Around the garden

The lettuce garden down the side of the house...great planter..what a crop.

How Rude! What's up with the Hen's & Chicks when they do this??? And I still don't know how 'Bert' got here in the first place. We're wanting to see who actually notices this guy on the front walkway.

Garden shed...or more correctly...The Mouse House.

Hanging herb gardens

Purple Clematis

Front porch

Claude the cardigan. I'm pretty much pleased with it. I definitely want to try again, I have the yarn and I will knit a size down and a needle size down and make the body longer. The neckband is a definite "do-over", putting more stretch into it next time. I might start ripping that out tonight.

Anyway....first attempt at a sweater in ummmm, geee I don't know, umpteen years so..........Here ya go!

Some of my favourite blogs....in no particular order....well except number one on my list is my favourite blog. Here goes.

http://www.rosie.com/
http://www.superherodesigns.com/
http://www.fridasnotebook.typepad.com/
http://www.moroccanmaryam.typepad.com/
http://www.travelsketch.blogspot.com/
http://www.hollywoodfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia

That's just a little peak into the blogs I like to read on a regular basis......and does not include the knitting blogs. There are far too many of those.

Canada Day approaching - 140 years old - just a youngster. The looney is 20 years old...imagine? We all complained the dollar coin would ruin our wallets with it's weight and what happened? They hit us with a twonie coin. What is next....a fivie? I like the coins.....for me it makes me save some money. The coins go into the "looney bin" and before you know it....there is a whole bunch of money there.

The stuffy humid heat wave has gone but the drought continues. Rain clouds just circle our town and then move on. Same same same every year it seems....so why am I still planting flowers in pots? Every year I say it is the last time but I caved again this year. I've been thinking of a cactus garden for a long time now....now might be the right time for that.

Awwwwwk!!! Tooth pain....something horrible is happening to the two remaining teeth under a bridge. So much for strict oral hygiene....didn't do me any good. I can't even think what the cost is going to be. I wonder if the dentist would have a sale? You know get one bridge at full price and the second at half price and a free whitening session. I think this is a good idea. But right now I'm still in pain and can't think beyond waiting for the antibiotics to kick in so I can lay off the pain meds. I took regular Tylenol today but tonight I feel the need for a T-3 at bedtime. Ever so gradually the pain is worsening; the roof of my mouth is hot and sore and I'm just miserable.

On an up side....look what came in the mail Friday....I ordered this at the beginning of the week. I love it. I have made a cloth case/bag to keep it in. The plastic case/bag it came with was too stiff and smelly. The cane goes together very smoothly and quickly. To fold it back, I'd need to sit and do the job...in other words isn't not a one hand job. Very tight tension "elastic" running through the parts is the secret to this cane working. I know I will appreciate this...it fits in my Tilley bag and in my backpack/bag.

Gardened...weeded....cut back stuff...cut lawn...made lasagna...had parents Saturday for dinner...weeded some more...knit (a silk seacell scarf)...thank God for T3's!!

All the peony bushes are open now

Wild P.E.I. rose with a heavenly scent

Poppies so orange they glow

Trendy new shoes...they're Crocs! Love rubber shoes because I always end up in the garden with whatever happens to be on my feet at that time.

I decided to take a little break from my invoicing work and stroll on over to eBay to see if there were any exciting yarn sales. Lucky for me, there were 2 items to bid on and I won both of them. Total savings $100!

I did say I wanted to knit the "Claude" cardigan again adjusting the size and tension and so I will using this pale green colour of Debbie Bliss cotton/angora.

The next batch of Debbie Bliss merino was the sale of the century. I'm not sure what this will end up being, but I love merino and I love the colour.

Yup!

Beautiful weather....hot days....lush surroundings....blue skies....and cool nights. I am loving it. With the "Claude" cardigan out of the way (still have to take some pictures of the finished object) I'm going to start this scarf. I like working with seacell.

And I need to continue on with this hemp summer top; my colour is pumpkin.

I just learned that "Snowcake" is now out in DVD. Oh boy...tomorrow I'm renting it for sure and will settle in with my popcorn ration and an Alan Rickman fix....it has been far too long. http://www.snowcakemovie.co.uk/

"Claude" the cardigan, before blocking and buttons. I like the drape, I like the yarn, I like the pattern...but....despite accurate measuring and swatching, it is still too big! So, it will be a big comfy sloppy sweater and perhaps one day I will knit this pattern again, going down a size in needles and pattern. I will take some pictures of the finished project.

Fuscia....such tropical lush colours and perfect for my north-facing porch

Hens & chicks....like hostas, I have them everywhere; so this year many of them went into pots and I placed them around on tables and in spots on the porch.

I painted the little bistro chairs and then we found a matching side table in the garage...I am thinking they give the porch a little French Bistro feel?

A few of my favourite places around my home.

My gourd water drums...such fun

My (big) boy, Adam - the drummer - I hope he takes up drumming again some day.

My girl Sabrina....well actually she's Adam's girl but Sab has been a part of our life for 7 years now and she feels like my girl.

My (baby) boy Ryan

My lettuce & herb spill-over garden at the side of the house

Along the side retaining wall...hostas and ferns everywhere

View from the side door

Ryan, son #2, dressed for the end of uni/college/it's summer break "theme" party - love those socks and hat. The theme....Golf Pros and Tennis Somethingorother that rhymes with pros...ahem, tsk tsk tsk.

Around the garden

Love these colours

One hanging herb garden

A little extension Adam made for me.