My Big Adventure...

I went for a small walkabout at Iona Island one morning this week...


It was a bright sunny day, but there was a cold wind ablowin’, hence the wool cap and hoodie and sunglasses (I can't blame the funny face on the weather though)…


A beautiful view…


and some wild roses…



Then we came home and whilst I collapsed in bed, K proceeded to rip apart our downstairs bathroom. Do you recognize the era by the colours? How about 1976, when everything was brown…


and orange (that isn’t dirt on the lino, it’s all part of the lovely design)…


It’s a tiny room – no bath, just a toilet, basin, cabinet and mirror – so it shouldn’t take too long to complete. Did I just say that? Talk about putting a curse on a project. I’ll keep you posted.

Speaking of orange, I used up all of mine in another leftover towel…



The gray and black squirrels sharing a meal...


I hope you enjoyed today’s wee post, dear reader. I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday, when I may have more photos of the renovation project. We’ll see how that goes.



“Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.”
~Kathryn Carpenter

Green, Green...

We had a late growing season this year, but green is now everywhere in our garden. The black currant bushes smell so sweet…


There are no buds on the hydrangeas yet but the leaves are healthy…


This is a photo I took last year of my honeysuckle vine (upper right corner)…


We planted the vine about 15 years ago. One day recently I went to give it the usual watering and all the leaves and flowers were dead. I’m not sure what happened, if it was just old age or some other reason, but I do miss my honeysuckle blossoms.

I knit another leftover towel and used up all my greens…


Fir buds aplenty...


This week we bought a small batch of green grapes and they were so incredibly sour, I could think of nothing else to do with them except see if one of our visitors might enjoy a taste. Sure enough, this little mom-to-be started eating one right away, and she didn't scrunch up her face once...


And now for something non-green – a white pigeon amongst all the grays…


I hope this little one stays tucked in amongst the flock because it sure stands out in the crowd, and there is a resident hawk who frequently dines on pigeons in our backyard. You would think they would be wary of returning to the same spot where one of their friends was chomped on earlier, but no, they jump right back in about an hour later and start pecking at the seed spilled from the bird feeders. I don't think pigeons worry too much about the future.

And so dear reader, I’m going to enjoy a big mug of hot chocolate and not worry about the future either. I’ll wish you a peaceful week and hope to see you next Friday.



“Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.”
~Mark Twain

Rose Garden...

I took a break from knitting for Towel Day to make this Unscrunchable Scarf for the homeless shelter…


with one skein of Caron Simply Soft Paints in Rose Garden…


It’s warm and cozy…


and oh so pretty...


Soon as I finished, I went back to my Leftover Towels and used up all my pink and white cotton bits…


A thirsty friend…



Knitpicks added new knitting wallpapers to their site. I'm looking at the marshmallow wallpaper right now and it's making me hungry...I do believe it's time for a big mug of hot chocolate, so I'll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.



"Happiness is life served up with a scoop of acceptance, a topping of tolerance and sprinkles of hope, although chocolate sprinkles also work."
~Robert Brault

Towel Day...

May 25th is Towel Day but I thought I would celebrate early, seeing as I've been busy using up the last of my cotton bits to make these Leftover Towels (without the button tab)...

***(You can also use the Kitchen Cotton Dishcloth pattern at Dishcloth Boutique or any pattern you care to substitute).***

I have a cunning plan for knitting up my towels. First I sort by colours until I have somewhere around 110 m / 120 yd of yarn (this batch consists of Sugar ‘n Cream leftovers in Violet Veil, Lavender Ice and Summer Prints…


My finished towels are approx. 270cm x 420cm (10-1/2” x 16-1/2”) but they vary up or down in size depending on how much yarn I use...

The yarn pieces range in length from 12” / 30 cm to the longest which is 30 yd / 27 m, with varying lengths in between. I’m casting on anywhere from 50 to 56 sts. to my 4mm (US6) needles and knitting until I run out of the designated yarn (and yes, there are lots of little ends to weave in at the finish line, but I quite enjoy the process..there is no rush, after all)...

(***Edited to Add: Since I first started knitting these towels, I've discovered that if I double knot the yarn bits together and then cut them close to the end, the join is invisible when using this particular pattern. The knots seem to burrow right into the knitting and become part of the design. I've washed these towels several times and so far the knots have held together just fine, so no need to spend countless minutes weaving in ends, unless of course you enjoy doing that).***

We had a staring contest and gray squirrel won...


K took this photo of the Malaspina Galleries on Gabriola Island…


I might have more towels to show you next week, unless of course I change my mind and start a scarf or a hat or a cloth or…


Either way, I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one.”
~Rita Mae Brown

Edward...

Edward was one of my attempts at bear making. The fur I used feels like a cheap carpet sample, his eyebrows are tilting off centre and his nose is taking over his face, but he's a much loved teddy...


Edward was going on a holiday so I knit him this pullover from the free Beanie Baby Sweater pattern with lots of changes for a bigger bear...


I had help with the measuring and fitting….

The sweater used almost one full skein of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Sage Green (80 yards / 73 metres). I added a roll collar to cover the messy cast on/cast off neckline…


Edward Sweater Details (for a 10" teddy with an 8" tummy and 5" arms:

Cast on 28 sts. to a 4mm (US6) needle.
Knit 4 rows, purl 1 row.
Stockinette stitch for 12 rows (knit 1 row, purl 1 row).
Cast on 10 sts. at the beginning of next two rows (total 48 sts.).
Garter stitch 14 rows.

Neck Opening:
Next Row: Knit 16 sts. Cast off 16 sts. Knit 16 sts.
Next Row: Knit 16 sts. Cast on 16 sts. Knit 16 sts.

Garter stitch 14 rows.
Cast off 10 sts. at the beginning of next two rows (total 28 sts.).
Stockinette stitch for 12 rows (knit 1 row, purl 1 row). Knit 4 rows and cast off.

Roll Collar: (I used dpns and knit in the round but you could also knit half the number of stitches each side and then sew the side seams of the collar together).

Pick up 42 sts. on 3 dpns (14 sts. each needle) and Knit 3, Purl 3 for 14 rows. Bind off in ribbing. Sew the under sleeve seams and side seams. Give to your favourite teddy.

***************************************************

Once the sweater was finished, Edward was ready to join K on a trip to Gabriola Island and had a grand time exploring the island…


hanging out in the trailer…


and admiring the view…


My little bear is resting up for his next big adventure…



and I’m going to rest now too so I’ll wish you a peaceful week, dear reader, and hope to see you next Friday.

“Sing Ho! For the life of a Bear!”
~Winnie the Pooh