August 31, 2011

Little Lady in Red Cardi


Pattern: Korrigan
Designer: Solenn Couix-Loarer
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock
Color: Ravelry Red
Needles: Circular, 3.25 mm and 3.5 mm

This is the fourth in the Five Sweaters for Hadley's Babies series. It is a sweet pattern - worked from the top down with the sleeves knit on double pointed needles. The cable design on the yoke adds unique detail. The little pearl buttons don't show up so well in the photo (they look like plain white ones) but they are dainty and make the cardigan look like a" going out for tea with Mum" item of apparel.
I picked up the yarn at Romni Wools in Toronto with my gift certificate from The Girls. It is the first time I have used the Malabrigo Sock and it is really a lovely yarn - far too lovely to wear on the feet!


August 30, 2011

Ready To Mail

A little man's cardigan in HandMaiden Casbah yarn


I call it the Field and Stream Cardi because it looks perfect for a weekend outdoors!

August 27, 2011

Saturday Morning Yarn Shopping

It was a wonderful summer's morning - one of those rare days in this climate when it is warm and sunny in a maritime city without high humidity and heat radiating off the pavement. We left our woodland garden long enough to run a few errands.

Now, I have spent the better part of this past year knitting from my own yarn drawer. The only exception was the June visit to Romni yarns in Toronto to make use of my gift certificates so, this morning, I dropped in to LK Yarns in the Hydrostone with no guilt or remorse.

I have had two little cardigans in my mind's eye that I want to do for "Hadley's babies" and found the perfect yarns for them.

Rowan Felted Tweed for a little man

Smart by SandnesGarn for a little princess

August 24, 2011

Field and Stream Cardi

A Work in Progress
Pattern: Clown (Pamphlet 05053) from Marks and Kattens
Size: 3 months
Yarn: Handmaiden Fine Yarn Casbah
Color: Cedar
Needles: Circular, 2.5 mm and 3.0 mm

Hadley has a number of colleagues (five, in fact!) expecting babies and I am having a wonderful time working on a variety of cardigan patterns. These little sweaters are such fun to knit up. This is the fourth in the series.

August 22, 2011

A Golden Day At Prospect Bay


Yesterday, we set off with the Dunkleys to explore the Chebucto Pennisula. Our first stop was Prospect Bay. The highway leading down to the water was not very inspiring. Then, suddenly, the landscape opened to a vista that featured the heart of the little village perched on the edge of the Mighty Atlantic. It was beautiful and the Dunkleys marveled that so much fuss was made about Peggy's Cove when this gem was not far away and even more beautiful.

It was one of our all too rare days this summer with warm temperatures and golden sunshine. A white tent had been set up between a couple of the houses along the main road and a small number of people were helping to prepare for their annual lobster supper later that day. People were rowing boats in the little inlets, walking, biking, etc. and the overall atmosphere was that of a friendly, happy community. We decided to get out of the car and walk around the little village. 


The locals have a sense of humour!


We went up a side street where come-from-away parking is obviously a problem. We soon realized why as we reached the top of the lane and saw a magnificent granite lined coast and a narrow walking trail that followed the coastline for miles.



Since we were not prepared for a long trek in terms of good walking shoes, additional sunscreen, etc., we only walked about an hour and resolved to do it often in the future.

August 17, 2011

The Case of the Missing Beaucoups

Movita and I had plans to spend this past Monday together - something that rarely occurs because Movita teaches dance and her spare time is always at a premium. It was a dull, leaden gray day and Movita had not slept well the night before so, instead of driving to the Valley, or exploring the South Shore (ideas we had tossed around), we opted for a simple day of shopping and lunch out.

Our shopping expedition only lasted an hour.We managed one stop at Michaels Arts and Crafts. Just as we were heading for the cashier there, my cellphone rang with a message from B. Beaucoup to say that he had been passed a note in Court that a 911 call had been made from our home.
Well, I was standing in the store and he was at work. And Lucy Dog is in the final stages of her life, and has never managed, even when fit and full of spirit, to place an emergency call on that telephone keypad.

The phone call at Michaels was hurried as the RCMP were waiting to hear verification from him that I was alive and well and, in fact, out shopping - not dead inside the house or hastily buried in the woodland garden.

Because, you see, police protocol demands that the officer come to the house and speak to each family member to confirm that everything is okay. And if the individuals are not there, he has to eventually track them down and speak with them.

End of the affair?? Think again!
The RCMP had first called the security company (the sticker is on our window) to confirm that the house alarm was never activated. The security company called two families in our neighbourhood who are listed as authorized contacts and entry people. They knew nothing about what was going on but word was out on the street that we were "missing". As well, the constable went to the house next door to speak to the elderly grandmother there. She is a rather shy lady - I have never met her and have rarely seen her outdoors. She promptly called her son-in-law at work and reported that the police were looking for us. He called his wife at her job and she declared emphatically "That is it! We are getting a dog. A German Shepherd. A big one!"

The security company had provided the RCMP with a rough -only rough, mind you - idea of how to track down B. Beaucoup. So the officer proceeded to call every courthouse in the province until he hit an administrator in the right courthouse who could pass a message along. Monsieur Beaucoup then, in turn, had to call me, the security company, the RCMP and the phone company. Yes, the phone company. Because Aliant are the culprits here. This is the second time in two months that a 911 emergency call has been triggered from our home. The first one was at 2 a.m. - but that is another story - And, Memo to Self: always wear matching pajamas to bed. You never know when the RCMP will come to search your house (see above explanation of police protocol).


And, Aliant, who was supposed to have fixed problems with the phone lines on at least four other occasions, blamed the security system for sending an erroneous message on the phone line. The contact person at the security company told me emphatically (very emphatically) that the system is incapable of dialing a three digit number - as in , you know, 9-1-1.

Movita felt strongly that we should cut our shopping expedition short and go home to Lucy Dog, who might be agitated with the police trying the doors and exploring the property.
Photo Courtesy of Movita Beaucoup

Lunch at home was leftover fish chowder puncutated with more calls from B. Beaucoup, the security company, Aliant, and - ta da! - an armed constable at the front door! He was such a nice man. He apologized for not being able to take B. Beaucoup`s word (despite his position)  that I was alive and well. After all, HE could have knocked me over the head and disposed of the body.
"Ha!", came an exclamation from down the hall, "It is obvious that you have never met him. He is not a big man. WE could have taken him out!"
"Officer", I said, gesturing toward her, "this is our eldest daughter, Movita".
"Ah,"he replied, "I called YOU  this morning too."

The entire evening was spent talking to the neighbours, one by one, as they called or came over, to explain the situation - Neither of us officially missing. Neither of us dead. Neither one of us guilty of murdering the other.

Aliant was due to come here yesterday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to check the phone lines.
They never showed up.
Maybe someone should call 911.

August 13, 2011

The Robin's Egg Cardi


Pattern: SeamlessYoked Baby Sweater
Designer: Carole Barenys
Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa Zarina
Needles: Circular 3.5 mm

August Days


August 05, 2011

All About Lucy

A Lucyism (on the subject of a dying dog): It is okay if you don't have Lucy Dog anymore because, in all the world, I have never had a dog, so you will be just like me.

She loves the poem that begins with "There are fairies at the bottom of my garden..." At four years of age, she has an amazing eye for putting together a floral bouquet. She knows exactly what she wants as she travels the garden walkways and her arrangements are really quite pretty. Naturally, pinks and purples predominate. When I asked what her favourite flower was, she replied promptly, "Roses". She was delighted with the differences in smell, color, shape, and size of the roses on the property. She is also partial to lavender, astrantia, and astilbe.

Starting a new arrangement

Death to ants - And, yes, I know, she has her slippers on outdoors, but, honestly, it was only for a minute or two. Sometimes when the front door is open, the gardens start whispering your name and, as every sailor knows, it is impossible to resist the call of the sirens.

Saturday morning with the jewellery boxes

She has very definite views on fashion. She loathes the color black, and brown is not far behind. I wore a dress one day and, since she has often acted as a morning wardrobe consultant in my closet, I was curious as to why she had not mentioned seeing me in a dress, as I wear one so rarely. "Did you like the dress I wore today?", I asked that evening. With only the tiniest hesitation, she replied, "No. It was black." I admire the honesty. I know I can trust my consultant.

Hammock Girl

She loves the forest. She spent an afternoon with me in a wooded area as I pruned trees. Before we started working, I spotted a large garter snake and called for her to come see. She bent over in fascination and asked, "Can I touch it?" (Let it be noted that her father and grandfather were anxious to know EXACTLY where we saw the snake and seemed to keep a wide berth of the area thereafter!). She helped pull branches down, bent down to explore hollows in the roots of trees where small creatures might live, and sat on a log, using pieces of bark to make a snake of her own.

An impromptu performance under the blue umbrella.
Costume: Daddy's shirt with a pair of pink shorts on her head!

And she loves to sing, dance, and act out the stories she reads. She was absolutely hilarious one afternoon as she took to scrubbing the floors in her underwear, with a Swiffer mop, pretending she was Cinderella. I was to be the stepmother, demanding her chores be completed before going to ball. I asked where her stepsisters were. "Upstairs", she replied, "eating chocolates."

Auntie Hadley's Rainbow Mashed Potatoes - a favourite!

Recipe: Mash potatoes with corn, brocolli, carrots, and peas and as many other colorful vegetables as you can find in the fridge. Top with beets as a garnish.

The fairy at the top of my garden