Look what Santa brought me! I had long since given up asking him for an African djembe drum. I must have been good this year!

I don't wanna work......I just wanna bang on the drum all day

I absolutely fell in love with this pattern http://autoscopia.com/amelia/ (right) - To my pal Leslie I ask......is this not a modern version of our very first hand-knit sweaters? Remember that Bernat pattern? Mine was pale grey and your's was dark grey? They were lovely and I still have mine...though it is a bit of a stretch to wear these days *ahem*. Crikey another passion and I still haven't started "Claude" (left)...pattern is downloaded, yarn is ready to go!

He's not mine! But isn't he just the cutest thing....a wee baby Dunny-Dog.

A close-up of the yarn that shows the true colour more than the second picture.

My stash from today. It has been a long time since I went to www.unwindyarnhouse.com so had to treat myself.

This vest has caught my eye on three occasions. Today was the third charm...so I bought the yarn and the pin....I've wound off the skeins and I'm good to go...once I get a few little Christmas things finished up.

My boy's first car....doesn't he look happy?

Hmmmm seem to be having log-in problems with this new upgraded model of Blogger. Testing again...trying to upload a picture....let's see if it works. Ok. so it does work...my images must be in jpeg not bimp format to upload.

This photo is called "saris in the sun".

Checking the new "updated" blog! The sky is blue for a change and the sun is shining. I just updated my blog...or so I think...can't see anything new or different here. I'm getting outside today to enjoy some Vitamin D.

One end of my little kitchen...freshly painted....I'm very tired...too tired to take any more photos...later. 

Find the hawk in the tree.
My lavender; very hardy, though the temps have been mild. 

I must remember to ask for help...have someone take the photos. Anyway.....the scarf. THE scarf is finished. I love it.....and I love even more that I completed something. I love the smell of it - seaweed and silk, and the softness.

In other news, B and I went to see "The Queen" yesterday. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/ I loved that too. Helen M. made herself HRH, she totally acted with her eyes. Beautiful sets and it actually showed a soft side to her.

Times I said love in this post? 5

Some pictures from B's trip to the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and San Francisco


 

 

Monday morning.....back to the desk after a lazy woman's weekend at my house. Lots of food, movies, drinks and chats. Last weekend was a woman's weekend in Ottawa......a sisters-in-law weekend. JC thanks for your warm hospitality and it was wonderful to see you again. The week has been peaceful, quiet and so calm. B returns from vacation on Wednesday...the P & Q will be gone for sure....but we will have stories to share. We managed to keep the office going for an entire 10 days without a hitch. I knew we could do it....never doubted for a second.

Superhereo necklaces..........two of these beauties I have, and I'm craving a tropical one next.

Knitting news. Beginner's Lace silk and seacell scarf. I'm about halfway done and it wasn't until about the 1/3 mark did I "get it". Now the knitting is a smooth repetition. I put the summerish coral colour away....I'm still not sure I like it....for me anyway.....and bought this autumnal :>) variegated colour. Love it.

Back!

Remember that sock..the one up there...the pair of merino socks I finished last February? Well here they are now....in two neat skeins. Why? B washed them in hot water, with jeans so there was lots of agitation. I rescued them before they went into the dryer but they had shrunk up a bit...enough that stretching and drying weren't enough to make them fit again. I will remake them, someday. After wearing, I put my handknit socks in a small zipper laundry bag that you put in the machine with delicates inside. That way I know they are there and I thought it would serve as a Caution Sign if someone should decide to put some of my wash in with their's. We all do our own laundry - most of the time. But B took the socks out of the bag but luckily only one pair made it to the wash.

Look at the goodies I bought while in Toronto! What a sale that was. I think I have Christmas just about wrapped up!

Phffewwwww.........back from another wonderful year at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).......great weather, nice B & B, a varied assortment of films (5) and one discussion panel. The films were inspiring, moving, sad, hilarious, and visually beautiful. Films from France, England, Ireland, Turkey, and India. The only "stars" we saw this year were the two greatest actors of Bollywood films! That was a fun panel discussion to watch...something different...screaming fans...body guards and us trying to understand the accents! A new genre to explore. Of course there was time for shopping; "Om Mantra" on Queen St. W. was selling off all his small items to make room for more furniture from India. We hit the jackpot and drained the bank. Friday night was our treat night - a late dinner at "Sassafraz" but alas no stars were to be seen. The dinner was good, the company lively and our dear waiter gifted us all with a Sassafraz pen! Funny. I wonder how many kilometers were walked this past long weekend in Toronto? Maybe next year I'll wear a pedometer - just for fun.

Another eBay purchase.............$24 U.S., (suggested retail, $85 U.S.) new with tags. I have always wanted a leather backpack and now I'll have one...it is on it's way from California as I type.  

Baldwin House B & B in Burlington. Wonderful place...first class...enormous breakfast...our own balcony...friendly people....felt like I was in a small Inn...all for $85/night.

www.baldwinhousebandb.ca

Some changes (slowly) around the house. My painting of the trim continues...the front door(s) are done. The colour? Eggplant. The colour on the paint chip really looked like a dark greyish brown with a touch of purple in it. Hmmmm more than a touch but it is growing on me. Something different to switch-up the basic beige colours everywhere else.

 

Knitting News!! The latest heatwave has gone and I'm excited about getting the knitting out again. Last night the temperature in our house was 68F.....I know I'm supposed to be using C but the guys who installed our new thermostat set it in F and I haven't changed it .... do the math! Anyway, that was ccccold enough (it is now 75F) to make me decide to finish these "Opal" socks. Almost done.

A few garden pictures. My red hibiscus (really it is a mallow plant) is the biggest it has ever been and it has been in our garden for over 20 years. The original plant was B's father's and would probably be about 40 years old now. Great big blossoms that last one day.

Top left is the first picture I saw of Rashida, she was 3 years old at the time of the picture and she was awaiting sponsorship. How could I resist that sweet little face and big bright dark eyes? The bottom left picture in this collage is from last year's report card when Rashida was 4 and the two on the right are the current photos..she is now 5.  

My girl.....Rashida....from India. Rashida is my World Sponser girl from Bangalore, India. This is the 2nd annual report card and third picture I have received of her. She is so pretty and growing up so fast...ahh they do that don't they? Just look at her, all dressed up in her finest bangles and hair decorations. Rashida will be 6 in December and is a smart little girl at school, excelling in maths and wants to be a doctor when she grows up. You go girl! I couldn't wait to get the photo scanned so excuse the glare of the flash.

Walking the Labyrinth in Central Park in Burlington ON. Lovely!