Monday, Monday

I spent the first part of this Monday planning a few summer activities. I am going to be closing up the shop during the first 2 weeks of July. During the first week the family and I are going to visit Lou in Winnipeg for a few days. We decided to fly this time so the children are excited by that. Although Patrick has flown in a small plane they have never been on a big airplane before. During the second week I am going to take a course at the Haliburton School of Art. A week of knitting with Fiona Ellis! I am so pumped!! I absolutely love her books and I am sure I am going to love learning from her!

Last week I knit a scarf I call Orange Ade. I combined 3 yarns (Laine du Nord Mulbury Silk, Gedifra Angora Tweed (a discontinued yarn) and Ritratto collezione S. Charles Mohair) Cast on 20 sts, k1, p1 rib for about 35", cast off, make a 8" fringe. Quick and luxurious with the silk, angora and mohair.

Today I had a visit from my Mom, two of her sisters and a cousin. We had lunch and laughs at the store. Audry lives in British Columbia and Dorothy and Lorraine live in Saskatewan. Since they all live so far away I don't get to see them often. It was a nice visit.



When Jim was in Windsor the other week he stopped by his Grandmother's old house. It is now a rental property that still has one of her trunks in the attic because the house was built around it. There was no getting it out unless deconstruction was involved. This tree was planted back when the house was built and is now the oldest tree in Windsor (I think I am right). I see a Cable pattern growing out of this picture.


Yup. Most definitely I do.

Squee!

I have always wanted to write that!! And, if you know me, you know that this word just doesn't go with my personality!

Why am I squeeing? Well...I just had a wonderful visit from Barb P over at The Accident Prone Knitter!! What a lovely lady!! Don't be upset but I forgot to take a picture of us! Jim even popped by half way through her visit and he could have taken a picture of us together.... I thought of taking a pic this morning but when she walked in the door the idea was gone, just gone!

It is just a wonderful thing to meet a fellow blogger. I virtual friend becomes a physical friend. (O My Gosh that sounds a bit naughty. Not a physical friend in the physical kind of way you guys!) (although I had to give her 2 hugs before she left!) I am trying to find the words to describe the experience of befriending a person who knows already some of the experiences the you have had and vice versa. It is not that I haven't met at least one other person who I read (Hi Lisa) but Barb came all the way from Pennsylvania!

Barb, it was so nice to meet you!

I have never thought of myself as person with lots of friends but the blogging world is starting to change that view of myself.

Another blogger who has stopped by the shop is Sandi. I wasn't reading her before but I read her now! I think maybe I need to start a blogger board at the store!

Any how ...Squee!.... (squwee? skwee? oh I am so new at this!)

It's almost 5 and time to close shop. I am heading to Mongolian Grill for dinner with Jim while Patrick goes to a movie with some friends.

Bye friends!

Whew...Jim is tired!

Jim took this picture while on a short little walk in a forested area north of our town today. Well it started out as a short walk. He was going to complete his short foray and head into Toronto to pick up some yarn for the store. While he was hiking the box that he was supposed to pick up arrived at the shop. Once I informed him of this fact he decided to extend his birding expedition a bit. The "bit" turned into several hours of following paths that took him into directions he was not sure of. He had no water with him but thankfully a biker that Jim asked for directions was nice enough to offer him some.
I was a bit worried but he managed to finally get back to the car and made it home about 6 hours later than he intended to.
I found him asleep on the couch once I arrived home.
I am going to buy him a compass tomorrow.



I made this cat bed for my Secret Sister out of Alpaca and Wool. See the Yellow cat paw design on the outside. I know that My Secret Sister will love it when I can get it to her. Unfortunately she didn't attend the revealing dinner last night.

I took the pattern from a Cat Borhdi book minus the moebius since I was in a rush to finish it. The exterior is not felted but the interior is. I LOVE the was this Ultra Alpaca by Berocco felts!
It took 4 skeins and all is done in the Ultra except for the yellow paws that are in Lopi.

The view upside down.

Good night.

Victoria, Victoria!

It is Victoria Day long weekend. The weekend for beginning summer planting. The first weekend to be at the cottage (if you have a cottage). I have not started my summer planting. I am not at the cottage.

Yesterday I was at the store and the weather was sunny and hot. Today I am at home and the weather is cool. I don't want to garden in cool weather. (insert whine here) (foot stomp)

Yesterday was much busier at the shop than I thought it would be. Not everybody has a cottage and some people have taken the weekend to knit. I got a visit from Hunka Hunka Burnin Yarn yesterday. Such a lovely petite woman she is! It is neat to meet fellow bloggers!

Today, since it is cool I am working on a Secret Sister gift for my sorority. It is revealing day on Tuesday and I hope that I get the project done. I also have to come up with a poem about my life this past year. I am trying to decide between Haiku and Limerick. I used to write alot of poetry but I find it difficult now. Maybe if I meditate a poem will appear.



Going back to Friday. I had a day long visit from my sister, Dad and his wife at the store. My sister has taken up knitting again (30 some odd years later). She is knitting a scarf out of Mission Falls 1824 cotton, Colinette silk and Colinette Mohair. The colours together are stunning. The hand... so soft. It is being knit on 10mm needles with 2 strands of the cotton and one strand each of the silk and mohair. The pattern is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts which I do have in the store. Cast on 16 sts and k1 P1 rib till done and then make a fringe. (extremely abreviated instructions)



My Father's wife brought a whole bunch of Vintage buttons to sell in the shop. There are some really great ones and they are reasonably priced! I will post some pictures of them later this week.



Rhea and a few of her friends also dropped by on Friday. The lucky teenagers had a PA day which means they didn't have to go to school.







And now for one picture of Kessie and her ball. She won't play with the smaller tennis ball we got her. NO, she wants the big tennis ball. It takes her 5 minutes to get in her mouth but she can do it and we can't stop her!

I am Mohair?

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.
Take this quiz!








Quizilla
Join

Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

You are Mohair.You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.

Happy Mother's Day

Becoming a Mother was a long drawn out process for me. Six years of trying (not that it wasn't fun) and three miscarriages. It was physically and emotionally a very hard time.

Shortly after deciding that I needed to accept the possibility that maybe I was not meant to become a Mother I became pregnant. I tiptoed my way through the next nine months expecting to lose the gift that I carried. I listened to Enya and remained calm. I walked softly and tried to remain positive.

Then on December 31,1991 I became a Mom .

After a second nine months of expectancy (this time yelling at children and going to rock concerts) on October 24, 1993 I became Mom to a second child.

Life has never been the same since. Although there have been times when I wished for peace and quiet I love being a Mom.

I never expected to love anything quite as much as I love my children. I never expected to be loved as much as I am.

Although my guys are now teenagers and my daughter talks way too much and my son is currently monosyllabic I still love them with absolute steadfastness.

Rhea and Patrick, Thanks for making me your Mom.

Mothers enjoy the gifts that made you a Mom. Enjoy your day.

Socks and Snacks

Today when I was getting in the car to go the the shop I brought my camera to take some pictures of WIP's.

None were taken. Why? Because the camera stayed in the car ALL day.

When I got back home 7 hours later I felt obligated to take at least one picture of something knit.
Behold! The leprachaun (sp?) sock that hangs from my rear view mirror!
Also in the picture...an egyptian terra cotta pot that holds essential oils to make the car smell nice.... the back of our clunker car (does everybody have at least one of these?).....the Japanese Maple coming into leaf...and the front door to our house. (You can see the Hydrangea vine starting to climb up the porch. It might actually flower this year!!!).



Tomorrow is Mother's Day here in Canada. My daughter has given me flowers for the day before Mother's Day eve (yesterday) and homemade cookies for the day before Mother's Day (today). Then she headed off to sleep over at a friends house for the night tonight. I wonder if I am getting anything tomorrow? (not that I need anything) She is such a sweetheart.

Last weekend I took Rhea and My Mother out to a High Tea at a tea house in the town just north of Whitby for an early Mother's Day celebration. I think the place is called Campkin's TeaHouse. There I found the link. I am not sure if the story is in the link but the Patriarch of the family in Canada was supposed to travel to the North America on the Titanic. He over imbibed the night before the lauch and missed the boat. Talk about a lucky man!


Ma Mere..Lois... She just doesn't look 78 to me. I should age that well.


Ma fille...Rhea... Can you tell she doesn't like getting her picture taken?


All 3 generations after having hoovered the High Tea off the table! It was good! The teas even better! Rhea had the most delicious strawberry kiwi tea. It was like dessert.

All of the items you see on the walls around us are for sale too. It was really hard to walk out without buying anything other than the meal!

Last Monday I went into Toronto to visit 3 of my suppliers and start my fall orders. I ordered some new books (can't remember which ones at the moment). At the second stop I ordered some more Sublime merino cashmere and Peruvian hand dyed merino and alpaca. Beautiful! Funds made from the sales of this yarn will go to help build a school in Peru for the kids. When I get more information I will pass it on. I almost purchased the Kaffe Fasset sock yarn collection...As usual the colour combos are stunning. My almost is turning into a for sure so I will be ordering it for the fall and Christmas season. Yum.

That's all for now folks! I will try to keep in touch with you more often!

May Day! May Day!

Yes, I think I do need help! I have decided to run a class on cables before I do the class on intarsia so.. I am now doing the Irish bag out of the Folk Bags book instead of continuing the Camel Bag. Add one more WIP...


Bob Blankie grows slowly but the green tussock sweater is blocked and ready to have the shoulders attatched so I can do the front placket! I sounld have a new sweater by the end of the week!


I went out and got a new display cabinet yesterday for the more pricier yarns. Everyday I stare at the Colinette...I drool....I must make something out of it soon! It will have to be a very special something though.


I've got some handspun Alpaca and wool in the store now. It is spun by a woman in Udora (north of Uxbridge). I hope to get some of her naturally dyed yarns in the summer. The scarf on the left is one that she knit with her naturally dyed yarns. That beautiful green is from Lily of the Valley leaves!

My Cotton bag in progress (in the back) and some newly arrived Handmaiden silk in the front.



Another yarn from the glass cabinet is Laines du Nord Mulberry Silk. The colours are to die for!

Wish I had something deep and meaningful to share with you but I don't.

I think I will go and watch the Ottawa Sens win again.