,
and joyous peace shall reign throughout man.....
.... Wishing you Peace, Joy & Good Will.....
We wish to thank, new, past and loyal visitors to my art and website for your continued support & interest. It is sincerely gratifying & appreciated!
'Merry Christmas,
Shelley & Drew'
' Keeping in Touch' Newsletter
Fall Edition
Welcome to this special corner of my website, where I cherish the connections I've made through my art over the past 36 years. Drew and I have built wonderful friendships with people from all over the countryside and beyond and we always love receiving notes and updates from them about their lives. It's a joy to share in their stories and to keep everyone updated on our journey as well.
Your messages truly mean the world me! Thank you!
AUTUMN SIPPER
from Apple Ways for Apple Days Cookbook
1 Tbsp Whole Allspice 1 pc Orange peel
3 - 3" Cinnamon sticks 1 pc Lemon peel
2 Whole Cloves
1pc crystalized ginger (about size of loonie)
3 cups Apricot Nectar
5 cups Apple Juice
1. Place spices, citrus peels and ginger in cheesecloth. Tie securely and
place in bottom of slow cooker.
2. Pour in apple juice and nectar; cover.
3. Cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 3 hours.
4. Garnish filled glasses with cinnamon stick.
Makes 8 - 1 cup servings.
FREE ON THIS SITE: ALL 4 COOKBOOKS
Please watch as I update the Herbal cookbooks to make them more readable!
Coming soon.
Here's to October's
frost kissed apples;
teh wild-as-the-wind
smell of hickory nuts &
the nostalgic whiff of
teh first wood smoke!
Ken Webber
Click this picture to visit the Fine Art Book
CROSS STITCHING PATTERNS:
Did you know that cross-stitching is one of the few crafts one can enjoy and feel confident about the finsihed results.
Stitch the stress away! Cross-stitching soothes the troubled spirit and it doesn't hure the untroubled one either.
Further inspect our cross-stitching line on this website. Just click
images to take you there.
click images above to take you to
cross-stitch patterns
