Keep the Oil in the Ground in the Amazon - Amazon Watch

Keep the Oil in the Ground in the Amazon - Amazon Watch

My 100th post...to breath, to life!

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Sadly, our Prime Minster didn't show up for the climate talks. Because of the tar sands there was, no doubt, the possibility of protests, but he should have been there. Maybe his appearance would have been viewed as hypocritical, but problems must be owned before solutions can germinate.  In the interest of our own and future generations, what could be more important?

On the other hand, it is encouraging to note that billions of dollars are being removed from fossil fuel investment, starting with the Rockfellers.

Times Flies

Crisp red, yellow, and orange splashed on the trees... so gorgeous and sudden. I'll admit that Jack Frost's finger painting has squashed some of my best laid summer plans.  But since I can't wave a magic wan, on my next outing, I'll pull on a jacket, kick through the leaves and enjoy the beauty.

To offset an early sunset and to invigorate the * "little grey cells," I've enrolled in a class called Modern and Contemporary American Poetry.  First up, Whitman and Dickinson.

 If you are interested in taking a course this fall or anytime check out Coursera. Taught by dynamic professors via live webcast with interaction from students in the discussion forums, or via ModPo, the classes include students on campus and from all over the world; the atmosphere, despite such a large enrollment, is one of inclusion and best of all the courses are free.

And if you wish, you can knit while you participate.

Enjoy the week and thanks for reading.

* Hercule [ fastidious] Poriot

Serendipity

Sometimes things just work out and it makes you smile ~ okay laugh and this project did just that. After a rocky start--I didn't like the yarn I was using--I changed yarn and started stitching. More than halfway though, I noticed that  my calculations were off, so I had to order more yarn. They didn't have the colour I wanted, so ( to recap for any new readers) I took a chance and ordered a colour close to the one I was knitting with.  Amazing as it sounds it worked. Viola! 

Project notes and more pics here.

I hope you are all having a great week!

Flower Power

Sunflowers teeter near the sky.

Even if I am late, when I see a garden or wildflowers I have to stop, if I can, and sneak a peek. There are not always roses to smell, but even little snatches of time spent looking at striking colours, unusual textures and prolific blossoms can lift the mood and add a splash of dazzle to the day. 
I hope these  pictures add a little dazzle to your day.

Love-lies-bleeding. Talk about a dramatic common name. Added texture compliments of the bugs. I love these fresh stripes. I am not sure what they are yet, but you can bet your buttons I will find out.                                               Pink wildflower ~ Hairy Herb Willow                      An old Greek Revival house in the village with a formal garden. Enjoy...

One Down

 The Scrollwork   

It was hot in the park today ~ temperature of 28C/82.4F.  Needless to say, as soon as the picture was taken, I doffed the hat. With it on, I look a lot like Kermit. And as we all know "it ain't easy being green." 
 I'll be sending the hat off to someone soon.


Still on the needles...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I put out an APB on Raverly for The Verdant Gryphon's yarn in colourway Sunset at Briere because I ran short on this "Hap for Harriett" shawl. Unfortunately, I didn't receive an answer. I've ordered a hank that looks close to this colour ~ a long shot, I know.  If that doesn't work, I will frog to the middle, or, if necessary, frog to the beginning section then cry revamp and finish.  

I didn't knit much this summer.  But with a hint of fall in the air, I want to search out patterns and stash yarn.

I've been busy with other crafts though. Last night, I finished this small decoupage box.

 Also, my birthday crept up on me last week. Where did a year go? I received wonderful gifts, and good wishes with gratitude and  thanks.
 Hopefully, these watercolour pencils will soon freshen up some paper. I've been interested in a set of 24 watercolour pencils for sometime. What a bonus!

Spreading Gold

Yesterday, as a passenger on my way to the city, I couldn't capture the beauty of the goldenrod. I ended up with either an electric pole in the middle the picture or a blur of colour, but, as you can see from the pic, beauty can't be denied.

Usually I have my knitting in tow, but yesterday I was happy to look out at the wildflowers. In many areas the goldenrod was complimented by banks of purple wildflowers.

Before the golden phase--complete with a buzzing bee.

Milkweed and goldenrod. Too bad I can't include  the sweet, heady scent of the milkweed for you.

Fortunately, I've noticed that there are a few more wild bees around this year. Several years ago, I took an Apiculture course from Simon Fraser University.  As a child, I collected and released many bees so I was aware that they are engaging creatures, but I also learned, among many other things,  that they not only navigate by following landmarks, but that they also use the tilt of the sun and the magnetic field. In early spring they send out a scouts and the when these scouter bees return to the hive they dance out the directions to the source of nectar/pollen for the other worker bees. They have several dances in their repertoire. For the bees' sake and ours, we need to save these wee creatures. Please sign the petitions against the use of pesticides. On the needles...slow going.   One day, recently, I could have worn this hat; it was 12C or 53.6F.  Thankfully, it's warmer now. The hat is taking longer than I expected, but I am a few rounds closer to the finish line. Have fun this weekend! And thanks for reading...

Lunas at Large

I've always been fascinated by Luna Moths. Luckily, I've seen one, but only one in my life.  Recently, I've been drawing Luna and other huge moths, so imagine my surprise when I came across this beautiful Luna Rose Rose Mallow with blossoms reminiscent of a full moon. Gorgeous doesn't begin to cover it! 

On the needles and other things...

Enjoy the week...

Turning the Page

A perfect sized box for my small knitting projects. Another coat of Mod Podge (waiting a week because it's hot) and added distressing, to even out the look, should do.

I 'll admit that I felt a twinge of remorse when I turned the calendar page on July. It was a beautiful month, although I'm certain that August will be great too, summer is  zipping by. And so with brief thoughts of cooler weather, I've cast on the Jasmin scarf in worsted weight yarn.

Along the roadsides, Queen Anne's Lace, Brown-eyed Susans and clouds of Goldenrod are putting on a show, and O, yes, the peaches are delicious and for two nights in a row, the first of the corn crop bubbled on the stove. It's all good!

Enjoy...

Practical (,) Matters

Lately, on a few scattered mornings before dawn, one violent clap of thunder has been waking me up from a deep sleep. That first morning, in that brief moment of reverberating terror, I thought of Mars the God of War. (The mind does jump to conclusions.)  A brief burst of high wind and steely rain followed and then it was over. I opened the window, that morning, and while clinging to the sill for support, I heard the first hint of birdsong that as I listened grew increasingly louder, reassuring my body, with its shaky legs and racing heart, that it was okay to breathe.  

                                                                       * * *

When I started knitting again, I had visions of chic shawls such as The Rock Island twirling through my brain. That means I definitely wasn't thinking of about knitting dish cloths, but they are a quick, easy and practical knit. As you can see the top one has been well used and the bottom one I finished yesterday. What's so great about these cloths? Well, they hold up under a barrage of bleach and countless washings.

Here's my pattern. You are welcome to use it for personal use, and feel free knit these cloths to sell if you wish.

Uptown Posh Cloth☺

♦  CO 38 sts using cotton yarn with a 4.5 mm needle or a U.S. 7

Set up: 4 rows of seed st. as follows:

Row 1  K1, P1 across row
Row 2  P1, K1 across row 
Row 3  K1, P1 across row
Row 4  P1, K1 across row

Begin pattern.

Row 1   k1, p1, k1, p1 ( p4, k1, p1, k4 repeat 2 more times) k1, p1, k1, p1.
Row 2   p1, k1, p1, k1 ( p3, k2, p2, k3 repeat 2 more times) p1, k1, p1, k1.
Row 3   k1, p1, k1, p1 ( p2, k2, p1, k1, p2, k2 repeat 2 more times) k1, p1, k1, p1.
Row 4   p1, k1, p1, k1 ( p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1 repeat 2 more times) p1, k1, p1, k1
Row 5   k1, p1, k1, p1 ( k2, p3, k3, p2 repeat 2 more times) k1, p1, k1, p1.
Row 6   p1, k1, p1, k1 ( k1, p4, k4, p1 repeat 2 more times) p1, k1, p1, k1.

Continue in established pattern, 7 more times for a total of 8 times.

Next: 4 rows of seed st.

CO. To finish weave in tails. ♦

 On the drawing board ... ( Darkened so you can see it)  And now I can see a few changes I want to make.

Flora

 As you can see, the blooms of the Sumac match the colour of the Hap Shawl.

I'm on the home stretch on the shawl. Even though I calculated rather well, I thought, I ran out of yarn. O, me. O my!   If anyone happens to have a spare hank of Mithril colourway Sunset at Briere in their stash, I'd be delighted to buy it.

Common Milkweed. Befriend a Monarch Butterfly; if you have room, do plant a sprig.

I'd love to fill an old jug with Cattails.

Wild Tiger Lilies

Fringed Loosestrife

A fabulous tree that reminds me of  the trees that walk and talk in the movies.♥

Flowers speak the universal language.

"The Earth Laughs in Flowers."             -  Ralph Waldo Emerson Enjoy the week!

About Face

The call of the outdoors has kept me from my knitting. But since I'm in the mood to confess, my progress also creeps for another reason.

In the past, when I've decided on yarn for a project, I have always stuck with it. Although I have changed yarn before I began, I do not remember changing yarn once I've started to knit. But since I wasn't enjoying the feel and look of my last two yarn choices, I decided to change the yarn for the two shawls that I already have on the needles. Talk about living on the liberating edge!

                                          New yarn choice for the Hap shawl:  Mithril  

Last weekend I made another trip to the market and came away with a few small items. You may remember this picture from a previous post.

Well the above picture, although not as colourful and, sadly, missing the knitting, reminded me of this wee treasure.

Two old clock keys and a key for a child's toy (?)

I will use some of these old prints for decoupage.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the week!