first snow

We had our first snowfall last night. Not much, of course... and it won't last long.

Never does around here.

In the meantime, though, it's gorgeous on my roses-that-won't-stop-blooming.







(Textures on the photos are by Kim Klassen... I'm linking up to her Texture Tuesday.)

saturday sky.

At this time of the year, the evening light is simply magical. It glows like at no other time.

The big problem? When it's at its most glorious, I'm usually in the kitchen, looking longingly out the window.

So, this evening, I decided that sometimes life has to take second place to art... I asked my family if they really needed dinner right away, or if they could wait an hour or so. They sweetly decided to humour me, so I grabbed the camera and headed out. It was worth it!!

sun.

Today I'm being deliberate... intentional... about enjoying this sky. I must not take for granted what I will rarely see in the next few months.
Soon autumn will be here, and with it comes months of greyness and rain. It's hard to believe, on those days, that the sky is blue and the sun is shining.
So today, I revel in this blue. This warmth.

summer rain

A sudden crack of thunder caught my attention.
Literally out of the blue.
Then the rain, big fat drops plopping on the dry ground with careless ferocity.

I ran outside, suddenly worried that I'd left the car windows open; that there were perhaps blankets or books left outside, careless in the knowledge that it's summer time - nothing could possibly happen.

And then it hit me. That smell.
Indescribably fresh.
The thirsty ground soaking up water as if it can never get enough.
From the back yard came a waft of mint and basil; a scent offering of thanks.


Then it was gone again. Gone as fast as it had come.

And I was grateful.

seriously??

Does that look like summer to you?? Really?
(And for you Americans who don't read Celcius... those high temps range from 65-73 degrees, dropping down to 54-57 at night.)
This is not good.

what??

So, it seems that spring has arrived at last.

The weather has been glorious... I've gardened, I've hung the laundry out on the line to dry... I'm loving it.

And what have I been doing in between all of those spring-time activities?

Knitting.

Seriously.

For months, even during prime Christmas gift-knitting time, I couldn't bring myself to pick up the needles. Wasn't inspired, didn't care.

And now... now that there are so many other things that you might think would hold my attention... now suddenly I can't hold myself back.

The tea cozy pattern is a free download, found at Ravelry. That one was knit up during game two of the Canuck vs. Sharks Conference finals. All those lovely Canucks goals kept me knitting rather quickly, I must say.

The beaded necklace/bracelet/headband/whatever-you-want-to-wrap-it-around thingy is a very fun project from Nelkin Designs. Once I'd finished stringing on the almost-600 beads (sooooo much fun, especially while waiting for the freezing to wear off after a lovely dentist visit!), it knit up rather quickly, and since it's essentially a two-row pattern, and uses a minimal amount of yarn, it's wonderfully portable. I do advise that you check your yarn for itchiness *before* you start stringing beads, though...

picture day

Today I spent part of Ellie's ballet class time wandering through the hazel farm on which the studio is located. The snow makes everything look so different and mysterious.

After I got sufficiently chilled, I spent the rest of the time indoors working on a new sweater... knit in an alpaca blend, it should keep me warm. I sure do hope so!

seriously??

This week's weather...

Only on the west coast, I think.

37 days

Today I don't really care that it's now one day closer to Christmas than it was yesterday. Not when the sky looks like this:

sunshine and shadows

sunshine and rain over the ocean

SAD.

Need I say more?
This time of year is fraught with emotional ups and downs for me. I hate being so dependent on the weather.

The older I get, the easier it is to recognize. If I don't get enough sunshine, I find it hard to function. Hard to make it through a day. Hard to put one foot in front of the other. Hard to force myself to do the things that need to be done.

I've been supplementing with Vitamin D, when I remember. I don't know if it helps. And when the sun shines, I make sure to get my sad self out of doors. Because it's amazing how happy I feel when I do!

november day

These colours are SOOC*.

I love days like this.

And I'm always surprised by them at this time of year.

It startles me.

I forget that I don't need a jacket. Or sweater. Or long sleeves.

I had to shed several layers before we got back to the car.

*straight out of camera.

ie, no futzing about with enhancements or anything.

making memories

Life with teenagers can sometimes be challenging. Seriously.

After an intensely difficult week, culminating with an extremely unpleasant day, it seemed to me that it would be a good idea to create a happy time.

So, in spite of the fact that attitudes were not good, and chores were not completed, and because the weather was spectacularly pleasant (25+C/80-ishF, with a clear blue sky), we went on a wee ramble through the woods.

Well, it kind of was a bit too much for Ellie, who is 5 and doesn't like steep hills... but she did just fine with a little help from her brother and dad.

 We clambered straight down the mountainside from a logging road, down to the lake. The path was barely marked, and there were downed trees across it in places.

But we made it down without falling too many times, and the lake at the bottom was simply lovely.

We had our snacks and water, and threw lots of stones in the lake, and then made the trek straight back up the mountainside. As we drove away, we saw a bear cub rambling through the trees.

And, strangely enough, now that we're back home, attitudes have changed. Everybody is more relaxed. Life feels a bit better.

thankful for...

... sunshine, and a clothesline full of sun-dried clothes.




... a $20 craigslisted china cabinet!!!





... hydrangea blossoms


... a vacuum system that actually works, thanks to its filter being cleaned out (and the husband who got all dusty doing the cleaning).


... a sweet sister who cemented her best-auntie-in-the-world status by first of all letting me drop off my daughter at her house for a couple of hours, and then by taking her to the water park!!! Thanks, Rachel :)

happy... June???

Does this seem right to you???

Really? June 1st? And it's only 14 degrees???

This doesn't make me happy. Not happy at all.

Fortunately my garden doesn't seem to mind quite as much as I do.

busy week

So... a couple of weeks ago, I signed up for a kids clothes week challenge at elsie marley. Yeah, that was this week.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the point of view), I was stricken with a house-cleaning bug on Monday morning, and spent most of the week sorting and cleaning and organizing. I think I'll do my challenge next week. The weather is supposed to get wet again.

I've also taken advantage of the sunshine this week to do a bit of gardening. Mostly pulling weeds... it's amazing how fast they grow!

This is my one and so-far-only garden bed. Yes, if you look closely, you can see that it is indeed an old particle-board bookshelf. It's on its second year now, and still holding up well. I don't know for how long it will last... nor do I know what kind of chemicals are coming out of it from the wood...

I so much wish that there was a way for me to share with you the scent of this basil. Maybe if you scratched your monitor a little bit and then stuck your nose right up to the picture?? No? Oh well. Better go plant your own, then, and you can sniff it any time you like.

Anyhow... don't forget about the giveaway day happening on Monday... and I have a surprise in store for you tomorrow as well! Happy weekend!

failure is always an option - day 4

Just a quick drive-by post this  evening... I've got a cranky snotty girl who won't let me be too far away for too long.

I painted some pages today, and cut out and started sewing a cloak - a gorgeous black wool/cashmere blend for the outer, and a silk broadcloth for the lining. Yum!

I'm also starting another knitting project - I'm test-knitting a shawl for Kristen.

And can you believe these flowers??? They're growing right outside my front door. The crocuses I can almost fathom, but the snapdragon? Really???

December 13

Happy Saint Lucia Day!

matchbox by Cheryl Lennox
















We got our snow, finally! It made for an interesting drive home from church, including one corner at which the car did NOT go around the curve, but instead slid straight into a sidewalk. I was very glad that there were no other cars in the way, and that we did not continue over the sidewalk and down the hill...

I have another "thing" starting today as well... I'm a member of the Byhand Artists yahoo group, and we have, for a couple of years now, done a 12 Days of Christmas gift swap.  We make small (envelope-sized) gifts to open on the twelve days leading up to Christmas. This year there were a few extra people who signed up, so on some of the days there will be 2 gifts to open. I really look forward to this swap! So here's day 1. Well, one of the day 1 gifts... one of them has not yet arrived here. Canada Post is so annoying that way.

December 7

matchbox by Debbie Linton

















Happy Monday.

There was no crafting done today... it was put-plastic-on-the-windows-so-you-don't-freeze-to-death day. The cold weather has arrived on the normally-balmy west coast, and we're headed for several days of (wait for it) -8C degree weather. That's 18F, in case you're not metrically inclined.

I know, I know, we've got it easy here.

But below-freezing temperatures and single-pane glass aluminum-framed windows don't make for happy me. Especially at night. With my head right under one of said windows. So they were plasticked. And I will be warm. And happy.

*that* sort of day

It's a beautiful day!

Seriously.