Back from TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and once again it was a fabulous break...each year my pal and I seem to add a day onto this annual venture. So many movies to see of the 350+ showing during the week, so much shopping to do, restaurants to try and yacking to catch up on. I love September and I love TIFF.

Bang bang bang....new windows are being put in as I type. Right now I have big holes in my walls...a good cross-breeze....good thing the day is dry and sunny.

When I return from TIFF the most common question is "did you see any stars?". Serious star treking is impossible if one wants to see movies, but we did see Liv Tyler, Larry David and the Indian stars from the red carpet gala we attended...no not a gala party...just a premier movie with a red carpet at the venue.

My pal mentioned that a lot of the movies this year were shown from a child's perspective or a women's perspective...I intentially picked those films for that reason, but I wonder if that was a strong theme this year.

I try to pick movies from a variety of countries; this year - India, Great Britain, Canada, Iran, South America, Korea and an Indian/English film.

I've been asked which was my most favourite film and that is very difficult to say but here goes, my favourite movies in no particular order:-

"Brick Lane" (Indian/Great Britain) was my overall favourite entertaining film with a strong family theme.

"Beyond the Years" (Korean) was visually so very beautiful

"The Last Lear" (Indian) was very smart and the star, Amitabh Bachchan's character was a powerful force

"The Buddah Collapsed out of Shame", (Iran) a "docu-drama" from Iran about a little Afghan girl's determination to go to school. The little girl stole all our hearts.

"Just Buried" (Canada) had to be the funniest black comedy I have seen in a long time.

"Mutum", (Brazil) using a little boy as the story teller.

"It's a Free World", (Great Britain) again an overall entertaining film with a strong social conscience..or not!

There you have it my 7 favourite movies viewed this year at TIFF...wait a minute...we only saw 7 movies :>). All good.

And there is the little girl that stole everyone's heart.

Hmmmmmm...have been quiet...busy in the garden - fall clean-up....getting ready for TIFF...I don't know what "getting ready for TIFF" really means, except maybe I can't do anything else but think about what to wear, pack, what food will we need in this new accommodation this year...the weather should be a huge mix if the forecast is correct - from 30c and high humidity Friday to single digits overnight one night...like 8C or something horrible like that....and the possibility of rain!! Oh no not rain..not now.....

....likely I'm gone now until after TIFF....must finish my silk scarf tonight and tomorrow night braid the fringe....I won't have the baby sweater made for the shower next weekend...maybe for baby's first Christmas..yes! there's a plan.

Today I laid in my hammock, wrapped in a quilt and slept for 2 1/2 hours! Not even the soccer players in the field behind woke me up. I didn't hear the screaming little sisters two yards up. A fresh air sleep.

Rashida....my World Vision girl. Today I received her annual report card that tells me all about her - health, school, family and what improvements have been made in her area development project. I would encourage anyone to sponsor a World Vision child. For $35 a month, the improvement in the life of one child, their family and the area they live is remarkable. $35 goes a long way in poorer countries. My life has been enriched helping Rashida and I am so excited whenever I see the familiar orange envelope in my mailbox. It is a dream of mine to travel to India one day and meet this little girl.

An overnight visit with my college best friend Jeanie..we met 36 years ago this September!

A view of the back of Jeanie & Tom's house, the garden and forest areas.

A little garden spot in the middle of the forest.















A real Hanzel and Gretel forest in the back.

And here he is, Cameron Jacob 3 days old, with his big sister Alora.

My latest knitting project - I'm making the cardigan and I might knit a hat as well. He'll be here soon, my niece's little babe.

Next weekend...Thursday night I believe...we will be here. I can't wait to be on a dock and listen to the loons again.

The garden today

Summer is here, 30C today, about 40-something with humidity.

Water bans already. They started in June this year.

Root canal today. It was ok. I think I'm helping to send the dentist's daughter to a fine university some day.

Worked hard in the garden this weekend making it smaller and easier and drought hardy. I've just begun that task.

Finally.

Routine blood work and x-rays tomorrow. Tune up of the body.

Perhaps a movie tomorrow as a "treat" to myself....that movie would be "Evening".

That's all.

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.